Patent ID: 11914299
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Field: Semiconductors (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 14:
15. A method of processing a substrate, the method comprising:
applying a photoresist layer on a substrate;
exposing a first portion of the photoresist layer unprotected by a photomask to a light radiation in a lithographic exposure process;
performing a post-exposure baking process on the photoresist layer;
changing a drifting direction of a photoacid generator vertically in the photoresist layer from a first drifting direction to a second drifting direction while providing a thermal energy to the photoresist layer, wherein the second drifting direction is perpendicular to the first drifting direction and the changing of the drifting direction of the photoacid generator is performed by dynamically changing an electric field or a magnetic field during the post-exposure baking process to control a photoresist line edge roughness and resist scumming;
removing the first portion of the photoresist layer to form openings in the photoresist layer; and
performing an etching process to etch a material layer through the openings in the photoresist layer and form features in the material layer.