Patent ID: 6767692
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A process for formation of a photoresist-free and antireflective coating (ARC)-free peripheral upper surface portion of a semiconductor substrate adjacent the end edge of said substrate by the steps of:a) forming an ARC layer on said upper surface portion of said semiconductor substrate; b) chemically treating said ARC layer to chemically terminate said ARC layer a first distance from the end edge of said substrate, leaving said ARC layer on said upper surface of said semiconductor substrate with a chemically formed uneven end edge thereon; c) forming a photoresist layer over said semiconductor substrate and over said ARC layer thereon to completely cover said chemically formed uneven end edge of said ARC layer; d) exposing said photoresist layer to a radiation pattern from above said photoresist layer which exposes only the peripheral portion of said photoresist layer larger than said chemically treated ARC layer, followed by; e) developing said exposed peripheral portion of said photoresist layer to remove said exposed peripheral portions of said photoresist layer, and thereby photolithographically terminating said photoresist layer a second distance from said end edge of said substrate wherein said second distance from said end edge of said substrate is smaller than said first distance, from said end edge of said substrate; whereby said remaining photoresist layer still completely covers said chemically formed uneven edge of said chemically terminated ARC layer.