This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0116351, filed on Sep. 1, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source and a substrate processing apparatus including the same, and more particularly, to an EUV source capable of effectively exhausting a residue in the EUV source and a substrate processing apparatus including the same.
A semiconductor device may be manufactured using a series of processes. For example, a semiconductor device may be manufactured using an exposure process, an etching process, a deposition process, and a plating process. In some cases, EUV light may be used for performing an exposure process for manufacturing a semiconductor device. An EUV source may be used to generate the EUV light. The exposure process may generate a residue. To exhaust the residue in the EUV source, an exhaust pipe may be coupled to the EUV source. If the residue is not effectively exhausted, contamination in the EUV source may be increased and the contamination may cause defects in the semiconductor device.
Embodiments of the inventive concepts may provide an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source capable of effectively exhausting a residue in the EUV source, a substrate processing apparatus including the same, and a method of processing a substrate using the substrate processing apparatus.
In an aspect, an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source may include a housing providing a light-collecting space having a cone shape becoming narrower in a first direction, an EUV collector disposed at a first end portion of the housing and including a reflection surface disposed toward the light-collecting space, and an exhaust pipe coupled to the housing and providing an exhaust flow path connected to the light-collecting space, wherein the exhaust pipe extends from the housing and forms an acute angle with the housing toward a second end portion of the housing.
In an aspect, a substrate processing apparatus may include a chamber, an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source disposed in the chamber and configured to generate EUV light, an optical rig disposed in the chamber and configured to provide the EUV light generated from the EUV source to a reticle, and from the reticle to a substrate, a substrate chuck disposed in the chamber and configured to support the substrate, and a reticle stage disposed in the chamber and configured to hold the reticle. The EUV source may include a housing providing a light-collecting space that narrows in a first direction, an EUV collector disposed at a first end portion of the housing and including a reflection surface disposed toward the light-collecting space, and an exhaust pipe coupled to the housing and providing an exhaust flow path connected to the light-collecting space.
The exhaust pipe may extend from the housing and may form an acute angle with the housing toward a second end portion of the housing. A center portion of an outlet at which the exhaust flow path meets the light-collecting space may be disposed below a center portion of the light-collecting space extending in the first direction.
In an aspect, an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source may include a housing providing a light-collecting space having a cone shape becoming narrower in a first direction, an EUV collector disposed at a first end portion of the housing and including a reflection surface disposed toward the light-collecting space, an intermediate focus cap disposed at a second end portion of the housing, and an exhaust pipe coupled to the housing and providing an exhaust flow path connected to the light-collecting space, wherein the exhaust pipe extends from the housing and forms an acute angle with the housing toward the second end portion of the housing, and wherein a center portion of an outlet at which the exhaust flow path is connected to the light-collecting space is disposed closer to the second end portion of the housing than the first end portion.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the inventive concepts will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals or the same reference designators may denote the same elements or components throughout the specification.
Referring to
The chamber C may provide a space independent of the outside, which the substrate W and a reticle R may be disposed. For example, the chamber C may be maintained in a vacuum state.
The EUV source ES may be disposed in a side portion of the chamber C. The EUV source ES may be configured to generate EUV light 60. The EUV light 60 may be a plasma beam. The EUV source ES may include a housing H (see
The housing H may provide a light-collecting space. The EUV light 60 may be generated in the housing H.
The droplet generator 10 may be configured to generate a droplet 20. The droplet generator 10 may generate the droplet 20 and provide the droplet 20 into the housing H. The droplet generator 10 may further include a nozzle (not shown). The nozzle may be disposed toward the housing H and the droplet 20 may be provided into the housing. The droplet 20 may include metal liquid of tin (Sn), xenon (Xe), titanium (Ti), or lithium (Li).
The laser generator 30 may be configured to provide laser light 40 into the housing H and to generate the EUV light 60. More particularly, the laser generator 30 may provide the laser light 40 to the droplet 20 provided from the droplet generator 10 to generate the EUV light 60. For example, the laser light 40 may irradiate the droplet 20, vaporizing the droplet 20 and forming a high-density plasma. The high-density plasma may release light, and in particular, release the EUV light 60.
The EUV collector 50 may be coupled to the housing H. The EUV collector 50 may be configured to reflect the EUV light 60. In other words, the EUV collector 50 may reflect the EUV light 60 generated in the housing H. To achieve this, the EUV collector 50 may include a reflection surface. For example, the reflection surface may include a collector mirror and a lens, but embodiments of the inventive concepts are not limited thereto.
The exhaust part 200 may be coupled to the housing H. The exhaust part 200 may be configured to exhaust a material in the housing H to the outside of the housing H.
