IP Library Granted Patent US 8,580,465
Granted Patent B2
US 8,580,465 · App. 13/443,108 · Granted Nov 12, 2013

Multilayer mirror for EUV lithography and process for its production

Inventors: Masaki Mikami (Tokyo, JP); Mitsuhiko Komakine (Tokyo, JP); Yoshiaki Ikuta (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,580,465
App. No.
13/443,108
Granted
Nov 12, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a multilayer mirror for EUVL in which deterioration in reflectivity due to oxidation of a Ru protective layer is prevented, and a process for its production. A multilayer mirror for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and a protective layer for protecting the reflective layer, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the reflective layer is a Mo/Si multilayer reflective film, the protective layer is a Ru layer or a Ru compound layer, and an intermediate layer containing from 0.5 to 25 at % of nitrogen and from 75 to 99.5 at % of Si is formed between the reflective layer and the protective layer.

Claims (17)

1. A multilayer mirror for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and a protective layer for protecting the reflective layer, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein

the reflective layer is a Mo/Si multilayer reflective film,

the protective layer is a Ru layer or a Ru compound layer, and

an intermediate layer containing from 0.5 to 25 at % of nitrogen and from 75 to 99.5 at % of Si is formed between the reflective layer and the protective layer.

2. The multilayer mirror for EUV lithography according to claim 1 , wherein the uppermost layer of the reflective layer made of a Mo/Si multilayer reflective film is a Si film, and the intermediate layer is formed in contact with the Si film.

3. The multilayer mirror for EUV lithography according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is from 0.2 to 2.5 nm.

4. The multilayer mirror for EUV lithography according to claim 1 , wherein the surface roughness rms of the surface of the protective layer is at most 0.5 nm.

5. The multilayer mirror for EUV lithography according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the protective layer is from 1 to 10 nm.

6. A process for producing a multilayer mirror for EUV lithography (EUVL), which comprises forming a multilayer reflective film for reflecting EUV light on a film-forming surface of a substrate and then, forming a protective layer for protecting the multilayer reflective film, on the multilayer reflective film, to produce a multilayer mirror for EUVL, wherein

the multilayer reflective film is a Mo/Si multilayer reflective film,

the protective layer is a Ru layer or a Ru compound layer, and

after forming the Mo/Si multilayer reflective film, the surface of a Si layer as the uppermost layer of the Mo/Si multilayer reflective film is exposed to a nitrogen-containing atmosphere without exposing it to the atmospheric air, and then, the protective layer is formed.

7. The process for producing a multilayer mirror for EUVL according to claim 6 , wherein the product of the nitrogen partial pressure (Torr) of the nitrogen-containing atmosphere and the exposure time (s) is at least 1×10 −6 Torr·s, and the temperature of the nitrogen-containing atmosphere is from 0 to 170° C.

8. The process for producing a multilayer mirror for EUVL according to claim 6 , wherein the product of the nitrogen partial pressure (Torr) of the nitrogen-containing atmosphere and the exposure time (s) is at least 1×10 −6 Torr·s, and the temperature of the nitrogen-containing atmosphere is from 0 to 160° C.

9. The process for producing a multilayer mirror for EUVL according to claim 6 , wherein the product of the nitrogen partial pressure (Torr) of the nitrogen-containing atmosphere and the exposure time (s) is at least 1×10 −6 Torr·s, and the temperature of the nitrogen-containing atmosphere is from 0 to 150° C.

10. The process for producing a multilayer mirror for EUVL according to claim 6 , wherein when the surface of the Si layer is exposed to the nitrogen-containing atmosphere, the nitrogen-containing atmosphere is maintained to be in a plasma state, or the surface of the Si layer is subjected to thermal treatment, or the surface of the Si layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

11. A process for producing a semiconductor integrated circuit, which comprises subjecting an object to be exposed to exposure by means of the multilayer mirror for EUV lithography as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 , to produce a semiconductor integrated circuit.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 7, 2018
From: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
To: AGC INC.
Reel/Frame 046730/0786 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2012
From: MIKAMI, MASAKI; KOMAKINE, MITSUHIKO; IKUTA, YOSHIAKI
To: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028020/0746 →
Priority Claims (5)
JP 2009-279371 · Dec 9, 2009 · national
JP 2009-294310 · Dec 25, 2009 · national
JP 2010-021944 · Feb 3, 2010 · national
JP 2010-067421 · Mar 24, 2010 · national
JP 2010-134822 · Jun 14, 2010 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2010072169 · Dec 9, 2010
Related Publication 20120196208A1 · Aug 2, 2012