U.S. patent application number 12/846406 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for substrate treatment method and substrate treatment apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED. Invention is credited to Mitsuaki IWASHITA, Satoru Shimura, Keiji Tanouchi.
Application Number | 20100307683 12/846406 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35320464 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100307683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IWASHITA; Mitsuaki ; et
al. |
December 9, 2010 |
SUBSTRATE TREATMENT METHOD AND SUBSTRATE TREATMENT APPARATUS
Abstract
To improve the etch resistance of a resist pattern corresponding
to an exposure light source with a short wavelength. After a resist
film on a substrate is exposed to light and developed to form a
resist pattern, a treatment step of supplying a fluorine-based
liquid to the surface of the resist pattern is performed.
Thereafter, an etching treatment of a base film using the resist
pattern as a mask is performed. This increases the density of
fluorine molecules on the surface of the resist pattern before the
etching treatment to improve the etch resistance of the resist
pattern.
Inventors: |
IWASHITA; Mitsuaki;
(Nirasaki-shi, JP) ; Shimura; Satoru;
(Nirasaki-shi, JP) ; Tanouchi; Keiji;
(Nirasaki-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
35320464 |
Appl. No.: |
12/846406 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11596459 |
Nov 13, 2006 |
7781342 |
|
|
PCT/JP05/08128 |
Apr 28, 2005 |
|
|
|
12846406 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
156/345.19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 21/67178 20130101;
G03F 7/40 20130101; H01L 21/67225 20130101; H01L 21/0273 20130101;
H01L 21/6715 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
156/345.19 |
International
Class: |
H01L 21/308 20060101
H01L021/308 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 10, 2004 |
JP |
2004-139458 |
Claims
1. A substrate treatment apparatus, comprising: liquid supply means
for supplying a fluorine-based liquid to a resist pattern and
forming a protection film with a high fluorine density on a surface
of the resist pattern between a developing treatment to form the
resist pattern on the substrate and an etching treatment of a base
film using the resist pattern as a mask.
2. The substrate treatment apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising: another liquid supply means for supplying
another liquid containing an OH group to the resist pattern between
the performance of the developing treatment and the performance of
the etching treatment.
3. The substrate treatment apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising: energy supply means for supplying energy to the
resist pattern to which the fluorine-based liquid has been supplied
to accelerate the reaction of the fluorine-based liquid with the
surface of the resist pattern.
4. The substrate treatment apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising: oxidation means for oxidizing the surface of
the resist pattern before the supply of the fluorine-based
liquid.
5. The substrate treatment apparatus as set forth in claim 4,
wherein said oxidation means comprise: means for housing the
substrate; oxygen-containing gas supply means for supplying an
oxygen-containing gas into said container; and ultraviolet
irradiation means for applying an ultraviolet ray to the substrate
in said container.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of and claims the benefit
of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.121 from U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/596,459, filed Nov. 13, 2006, the entire contents of which
is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Ser. No. 11/596,459,
filed Nov. 13, 2006 is a national stage of PCT Application No.
PCT/JP05/08128, filed Apr. 28, 2005, and claims the benefit of
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 from Japanese Patent Application
JP 2004-139458, filed on May 10, 2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a substrate treatment
method and a substrate treatment apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In a semiconductor device manufacturing process using the
photolithography technique, for example, a resist coating treatment
of applying a resist solution onto a film to be etched on a wafer
surface to form a resist film, exposure processing of exposing a
predetermined pattern on the resist film on the wafer, a developing
treatment of developing the exposed resist film on the wafer to
form a resist pattern, an etching treatment of etching a base film
using the resist pattern as a mask and so on are performed in
order.
[0004] Incidentally, in recent years, to further miniaturize the
circuit pattern, an exposure technology is being employed which
uses an exposure light source with a short wavelength of 193 nm or
less, such as an ArF laser, F2 laser, or the like. Therefore, it is
necessary to use a material corresponding to the exposure light
source with a short wavelength for a resist solution to be supplied
onto the wafer surface.
[0005] However, the resist solution corresponding to a light with a
short wavelength of 193 nm or less has a relatively low etch
resistance and may have been etched together with the base film
during the etching treatment. Accordingly, the dimensions of a
groove and a hole to be finally formed in the base film are larger
than the expected dimensions, failing to stably form a circuit
pattern of a desired dimension.
[0006] Development of the resist material is proceeding to improve
the etch resistance of the resist pattern but has limits, and
sufficient etch resistance has not been realized. Besides, a method
of forming a resist pattern is proposed in which photosensitive
light is applied to the entire resist patter and the resist pattern
is then baked during process of the wafer processing to improve the
etch resistance (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0007] However, the above-described method is directed to the
resist pattern having a benzene ring corresponding to the exposure
light source with a wavelength of 250 nm or longer, and therefore
does not present a sufficient effect for a resist pattern
corresponding to the exposure light source with a short wavelength
of 193 nm or less.
