Coating apparatus and coating method

According to one embodiment, provided is a coating apparatus. The coating apparatus includes a first discharger, a second discharger, and a third discharger. The first discharger discharges a first liquid on a top surface of a substrate. In addition, the second discharger discharges a second liquid of which surface tension is higher than surface tension of the first liquid on the top surface of the substrate. In addition, the third discharger is disposed in a side outer than the first discharger in the substrate and discharges a gas on the top surface of the substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-234466, filed on Dec. 1, 2015; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a coating apparatus and a coating method.

BACKGROUND

In a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate of a wafer or the like is coated with a chemical solution such as resist, so that a film is formed on the wafer. In such a resist coating process, as a method of uniformly coating a surface of the wafer with the resist, a spin coating method is used. The spin coating method is a coating method of dropping the resist on the wafer while rotating the wafer.

In such a spin coating method, in order to efficiently coat the wafer with a low consumed amount of the resist ejected from a nozzle, before the resist coating, a solvent is dropped from a center of the wafer. Therefore, a pre-wetting process of wetting the surface of the wafer in advance is performed.

However, in a case where the pre-wetting process is performed from the center position of the wafer, the content of the solvent occupied in the resist is different in a radial direction of the wafer. As a result, after an exposing process of forming a latent image of a pattern on the wafer and a developing process of forming a resist pattern are performed, dimensions and shape of the resist pattern is different in the radial direction of the wafer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment, there is provided a coating apparatus. The coating apparatus includes a first discharger, a second discharger, and a third discharger. The first discharger discharges a first liquid on a top surface of a substrate. In addition, the second discharger discharges a second liquid of which surface tension is higher than that of the first liquid on the top surface of the substrate. In addition, the third discharger is disposed in a side outer than the first discharger in the substrate and discharges a gas on the top surface of the substrate.

Exemplary embodiments of a coating apparatus and a coating method will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

Embodiment

FIG. 1is a cross-sectional diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a coating apparatus according to an embodiment. The coating apparatus100is an apparatus that forms a coating film on a substrate (semiconductor substrate) according to a spin coating method. The coating apparatus100includes a coating unit70and a controller80.

The coating unit70includes a first nozzle (first discharger) that ejects (discharges) a first coating liquid (first liquid), a second nozzle (second discharger) that ejects a second coating liquid (second liquid), and a third nozzle (third discharger) that ejects a gas. The second coating liquid is a liquid of which surface tension is higher than that of the first coating liquid.

In the present embodiment, a case where the first coating liquid is resist and the first nozzle is a resist nozzle10will be described. In addition, a case where the second coating liquid is thinner and the second nozzle is a thinner nozzle20will be described. In addition, a case where the gas is an inert gas such as N2gas (nitrogen gas) and the third nozzle is an N2nozzle30will be described. In addition, a case where the substrate where a resist film as a coating film is formed is a wafer WA will be described.

The coating apparatus100includes a resist nozzle10that discharges resist12, a thinner nozzle20that discharges thinner22, and an N2nozzle30that discharges N2gas32. In addition, the coating apparatus100includes a support base13, a spin motor11, and a cup15.

The support base13has a top surface shape that is a substantially disk shape. A wafer WA is placed on the top surface of the support base13. The support base13has a spin chuck (not illustrated). The spin chuck fixes and holds the wafer WA by vacuum suction.

The spin motor11is attached below the support base13. The spin motor11rotates the support base13at a predetermined rotation speed to rotate the wafer WA. The spin motor11rotates the wafer WA to spread the resist12or the thinner22dropped on the wafer WA in the radial direction (toward the outer circumferential side) of the wafer WA by a centrifugal force. The spin motor11rotates the wafer WA at a predetermined speed to expel the resist12or the thinner22remaining on the wafer WA by the centrifugal force.

The cup15is disposed in the outer circumferential side of the support base13. The cup15is configured in a ring shape so as to receive the resist12or the thinner22expelled from the wafer WA. The cup15collects the resist12or the thinner22expelled from the wafer WA.

The resist nozzle10discharges the resist12at the center position of the wafer WA. Therefore, the resist nozzle10drops droplets of the resist12to the center position of the wafer WA. The resist nozzle10discharges the resist12, for example, in the vertical direction.

