Intel Corporation

Ernisse S Putna

Robert P Meagley

Wang Yueh

Swaminathan Sivakumar

Paul Anton Nyhus

Eungnak Han

Juan E Dominguez

Sergei V Koveshnikov

Shan Christopher Clark

Kyle Y Flanigan

James S Clarke

Huey-Chiang Liou

Hok-Kin Choi

Hai Deng

Yueh Wang

Robert M Meagley

Kim-Khanh Ho

Self-aligned via and plug patterning for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects are described. In an example, a structure for directed self-assembly includes a substrate and a block co-polymer structure disposed above the substrate. The block co-polymer structure has a polystyrene (PS) component and a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) component. One of the PS component or the PMMA component is photosensitive.

Exposure activated chemically amplified directed self-assembly (DSA) for back end of line (BEOL) pattern cutting and plugging

Systems and techniques involving optical coatings for semiconductor devices. An implementation includes a substantially isotropic, heterogeneous anti-reflective coating having a substantially equal thickness normal to any portion of a substrate independent of the orientation of the portion.

Optical coatings

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and compositions for providing photoresists with improved liquid-contact properties. For one embodiment of the invention, a photoresist is provided having one or more constituent components that are resistant to diffusion between the photoresist and an index-matching liquid (IML). For such an embodiment in which the IML is water, a photoresist component is provided that is hydrophobic thus reducing diffusion between the photoresist and the water. In various alternative embodiments of the invention, a photoresist is provided having one or more constituent components that encourage diffusion between the photoresist layer and the IML in such manner as to impart beneficial liquid-contact properties to the photoresist layer. For such an embodiment in which the IML is water, a photoresist is provided having one or more hydrophilic constituents.

Methods and compositions for providing photoresist with improved properties for contacting liquids

An optically tuned SLAM (Sacrificial Light-Absorbing Material) may be used in a via-first dual damascene patterning process to facilitate removal of the SLAM. The monomers used to produce the optically tuned SLAM may be modified to place an optically sensitive structure in the backbone of the SLAM polymer. The wafer may be exposed to a wavelength to which the SLAM is tuned prior to etching and/or ashing steps to degrade the optically tuned SLAM and facilitate removal.

Silicon based optically degraded arc for lithographic patterning

Compositions for immersion liquid materials and associated immersion lithography systems and techniques. Examples of polymer or oligomer-based immersion liquids are described to exhibit superior material properties for immersion lithography in comparison with water and some other commonly-used immersion liquids. In addition, certain material additives may be added to water and water-based immersion liquids to improve the performance of the immersion liquids in immersion lithography.

Immersion liquids with siloxane polymer for immersion lithography

Anti-reflective materials such as bottom anti-reflective coatings (BARC's) and sacrificial light absorbing materials (SLAM) may be made more effective at preventing coherent light or electron beam reflection from a substrate by including in the anti-reflective material an additive to alter the radiation beam path of the reflected light or electrons. The radiation beam path altering additive may be a reflective material or a refractive material. The inclusion of such a radiation beam bath altering additive may reduce line width roughness and increase critical dimension (CD) control of interconnect lines and vias.

Anti-reflective coatings

A basic developer/quencher solution formulated to include at least one supercritical fluid or liquid solvent and a base may be used to quench a photo-generated acid within a photoresist as well as develop the photoresist. The supercritical fluid or liquid solvent may be carbon dioxide and the base may be quaternary ammonium salt that has side groups that increase the solubility of the quaternary ammonium salt in carbon dioxide.

Basic quencher/developer solutions for photoresists

A compound including a polymeric chain, an acid labile group attached to the polymeric chain, and at least one hydrophilic group attached to the acid labile group is disclosed. Compositions including the compound, and methods of using the compositions are also disclosed.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Ernisse S Putna