[Patent Document]
[0008] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H6-69118
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0009] The present invention has been developed in consideration of
the above viewpoints and its object is to provide a substrate
treatment method and a substrate treatment apparatus for a wafer or
the like to improve the etch resistance of a resist pattern
corresponding to the exposure light source with a short
wavelength.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0010] To attain the above object, a substrate treatment method of
the present invention including a developing step of developing a
resist film on a substrate to form a resist pattern on the
substrate, and thereafter, an etching step of etching a base film
using the resist pattern as a mask, includes the step of, between
the developing step and the etching step, supplying a
fluorine-based liquid to the resist pattern.
[0011] According to the present invention, a fluorine-based liquid
is supplied to the resist pattern between the developing step and
the etching step, so that molecules on the surface of the resist
pattern can bond with fluorine-based molecules in the liquid to
increase the density of fluorine atoms on the surface of the resist
pattern. As a result, even the resist pattern corresponding to an
exposure light source with a short wavelength can be improved in
etch resistance.
[0012] The fluorine-based liquid may be composed of a compound with
a molecular weight of 50 or more. In this case, most fluorine-based
molecules in the liquid never permeate into the inside of the
resist pattern but adhere to the surface, with the result that the
molecules on the surface of the resist pattern can efficiently bond
with the fluorine-based molecules.
[0013] The fluorine-based liquid may contain an OH group. In this
case, the fluorine-based molecules in the liquid easily bond with
the molecules on the surface of the resist pattern, so that the
density of the fluorine atoms on the surface of the resist pattern
can be efficiently increased.
[0014] The above-described substrate treatment method may further
include, between the developing step and the etching step,
supplying another liquid containing an OH group to the resist
pattern. In this case, the surface of the resist pattern can be
activated by an effect of the OH group contained in the other
liquid to improve the reactivity of the surface of the resist
pattern with the fluorine-based liquid. As a result, at the time of
supply of the fluorine-based liquid, the density of the fluorine
atoms on the surface of the resist pattern can be efficiently
increased.
[0015] The step of supplying another liquid containing an OH group
may be performed before the step of supplying a fluorine-based
liquid, or simultaneously with the step of supplying a
fluorine-based liquid.
[0016] The temperature of the fluorine-based liquid may be set to
be higher than the temperature of another liquid containing an OH
group. In this case, the reactivity of the fluorine-based liquid
with the resist pattern can be improved, while the degradation due
to the temperature of the other liquid containing an OH group can
be suppressed. Note that the other liquid containing an OH group
may be a surfactant.
[0017] The above-described substrate treatment method may supply
energy to the resist pattern to which the fluorine-based liquid has
been supplied to accelerate the reaction of the fluorine-based
liquid with the surface of the resist pattern. Further, the step of
accelerating the reaction of the fluorine-based liquid with the
surface of the resist pattern may be performed by heating the
substrate, or may be performed by applying an ultraviolet ray to
the substrate.
[0018] The above-described substrate treatment method may further
include the step of, after the developing step and before the step
of supplying a fluorine-based liquid, oxidizing the surface of the
resist pattern. Oxidizing the surface of the resist pattern before
supplying the fluorine-based liquid as described above can improve
the reactivity of the fluorine-based liquid with the resist
pattern. As a result, the density of the fluorine atoms on the
surface of the resist pattern can be efficiently increased to
appropriately improve the etch resistance.
[0019] Note that the step of oxidizing the surface of the resist
pattern may be performed by applying an ultraviolet ray to the
substrate with the substrate being maintained in an atmosphere
containing an oxygen gas.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
present invention is a substrate treatment apparatus including a
liquid supply unit for supplying a fluorine-based liquid to a
resist pattern between a developing treatment to form the resist
pattern on the substrate and an etching treatment of a base film
using the resist pattern as a mask.
[0021] According to the present invention, the fluorine-based
liquid can be supplied to the resist pattern between the developing
step and the etching step, so that molecules on the surface of the
resist pattern can bond with the fluorine-based molecules in the
liquid to increase the density of fluorine atoms on the surface of
the resist pattern. As a result, the etch resistance of the resist
pattern can be improved.
[0022] The above-described substrate treatment apparatus may
further include another liquid supply unit for supplying another
liquid containing an OH group to the resist pattern between the
performance of the developing treatment and the performance of the
etching treatment. In this case, the surface of the resist pattern
can be activated by an effect of the OH group contained in the
other liquid to accelerate bond of the molecules on the surface of
the resist pattern with the fluorine-based molecules. As a result,
at the time of supply of the fluorine-based liquid, the density of
the fluorine atoms on the surface of the resist pattern can be
efficiently increased.
[0023] The above-described substrate treatment apparatus may
further include an energy supply unit for supplying energy to the
resist pattern to which the fluorine-based liquid has been supplied
to accelerate the reaction of the fluorine-based liquid with the
surface of the resist pattern.
[0024] The substrate treatment apparatus may further include an
oxidation unit for oxidizing the surface of the resist pattern
before the supply of the fluorine-based liquid. In this case, the
surface of the resist pattern can be oxidized before the supply of
the fluorine-based liquid, so that the reactivity of the
fluorine-based liquid with the resist pattern can be improved. As a
result, the density of the fluorine atoms on the surface of the
resist pattern can be efficiently increased to appropriately
improve the etch resistance.