The optical rig 70 may be disposed relative to the reticle stage 80 and the substrate chuck 90. For example, the optical rig 70 may be configured to sequentially guide the EUV light 60 to the reticle R, and from the reticle R to the substrate W. The optical rig 70 may include a plurality of optical systems. For example, the plurality of optical systems may include a first optical system 70a, a second optical system 70b, a third optical system 70c and a fourth optical system 70d may be provided. The plurality of optical systems may be spaced apart from each other. For example, the first optical system 70a may be spaced apart from the second optical system 70b. Each of the plurality of optical systems may include a mirror and/or a lens. The plurality of optical systems may reflect the EUV light generated from the EUV source ES to guide the reflected EUV light to the reticle R, and from the reticle R to the substrate W. For example, the first optical system 70a and the second optical system 70b may guide the EUV light from the EUV collector 50 to the reticle R, and the third optical system 70c and the fourth optical system 70d from guide the EUV light from the reticle R to the substrate W. Hereinafter, a single optical system will be described as an example for the purpose of ease and convenience in explanation.
The reticle stage 80 may be disposed in the chamber C. The reticle stage 80 may be configured to hold or fix the reticle R at a certain position and with a certain orientation. In other words, the reticle stage 80 may include a reticle chuck (not shown). For example, the reticle stage 80 may be configured to hold the reticle R by electrostatic force using a static voltage. However, embodiments of the inventive concepts are not limited thereto, and in certain embodiments, the reticle stage 80 may include a vacuum chuck. The reticle R may be a reflective mask. The reticle R may be configured to reflect a portion of the EUV light 60 to the optical rig 70, for example, the third optical system 70c, and to absorb another portion of the EUV light 60. The portion of the EUV light 60 reflected by the reticle R and the portion of the EUV light 60 absorbed by the reticle R may define a pattern. In addition, the portion of the EUV light 60 reflected by the reticle R may be reflected by the optical rig 70 toward the substrate W. The reticle stage 80 may further include a plasma source 110. The plasma source 110 may provide plasma onto the reticle stage 80. Thus, the reticle R charged by the EUV source ES may be electrically neutralized. The plasma source 110 may be disposed outside the reticle chuck, but embodiments of the inventive concepts are not limited thereto.
The substrate chuck 90 may be disposed in the chamber C. The substrate chuck 90 may be configured to support the substrate W. In the present specification, the substrate W may be a silicon wafer, but embodiments of the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. The substrate chuck 90 may be configured to hold the substrate W by electrostatic force. The substrate chuck 90 may include an electrostatic chuck to hold the substrate W, but embodiments of the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. The substrate W may be exposed to the EUV light 60 provided from the optical rig 70.
Hereinafter, a direction D1 may be referred to as a first direction D1, a direction D2 intersecting the first direction D1 may be referred to as a second direction D2, and a direction D3 intersecting the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 may be referred to as a third direction D3. The first direction D1 may also be referred to as a vertical direction. In addition, the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 may also be referred to as horizontal directions.
Referring to
The upper housing UH may provide a space through which the EUV light 60 may pass. The housing H may further include an intermediate focus (IF) cap (IF-cap 300) on the upper housing UH. The IF-cap 300 may be disposed at a first end portion of the housing H. The IF-cap 300 may provide a space becoming narrower in the first direction D1. For example, the IF-cap 300 may have a cone shape. The space provided by the IF-cap 300 may be a portion of the light-collecting space. The IF-cap 300 may have an inner surface having a stepped shape. Light reflected from the EUV collector 50 may pass through the IF-cap 300. For example, the IF-cap 300 disposed on the upper housing UH and may be configured to allow a passage of the EUV light 60 received from the EUV collector 50.
The lower housing DH may be disposed under the upper housing UH and may be connected to the upper housing UH. The EUV collector 50 may be coupled to a bottom of the lower housing DH and at a second end portion of the housing H. The first end portion and the second end portion may be disposed opposite each other. The lower housing DH may provide a space in which the EUV light 60 may be generated. The space provided by the lower housing DH may be a portion of the light-collecting space. The lower housing DH may further provide a plurality of housing through-holes 100. The housing through-holes 100 may penetrate the lower housing DH so as to be connected to the light-collecting space. The housing through-holes 100 may be disposed around the light-collecting space. For example, the housing through-holes 100 may be disposed to surround the light-collecting space. The housing through-holes 100 may be spaced apart from each other. The housing through-holes 100 may be spaced apart from each other at equal distances. Hereinafter, a single housing through-hole 100 will be described as an example for the purpose of ease and convenience in explanation.
The EUV collector 50 may be located at the second end portion of the housing H and may be coupled to the lower housing DH. The EUV collector 50 may have a parabolic shape, such as a hemispherical shape. The EUV collector 50 may include the reflection surface disposed toward the light-collecting space. For example, EUV collector 50 may reflect EUV light toward the light-collecting space. The EUV collector 50 may include a lens and/or a mirror, but embodiments of the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. The EUV collector 50 may reflect the EUV light 60 generated in the light-collecting space, wherein the EUV light 60 reflected by the EUV collector 50 may be collected at a certain area within the light-collecting space.
