Patent Application
20140158914
The present disclosure relates to an optical component treated to prevent contamination of a surface of the component, a system including the component, and a method of coating an optical component with a contaminant-blocking surface. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a surface of an optical component with a monolayer of atomic hydrogen or carbon-based molecules to prevent contaminants from adsorbing or diffusing onto the surface in a low pressure environment.
The two contamination routes described above can also occur when the semi-conductor inspection lithography system is vented to atmosphere for routine maintenance. In some cases, the venting atmosphere may be contaminated, or turbo pumps used in the venting have collected contaminants as the venting gas pass into the tool being vented. Alternatively, contaminant species may be stirred-up by the venting process, and inadvertently deposited onto component surfaces.
Others have recognized this problem. It has been suggested that contamination can be reduced by simply reducing the residual water vapor and hydrocarbons present however, such a solution has proven to be very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,952 (Klebanoff et al.) describes a process for mitigating or eliminating contamination and/or degradation of surfaces having common, adventitious atmospheric contaminants adsorbed thereon and exposed to radiation. A gas or a mixture of gases is introduced into the environment of a surface to be protected. When the surface and associated bound species are exposed to radiation, reactive species are formed that react with surface contaminants such as carbon or oxide films to form volatile products (e.g., carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) which desorb from the surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,776 (Klebanoff et al.) describes an apparatus that produces activated gaseous species adjacent a surface that is subject to carbon contamination such that in-situ cleaning of that surface is permitted.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an optical component arranged for use in a low pressure environment, including a surface arranged to receive extreme ultra-violet (EUV) light and a coating, on the surface, arranged to block at least one contaminant in the low pressure environment from binding to the surface.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a semi-conductor inspection system including a low pressure chamber, an inspection assembly in the low pressure chamber including an optical component with a surface arranged to receive extreme ultra-violet (EUV) light and a coating, on the surface, arranged to block a contaminant in the low pressure chamber from binding to the surface.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method of mitigating contamination of a surface of an optical component, including: inserting the optical component into a chamber for a semi-conductor inspection system, controlling a temperature and a pressure within the chamber, introducing a blocking material, in a gaseous state, into the chamber, coating a surface of the optical component with the blocking material, and preventing, using the coating, a contaminant in the chamber from binding to the optical component.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method of mitigating contamination of a surface of an optical component, including: inserting the optical component into a chamber, controlling a temperature and a pressure within the chamber, introducing molecular hydrogen into the chamber, disassociating the molecular hydrogen into hydrogen atoms, and coating a surface of the optical component with a monolayer of the hydrogen atoms. Substantially all of the orbitals for the hydrogen atoms are unavailable for bonding.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the disclosure as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure. The term “coating” is used interchangeably with the term “monolayer”. Additionally, the term “enclosed space” is used synonymously with the term “chamber”. The terms “material” and “elements” are used synonymously.
Layer 102 includes orbitals available for bonding. Thus, if contaminants C were to approach unprotected (uncoated) layer 102, the contaminants would be attracted to layer 102 and would strongly bond to layer 102, as is the case in
In an example embodiment, coating 105 is a layer of adsorbed hydrogen atoms one atom deep. In an example embodiment, surface 102 includes layer 103 of metal. In an example embodiment, surface 102 includes layer 104 of an oxide of the metal in layer 103. It should be appreciated that
In an example embodiment, the formation of coating 105 is effected at cryogenic temperatures (˜150K). Hydrogen has a low EUV absorption such that the monolayer layer of hydrogen will not harm optical component 100.
In another example embodiment, coating 105 is formed of material having a low EUV absorption. Thus, coating 105 can include a layer of carbon monoxide one molecule deep, a layer of carbon dioxide one molecule deep, or a layer of TSurface CO3−2 anions one anion deep.
It should be appreciated that surface 102 of optical component 100 has an optical characteristic prior to application of coating 105 and the optical characteristic is not affected by coating 105. In an example embodiment, the optical characteristic is reflectivity of EUV light. However, it should be appreciated that the optical characteristic could be any optical characteristic known in the art, for example, diffraction, dispersion, polarization, or absorption.
In an example embodiment, optical component 100 is fabricated by inserting optical component 100 having surface 102 into an enclosed space, such as chamber 206. Pressure and temperature are controlled within chamber 206 and blocking element (or material) BE, is introduced, in a gaseous state, into the chamber. As described above, element BE bonds with surface 102, forming coating 105. In an example embodiment, BE is molecular hydrogen. As noted above, coating 105 of atomic hydrogen is formed from the molecular hydrogen.
In an example embodiment, controlling the pressure includes maintaining a pressure of approximately 1 to 50 milliTorr in the chamber. However, it should be appreciated that any suitable pressure is applicable. In an example embodiment, controlling the temperature includes maintaining a temperature of between 288 and 308 degrees Kelvin. In an example embodiment, controlling the temperature includes maintaining cryogenic temperatures, for example, below 150 degrees Kelvin. However, it should be appreciated that the necessary temperature depends on blocking element BE of coating 105, for example, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or carbon dioxide. Similarly, the necessary pressure also depends on blocking element BE of coating 105.
In an example embodiment, a layer of molecular hydrogen is maintained above surface 102, for example, to regenerate coating 105 as the atomic hydrogen forming coating 105 becomes reactive. For example, monolayer 105 is created and maintained at room temperature by keeping an elevated pressure (1-50 milliTorr) of BE, for example, hydrogen, above surface 102 during system operation to maintain a full monolayer 105 of hydrogen atoms on surface 102.