[0025] Note that the oxidation unit may include a container for
housing the substrate; an oxygen-containing gas supplier for
supplying an oxygen-containing gas into the container; and an
ultraviolet irradiator for applying an ultraviolet ray to the
substrate in the container.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0026] According to the present invention, the etch resistance to
the resist pattern for a light with a short wavelength is improved,
leading to microfabrication of the circuit pattern.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 A plan view showing the outline of a configuration of
a coating and developing treatment system in the present
embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 2 A front view of the coating and developing treatment
system in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 3 A rear view of the coating and developing treatment
system in FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 4 An explanatory view of a longitudinal section showing
the outline of a configuration of a liquid supply unit.
[0031] FIG. 5 An explanatory view of a transverse section showing
the outline of the configuration of the liquid supply unit
[0032] FIG. 6 A perspective view of a liquid supply nozzle.
[0033] FIG. 7 A longitudinal sectional view of the liquid supply
nozzle as seen in the X-direction.
[0034] FIG. 8 A flowchart of wafer processing in the present
embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 9 A longitudinal sectional view of a resist pattern
showing the state in which a protection film is formed.
[0036] FIG. 10 An explanatory view of a transverse section showing
the outline of a configuration of a liquid supply unit with a
developing solution supply nozzle.
[0037] FIG. 11 An explanatory view of a longitudinal section
showing the outline of a configuration of an ultraviolet
irradiation unit.
[0038] FIG. 12 An explanatory view of a longitudinal section
showing the outline of a configuration of an oxidation unit.
EXPLANATION OF CODES
[0039] 1 coating and developing treatment system [0040] 33 liquid
supply unit [0041] 131 liquid supply nozzle [0042] W wafer
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0043] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the outline of a
configuration of a coating and developing treatment system 1 as a
substrate treatment apparatus according to the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a front view of the coating and developing treatment
system 1, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the coating and developing
treatment system 1.
[0044] The coating and developing treatment system 1 has, as shown
in FIG. 1, a configuration in which, for example, a cassette
station 2 for carrying, for example, 25 wafers W per cassette as a
unit from/to the outside into/from the coating and developing
treatment system 1 and carrying the wafers W into/out of a cassette
C; a processing station 3 including a plurality of various kinds of
processing and treatment units, which are multi-tiered, for
performing predetermined processing or treatment in a manner of
single wafer processing in the photolithography process; and an
interface section 4 for transferring the wafers W to/from a
not-shown aligner provided adjacent to the processing station 3,
are integrally connected together.
[0045] In the cassette station 2, a plurality of cassettes C can be
mounted at predetermined positions on a cassette mounting table 5
in a line in an X-direction (a top-to-bottom direction in FIG. 1).
In the cassette station 2, a wafer carrier 7 is provided which is
movable in the X-direction on a carrier path 6. The wafer carrier 7
is also movable in a wafer-arrangement direction of the wafers W
housed in the cassette C (a Z-direction; the vertical direction),
and thus can selectively access the wafers W in each of the
cassettes C arranged in the X-direction.
[0046] The wafer carrier 7, which is rotatable in a
.theta.-direction around the Z-axis, can access a temperature
regulating unit 60 and a transition unit 61, which will be
described later, included in a third processing unit group G3 on
the processing station 3 side.
[0047] The processing station 3 adjacent to the cassette station 2
includes, for example, five processing unit groups G1 to G5 in each
of which a plurality of processing and treatment units are
multi-tiered. On the side of the negative direction in the
X-direction (the downward direction in FIG. 1) in the processing
station 3, the first processing unit group G1 and the second
processing unit group G2 are placed in order from the cassette
station 2 side. On the side of the positive direction in the
X-direction (the upward direction in FIG. 1) in the processing
station 3, the third processing unit group G3, the fourth
processing unit group G4, and the fifth processing unit group G5
are placed in order from the cassette station 2 side. Between the
third processing unit group G3 and the fourth processing unit group
G4, a first carrier unit 10 is provided. The first carrier unit 10
can selectively access the processing and treatment units in the
first processing unit group G1, the third processing unit group G3,
and the fourth processing unit group G4 and carry the wafer W to
them. Between the fourth processing unit group G4 and the fifth
processing unit group G5, a second carrier unit 11 is provided. The
second carrier unit 11 can selectively access the processing and
treatment units in the second processing unit group G2, the fourth
processing unit group G4, and the fifth processing unit group G5
and carry the wafer W to them.
[0048] In the first processing unit group G1, as shown in FIG. 2,
solution treatment units each for supplying a predetermined liquid
to the wafer W to perform treatment, for example, resist coating
units 20, 21, and 22 each for applying a resist solution to the
wafer W, and bottom coating units 23 and 24 each for forming an
anti-reflection film that prevents reflection of light at the time
of exposure processing, are five-tiered in order from the bottom.
