Patent ID: 9012133
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of forming and removing alkaline particles during lithographic processing, said method comprising: forming an adhesion promoter layer directly on a surface of a substrate; forming a photoresist layer over said adhesion promoter layer, wherein said photoresist layer is insoluble to a developer solution including tetraalkylammonium hydroxide; exposing a portion of said photoresist layer to light or electron beam, wherein said exposing renders an exposed portion of said photoresist layer soluble to said developer solution including tetraalkylammonium hydroxide; removing said exposed portion of said photoresist layer with said developer solution including tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, wherein said removing of said exposed portion of the photoresist layer exposes a portion of said adhesion promoter layer; contacting said exposed portion of the adhesion promoter layer with said developer solution including tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, wherein said contacting of the exposed portion of the adhesion promoter layer with tetraalkylammonium hydroxide forms tetraalkylammonium hydroxide salt crystals on said surface of said substrate; applying a water-soluble acidic polymer layer on said surface of said substrate, wherein said water-soluble acidic polymer layer comprises a water soluble acidic polymer having an acidic group selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, phosphonic acid, phenolic acid, hexafluoroalcohol, sulfonic acid, and sulfinic acid, and wherein said tetraalkylammonium hydroxide salt crystals are dissolved in said water-soluble acidic polymer layer; and rinsing off said water-soluble acidic polymer layer with a solvent, wherein said surface of said substrate becomes free of said tetraalkylammonium hydroxide salt crystals.