The resist nozzle10is moved by a resist nozzle scanning arm (not illustrated). The resist nozzle10is attached to a distal end of the resist nozzle scanning arm through a nozzle arm. The scanning arm is installed to be movable between the center position and the outer circumference position of the wafer WA. The resist nozzle10is connected to a resist supply pipe (not illustrated), and the resist supply pipe is connected to a resist tank (not illustrated). Therefore, the resist nozzle10can supply the resist12while moving in the radial direction of the wafer WA.

The thinner nozzle20is moved on the wafer WA from the outer circumference position toward the center position. The thinner nozzle20discharges the thinner22on the wafer WA while moving, so that the thinner nozzle20drops the droplets of the thinner22on the wafer WA. The thinner22is a liquid of which surface tension is higher than that of the resist12. The thinner nozzle20discharges the thinner22, for example, in the vertical direction.

The thinner nozzle20is moved by a thinner nozzle scanning arm (not illustrated). The thinner nozzle20is attached to a distal end of the thinner nozzle scanning arm through a nozzle arm. The scanning arm is installed to be movable between the center position and the outer circumference position of the wafer WA. The thinner nozzle20is connected to a thinner supply pipe (not illustrated), and the thinner supply pipe is connected to a thinner tank (not illustrated). Therefore, the thinner nozzle20can supply the thinner22while moving in the radial direction of the wafer WA.

The N2nozzle30is moved on the wafer WA from the outer circumference direction toward the center position. The N2nozzle30discharges N2gas32on the wafer WA while moving, so that the N2nozzle30sprays the N2gas32on the wafer WA. The N2nozzle30discharges the N2gas, for example, in the vertical direction.

The N2nozzle30is moved by an N2nozzle scanning arm (not illustrated). The N2nozzle30is attached to a distal end of the N2nozzle scanning arm through a nozzle arm. The scanning arm is installed to be movable between the center position and the outer circumference position of the wafer WA. The N2nozzle30is connected to an N2supply pipe (not illustrated), and the N2supply pipe is connected to an N2tank (not illustrated). Therefore, the N2nozzle30can supply the N2gas32while moving in the radial direction of the wafer WA.

The controller80includes a at least one processor. The controller80controls the coating unit70. The controller80controls the positions (moving speeds) of the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30on the wafer WA. In addition, the controller80controls a discharging amount of the resist12from the resist nozzle10, a discharging amount of the thinner22from the thinner nozzle20, and a discharging amount of the N2gas32from the N2nozzle30.

The controller80controls a dropping amount of the thinner22or a moving speed of the thinner nozzle20for every position (dropping position) on the wafer WA. In addition, the controller80controls the movement of the N2nozzle30so that the moving speed of the N2nozzle30is equal to the moving speed of the thinner nozzle20.

The coating apparatus100according to the present embodiment simultaneously performs discharging the thinner22by the thinner nozzle20and discharging the N2gas32by the N2nozzle30. In addition, the thinner nozzle20and the N2nozzle30discharge the thinner22and the N2gas32while moving from the outer side to the inner side of the wafer WA. In addition, the N2nozzle30is disposed in the side outer than the thinner nozzle20(outer circumferential portion side) as viewed from the center of the support base13. In other words, with respect to the rotation axis of the support base13, the N2nozzle30is disposed in the side outer than the thinner nozzle20. For example, in the movement direction where the N2nozzle30and the thinner nozzle20move straightly toward the center of the wafer WA, the N2nozzle30is disposed in the side of the wafer WA outer than the thinner nozzle20.

In the present embodiment, the controller80controls a dropping amount of the thinner22dropped on the wafer WA per unit area for every radial position of the wafer WA (support base13). For example, the controller80allows the thinner22to be dropped on the wafer WA at a flowrate according to the radial position of the wafer WA. In addition, the controller80may move the thinner nozzle20at a speed according to the radial position of the wafer WA.

The coating apparatus100discharges the thinner22on the wafer WA by the thinner nozzle20and discharges the N2gas32on the wafer WA by the N2nozzle30. At this time, the N2gas32may be sprayed in the side of the wafer WA outer than the thinner22. The thinner nozzle20and the N2nozzle30are moved from the outer circumference position toward the center position of the wafer WA. Therefore, the thinner22and the N2gas32are discharged in order from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the central axis side of the wafer WA. In the coating apparatus100, if the thinner22is dropped to the center position of the wafer WA, the resist12is discharged on the wafer WA by the resist nozzle10.

