Imprint apparatus, imprint method, method of manufacturing article, determination method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

The present invention provides an imprint apparatus that forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold, the apparatus comprising: a supplier configured to supply the imprint material as a plurality of droplets onto the substrate; and a controller configured to control the supplier based on information indicating a target arrangement of the imprint material to be supplied as the plurality of droplets onto a predetermined region of the substrate, wherein the plurality of droplets in the target arrangement include a first droplet group including a plurality of first droplet arrays, a second droplet group including a plurality of second droplet arrays, and a third droplet array.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imprint apparatus, an imprint method, a method of manufacturing article, a determination method, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

As one of lithography techniques for manufacturing a semiconductor device or the like, there is known an imprint technique of forming a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold. In the imprint technique, after the imprint material is supplied as the plurality of droplets onto a shot region of the substrate and the mold is brought into contact with the imprint material on the substrate, the imprint material is cured in this state, and the mold is separated from the cured imprint material. With the process (imprint process) as described above, a pattern formed of a cured product of the imprint material can be formed on the shot region of the substrate.

In the imprint technique, it is desired that the residual layer thickness of the pattern of the imprint material formed on the substrate using the mold is uniform. The residual layer thickness is the thickness of the imprint material between the substrate and the concave portion of a concave-convex pattern formed of the imprint material. Japanese Patent No. 6700844 describes a method in which, when the imprint process is performed using a mold including a plurality of portions having different pattern arrangements, the arrangement of the imprint material (droplets) in the boundary portion between the plurality of portions is determined so as to achieve the uniform residual layer thickness.

In the imprint technique, in addition to improvement of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness, reduction of extrusion (protrusion) of the imprint material from the shot region is desired. On example of the method of reducing extrusion of the imprint material is a method in which the number of droplets of the imprint material arranged in the outer peripheral portion of the shot region is decreased. However, with this method, the residual layer thickness in the outer peripheral portion becomes smaller than that in other portions, and this can be disadvantageous in terms of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides, for example, an imprint technique advantageous in achieving both of improvement of the uniformity of a residual layer thickness and reduction of extrusion of an imprint material.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imprint apparatus that forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold, the apparatus comprising: a supplier configured to supply the imprint material as a plurality of droplets onto the substrate; and a controller configured to control the supplier based on information indicating a target arrangement of the imprint material to be supplied as the plurality of droplets onto a predetermined region of the substrate, wherein the plurality of droplets in the target arrangement include a first droplet group including a plurality of first droplet arrays, each of the plurality of first droplet arrays consisting of droplets arrayed at a first pitch in a first direction along a side of the predetermined region, the plurality of first droplet arrays being arranged at a second pitch in a second direction different from the first direction, a second droplet group including a plurality of second droplet arrays, each of the plurality of second droplet arrays consisting of droplets arrayed at the first pitch in the first direction, the plurality of second droplet arrays being arranged at the second pitch in the second direction, and a third droplet array consisting of droplets arrayed at the first pitch in the first direction, wherein the second droplet group is arranged while being shifted, with respect to the first droplet group, by a first distance in the first direction and by a second distance in the second direction, the first distance being smaller than the first pitch, and the second distance being half the second pitch, and wherein the third droplet array is arranged while being shifted, with respect to a specific droplet array which is the first droplet array closest to the side in the first droplet group, by the first distance in the first direction, and a distance between the specific droplet array and the third droplet array in the second direction is smaller than the second distance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

An imprint apparatus10according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The imprint apparatus10is an apparatus that brings an imprint material supplied onto a substrate into contact with a mold and applying curing energy to the imprint material, thereby forming a pattern of a cured product to which a concave-convex pattern of a mold has been transferred. For example, the imprint apparatus10supplies a liquid imprint material as a plurality of droplets onto a substrate, and cures the imprint material in a state in which a mold on which a concave-convex pattern has been formed is in contact with the imprint material on the substrate. Then, the imprint apparatus increases the spacing between the mold and the substrate, thereby separating (releasing) the mold from the cured imprint material. Thus, the pattern of the mold can be transferred to the imprint material on the substrate. Such a series of processes is called an “imprint process”, and is performed for each of a plurality of shot regions on the substrate.

