Phase-shift masks are photomasks that take advantage of the interference generated by phase differences to improve

image resolution Image resolution is the detail an image holds. The term applies to digital images, film images, and other types of images. "Higher resolution" means more image detail. Image resolution can be measured in various ways. Resolution quantifies how cl ...

photolithography In integrated circuit manufacturing, photolithography or optical lithography is a general term used for techniques that use light to produce minutely patterned thin films of suitable materials over a substrate, such as a silicon wafer (electroni ...

. There exist alternating and attenuated phase shift masks. A phase-shift mask relies on the fact that light passing through a transparent media will undergo a phase change as a function of its optical thickness.

Types and effects

A conventional photomask is a transparent plate with the same thickness everywhere, parts of which are covered with non-transmitting material in order to create a pattern on the semiconductor wafer when illuminated. In ''alternating phase-shift masks'', certain transmitting regions are made thinner or thicker. That induces a phase-shift in the light traveling through those regions of the mask (see the illustration). When the thickness is suitably chosen, the interference of the phase-shifted light with the light coming from unmodified regions of the mask has the effect of improving the contrast on some parts of the wafer, which may ultimately increase the resolution on the wafer. The ideal case is a phase shift of 180 degrees, which results in all the incident light being scattered. However, even for smaller phase shifts, the amount of scattering is not negligible. It can be shown that only for phase shifts of 37 degrees or less will a phase edge scatter 10% or less of the incident light. ''Attenuated phase-shift masks'' employ a different approach. Certain light-blocking parts of the mask are modified to allow a small amount of light to be transmitted through (typically just a few percent). That light is not strong enough to create a pattern on the wafer, but it can interfere with the light coming from the transparent parts of the mask, with the goal again of improving the contrast on the wafer. Attenuated phase-shift masks are already extensively used, due to their simpler construction and operation, particularly in combination with optimized illumination for memory patterns. On the other hand, alternating phase-shift masks are more difficult to manufacture and this has slowed their adoption, but their use is becoming more widespread. For example, the alternating phase-shift mask technique is being used by

Intel Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Santa Clara, California. It is the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, and is one of the devel ...

to print gates for their

65 nm The 65 nm process is an advanced lithographic node used in volume CMOS (MOSFET) semiconductor fabrication. Printed linewidths (i.e. transistor gate lengths) can reach as low as 25 nm on a nominally 65 nm process, while the pitch ...

and subsequent node transistors. While alternating phase-shift masks are a stronger form of resolution enhancement than attenuated phase-shift masks, their use has more complex consequences. For example, a 180 degree phase edge or boundary will generally print. This printed edge is usually an unwanted feature and is usually removed by a second exposure.

Application

A benefit of using phase-shift masks in lithography is the reduced sensitivity to variations of feature sizes on the mask itself. This is most commonly used in alternating phase-shift masks, where the linewidth becomes less and less sensitive to the chrome width on the mask, as the chrome width decreases. In fact, even with no chrome the phase edge can still print, as noted above. Some cases of attenuated phase-shifting masks also demonstrate the same benefit (see left). As phase-shift masks are applied to printing smaller and smaller features, it becomes more and more important to model them accurately using rigorous simulation software, such as Panoramic Technology or Sigma-C. It becomes especially important as the mask topography starts to play an important role in scattering the light, and the light itself starts to propagate at larger angles. The performance of phase-shift masks can also be previewed with the use of aerial image microscopes. Defect inspection remains a critical aspect of phase-shift mask technology, as the set of printable mask defects has expanded to include those with phase effects in addition to conventional transmission effects. Attenuated phase shift masks have been in use in production since the 90 nm node.C-H. Chang et al., Proc. SPIE 5377, 902 (2004).

Types and effects

Application

References

Further reading