FIGS. 2A to 2Dare diagrams for describing a procedure of a coating process according to the embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 2A, the coating apparatus100rotates the spin motor11to rotate the wafer WA on the support base13in a wafer surface. At this time, the thinner22is dropped on the wafer WA by the thinner nozzle20. In addition, the N2gas is sprayed on the wafer WA by the N2nozzle30. The thinner22and the N2gas are simultaneously supplied to the wafer WA. In this case, the position on the wafer WA where the N2gas is sprayed is closer to the outer circumferential portion of the wafer WA than the position on the wafer WA where the thinner22is dropped.

As illustrated inFIG. 2B, the thinner nozzle20and the N2nozzle30are moved from the outer circumference position toward the center position of the wafer WA. Therefore, the thinner22and the N2gas32are supplied in order from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the central axis side of the wafer WA. At this time, a dropping amount of the thinner22dropped on the wafer WA per unit area is controlled for every radial position of the wafer WA. For example, the thinner22is dropped so that, the closer to the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA the position is, the more the dropping amount of the thinner22per unit area is. Only the amount of the thinner22necessary for spreading the resist12is dropped on the wafer WA. Therefore, a thinner film having a uniform thickness is formed on the substantially entire surface of the wafer WA.

As illustrated inFIG. 2C, after the thinner22is dropped, the resist12is dropped on the wafer WA by the resist nozzle10. The resist nozzle10supplies the resist12to the center position of the wafer WA. Therefore, the resist12is disposed on the entire surface of the wafer WA.

After that, the spin motor11rotates the wafer WA at a predetermined speed. Therefore, as illustrated inFIG. 2D, the coating apparatus100coats the wafer WA with the resist12to spread the resist and expels unnecessary resist12remaining on the wafer WA by a centrifugal force. After the resist12is disposed on the wafer WA, a drying process is performed on the top surface of the wafer WA. Therefore, a resist film having a uniform thickness is formed. In addition, in the present embodiment, since the thinner film having a uniform thickness is disposed under the resist12, the resist film becomes homogeneous on the wafer WA. More specifically, the residual solvent in the resist film becomes homogeneous in the surface of the wafer WA. Therefore, a resist film having a predetermined uniform thickness is formed on the wafer WA.

In addition, a plurality of nozzles among the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30may be disposed in one discharging head. In other words, two or more of the resist12, the thinner22, and the N2gas32may be discharged from one discharging head. For example, three nozzles of the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30may be disposed in one discharging head. A configuration of the discharging head of this case will be described.

FIGS. 3A to 3Care diagrams illustrating configuration examples of the discharging heads where three nozzles are disposed.FIGS. 3A to 3Cillustrate bottom diagrams (top diagrams) of discharging heads50A to50C, respectively. As illustrated inFIG. 3A, a resist nozzle10A, a thinner nozzle20A, and an N2nozzle30A are disposed in the discharging head50A. The resist nozzle10A, the thinner nozzle20A, and the N2nozzle30A are the same as the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30, respectively.

In the discharging head50A, the resist nozzle10A, the thinner nozzle20A, and the N2nozzle30A are disposed at vertices of a right-angled isosceles triangle respectively. More specifically, the resist nozzle10A is disposed at the apex angle of the right-angled isosceles triangle. The nozzles are arranged so that the distance between the resist nozzle10A and the thinner nozzle20A is equal to the distance between the resist nozzle10A and the N2nozzle30A. In addition, the line connecting the resist nozzle10A and the thinner nozzle20A is perpendicular to the line connecting the resist nozzle10A and the N2nozzle30A.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, the discharging head50A is moved from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center. At this time, if the N2gas32is discharged to the outer side of the wafer WA than the thinner22, the discharging head50A may be moved by setting any position as the starting position.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, for example, the discharging head50A may be moved toward the direction61A or may be moved toward the direction62A. The direction61A is the line direction of the line connecting the thinner nozzle20A and the N2nozzle30A. In this case, the direction from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center is the direction61A. The direction62A is the line direction of the line connecting the resist nozzle10A and the N2nozzle30A. In this case, the direction from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center is the direction62A.

