IP Library Granted Patent US 12,619,142
Granted Patent B2
US 12,619,142 · App. 18/116,684 · Granted May 5, 2026

Methods of manufacturing pellicle for EUV lithography masks

Inventors: Ting-Pi Sun (Taichung City, TW); Pei-Cheng Hsu (Taipei, TW); Hsin-Chang Lee (Zhubei City, TW)
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
G03F1/22G03F1/62G03F1/64
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,619,142
App. No.
18/116,684
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method of manufacturing a pellicle for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photomask, a nanotube layer including a plurality of carbon nanotubes is formed, the nanotube layer is attached to a pellicle frame, and a solvent dipping treatment is performed to the nanotube layer by applying bubbles in a solvent to the nanotube layer.

Claims (30)

1 . A method of manufacturing a pellicle for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photomask, comprising:

forming a nanotube layer including a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and

performing a solvent dipping treatment on the nanotube layer by applying bubbles in a solvent on the nanotube layer,

wherein the bubbles are generated by pulsed laser or by injecting gas or a mixture of gas and liquid into the solvent.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent includes an organic solvent or a mixture of water and an organic solvent.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the organic solvent includes at least one selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, amines, esters, ethers, ketones and alcohols.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the organic solvent includes at least one selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol and isopropanol.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the organic solvent includes at least one selected from the group consisting of benzene, acetone and toluene.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent dipping treatment is performed for one minute to 2 hours.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanotube layer is formed by chemical vapor deposition.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an innermost carbon nanotube has a diameter of 0.5 nm to 20 nm.

9 . A method of manufacturing a pellicle for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photomask, comprising:

forming a nanotube layer including a plurality of carbon nanotubes;

performing a solvent dipping treatment on the nanotube layer by applying bubbles in a solvent on the nanotube layer; and

drying the nanotube layer by placing the nanotube layer on a hot plate and heating the nanotube layer at a temperature in a range from 300° C. to 1000° C. in an inert gas ambient.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the nanotube layer is inserted into the solvent at a speed of 1 mm per minute to 1000 mm per minute.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the solvent dipping treatment is performed for one minute to 2 hours.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the nanotube layer is removed from the solvent at a speed of 1 mm per minute to 1000 mm per minute.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a size of the bubbles is in a range from 1 nm to 500 nm.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a size of the bubbles is in a range from 1 μm to 10 μm.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the nanotube layer is formed by chemical vapor deposition.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein an innermost carbon nanotube has a diameter of 0.5 nm to 20 nm.

17 . A method of manufacturing a pellicle for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photomask, comprising:

forming a nanotube layer including a plurality of single carbon nanotubes;

performing a solvent dipping treatment on the nanotube layer by applying bubbles in a solvent on the nanotube layer, thereby forming a plurality of bundles of the carbon nanotubes; and

drying the nanotube layer by placing the nanotube layer on a hot plate and heating the nanotube layer at a temperature in a range from 300° C. to 1000° C. in an inert gas ambient,

wherein an average number of carbon nanotubes in each bundle of carbon nanotubes in the plurality of bundles of carbon nanotubes is 3 to 30 after the solvent dipping treatment.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a peak diameter in a size distribution of the plurality of bundles of carbon nanotubes is 10 nm to 50 nm after the solvent dipping treatment.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the nanotube layer is formed by chemical vapor deposition.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein an innermost carbon nanotube has a diameter of 0.5 nm to 20 nm.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2023
From: SUN, TING-PI; LEE, HSIN-CHANG; HSU, PEI-CHENG
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062861/0812 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63402860 · Aug 31, 2022
Related Publication 20240069427A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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