In the second processing unit group G2, solution treatment units,
for example, developing treatment units 30 to 32 each for supplying
a developing solution to the wafer W to develop it and liquid
supply units 33 and 34 each for supplying a fluorine-based liquid
to the wafer W are five-tiered in order from the bottom. Further,
chemical chambers 40 and 41 each for supplying various kinds of
treatment solutions to the solution treatment units in the
processing unit groups G1 and G2 are provided at the lowermost
tiers of the first processing unit group G1 and the second
processing unit group G2, respectively.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, in the third processing unit group G3,
for example, the temperature regulating unit 60, the transition
unit 61 for passing the wafer W, high-precision temperature
regulating units 62 to 64 each for temperature-regulating the wafer
W under temperature control with a high precision, and
high-temperature thermal processing units 65 to 68 each for
heat-processing the wafer W at a high temperature, are nine-tiered
in order from the bottom.
[0050] In the fourth processing unit group G4, for example, a
high-precision temperature regulating unit 70, pre-baking units 71
to 74 each for heat-processing the wafer W after resist coating
treatment, and post-baking units 75 to 79 each for heat-processing
the wafer W after developing treatment, are ten-tiered in order
from the bottom.
[0051] In the fifth processing unit group G5, a plurality of
thermal processing units each for performing thermal processing for
the wafer W, for example, high-precision temperature regulating
units 80 to 83 and post-exposure baking units 84 to 89 each for
heat-processing the wafer W after exposure, are ten-tiered in order
from the bottom.
[0052] A plurality of processing and treatment units are arranged
on the positive direction side in the X-direction of the first
carrier unit 10 as shown in FIG. 1, for example, adhesion units 90
and 91 each for performing hydrophobic treatment for the wafer W
and heating units 92 and 93 each for heating the wafer W being
four-tiered in order from the bottom as shown in FIG. 3. As shown
in FIG. 1, on the positive direction side in the X-direction of the
second carrier unit 11, for example, an edge exposure unit 94 is
disposed which selectively exposes only the edge portion of the
wafer W to light.
[0053] In the interface section 4, for example, a wafer carrier 101
moving on a carrier path 100 extending in the X-direction and a
buffer cassette 102 are provided as shown in FIG. 1. The wafer
carrier 101 is movable in the Z-direction and also rotatable in the
.theta.-direction and thus can access the not-shown aligner
adjacent to the interface section 4, the buffer cassette 102, and
the fifth processing unit group G5 and carry the wafer W to
them.
[0054] Next, the configuration of the above-described liquid supply
unit 33 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view
of a longitudinal section showing the outline of the configuration
of the liquid supply unit 33, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of
a transverse section showing the outline of the configuration of
the liquid supply unit 33.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid supply unit 33 has a casing
33a. At the central portion in the casing 33a, a spin chuck 120 as
a holding member for holding the wafer W is provided. The spin
chuck 120 has a horizontal upper surface which is provided with,
for example, a suction port (not shown) for sucking the wafer W.
Suction from the suction port allows the wafer W to be sucked onto
the spin chuck 120.
[0056] The spin chuck 120 is provided with, for example, a chuck
drive mechanism 121 for rotating and raising and lowering the spin
chuck 120. The chuck drive mechanism 121 includes, for example, a
rotary drive unit (not shown) such as a motor for rotating the spin
chuck 120 at a predetermined speed, and a raising and lowering unit
(not shown) such as a motor or a cylinder for raising and lowering
the spin chuck 120. The chuck drive mechanism 121 can be used to
raise and lower the wafer W on the spin chuck 120 at a
predetermined timing and rotate the wafer W at a predetermined
speed.
[0057] Around the spin chuck 120, a cup 122 is provided for
receiving and collecting the liquid scattering or dropping from the
wafer W. The cup 122 is formed, for example, in an almost
cylindrical shape with its bottom surface closed. The bottom
surface 122a of the cup 122 is connected with an drain pipe 123
which is in communication with, for example, a drainage section of
a factory so that the liquid collected in the cup 122 can be
drained via the drain pipe 123 to the outside of the liquid supply
unit 33.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, a rail 130 extending along the
Y-direction is formed, for example, on the side of the negative
direction in the X-direction (the lower direction in FIG. 5) of the
cup 122. The rail 130 is formed, for example, from the outside of
the cup 122 on the side of the negative direction in the
Y-direction (the left direction in FIG. 5) to the vicinity of the
end portion of the cup 122 on the side of the positive direction in
the Y-direction (the right direction in FIG. 5). To the rail 130,
an arm 132 is attached which supports a liquid supply nozzle 131 as
a liquid supply unit and another liquid supply unit. The arm 132 is
movable in the Y-direction on the rail 130, for example, by means
of a drive unit 133, and can transfer the liquid supply nozzle 131
from a waiting section 134 provided outside the cup 122 to a
position above the wafer W in the cup 122. The arm 132 is also
movable in the vertical direction, for example, by means of the
aforementioned drive unit 133 and can raise and lower the liquid
supply nozzle 131. For example, the rail 130, the arm 132 and the
drive unit 133 form a nozzle transfer mechanism.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the liquid supply nozzle 131
has a main body 131a having, for example, an almost rectangular
parallelepiped shape slightly longer than the dimension of the
diameter of the wafer W and is supported by the arm 132 such that
its longitudinal direction is oriented in the X-direction. To the
upper surface of the main body 131a, a first liquid supply pipe 151
is connected which is in communication with a first liquid supply
source 150 provided, for example, outside the casing 33a as shown
in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7. The first liquid supply source 150 stores,
for example, a fluorine-based liquid, such as a TFE solution
containing TFE (trifluoroethanol) with an OH group and a molecular
weight of 50 or more. This TFE solution is adjusted to have a
concentration, for example, about 1.0% to about 50%. The first
liquid supply source 150 is provided with, for example, a
temperature regulating unit 152 so that the temperature of the TFE
solution to be supplied to the liquid supply nozzle 131 can be
adjusted to a predetermined temperature in the first liquid supply
source 150. The first liquid supply pipe 151 is provided with an
opening/closing valve 153 which can be used to supply the TFE
solution in the first liquid supply source 150 to the liquid supply
nozzle 131 at a predetermined timing and flow rate.