As the imprint material, a curable composition (to be also referred to a resin in an uncured state) that is cured by receiving curing energy is used. As the curing energy, an electromagnetic wave, heat, or the like is used. The electromagnetic wave is light selected from the wavelength range of 10 nm (inclusive) to 1 mm (inclusive), for example, infrared light, a visible light beam, ultraviolet light, or the like.

The curable composition is a composition cured by light irradiation or heating. A photo-curable composition cured by light contains at least a polymerizable compound and a photopolymerization initiator, and may contain a nonpolymerizable compound or a solvent as needed. The nonpolymerizable compound is at least one material selected from the group consisting of a sensitizer, a hydrogen donor, an internal mold release agent, a surfactant, an antioxidant, and a polymer component.

The imprint material is applied in a film shape onto the substrate by a spin coater or a slit coater. Alternatively, the imprint material may be applied, onto the substrate, in a droplet shape or in an island or film shape formed by connecting a plurality of droplets using a liquid injection head. The viscosity (the viscosity at 25° C.) of the imprint material is, for example, 1 mPa·s (inclusive) to 100 mPa·s (inclusive).

FIG.1is a schematic view showing an arrangement example of the imprint apparatus10according to this embodiment. The imprint apparatus10according to this embodiment can include, for example, an imprint head12that holds a mold11, a curing unit13, a stage15that holds a substrate14, a supplier17, and a controller18. The controller18is formed by, for example, a computer including a CPU and a memory, and performs an imprint process by controlling the respective units of the imprint apparatus10. Note that the imprint apparatus10according to this embodiment employs a photo-curing method of curing an imprint material by irradiating the imprint material with light. Hereinafter, directions orthogonal to each other in a surface parallel to the surface of the substrate14are defined as the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is defined as the Z-axis direction. In the following description, the “X-axis direction” can be defined to include the +X direction and the −X direction. This also applies to the “Y-axis direction” and the “Z-axis direction”.

The mold11is usually formed from a material capable of transmitting ultraviolet light, such as quartz. In a partial region11a(mesa region) protruding toward the substrate side in the surface on the substrate side, a concave-convex pattern to be transferred to an imprint material R on a substrate is formed. In the following description, the partial region11a(mesa region) may be referred to as the pattern region11a. As the substrate14, glass, ceramic, a metal, a semiconductor, a resin, or the like is used. A member made of a material different from that of the substrate may be formed on the surface of the substrate, as needed. More specifically, the substrate14is a silicon wafer, a semiconductor compound wafer, silica glass, or the like. An adhesive layer may be provided before the application of an imprint material to improve the adhesiveness between the imprint material and the substrate, as needed.

The imprint head12holds (fixes) the mold11by a vacuum chuck force or an electrostatic force. The imprint head12includes a driving mechanism that drives (moves) the mold11in the Z-axis direction. The imprint head12has a function of pressing (bringing into contact) the mold11against an uncured imprint material16supplied onto the substrate, and a function of separating the mold11from the cured imprint material16on the substrate.

The stage15includes a substrate chuck that holds the substrate14, and a driving mechanism for performing alignment between the mold11and the substrate14. The driving mechanism is formed by, for example, a coarse driving system and a fine driving system, and drives (moves) the substrate14in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The driving mechanism may also have a function of driving the substrate14not only in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction but also in the Z-axis direction and θ direction (the rotation direction around the Z-axis), and a tilt function for correcting the tilt of the substrate14.

The curing unit13(irradiation unit) cures the imprint material16by irradiating the imprint material16on the substrate with light (for example, ultraviolet light) via the mold11in a state in which the mold11and the imprint material16on the substrate are in contact with each other. In this embodiment, the curing unit13includes, for example, a halogen lamp, an LED, or the like, and irradiates the imprint material16on the substrate with ultraviolet light via the mold11, thereby curing the imprint material16.

The supplier17(discharge unit or dispenser) supplies the imprint material16(for example, an uncured resin) as a plurality of droplets onto the substrate14. The supplier17includes a plurality of discharge holes (nozzles) which discharge droplets of the imprint material16onto the substrate14, and discharges droplets of the imprint material16from the respective discharge holes while the substrate14and the supplier17are relatively moving. With this, the imprint material16can be supplied as the plurality of droplets onto the substrate.

