Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7669608?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-03-14 07:00:08
Document Index: 125722648

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 2002', 'Application No. 2002', 'Application No. 10', 'application No. 2002']

Patent US7669608 - Substrate treating method, substrate-processing apparatus, developing method ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThere is disclosed a substrate treating method comprising supplying a treating solution onto a substrate, and continuously discharging a first cleaning solution to the substrate from a first discharge region disposed in a nozzle, while moving the nozzle and substrate with respect to each other in one...http://www.google.com/patents/US7669608?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7669608 - Substrate treating method, substrate-processing apparatus, developing method, method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and method of cleaning a developing solution nozzleAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7669608 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/988,639Publication dateMar 2, 2010Filing dateNov 16, 2004Priority dateJan 28, 2002Also published asCN1266549C, CN1435733A, US7018481, US20040029026, US20050087217, US20100104988Publication number10988639, 988639, US 7669608 B2, US 7669608B2, US-B2-7669608, US7669608 B2, US7669608B2InventorsKei Hayasaki, Shinichi Ito, Tatsuhiko Ema, Riichiro TakahashiOriginal AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha ToshibaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (30), Non-Patent Citations (6), Classifications (14), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSubstrate treating method, substrate-processing apparatus, developing method, method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and method of cleaning a developing solution nozzleUS 7669608 B2Abstract There is disclosed a substrate treating method comprising supplying a treating solution onto a substrate, and continuously discharging a first cleaning solution to the substrate from a first discharge region disposed in a nozzle, while moving the nozzle and substrate with respect to each other in one direction, wherein a length of a direction crossing at right angles to the direction of the first discharge region is equal to or more than a maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate, the nozzle continuously spouts a first gas to the substrate from a first jet region, and the length of a direction crossing at right angles to the direction of the first jet region is equal to or more than the maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate.
a substrate support portion which supports and fixes a substrate;
a nozzle including a first discharge region, a second discharge region, and a first jet region disposed between the first discharge region and the second discharge region, the first discharge region configured to discharge a first solution to the substrate, the second discharge region configured to discharge a second solution to the substrate and the first jet region configured to spout a first gas to the substrate; and
a moving portion configured to relatively move the nozzle with respect to the substrate in a direction substantially parallel to a main surface of the substrate,
wherein a width of the nozzle taken in a direction perpendicular to a relative movement direction of the first discharge region and first jet region is equal to or more than a maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate, and
wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the first and second discharge regions and a rectangular opening is formed in the first jet region, and a total width of the first and second discharge regions and the first jet region, taken in a direction substantially parallel to the relative movement direction, is smaller than a diameter of the substrate.
2. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width of the direction crossing at right angles to the relative movement direction of the second discharge region is a length which is equal to or more than the maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate.
3. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle further comprises a second jet region which spouts a second gas to the substrate,
the width of the direction crossing at right angles to the relative movement direction of the second jet region is a length which is equal to or more than the maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate, and
the first and second jet regions are disposed to hold the first discharge region therebetween.
4. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in each of the first and second discharge regions, and
a rectangular opening is formed in the first and second jet regions.
5. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the nozzle further comprises a third jet region which spouts a third gas to the substrate,
the width of the direction crossing at right angles to the relative movement direction of the third jet region is a length which is equal to or more than the maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate, and
the second and third jet regions are disposed to hold the second discharge region therebetween.
6. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in each of the first and second discharge regions, and
a rectangular opening is formed in the first to third jet regions.
7. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle further comprises a third discharge region which discharges the treating solution to the substrate, and
the width of the direction crossing at right angles to the relative movement direction of the third discharge region is a length which is equal to or more than the maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate.
8. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of the rectangular opening is equal to or more than a maximum diameter or longest side of the substrate.
9. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first solution is comprised of a cleaning solution and the first gas is comprised of a high-pressure dry air.
10. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second solution is comprised of a cleaning solution.
11. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving means moves the nozzle with respect to the substrate.
12. The substrate treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein bubbles are generated in the first solution by the second gas spouted from the second jet region.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division of application Ser. No. 10/351,422, filed Jan. 27, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,481, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. This application is also based upon and claims priority from prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2002-17937, filed Jan. 28, 2002, and No. 2002-57764, filed Mar. 4, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
A manufacturing process of the semiconductor device first comprises: forming a film to be processed (e.g., an insulating film, conductive film for wiring), and a photosensitive photo resist film on a semi-conductor substrate in a known method. Thereafter, this photo resist film is subjected to the developing treatment. Here, as well known, after a predetermined pattern is projected/exposed in the photosensitive photo resist film on the semiconductor substrate via a reticle for exposure, a developing solution is supplied to form the pattern.
In recent years, technical developments such as miniaturization and high integration of the semi-conductor device and bore diameter enlargement of the semiconductor substrate have been performed. When the bore diameter of the semiconductor substrate is enlarged, that is, when an area of the substrate increases, many problems are generated in using the related-art cleaning method.