[0060] To the upper surface of the main body 131a, a second liquid
supply pipe 161 is also connected which is in communication with a
second liquid supply source 160 provided. The second liquid supply
source 160 stores, for example, a liquid having an OH group such as
a surfactant as another liquid. The second liquid supply source 160
is provided with, for example, a temperature regulating unit 162 so
that the temperature of the surfactant to be supplied to the liquid
supply nozzle 131 can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature in
the second liquid supply source 160. The second liquid supply pipe
161 is provided with an opening/closing valve 163 which can be used
to supply the surfactant in the second supply source 160 to the
liquid supply nozzle 131 at a predetermined timing and flow
rate.
[0061] At an upper portion in the main body 131a, a first
introduction pipe 170 is formed which is in communication with the
first liquid supply pipe 151. The first introduction pipe 170 is in
communication with a first storage room 171 formed in the main body
131a. The first storage room 171 is formed, for example, along the
longitudinal direction of the main body 131a between both end
portions and can temporarily store the TFE solution introduced into
the main body 131a. At an upper portion in the main body 131a, a
second introduction pipe 180 is formed which is in communication
with the second liquid supply pipe 161. The second introduction
pipe 180 is in communication with a second storage room 181 formed
in the main body 131a. The second storage room 181 is formed, for
example, along the longitudinal direction of the main body 131a
between both end portions such that it is provided in parallel with
the first storage room 171, and can temporarily store the
surfactant introduced into the main body 131a.
[0062] The first storage room 171 and second storage room 181 are
in communication with a confluent room 192 at a lower portion of
the main body 131a via a first communication path 190 and a second
communication path 191, respectively. The confluent room 192 is
formed, for example, along the longitudinal direction of the main
body 131a between both end portions. The confluent room 192 is
formed, for example, to have a longitudinal section as seen in the
X-direction in an almost circle. In the confluent room 192, the
supply pressures of the TFE solution supplied from the first
storage room 171 and the surfactant supplied from the second
storage room 181 can be lost. In the confluent room 192, a
collision bar 193 is provided, for example, along the longitudinal
direction of the confluent room 192. It is possible to allow the
TFE solution supplied from the first storage room 171 and the
surfactant supplied from the second storage room 181 to collide
with the collision bar 193, for example, to accelerate mixing of
the solutions.
[0063] The confluent room 192 is in communication with a plurality
of discharge ports 194 opening in the lower surface of the main
body 131a. The discharge ports 194 are formed at regular intervals
in a line along the longitudinal direction of the main body 131a
between both end portions as shown in FIG. 6. The discharge ports
194 allows the TFE solution and the surfactant passing through the
confluent room 192 to be discharged downward in a long line shape
in the X-direction. Note that the discharge ports 194 may be formed
in a slit shape between both end portions of the main body
131a.
[0064] The liquid supply nozzle 131 can discharge the TFE solution
supplied from the first liquid supply source 150 and the surfactant
supplied from the second liquid supply source 160 through the
discharge ports 194 at respective different timings. Further, the
liquid supply nozzle 131 can also mix the TFE solution and the
surfactant in the confluent room 192 and simultaneously discharge
the TFE solution and the surfactant.
[0065] Next, the process of the photolithography process performed
in the coating and developing treatment system 1 configured as
described above will be described. FIG. 8 is a main flowchart of
the process.
[0066] First of all, one wafer W, on which a base film being a film
to be etched is formed, is taken out of the cassette C on the
cassette mounting table 5 by the wafer carrier 7 and carried to the
temperature regulating unit 60 in the third processing unit group
G3. The wafer W carried to the temperature regulating unit 60 is
temperature-regulated to a predetermined temperature, and is then
carried by the first carrier unit 10 into the bottom coating unit
23 where an anti-reflection film is formed on the wafer W. The
wafer W on which the anti-reflection film has been formed is
sequentially carried by the first carrier unit 10 to the heating
unit 92, the high-temperature thermal processing unit 65, and the
high-precision temperature regulating unit 70 so that predetermined
processing is performed in each of the units. Thereafter, the wafer
W is carried to the resist coating unit 20 where a resist solution
is applied onto the wafer W to form a resist film on the wafer W
(S1 in FIG. 8). Examples of the material of the resist film in use
include, for example, resins containing an alicyclic group
corresponding to an exposure light source with a wavelength shorter
than that of an ArF laser (with a wavelength of 193 nm), such as a
methacrylate resin, an acrylate resin, and so on.