For example, if the plurality of discharge holes are arrayed along the Y-axis direction, a step of supplying droplets of the imprint material16from the respective discharge holes onto the substrate is performed while the substrate is moved in a direction (for example, the X-axis direction) different from the array direction of the plurality of discharge holes. At this time, discharge (that is, the discharge timing) of the droplets from the respective discharge holes is controlled by the controller18based on the information (to be sometimes referred to as arrangement information hereinafter) indicating the target arrangement of the plurality of droplets of the imprint material16on the substrate (on the shot region). That is, the interval in the Y-axis direction between the plurality of droplets of the imprint material16supplied onto the substrate can be defined by the interval between the plurality of discharge holes provided in the supplier17, and the interval in the X-axis direction can be defined by the discharge timing of the droplets from the respective discharge holes. Here, the arrangement information is generated in advance by the controller18and/or an external computer based on, for example, the design information of the concave-convex pattern formed in the pattern region11aof the mold11. The amount of one droplet of the imprint material16discharged from each discharge hole of the supplier17can range from sub-picoliter to several picoliters. One droplet of the imprint material16is supplied onto the substrate by one discharge operation from each discharge hole.

In the imprint apparatus10, it is necessary to achieve both of improvement of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness and reduction of extrusion (protrusion) of the imprint material16. The residual layer thickness is the thickness of the imprint material16between the substrate14and the concave portion of the concave-convex pattern of the imprint material16formed on the substrate14by the imprint process. If the residual layer thickness of the concave-convex pattern of the imprint material16formed on the substrate is nonuniform, for example, it can become difficult to accurately control the succeeding etching process which is performed using, as a mask, the concave-convex pattern of the imprint material16. Extrusion of the imprint material16is extrusion of the imprint material16supplied onto a predetermined shot region (onto the shot region in this embodiment) of the substrate14from the predetermined region during the contact step (pressing step) between the imprint material16and the mold11. If extrusion of the imprint material16occurs, for example, due to the influence of the extrusion, it can become difficult to accurately perform the imprint process on an adjacent shot region.

In a conventional method in which the plurality of droplets of the imprint material16are arranged in a houndstooth pattern so as to achieve the uniform residual layer thickness in a shot region, extrusion of the imprint material16occurs. In addition, conventionally, when a method of reducing the number of droplets of the imprint material16arranged in the outer peripheral portion of a shot region (predetermined region) to reduce extrusion of the imprint material16is employed, the residual layer thickness in the outer peripheral portion becomes smaller than that in other portions, so that the residual layer thickness can be nonuniform. Therefore, in this embodiment, the arrangement of the imprint material16(the plurality of droplets) that can achieve both of improvement of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness and reduction of extrusion of the imprint material16will be described.

FIGS.2A and2Bshow an arrangement example of the imprint material16(the plurality of droplets1) according to this embodiment. The arrangement example shown inFIGS.2A and2Bmay be understood as an example of the target arrangement of the plurality of droplets1of the imprint material16to be supplied to a shot region2(predetermined region). In the arrangement example of the imprint material16according to this embodiment, the plurality of droplets1of the imprint material16are arranged in a houndstooth pattern inside the shot region2and the arrangement of the droplets in the outer peripheral portion of the shot region2is changed (corrected or modified).FIG.2Ashows the arrangement example of the plurality of droplets1in the entire shot region2, andFIG.2Bshows the arrangement example of the droplets1in the outer peripheral portion of the shot region2(an enlarged view of a partial region α inFIG.2A). Note that inFIG.2A, the change of the arrangement of the droplets1in the outer peripheral portion of the shot region2is not shown.

The plurality of droplets1in the arrangement example in this embodiment include a first droplet group including a plurality of first droplets1a, and a second droplet group including a plurality of second droplets1b. The plurality of first droplets1aand the plurality of second droplets1bare arranged in the houndstooth pattern.

