Patent ID: 6383947
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
A method for fabricating microcircuit structures using a tri-layer antireflective coating, deep ultraviolet exposure source, and deep ultraviolet photoresists, comprising the steps of:providing a semiconductor substrate having formed thereon at least one gate electrode; forming a tri-layer anti-reflective coating disposed on said at least one gate electrode, said anti-reflective coating being formed by: a) forming a first layer over said at least one gate electrode, said first layer comprising titanium (Ti); b) forming a second layer over said first layer, said second layer comprising titanium nitride (TiN); c) forming a third layer over said second layer, said third layer comprising titanium (Ti); forming a patterned layer of deep ultraviolet photoresist over said third layer, said photoresist layer having openings defining a mask pattern; etching said through openings in said photoresist mask pattern to remove some of said anti-reflective coating and some of said substrate to form microcircuit structures; and stripping off said deep ultraviolet photoresist, whereby said antireflective coating facilitates absorption of deep ultraviolet light emitted from said deep ultraviolet exposure source during said forming of said patterned deep ultraviolet photoresist layer, and whereby said antireflective coating prevents said titanium nitride layer member from releasing nitrogen into said patterned deep ultraviolet photoresist layer.