In addition, when the resist12is to be discharged, the discharging head50A is moved from the center of the wafer WA toward the outer circumferential side. At this time, the discharging head50A may be moved by setting any position as the starting position.

In addition, the thinner nozzle20A is not limited to the vertical direction, but the thinner nozzle may discharge the thinner22in a slanted direction. For example, the thinner nozzle20A may discharge the thinner22toward the moving path of the N2nozzle30A.

In addition, the nozzles in the discharging head50A are not limited to the above-described arrangement, but other arrangements may be employed. For example, the resist nozzle10A may be disposed at the position of the thinner nozzle20A, and the thinner nozzle20A may be disposed at the position of the resist nozzle10A.

As illustrated inFIG. 3B, a resist nozzle10B, a thinner nozzle20B, and an N2nozzle30B are disposed in the discharging head50B. The resist nozzle10B, the thinner nozzle20B, and the N2nozzle30B are the same as the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30, respectively.

In the discharging head50B, the resist nozzle10B, the thinner nozzle20B, and the N2nozzle30B are disposed on a straight line. More specifically, in the discharging head50B, the thinner nozzle20B and the N2nozzle30B are disposed to be adjacent to each other. For example, the nozzles are disposed in order of the resist nozzle10B, the thinner nozzle20B, and the N2nozzle30B.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, the discharging head50B is moved from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center. At this time, if the N2gas32is discharged to the outer side of the wafer WA than the thinner22, discharging head50B may be moved by setting any position as the starting position.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, for example, the discharging head50B is moved toward the direction61B. The direction61B is the line direction of the line connecting the resist nozzle10B and the N2nozzle30B. In this case, the direction from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center is the direction61B. In this case, for example, when the thinner22is to be discharged, the discharging head50B is moved by setting the resist nozzle10B as the starting position.

In addition, when the resist12is to be discharged, the discharging head50B is moved from the center of the wafer WA toward the outer circumferential side. At this time, the discharging head50B may be moved by setting any position as the starting position.

In addition, the thinner nozzle20B is not limited to the vertical direction, but the thinner nozzle may discharge the thinner22in a slanted direction. For example, the thinner nozzle20B may discharge the thinner22toward the moving path of the N2nozzle30B.

As illustrated inFIG. 3C, the resist nozzle10C, the thinner nozzle20C, and the N2nozzle30C are disposed in the discharging head50C. The resist nozzle10C, the thinner nozzle20C, and the N2nozzle30C are the same as the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30, respectively. In the discharging head50C, the resist nozzle10C, the thinner nozzle20C, and the N2nozzle30C are disposed at vertices of an equilateral triangle.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, the discharging head50C is moved from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center. At this time, if the N2gas32is discharged to the outer side of the wafer WA than the thinner22, the discharging head50C may be moved by setting any position as the starting position.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, for example, the discharging head50C is moved toward the direction61C. The direction61C is the line direction of the line connecting the thinner nozzle20C and the N2nozzle30C. In this case, the direction from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center is the direction61C.

In addition, when the resist12is to be discharged, the discharging head50C is moved from the center of the wafer WA toward the outer circumferential side. At this time, the discharging head50C may be moved by setting any position as the starting position.

In addition, the thinner nozzle20C is not limited to the vertical direction, but the thinner nozzle may discharge the thinner22in a slanted direction. For example, the thinner nozzle20C may discharge the thinner22toward the moving path of the N2nozzle30C.

In addition, when the thinner22is to be discharged and when the resist12is to be discharged, the starting positions of the discharging heads50A to50C may be changed. In this case, the discharging heads50A to50C are rotated in a plane parallel to the top surface of the wafer WA.

In addition, two nozzles among the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30may be disposed in one discharging head. For example, two nozzles of the thinner nozzle20and the N2nozzle30are disposed in one discharging head.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a discharging head where two nozzles are disposed.FIG. 4illustrates a bottom diagram (top diagram) of a discharging head50D. A thinner nozzle20D and an N2nozzle30D are disposed in the discharging head50D. The resist nozzle10D, the thinner nozzle20D, and the N2nozzle30D are the same as the resist nozzle10, the thinner nozzle20, and the N2nozzle30, respectively.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, the discharging head50D is moved from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center. At this time, if the N2gas32is discharged to the outer side of the wafer WA than the thinner22, the discharging head50D may be moved by setting any position as the starting position.