In an example embodiment, prior to venting system 200, system 200 is flushed briefly with hydrogen, for example, at elevated pressures (100-500 milliTorr) to further ensure the presence of monolayer 105 on surface 102 during the venting process during which contamination of surface 102 is more likely to occur. Further, flushing can be used to treat contaminated surfaces. In this manner, if surface 102 is contaminated, surface 102 can be flushed with purified carbon dioxide or carbon trioxide, followed by purified hydrogen. Carbon monoxide or other gases, such as, oxides (NxOy), are also suitable.
In example embodiment, chamber 206 is flushed with molecular hydrogen at a pressure of approximately 100 to 500 milliTorr and chamber 206 is then vented. When system 200 is vented, adsorbed hydrogen in coating 105 reduces the inadvertent contamination of the critical surfaces from contaminants C that may be in the venting gas, thereby preserving the optical integrity during the maintenance periods.
In an example embodiment, surface 102 is periodically dosed with blocking element BE to maintain coating 105. In an example embodiment, prior to introducing blocking element BE into chamber 206, metal oxide from surface 102 is removed using some or all of atomic hydrogen, molecular hydrogen, extreme ultra-violet light, and carbon monoxide.
In an example embodiment, optical component 100 is a multi-layer collector mirror (MLM) and helium (He) is introduced into the chamber 206 to prevent damage during operation and contamination during venting. In an example embodiment, the multi-layer collector mirror is biased and an electric field surrounding the multi-layer collector mirror is generated. In an example embodiment, the multi-layer collector is biased using an oscillating voltage.
In an example embodiment, surface 102 can be protected by exposing surface 102 to low energy helium ions and neutrals prior to use in EUV systems. It is beneficial to expose MLM surfaces to carbon monoxide, carbon trioxide, and helium prior to vacuum vents. The goal of these exposures is to prevent damage during operation and contamination during venting. The MLMs can be biased such that an electric field can be created between the MLM and the surrounding surfaces and incoming gas-phase species, thereby allowing for the effective energy of incoming ions to be increased. Biasing of these surfaces may also allow or prevent attachment of anion and/or cation species presented near the surface. Biasing of these surfaces by an oscillating voltage may be used to increase the desired effect.
In an example embodiment, surface 102 is dosed as needed with short bursts of carbon monoxide gas during tool operation, or briefly exposed to a flush of carbon monoxide prior to venting. After surface 102 is passivated by carbon monoxide, a monolayer 105 of carbon monoxide is formed without adversely affecting optical performance. Other gases can perform this function, for example, carbon dioxide, carbon trioxide, or polar molecules. When polar molecules are used, it is advantageous to place an opposite charge on surface 102 prior to venting.
Surface 102 can be preconditioned to enhance passivation. For example, on Ru surfaces one can use atomic hydrogen and EUV+H2 to remove Ru oxides. Thus, starting with a virgin Ru surface will create enough surface sites to allow carbon monoxide passivation before venting. Carbon monoxide may passivate a clean Ru surface more completely than an oxide surface. In this case, it might be advantageous to precondition the Ru surface prior to carbon monoxide exposure. Similar arguments may apply for carbon or other contaminates on surface 102.
As noted above, carbon dioxide or carbon trioxide may be used as blocking element BE; carbon trioxide is known in the art to exist as anions when absorbed on alkali and transition metal surfaces. TSurface CO3−2 anions can act as surface blocking agents to prevent the absorption of contamination on the surface during venting, and as cleaning agent during system vacuum recovery after venting. An effective method of generating surface CO3−2 anions is to predose surface 102 (mirror capping layer could be material such as Ru but, the layer is not limited to Ru) with atomic oxygen followed by carbon dioxide. Other methods to generate CO3−2 anion could be CO+CO2 co-venting and O2+CO2 co-venting.
Extreme EUV light of emerging inspection systems can involve MLMs made of Molybdenum/Silicon (Mo/Si). As is known in the art, MLMs are exposed to impinging fast ions, water, oxygen, contaminant species as well as impurities and debris leading to the degradation of optical system components. At moderate ion fluences (˜1014 Xe+/cm2), reflectivity loss occurs and very high fluences (>1017 Xe+/cm2) samples have shown signs of Xe blisters formation. Blistering has additionally been witnessed on Mo/Si multilayers as a result of irradiation by hydrogen species generated in a thermal capillary cracker. Blistering has also been attributed to oxygen, and water, or other contaminant species. Low-energy deuterium (D) plasma exposure on tungsten (W), which is an important material for fusion materials, results in blister formation on surface 102, for example, on MLMs. Blister formation increases both micron-sized dust production and D retention. Blister formation depends greatly on pretreatment of surface 102. Experiments have shown that a dramatic decrease in the retention properties of W when even a small amount of helium is present in the plasma. Proximate surface 102, helium filled nano-bubbles may act as a diffusion barrier to hydrogen isotopes. Helium may also reduce hydrogen isotope permeation.
It should be appreciated that a plurality of optical components is contemplated in a single system. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that optical component 100 does not experience over-doing of coating 105. Coating 105 includes molecules, for example, hydrogen or carbon monoxide that cannot grow as multilayers on an optic surface at room temperature. Advantageously, coating 105 is a monolayer to prevent the risk of over-dosing the optic component, which would harm reflectivity. Additionally, it should be appreciated that blocking element BE is introduced into the chamber via any suitable input mechanism 208.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/735,967, filed Dec. 11, 2012, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
This invention was made under a CRADA (SC11/01785.00) between KLA-Tencor and Sandia National Laboratories, operated for the United States Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61735967 | Dec 2012 | US |