The first droplet group includes a plurality of first droplet arrays, in each of which the first droplets1aare arrayed at a first pitch PYin the first direction (Y-axis direction) along a side2a(outer periphery) of the shot region2(predetermined region), at a second pitch Pxin the second direction (X-axis direction) different from the first direction. InFIG.2B, first droplet arrays A1and A2alone are shown among the plurality of first droplet arrays. However, it may be understood that the first droplet array having the same arrangement as each of the first droplet arrays A1and A2is repeatedly arranged at the second pitch Pxin the +X direction. Further, among the plurality of first droplet arrays, the first droplet array A1(to be sometimes referred to as a specific droplet array hereinafter) closest to the side2aof the shot region2is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the side2aby a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance can be set within the range of ½ to 1 times the second pitch Px, and is preferably set to be ¾ the second pitch Px.

On the other hand, the second droplet group includes a plurality of second droplet arrays, in each of which the second droplets1bare arrayed at the first pitch PYin the first direction (Y-axis direction), at the second pitch Pxin the second direction (X-axis direction). InFIG.2B, second droplet arrays B1and B2alone are shown among the plurality of second droplet arrays. However, it may be understood that the second droplet array having the same arrangement as each of the second droplet arrays B1and B2is repeatedly arranged at the second pitch Pxin the +X direction. Further, the second droplet group (the second droplet arrays B1and B2) is arranged while being shifted (offset), with respect to the first droplet group (the first droplet arrays A1and A2), by a first distance in the first direction (Y-axis direction (−Y direction)) and by a second distance in the second direction (X-axis direction (+X direction)). The first distance is only required to be smaller than the first pitch PY. In this embodiment, the first distance is half (PY/2) the first pitch PY. The second distance is half (Px/2) the second pitch Px. When the first droplet group and the second droplet group are arranged as described above, the plurality of first droplets1aand the plurality of second droplets1bcan be arranged in the houndstooth pattern.

The plurality of droplets1in the arrangement example in this embodiment further include a third droplet array C in which third droplets1care arrayed at the first pitch PYin the first direction (Y-axis direction) as shown inFIG.2B. The third droplet array C (third droplets1c) is arranged at the same position as the second droplet arrays B1and B2(second droplets1b) in the first direction (Y-axis direction), so that it may be understood as a part of the second droplet group described above. That is, the third droplet array C may be understood as the second droplet array, which is to be arranged in the outer peripheral portion to achieve the target thickness of the residual layer thickness in the outer peripheral portion of the shot region2, shifted toward the inside (+X direction) of the shot region2.

The third droplet array C is arranged while being shifted (offset), with respect to the first droplet array A1(specific droplet array) closest to the side2aof the shot region2in the first droplet group (the plurality of first droplet arrays), by the first distance in the first direction (Y-axis direction). In this embodiment, the first distance is half (PY/2) the first pitch PY. In addition, the third droplet array C is arranged such that the distance between the first droplet array A1(specific droplet array) and the third droplet array C in the second direction (X-axis direction) is smaller than the second distance (Px/2). That is, in the second direction (X-axis direction), the third droplet array C can be arranged within a range β, that is, with the position of the first droplet array A1as a reference (0), on the +X direction side of the position of −Px/2 and on the −X direction side of the position of the +Px/2. Further, the third droplet array C can be arranged so as to be spaced apart from the side2aof the shot region2by a distance of at least ¼ the second pitch Px.

Here, inFIG.2B, the third droplet array C is arranged at the same position as the first droplet array A1(specific droplet array) in the second direction (X-axis direction). However, as shown inFIG.3A, the third droplet array C may be arranged at a position closer to the side2athan the first droplet array A1in the second direction (X-axis direction). As has been described above, the third droplet array C corresponds to the second droplet array, which is to be arranged in the outer peripheral portion of the shot region2, shifted toward the inside (+X direction) of the shot region2. Accordingly, the amount of the imprint material (the amount of the droplets) for achieving the target thickness of the residual layer thickness in the outer peripheral portion of the shot region2is ensured. Then, in order to reduce extrusion of the imprint material from the shot region2(side2a), with the position of the first droplet array A1in the second direction (X-axis direction) as the reference, the third droplet array C is arranged on the +X direction side of the position of −Px/2.