When the thinner22is to be discharged, for example, the discharging head50D is moved toward the direction61D. The direction61D is the line direction of the line connecting the resist nozzle10D and the N2nozzle30D. In this case, the direction from the outer circumferential side of the wafer WA toward the center is the direction61D.

In addition, the thinner nozzle20D is not limited to the vertical direction, but the thinner nozzle may discharge the thinner22in a slanted direction. For example, the thinner nozzle20D may discharge the thinner22toward the moving path of the N2nozzle30D.

Herein, a case where the thinner nozzles20A to20D discharge the thinner22in a slanted direction will be described. Since the thinner nozzles20A to20D perform the same discharging, herein, the thinner nozzle20A illustrated inFIG. 3Ais described.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bare diagrams for describing discharging in a slanted direction by a thinner nozzle.FIG. 5Aschematically illustrates arrangement positions of the nozzles as the discharging head50A is viewed in the horizontal direction. In addition,FIG. 5Bschematically illustrates arrangement positions of the nozzles as the wafer WA and the discharging head50A are viewed from the top surface side.

The discharging direction by the thinner nozzle20A and discharging direction by the resist nozzle10A have a predetermined angle θ. The discharging direction by the resist nozzle10A has an angle of 90 degrees (vertical direction) with respect to the wafer WA. In addition, the discharging direction by the thinner nozzle20A has a predetermined angle θ (for example, 45 degrees) with respect to the wafer WA. In this case, the discharging direction by the thinner nozzle20A and the discharging direction by the resist nozzle10A have an angle of 45 degrees.

In this manner, in the discharging head50A, the thinner nozzle20discharges the thinner22in a slanted direction so that the dropping position of the resist12by the resist nozzle10A is the same as the dropping position of the thinner22by the thinner nozzle20A.

Due to such a configuration, when the thinner22is to be discharged and when the resist12is to be discharged, there is no need to perform adjusting the position of the discharging head50A. In other words, after the discharging of the thinner22by the thinner nozzle20A is completed, the discharging of the resist12by the resist nozzle10can be started without moving the discharging head50A. Therefore, when the thinner22is to be discharged and when the resist12is to be discharged, the discharging head50A can reciprocate the same straight line.

FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a coating process of the coating apparatus according to the embodiment. The wafer WA is placed on the support base13. After that, the spin motor11rotates the support base13at a predetermined rotation speed to rotate the wafer WA. The coating apparatus100discharges the thinner22on the wafer WA by the thinner nozzle20and discharges the N2gas32on the wafer WA by the N2nozzle30. Therefore, the N2gas32and the thinner22are simultaneously discharged (step S10). At this time, the N2nozzle30sprays the N2gas32in the side of the wafer WA outer than the thinner22. In other words, the thinner nozzle20sprays the thinner22in the side of the wafer WA inner than the N2gas32.

The thinner nozzle20and the N2nozzle30are moved from the outer circumference position toward the center position of the wafer WA. The controller80controls a dropping amount of the thinner22dropped on the wafer WA per unit area for every radial position of the wafer WA. For example, the controller80controls the flowrate of the thinner22for every radial position of the wafer WA. In addition, the controller80may control the moving speeds of the thinner nozzle20and the N2nozzle30for every radial position of the wafer WA.

The thinner nozzle20and the N2nozzle30continue to perform the process of discharging the thinner22and the N2gas32from the outer circumference position of the wafer WA to the center position, so that the thinner22and the N2gas32are discharged on the entire surface of the wafer WA. Therefore, the entire surface of the wafer WA is coated with the thinner22.

If the thinner22is dropped to the center position of the wafer WA, the resist nozzle10discharges the resist12on the wafer WA (step S20). The resist nozzle10is moved from the center position of the wafer WA toward the outer circumference position. In this case, the controller80may control a dropping amount of the resist12dropped on the wafer WA per unit area for every radial position of the wafer WA. For example, the controller80controls the flowrate of the resist12for every radial position of the wafer WA. In addition, the controller80may control the moving speed of the resist nozzle10for every radial position of the wafer WA. For example, the controller80controls the resist nozzle10so that, the closer to the outer circumferential portion of the wafer WA the position is, the more the resist12is dropped.