[0067] The wafer W on which the resist film has been formed is
carried by the first carrier unit 10 to the pre-baking unit 71 and
then carried by the second carrier unit 11 to the edge exposure
unit 94 and the high-precision temperature regulating unit 83 in
sequence so that the wafer W is subjected to predetermined
processing in each of the units. Thereafter, the wafer W is carried
by the wafer carrier 101 in the interface section 4 to the
not-shown aligner. In the aligner, a predetermined pattern is
exposed to light by the ArF laser as the exposure light source on
the resist film on the wafer W (S2 in FIG. 8). The wafer W for
which exposure processing has been finished is carried by the wafer
carrier 101, for example, to the post-exposure baking unit 84 where
the wafer W is subjected to heat-processing, and then carried by
the second carrier unit 11 to the high-precision temperature
regulating unit 81 where the wafer W is temperature-regulated. The
wafer W is then carried to the developing treatment unit 30 where
the resist film on the wafer W is developed (S3 in FIG. 8). In this
developing treatment, for example, the exposed portion of the
resist film is dissolved so that the resist pattern is formed on
the wafer W. The wafer W for which developing treatment has been
finished is then carried by the second carrier unit 11 to the
post-baking unit 75 where the wafer W is subjected to
heat-processing, and is then carried to the high-precision
temperature regulating unit 63 where the wafer W is
temperature-regulated. Then, the wafer W is carried by the first
carrier unit 10 to the liquid supply unit 33 where a predetermined
treatment step is performed for the resist pattern (S4 in FIG.
8).
[0068] The wafer W carried into the liquid supply unit 33 is
mounted and held on the spin chuck 120, for example, as shown in
FIG. 4. Then, the liquid supply nozzle 131 waiting at the waiting
section 134 as shown in FIG. 5 moves toward the positive direction
side in the Y-direction and stops at a start position P1 (shown by
a dotted line in FIG. 5) in front of the end portion of the wafer W
on the negative direction side in the Y-direction as seen in plan
view. Thereafter, the liquid supply nozzle 131 is lowered so that
the discharge ports 194 are brought close to the front surface of
the wafer W.
[0069] Then, the opening/closing valve 163 is opened to introduce
the surfactant, which has been temperature-regulated in the second
liquid supply source 160 to a predetermined temperature, for
example, room temperature of about 23.degree. C., into the main
body 131a of the liquid supply nozzle 131 via the second liquid
supply pipe 161, and the surfactant is discharged via the main body
131a from the discharge ports 194.
[0070] When the discharge of the surfactant is started at the start
position P1, the liquid supply nozzle 131 moves, discharging the
surfactant, along the Y-direction from the start position P1 to a
stop position P2 (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 5) outside the
wafer W on the positive direction side in the Y-direction. The
movement of the liquid supply nozzle 131 supplies the surfactant
onto the entire surface of the resist pattern on the wafer W. Such
supply of the surfactant activates the surface of the resist
pattern so that the OH groups in the surfactant bond, for example,
with molecules on the surface of the resist pattern. This improves
the reactivity between the surface of the resist pattern and the
TFE solution supplied later.
[0071] When moved to the stop position P2, the liquid supply nozzle
131 is returned, for example, to the stop position P1 after the
discharge of the surfactant is stopped. Subsequently, the
opening/closing valve 153 is opened to introduce the TFE solution,
which has been temperature-regulated in the first liquid supply
source 150 to a predetermined temperature, for example, a
temperature of about 30.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. higher
than that of the surfactant, into the main body 131a of the liquid
supply nozzle 131 via the first liquid supply pipe 151, whereby the
TFE solution is discharged from the discharge ports 194 of the
liquid supply nozzle 131.
[0072] When the discharge of the TFE solution is started at the
start position P1, the liquid supply nozzle 131 moves again from
the start position P1 to the stop position P2. The movement of the
liquid supply nozzle 131 supplies the TFE solution onto the entire
surface of the resist pattern. Such supply of the TFE solution
causes the molecules on the surface of the resist pattern to bond
with TFE molecules to increase the density of fluorine atoms on the
surface of the resist pattern. More specifically, a protection film
D with a high fluorine density is formed on the surface of the
resist pattern P as shown in FIG. 9 to thereby improve the etch
resistance of the resist pattern P.
[0073] When moved to the stop position P2, the liquid supply nozzle
131 is returned to the waiting section 134 after the discharge of
the TFE solution is stopped. Subsequently, the wafer W is rotated
by the spin chuck 120 so that the liquid on the wafer W is shaken
off. Thereafter, the wafer W is transferred from the spin chuck 120
to the second carrier unit 11 and carried out of the liquid supply
units 33.
[0074] The wafer W carried out of the liquid supply units 33 is
carried, for example, to the high-temperature thermal processing
unit 66 as an energy supply unit where the wafer W is heated. The
heating accelerates the bond of TFE in which reaction is
insufficient on the surface of the resist pattern P. Further, in
the high-temperature thermal processing unit 66, excessive water is
evaporated so that the resist pattern P is sintered.