Alternatively, as shown inFIG.3B, the third droplet array C may be arranged at a position farther from the side2athan the first droplet array A1in the second direction (X-axis direction). In this case, extrusion of the imprint material from the shot region2(side2a) can be further reduced, but the time required for the imprint material to reach the side2aincreases, so that the productivity (throughput) can decrease. Therefore, in consideration of achievement of both reduction of extrusion and the productivity, the third droplet array C is arranged on the −X direction side of the position of +Px/2 with the position of the first droplet array A1in the second direction (X-axis direction) as the reference.

Next, a determination method of determining the target arrangement of the plurality of droplets1of the imprint material16to be supplied onto the shot region2(predetermined region) in the imprint process will be described.FIG.4is a flowchart illustrating the determination method of determining the target arrangement of the imprint material16(the plurality of droplets1). An example will be described below in which the flowchart (determination method) ofFIG.4is performed by the controller18of the imprint apparatus10. However, the flowchart may be performed by an external computer outside the imprint apparatus10.

In step S11, the controller18obtains various kinds of conditions (imprint conditions) in the imprint process. Examples of the imprint conditions are the arrangement of the concave-convex pattern formed in the pattern region11aof the mold11, the depth of the concave pattern in the concave-convex pattern, the thickness of the residual layer thickness of the pattern of the imprint material16to be formed on the shot region2of the substrate14, and the like. Next, in step S12, the controller18determines, based on the imprint conditions obtained in step S11, the temporary arrangement of the plurality of droplets1to be arranged on the shot region2. For example, the controller18determines the first pitch PYand the second pitch Pxdescribed above based on the imprint conditions while assuming (setting) that the plurality of droplets1are arranged in a houndstooth pattern on the shot region2. With this, the temporary arrangement can be determined.

In step S13, the controller18determines, as the third droplet array C, the droplet array closest to the side2aof the shot region2in the temporary arrangement determined in step S12. Then, in step S14, the controller18changes the position of the third droplet array C within the range β described above. For example, the controller18can determine the position of the third droplet array C in accordance with whether reduction of extrusion of the imprint material is prioritized or the productivity is prioritized. As an example, if the productivity is given a higher priority than reduction of extrusion of the imprint material, as shown inFIG.3A, the controller18can arrange the third droplet array C closer to the side2aof the shot region2than the first droplet array A1(specific droplet array) in accordance with the priority (as the priority is higher). On the other hand, if reduction of extrusion of the imprint material is given a higher priority than the productivity, as shown inFIG.3B, the controller18can arrange the third droplet array C farther from the side2aof the shot region2than the first droplet array A1in accordance with the priority (as the priority is higher).

In step S15, the controller18determines, as the target arrangement, the arrangement of the plurality of droplets1obtained by changing the position of the third droplet array C in step S14. With this, as has been described above, the arrangement including the first droplet group including the plurality of first droplet arrays (the plurality of first droplets1a), the second droplet group including the plurality of second droplet arrays (the plurality of second droplets1b), and the third droplet array C (the plurality of third droplets1c) can be determined as the target arrangement.

As has been described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the target arrangement of the imprint material16(the plurality of droplets) that can achieve both of improvement of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness and reduction of extrusion of the imprint material16. The imprint apparatus10can achieve both of improvement of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness and reduction of extrusion of the imprint material16by supplying the imprint material16onto the shot region2in accordance with the target arrangement in the imprint process on the shot region2. That is, it is possible to accurately form the pattern of the imprint material on the substrate14(on the shot region2).

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the shot region2of the substrate14is set as the predetermined region onto which the imprint material16is to be supplied as the plurality of droplets1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a partial region included in the shot region2may be set as the predetermined region. Note that this embodiment basically takes over the first embodiment, and the arrangement and processing other than those described below are as described in the first embodiment.

FIG.5Ashows the layout of a plurality of shot regions2in a substrate14, andFIG.5Bshows the target arrangement of an imprint material16to be supplied as the plurality of droplets1onto each shot region. A pattern region11aof a mold11is formed with a pattern including, for example, lines and spaces, holes, pillars, and other depths, and the arrangement (tendency) of the pattern may be different for each partial region in the pattern region11a. In this case, the target arrangement of the imprint material16can be changed for each partial region. In the example shown inFIG.5B, the pattern arrangement in a partial region8is different from that in the remaining region and, accordingly, the target arrangement of the imprint material16in the partial region8is also different from that in the remaining region. In this case, in the boundary portion including the boundary (that is, a side of the partial region8) between the partial region8and the remaining region, the decrease of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness and/or extrusion of the imprint material readily occurs. Therefore, also for the target arrangement of the imprint material in the partial region8, the position of a third droplet array C is changed (corrected or modified) as has been described in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the side (the boundary with the remaining region) of the partial region8can correspond to the side of the shot region2in the first embodiment.

