Integration of block copolymer directed assembly with 193 immersion lithography

Abstract

An integration scheme of block copolymer directed assembly with 193 nm immersion lithography is presented. It is experimentally shown that a thin silicon nitride film can be used as an antireflective coating (ARC). With such an ARC, directed assembly of a block copolymer (BCP) to triple the feature density of a chemical pattern was demonstrated. A high quality of assembly was obtained over a large area, and pattern transfer feasibility was illustrated. The integration of feature density multiplication via directed assembly of a BCP with 193 nm immersion lithography provided a pattern quality that was comparable with existing double patterning techniques, suggesting that the process could be a promising candidate for extending the use of current 193 immersion lithography tools to higher pattern densities.