Patent ID: 6447962
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A method for removing an opaque defect from a lithographic template comprising:providing a lithographic template having a substrate layer and a patterned molybdenum silicide layer on the substrate layer; identifying the opaque defect on said lithographic template by scanning said lithographic template with an optical inspection tool; coating said lithographic template with a layer of resist; viewing said identified opaque defect under said layer of resist through a microscope using a yellow light filter to verify the location of said opaque defect; exposing an area of said lithographic template which contains and is larger than said opaque defect to ultraviolet light; developing said resist; removing said opaque defect by dry etching; stripping the remaining resist after said opaque defect removal; repairing a clear defect formed when said opaque defect is removed by depositing a carbon film on the clear defect and by exposing said clear defect to a focused ion beam; and exposing said lithographic template to a sodium hydroxide solution after said clear defect removal to remove ion staining caused by said focused ion beam.