As has been described above, in this embodiment, the method described in the first embodiment is applied to not only the outer peripheral portion of the shot region2but also to the boundary portion of the partial region8inside the shot region2. With this, also in the boundary portion (side) of the partial portion8, it is possible to achieve both of improvement of the uniformity of the residual layer thickness and reduction of extrusion of the imprint material. Accordingly, in the entire region of the shot region2, it is possible to accurately form the pattern of the imprint material.

Embodiment of Method of Manufacturing Article

A method of manufacturing an article according to the embodiment of the present invention is suitable for manufacturing an article, for example, a microdevice such as a semiconductor device or an element having a microstructure. The method of manufacturing an article according to the embodiment includes a step of forming a pattern to an imprint material supplied (applied) onto a substrate by using the above-described imprint apparatus (imprint method) and a step of processing the substrate on which the pattern has been formed in the preceding step. Furthermore, this manufacturing method includes other well-known steps (for example, oxidization, deposition, vapor deposition, doping, planarization, etching, resist removal, dicing, bonding, and packaging, and the like). The method of manufacturing an article according to the embodiment is superior to a conventional method in at least one of the performance, quality, productivity, and production cost of the article.

The pattern of a cured material formed using the imprint apparatus is used permanently for at least some of various kinds of articles or temporarily when manufacturing various kinds of articles. The articles are an electric circuit element, an optical element, a MEMS, a recording element, a sensor, a mold, and the like. Examples of the electric circuit element are volatile or nonvolatile semiconductor memories such as a DRAM, a SRAM, a flash memory, and a MRAM and semiconductor elements such as an LSI, a CCD, an image sensor, and an FPGA. Examples of the mold are molds for imprint.

The pattern of the cured material is directly used as the constituent member of at least some of the above-described articles or used temporarily as a resist mask. After etching or ion implantation is performed in the substrate processing step, the resist mask is removed.

A detailed method of manufacturing an article will be described next. As shown inFIG.6A, a substrate1zsuch as a silicon wafer with a target material2zto be processed such as an insulator formed on the surface is prepared. Next, an imprint material3zis applied to the surface of the target material2zby an inkjet method or the like. A state in which the imprint material3zis applied as a plurality of droplets onto the substrate is shown here.

As shown inFIG.6B, a mold4zfor imprint is caused to face to the substrate1zsuch that a pattern with convex and concave portions formed in the mold4zis directed to the imprint material3zon the substrate1z. As shown inFIG.6C, the mold4zand the imprint material3zapplied on the substrate1zare brought into contact with each other, and subjected to a pressure. The gap between the mold4zand the target material2zis filled with the imprint material3z. In this state, by irradiating the imprint material3zwith energy for curing through the mold4z, the imprint material3zis cured.

As shown inFIG.6D, after the imprint material3zis cured, the mold4zis separated from the substrate1z. Then, the pattern of the cured material of the imprint material3zis formed on the substrate1z. In the pattern of the cured material, the concave portion of the mold corresponds to the convex portion of the cured material, and the convex portion of the mold corresponds to the concave portion of the cured material. That is, the pattern with convex and concave portions in the mold4zis transferred to the imprint material3z.

As shown inFIG.6E, by performing etching process using the pattern of the cured material as an etching resistant mask, a portion of the surface of the target material2zwhere the cured material does not exist or remains thin is removed to form a groove5z. As shown inFIG.6F, by removing the pattern of the cured material, an article with the grooves5zformed in the surface of the target material2zcan be obtained. Here, the pattern of the cured material is removed. However, instead of processing or removing the pattern of the cured material, it may be used as, for example, an interlayer dielectric film included in a semiconductor element or the like, that is, a constituent member of an article.

Other Embodiments

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-066065 filed on Apr. 8, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.