[0075] The wafer W for which the heating in the high-temperature
thermal processing unit 66 has been finished is
temperature-regulated in the high-precision temperature regulating
unit 64, then carried by the first carrier unit 10 to the
transition unit 61, and then returned to the cassette C by the
wafer carrier 7. The wafer W returned into the cassette C is
carried to an etching apparatus (not shown) where etching step of
the base film is performed using the resist pattern P as a mask (S5
in FIG. 8).
[0076] According to the above embodiment, the TFE solution is
supplied to the resist pattern P after the resist pattern P is
formed by the developing treatment, so that the density of the
fluorine atoms on the surface of the resist pattern P can be
increased to improve the etch resistance of the resist pattern
P.
[0077] Further, since the TFE solution composed of TFE with a
molecular weight of 50 or more is supplied to the resist pattern P,
most TFE can bond with the molecules on the surface of the resist
pattern P without permeation to the inside of the resist pattern P
to efficiently increase the density of fluorine atoms on the
surface of the resist pattern P. Further, TFE contains an OH group
and therefore easily bonds with, for example, a methacrylate-based
resist material.
[0078] According to the above-described embodiment, since the
surfactant containing an OH group is supplied to the resist pattern
P before supply of the TFE solution, the end of the surface
molecule of the resist pattern P is the OH group and the surface
molecule is unstable in polarity. As a result, the surface of the
resist pattern P is activated, whereby the reactivity between the
TFE solution and the surface of the resist pattern is improved.
Accordingly, at the time of supply of the TFE solution, the bond of
TFE on the surface of the resist pattern P is accelerated.
[0079] Since the temperature of the TFE solution is set to be
higher than room temperature, the reaction between the TFE solution
and the surface of the resist pattern is further accelerated.
Further, since the temperature of the surfactant is set to be low
in the order of room temperature, it is possible to prevent, for
example, the OH group of the surfactant from separating from the
main chain to degrade the surfactant.
[0080] Since the wafer W is heated to supply energy to the resist
pattern P after the supply of the TFE solution to the resist
pattern P, the bond of TFE which has been insufficient on the
surface of the resist pattern P proceeds to enhance the bonding
force of TFE.
[0081] While the surfactant is supplied to the resist pattern P
before the supply of the TFE solution in the above embodiment, the
supply of the TFE solution and the supply of the surfactant may be
performed simultaneously. In this case, in the liquid supply nozzle
131, the opening/closing valves 153 and 163 are simultaneously
opened to introduce the TFE solution and the surfactant into the
main body 131a simultaneously. The TFE solution and the surfactant
introduced into the main body 131a are mixed in the confluent room
192 and discharged from the discharge ports 194. The liquid supply
nozzle 131 moves, discharging the mixed solution of the TFE
solution and the surfactant, from the start position P1 to the stop
position P2 to thereby supply the TFE solution and the surfactant
to the surface of the resist pattern P simultaneously. In this
case, since the TFE solution and the surfactant can be supplied
simultaneously, the time required for the treatment step can be
reduced.
[0082] While the TFE solution and the surfactant are supplied using
the same liquid supply nozzle 131 in the above-described
embodiment, a supply nozzle for supplying the TFE solution and a
supply nozzle for supplying the surfactant may be separately
provided in the liquid supply unit 33 to supply the surfactant and
the TFE solution from the respective supply nozzles in order. Note
that it is not always necessary to supply the surfactant to the
resist pattern P in the above embodiment, but only the TFE solution
may be supplied.
[0083] In the liquid supply unit 33, a function of performing
developing treatment for the wafer W may be provided. FIG. 10 shows
such an example in which, for example, a sub-arm 200 is attached to
the rail 130 in the liquid supply unit 33 and a developing solution
supply nozzle 201 is supported by the sub-arm 200. The sub-arm 200
is freely movable in the Y-direction on the rail 130, for example,
by means of a drive unit 202 and can transfer the developing
solution supply nozzle 201 from a nozzle waiting section 204
provided outside the cup 122 on the positive direction side in the
Y-direction to a position above the wafer W in the cup 122. Note
that the developing solution supply nozzle 201 in use has, for
example, the same configuration as that of the liquid supply nozzle
131.
[0084] Further, for example, on the positive direction side in the
Y-direction of the cup 122, a nozzle arm 206 is provided which
pivots about the vertical axis by means of a rotary drive shaft
205. At the tip of the nozzle arm 206, a rinse solution discharge
nozzle 207 is provided which discharges a rinse solution such as
pure water or the like. The rinse solution discharge nozzle 207 can
move to a position above the central portion of the wafer W in the
cup 122 by pivoting of the nozzle arm 206 by means of the rotary
drive shaft 205 to discharge the rinse solution to the central
portion of the wafer W.
[0085] Then, for example, when the wafer W for which the exposure
processing has been finished is carried into the liquid supply unit
33 and held on the spin chuck 120, the developing solution supply
nozzle 201 first moves, discharging the developing solution, along
the Y-direction from one end portion to the other end portion of
the wafer W. Thereby, the developing solution is supplied to the
entire front surface of the wafer W so that a resist pattern is
formed on the wafer W after a lapse of a predetermined time.
