IP Library Granted Patent US 12,578,635
Granted Patent B2
US 12,578,635 · App. 18/232,674 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Pellicle for an EUV lithography mask and a method of manufacturing thereof

Inventor: Yun-Yue Lin (Hsinchu City, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
G03F1/24G03F1/64H01L21/0332H01L21/0337
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,578,635
App. No.
18/232,674
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pellicle for a reflective photo mask includes a frame, a core layer having a front surface and a rear surface, and disposed over the frame, a first capping layer disposed on the front surface of the core layer, an anti-reflection layer disposed on the first capping layer, a barrier layer disposed on the anti-reflection layer, and a heat emissive layer disposed on the barrier layer.

Claims (59)

1 . A method of manufacturing a pellicle for a reflective photo mask, the method comprising:

forming a first capping layer over a front surface of a substrate;

forming a core layer over the first capping layer;

forming a second capping layer over the core layer;

forming a first protection layer over the second capping layer;

forming a hard mask layer on a back surface of the substrate;

forming a first opening in the hard mask layer by patterning the hard mask layer;

forming a second opening in the substrate by etching the substrate through the first opening;

removing the first protection layer;

after the first protection layer is removed, forming an anti-reflection layer on the second capping layer;

forming a barrier layer on the anti-reflection layer; and

forming a heat emissive layer on the barrier layer,

wherein the heat emissive layer includes Ru 1-x M x , where M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ir, Nb, Ti, V, Mo and Zr, and

wherein the barrier layer is made of a different material than the heat emissive layer and includes a Ru alloy.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein x is greater than zero and equal to or less than 0.4.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat emissive layer further includes at least one selected from the group consisting of B, P and Si.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the Ru alloy is at least one selected from the group consisting of RuIr, RuNb, RuTi, RuZr and RuV.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer includes Ru 1-y M y , where M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ir, Nb, Ti, V, Mo and Zr, and y>x.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the anti-reflection layer includes Mo and at least one selected from the group consisting of C, B, Si, and P.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first capping layer and the second capping layer includes at least one of silicon nitride or silicon carbide.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat emissive layer is a mixture of polycrystalline and amorphous material.

9 . A method of manufacturing a pellicle for a reflective photo mask, the method comprising:

forming a first capping layer over a front surface of a substrate;

forming a core layer over the first capping layer;

forming a second capping layer over the core layer;

forming a first protection layer over the second capping layer;

forming a hard mask layer on a back surface of the substrate;

forming a first opening in the hard mask layer by patterning the hard mask layer;

forming a second opening in the substrate by etching the substrate through the first opening;

removing the first protection layer;

after the first protection layer is removed, forming an anti-reflection layer on the second capping layer; and

a heat emissive layer directly on the anti-reflection layer, wherein:

the anti-reflection layer is made of a Mo alloy, and

the heat emissive layer is made of a Ru alloy.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the heat emissive layer includes Ru 1-x M x , where M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ir, Nb, Ti, V, Mo and Zr.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein x is greater than zero and equal to or less than 0.4.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the anti-reflection layer includes Mo and at least one selected from the group consisting of C, B, Si, and P.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the heat emissive layer is in a range from 0.2 nm to 5 nm.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the anti-reflection layer is in a range from 0.2 nm to 5 nm.

15 . A method of manufacturing a pellicle for a reflective photo mask, the method comprising:

forming a first capping layer over a front surface of a substrate;

forming a core layer over the first capping layer;

forming a second capping layer over the core layer;

forming a first protection layer over the second capping layer;

forming a hard mask layer on a back surface of the substrate;

forming a first opening in the hard mask layer by patterning the hard mask layer;

forming a second opening in the substrate by etching the substrate through the first opening, thereby exposing the first capping layer in the second opening;

removing the first protection layer;

after the first protection layer is removed, forming an anti-reflection layer on the first capping layer within the second opening;

forming a barrier layer on the anti-reflection layer within the second opening; and

forming a heat emissive layer on the barrier layer within the second opening,

the anti-reflection layer is made of Mo or a Mo alloy,

the heat emissive layer is made of Ru or a first Ru alloy, and

the barrier layer is made of a second Ru alloy having a lower Ru concentration than the heat emissive layer.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the heat emissive layer is a mixture of polycrystalline and amorphous material.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the heat emissive layer further includes at least one selected from the group consisting of B, P, and Si.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first capping layer and the second capping layer include at least one of silicon nitride or silicon carbide.

19 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the heat emissive layer is a mixture of polycrystalline and amorphous material.

20 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first capping layer and the second capping layer include at least one of silicon nitride or silicon carbide.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2023
From: LIN, YUN-YUE
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 065082/0524 →
Continuity (2)
Division 17460130 · Aug 27, 2021
Related Publication 20230384661A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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