Chemical and structural investigation of high-resolution patterning with HafSOx

Richard P. Oleksak, Rose E. Ruther, Feixiang Luo, Kurtis C. Fairley, Shawn R. Decker, William F. Stickle, Darren W. Johnson, Eric L. Garfunkel, Gregory S. Herman, Douglas A. Keszler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) chemical mapping have been used to examine key processing steps that enable sub-20-nm lithographic patterning of the material Hf(OH)4-2x-2y(O2)x(SO 4)y·qH2O (HafSOx). Results reveal that blanket films are smooth and chemically homogeneous. Upon exposure with an electron beam, the films become insoluble in aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide [TMAH(aq)]. The mobility of sulfate in the exposed films, however, remains high, because it is readily exchanged with hydroxide from the TMAH(aq) solution. Annealing the films after soaking in TMAH(aq) results in the formation of a dense hafnium hydroxide oxide material that can be converted to crystalline HfO2 with a high electron-beam dose. A series of 9 nm lines is written with variable spacing to investigate the cross-sectional shape of the patterned lines and the residual material found between them.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2917-2921
Number of pages5
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume6
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 26 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science

Keywords

  • cross-sectional TEM
  • electron beam lithography
  • hafnium oxide
  • inorganic resist
  • solution film deposition
  • thin film

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