Thereafter, the wafer W is rotated, and the rinse solution
discharge nozzle 207 moves to a position above the central portion
of the wafer W and discharges the rinse solution to stop the
development. Subsequently, the wafer W is rotated at a high speed,
whereby the rinse solution is shaken off for dry. After the wafer W
is dried, the liquid supply nozzle 131 moves from the start
position P1 to the stop position P2 and supplies the surfactant and
the TFE solution in order as in the above embodiment. In this case,
since the developing step and the treatment step are sequentially
performed in the same unit, the wafer treatment in this embodiment
can be performed in a shorter time.
[0086] While the wafer W is heated in the high-temperature thermal
processing unit 66 after the TFE solution is supplied to the resist
pattern P to accelerate the reaction of the TFE solution with the
surface of the resist pattern P in the above embodiment,
ultraviolet rays may be applied to the wafer W to accelerate the
reaction of the TFE solution. In this case, an ultraviolet
irradiation unit 210 as an energy supply unit as shown in FIG. 11
is installed, for example, in the coating and developing treatment
system 1. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 210 includes, for
example, a container 211 which houses the wafer W and can be
hermetically closed. In the container 211, a mounting table 212,
for example, in a circular shape for mounting the wafer W thereon
is provided. An ultraviolet irradiator 213 is provided at the
ceiling of the container 211 and can apply ultraviolet rays to the
wafer W on the mounting table 212. To the side wall of the
container 211, for example, a gas supply pipe 215 is connected
which is in communication with a gas supply source 214 of a
nitrogen gas which never reacts with the resist pattern. The gas
supply pipe 215 is provided with, for example, an opening/closing
valve 216. An exhaust pipe 217 is connected to the sidewall of the
container 211 opposite to the gas supply pipe 215. The supply of
the nitrogen gas from the gas supply pipe 215 and the exhaust from
the exhaust pipe 217 can maintain a nitrogen gas atmosphere in the
container 211.
[0087] After the wafer W to which the TFE solution has been
supplied is carried into the ultraviolet irradiation unit 210, the
wafer W is mounted on the mounting table 212, and the inside of the
container 211 is then replaced with a nitrogen gas atmosphere. The
ultraviolet irradiator 213 then applies the ultraviolet rays to the
surface of the resist pattern P on the wafer W. The application of
the ultraviolet rays supplies energy to the surface of the resist
pattern P, whereby the reaction of TFE in which bond is
insufficient proceeds to further increase the density of the
fluorine atoms on the surface of the resist pattern P. This can
further improve the etch resistance of the resist pattern P.
[0088] In the above embodiment, the resist pattern P may be
oxidized after the developing treatment and before the supply of
the TFE solution. In this case, an oxidation unit 220 as shown in
FIG. 12 is installed, for example, in the coating and developing
treatment system 1. The oxidation unit 220 includes, for example, a
container 221 in which a mounting table 222 is provided. An
ultraviolet irradiator 223 is provided at the ceiling of the
container 221. To the side wall of the container 221, for example,
an air supply pipe 225 as an oxygen-containing gas supplier is
connected which is in communication with an air supply source 224
of air. The air supply pipe 225 is provided with, for example, an
opening/closing valve 226. An exhaust pipe 227 is connected to the
sidewall of the container 221 opposite to the air supply pipe 225.
The supply of air from the air supply pipe 225 and the exhaust from
the exhaust pipe 227 can maintain an air atmosphere containing
oxygen in the container 221.
[0089] For example, upon finish of the developing treatment, the
wafer W is immediately carried into the oxidation unit 220 and
mounted on the mounting table 222. When the wafer W is mounted on
the mounting table 222, the inside of the container 221 is replaced
with an oxygen-containing atmosphere. In the oxygen-containing
atmosphere, the ultraviolet irradiator 223 applies the ultraviolet
rays to the surface of the resist pattern P on the wafer W to
oxidize the surface of the resist pattern P. After the surface of
the resist pattern P is oxidized in the oxidation unit 220, the
wafer W is carried into the liquid supply unit 33 and supplied with
the TFE solution as in the above-described embodiment.
[0090] In this case, since the surface of the resist pattern P is
oxidized before the supply of the TFE solution, the reactivity of
the TFE solution with the resist pattern P is improved. As a
result, at the time of supply of the TFE solution, TFE efficiently
bonds with the molecules on the surface of the resist pattern P.
Note that only an oxygen gas, instead of the air, may be supplied
in the container 221 in this example.
[0091] The above embodiment shows an example of the present
invention, and the present invention is not limited to this
embodiment but may employ various forms. While the TFE solution is
supplied to the resist pattern P in the above embodiment, another
fluorine-based liquid, for example, HFE (hydrofluoroether), or
fluorobenzene may be supplied in place of the TFE solution.
Further, while the surfactant is supplied as the other liquid
containing an OH group, an acetylene glycol-based chemical may be
supplied in place of the surfactant. The above embodiment is an
example of treating the wafer W, and the present invention is also
applicable to the case of treating substrates other than the wafer,
such as an FPD (Flat Panel Display), and a mask reticule for a
photomask.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0092] The present invention is useful in improving the etch
resistance of a resist pattern in the lithography technology using,
for example, an exposure light source with a wavelength shorter
than that of an ArF laser.
* * * * *