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

Claim 0:
1. A method of processing a substrate, the method comprising:
applying a photoresist layer comprising a photoacid generator on a material layer disposed on a substrate;
exposing a first portion of the photoresist layer unprotected by a photomask to light radiation in a lithographic exposure process;
providing a thermal energy to the photoresist layer in a post-exposure baking process;
applying at least one of an electric field or a magnetic field while performing the post-exposure baking process;
dynamically changing a characteristic of at least one of the electric field or the magnetic field while providing the thermal energy to the photoresist layer to change a direction of a particle within the photoresist layer from a first direction to a second direction;
controlling a photoresist line edge roughness and resist scumming while performing the post-exposure baking process;
removing the first portion of the photoresist layer to form openings in the photoresist layer; and
performing an etching process to etch the material layer through the openings in the photoresist layer and form features in the material layer.