The exhaust part 200 may be connected to the housing H. The exhaust part 200 may include an exhaust pipe 203 connected to the light-collecting space. The exhaust pipe 203 may provide an exhaust flow path 203h. Residue in the housing H may be moved through the exhaust pipe 203. The exhaust part 200 may further include a scrubber 205. The scrubber 205 may purify the residue moved through the exhaust pipe 203. More particularly, the scrubber 205 may be connected to the exhaust pipe 203 and may purify the residue exhausted from the light-collecting space.
The laser generator 30 may be spaced apart from the housing H in the first direction D1. The laser generator 30 may be coupled to the EUV collector 50 at the second end portion of the housing H. The laser generator 30 may be configured to provide the laser light 40 to the light-collecting space of the housing H. More particularly, the laser generator 30 may provide the laser light 40 to the droplet 20 generated by the droplet generator 10 of the lower housing DH, thereby generating the EUV light 60. The laser generator 30 may include a path through which the laser light 40 passes.
Referring to
The exhaust pipe 203 may exhaust the residue from the light-collecting space. More particularly, the exhaust pipe 203 may exhaust the residue generated in the light-collecting space in the housing H. A place at which the exhaust flow path 203h of the exhaust pipe 203 meets the light-collecting space of the housing H may be referred to as an outlet 201. In other words, the outlet 201 may be a vent through which the residue may escape. The outlet 201 may vent the residue when the EUV light 60 is collected.
As shown in
The scrubber 205 may be connected to the exhaust pipe 203. The scrubber 205 may purify the residue. More particularly, the scrubber 205 may purify the residue moved through the exhaust pipe 203. To achieve this, the scrubber 205 may include a scrubber housing, a catalyst in the scrubber housing, a cleaning solution-injecting nozzle in the scrubber housing, and/or a pump 206, which may move the residue.
Referring to
Referring to
Hereinafter, a method of processing a substrate (S) of
The collecting of the EUV light 60 in the light-collecting space defined by the housing H of the EUV source ES (S2) may include collecting the EUV light 60 generated by the droplet 20 and the laser light 40. The collecting of the EUV light 60 in the light-collecting space defined by the housing H (S2) may include reflecting the EUV light 60 by the EUV collector 50. More particularly, the EUV light 60 may be reflected by the reflection surface of the EUV collector 50. Thus, the EUV light 60 may escape the housing H through the IF-cap 300 (see
The irradiating of the EUV light 60 to the photomask (S3) may include irradiating the EUV light 60 generated in the light-collecting space to the photomask, which may be the reticle R. More particularly, the EUV light 60 generated in the light-collecting space may be projected onto the photomask. The EUV light 60 may be reflected by the photomask. The photomask may impart a pattern to the EUV light 60 reflected by the photomask. That is, the portion of the EUV light 60 reflected by the photomask and the portion of the EUV light 60 absorbed by the photomask may define the pattern.
The exposing of the substrate to the EUV light 60 reflected by the photomask (S4) may include transferring the pattern of the reflected EUV light 60 to the substrate W. Thus, a pattern may be formed on the substrate W.
The exhausting of the residue in the EUV source ES into the exhaust pipe 203 (S5) may include exhausting the residue generated in the process of generating the EUV light 60 in the light-collecting space of the EUV source ES. The residue may be generated when the EUV light 60 is generated in the EUV source ES. For example, the residue may include tin. The residue may be exhausted through the exhaust pipe 203. In addition, the residue exhausted by the exhaust part 200 may be purified by the scrubber 205.
According to embodiments of the inventive concepts, in the EUV source, a substrate processing apparatus including the same, and a method of processing a substrate using the substrate processing apparatus, a residue in the EUV source may be exhausted. More particularly, the residue generated in a process of generating the EUV light may be exhausted through the exhaust pipe. Here, a position and an arrangement (e.g., angle) of the exhaust pipe may be adjusted or changed to effectively exhaust the residue. For example, in the case in which the exhaust pipe forms the acute angle with the first direction, the residue may be effectively exhausted through the exhaust pipe. In addition, in the case in which the exhaust pipe is coupled to the housing under a center portion of the housing, the residue may be smoothly exhausted through the exhaust pipe. In other words, the residue may be effectively exhausted by adjusting or changing the position and the angle of the exhaust pipe. Thus, contamination in the EUV source and a replacement period of the apparatus may be reduced, and an exposure process may be improved.
According to embodiments of the inventive concepts, in an EUV source, a substrate processing apparatus including the same, and a method of processing a substrate using the substrate processing apparatus, a residue in the EUV source may be effectively exhausted.
According to embodiments of the inventive concepts, in an EUV source, a substrate processing apparatus including the same, and a method of processing a substrate using the substrate processing apparatus in embodiments of the inventive concepts, light-collecting efficiency of the EUV source may be increased.
While embodiments of the inventive concepts have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that variations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0116351 | Sep 2023 | KR | national |