Polymer photochemistry at the EUV wavelength

Abstract

The higher energy associated with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation coupled with the high absorptivity of most organic polymers at these wavelengths should lead to increased excited state population and higher quantum yields of photoproducts. Polymers representative of those commonly employed in resists as well as some model polymers were selected for this study. Polymer photochemistry at EUV was catalogued as to the effect of absorbed 13.4-nm radiation on a polymer's quantum yield of chain scission (Φ_s) and crosslinking (Φ_x). In selected cases, the chain scission and crosslinking quantum yields were also compared to those previously determined at 157-, 193- and 248-nm. It was found that quantum yield values were over a magnitude greater at EUV relative to optical wavelengths.