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Chemical mapping of polymer photoresists by scanning transmissionx-ray microscopy

Journal Article · · Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B
OSTI ID:919908
Scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM) is shown to be a powerful imaging technique that provides chemical selectivity and high spatial resolution ({approx}35 nm) for studying chemically amplified photoresists. Samples of poly(4-t-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene) PTBOCST resist, imprinted by deep ultraviolet lithography with a line/space pattern of 1.10 {micro}m/0.87 {micro}m followed by a post-exposure bake, are used to demonstrate STXM imaging capabilities to extract photoresist latent images. Chemical contrast is obtained by measuring the x-ray absorption at an energy of 290.5 eV, corresponding to a carbon K shell electronic transition to the unoccupied {pi}* molecular orbital of the PTBOCST carbonyl group. A quantitative analysis provides the spatial distribution of the fraction of the unexposed and deprotected polymers remaining after the post-exposure bake stage as well as the thickness of both regions. Both chemical and topographical contributions to the total contrast are estimated. Advantages and limitations of STXM in comparison with other imaging techniques with chemical specificity are discussed.
Research Organization:
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Director, Office of Science; National ScienceFoundation
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
919908
Report Number(s):
LBNL--56709; BnR: KC0302030
Journal Information:
Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B, Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 23; ISSN 0734-211X; ISSN JVTBD9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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