The resist nozzle10continues to perform the process of discharging the resist12from the center position of the wafer WA to the outer circumference position, so that the resist12is discharged on the entire surface of the wafer WA. Therefore, the entire surface of the wafer WA is coated with the resist12.

The thinner22on the wafer WA is dissolved into the resist12. Since the thinner22of the present embodiment is dropped on the wafer WA while the N2gas32is sprayed, the thickness thereof on the wafer WA becomes uniform. In addition, since the thinner22having a uniform thickness is coated with the resist12of the present embodiment, the solvent of the thinner22is uniformly dissolved into the resist12.

After the wafer WA is coated with the resist12, a drying process is performed on the top surface of the wafer WA. Therefore, a resist film is formed on the wafer WA. In the present embodiment, since the solvent of the thinner22is uniformly dissolved into the resist12, the resist film having homogeneous film properties is formed on the wafer WA.

In the resist film, the residual thinner amount is uniform in the surface of the wafer WA. Therefore, in a case where an exposing process and a developing process are performed on the resist film, a pattern having stabilized pattern dimensions in the surface of the wafer WA can be formed. In other words, after the exposing process of forming a latent image of a wafer pattern and the developing process of forming a resist pattern are performed, the dimensions and shape of the resist pattern are stabilized in the radial direction of the wafer WA.

In addition, since the amount of solvent in the resist film can be supplied uniformly over the entire surface of the wafer WA, the properties of the resist film can be controlled, and the consumed amount of the resist12can be reduced. In addition, since the dimensions and shape of the resist pattern are stabilized in the radial direction of the wafer WA, reliability of the semiconductor element can be improved, and the yield of the semiconductor device can be improved.

The coating process by the coating apparatus100is performed, for example, for every layer in the wafer process. Next, the resist pattern is formed by using the coated resist film, and thus, the semiconductor device (semiconductor integrated circuit) is manufactured.

More specifically, a to-be-processed film is disposed on the wafer WA, and the to-be-processed film is coated with the resist film by using the coating apparatus100or the like. Next, the exposing process is performed on the wafer WA coated with the resist film. At this time, a semiconductor element pattern formed in a reticle (photomask) is transferred to the resist film, and thus, a latent image is formed. After, the wafer WA is developed, so that the resist pattern is formed on the wafer WA. At this time, a developing solution is supplied onto the wafer WA where the latent image is formed, so that the resist pattern is formed.

Next, the to-processed film disposed to the lower layer side of the resist pattern is etched by using the resist pattern as a mask. Therefore, an actual pattern according to the resist pattern is formed on the wafer WA. When the semiconductor device is to be manufactured, the arranging process, the coating process, the exposing process, the developing process, the etching process, and the like of the to-be-processed film described above are repeated for every layer.

In addition, the coating process according to the present embodiment is not limited to a case where the embodiment is applied to a lithography process, but the coating process may be applied to other processes. For example, the coating apparatus100is not limited to the resist coating, but the coating apparatus may be applied to SOG (Spin On Glass) coating or SOC (Spun On Carbon) coating.

In addition, the N2gas32and the thinner22are not limited to the case of being simultaneously discharged, but the N2gas and the thinner may be discharged at different timings. In addition, the thinner22is not limited to a case where the dropping amount of the thinner22dropped on the wafer WA per unit area is controlled for every radial position of the wafer WA. For example, the dropping amount of the thinner22per unit area may be equal at all the radial positions of the wafer WA.

In this manner, according to the embodiment, the coating apparatus100includes the thinner nozzle20, the resist nozzle10, and the N2nozzle30. In addition, the resist nozzle10discharges the resist12on the top surface of the wafer WA. In addition, the thinner nozzle20discharges the thinner22of which surface tension is higher than that of the resist12on the top surface of the wafer WA. In addition, the N2nozzle30is disposed in the side outer than the thinner nozzle20in the wafer WA and discharges the N2gas on the top surface of the wafer WA. Therefore, the wafer WA can be coated with the resist film having uniform film properties.