METHOD OF REDUCING POST-DEVELOPMENT DEFECTS IN AND AROUND OPENINGS FORMED IN PHOTORESIST BY USE OF NON-PATTERNED EXPOSURE

摘要

In the exposure and development of available deep ultraviolet (DUV) sensitive photoresist it has been observed that following the standard prior art methods of exposure and development results in a high density of undesirable pieces of components of the photoresist material, Blob Defects, remaining on the semiconductor substrate (body). A method of exposing and developing the photoresist material which results in a reduced incidence of these Blob Defects consists of introducing a low level uniform flood exposure of light in addition to the commonly used exposure to patterned light, followed by standard development. The flood exposure is in the range of 5 to 50 % of the dose-to-clear for a non-patterned exposure.