Additionally, in general, alkaline aqueous solutions such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) are used as the developing solution of the photo-sensitive resist in the manufacturing process of a semiconductor. Since the developing solution is an aqueous solution, wettability to the photosensitive resist surface having a hydrophobic nature is not sufficient. Therefore, when a reaction product generated as a result of neutralization reaction is in the vicinity of the surface, the developing solution is not easily diffused between the reaction product and photosensitive resist surface, and alkali ion concentration locally differs. As a result, it has been observed that a developing rate differs with a position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing method of developing a photosensitive resist film in which a desired pattern is exposed, comprising: supplying a developing solution to the photosensitive resist film; and fluidizing the developing solution on the photo-sensitive resist film, wherein the step of fluidizing the developing solution includes an off time for which the developing solution reaches a bottom surface of a region of the photosensitive resist film soluble to the developing solution between a start time and end time.
Moreover, at this time, the cleaning solution (e.g., pure water) is discharged from a nozzle (not especially shown) for cleaning the above-described back surface, and the cleaning treatment of the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 106 is performed. In this manner, when the front surface of the semi-conductor substrate 106 is cleaned, the back surface is cleaned. Thereby, the developing solution, dissolution product, and micro particles removed from the front surface of the semiconductor substrate 106 can securely be discharged without being left in the semiconductor substrate 106 which includes the back surface. Furthermore, when the front and back surfaces are simultaneously cleaned/treated, it is possible to securely obtain the cleaning effect of the semi-conductor substrate 106 in a shorter time.
It is to be noted that in the present embodiment the nozzle for cleaning 102 may be moved with respect to the semiconductor substrate 106 to supply the respective cleaning solutions and dry air with the high pressure. Therefore, it is also possible to fix the nozzle for cleaning 102, discharge the respective cleaning solutions in this state, move the semi-conductor substrate 106 including the chuck for fixing/supporting 101, and supply the cleaning solutions 108, 110 and dry air 109 to the region to be treated on the semiconductor substrate 106.
In the present embodiment, the above-described cleaning treatment mechanism is used to subject the substrate to a cleaning treatment step. In the present embodiment, a substrate treating method will be described in terms of one example of the process of manufacturing the semiconductor device in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In this case, the developing treatment step and then the cleaning treatment step are successively performed so as to form the pattern in the photosensitive photo resist film on the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, the semi-conductor substrate is used as one example in the substrate.
Subsequently, the semiconductor substrate including the photo resist film is heat-treated. Thereafter, the above-described movable-nozzle for developing is used to perform the so-called scan developing treatment, and the pattern having the predetermined dimension and shape is formed on the photo resist film. Here, while the nozzle for developing is scanned at the constant speed of about 60 mm/sec, the predetermined developing solution is supplied to the photo resist film on the semiconductor substrate, the known paddle developing treatment is performed, and the pattern is formed on the photo resist film.
Concretely, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, first the cleaning nozzle 202 is brought close to one end of a semiconductor substrate 206. Thereafter, while the constant interval is kept from the film of a developing solution 207 on the semi-conductor substrate 206, the nozzle is moved and scanned in parallel toward the other end, and the cleaning treatment is performed. At this time, while the cleaning nozzle 202 is scanned, as shown in FIG. 8, three air supply nozzles 202 a, 202 c, 202 e, and two cleaning solution supply nozzles 202 b, 202 d supply high-pressure dry airs 208, 210, 212, cleaning solution A 209, and cleaning solution B 211 to the developing solution 207 as one example. It is to be noted that reference numeral 216 denotes the photo resist film.
Moreover, at this time, the cleaning nozzle 202 is brought close to a height of 3 mm or less from the surface of the developing solution 207 on the semi-conductor substrate 206, and the constant interval is kept to such an extent that the nozzle does not contact the pattern on the photo resist. Thereafter, while the cleaning solution A 209, cleaning solution B 211, and high-pressure dry airs 208, 210, 212 are supplied from the cleaning nozzle 202 as described above, the nozzle is scanned over the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate 206 from one end to the other end of the semiconductor substrate 206. Therefore, the high-pressure dry air 208, cleaning solution A 209 (e.g., ozone water), high-pressure dry air 210, cleaning solution B 211, and high-pressure dry air 212 are supplied in order in the region to be treated on the semiconductor substrate 206.
Moreover, at this time, the cleaning solution (e.g., pure water) is discharged from the nozzle (not especially shown) for cleaning the above-described back surface, and the cleaning treatment of the back surface of the semiconductor substrate 206 is performed. In this manner, when the front surface of the semi-conductor substrate is cleaned, the back surface is cleaned. Thereby, the developing solution, dissolution product, and micro particles removed from the front surface of the semiconductor substrate 206 can securely be discharged without being left in the semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, when the front and back surfaces are simultaneously cleaned/treated, it is possible to securely perform the cleaning treatment of the semiconductor substrate 206 in short time.
Furthermore, the second air supply nozzle 202 c spouts the high-pressure dry air 210. The region below the first cleaning solution supply nozzle 202 b is partitioned by the air curtain on opposite sides, and blocked in the scan direction. Therefore, a region in which the cleaning solution A 209 functions is limited to the region partitioned by the high-pressure dry airs 208, 210. The film thickness of the developing solution 207 in the region is reduced as described above. Additionally, the amount of the solution is sufficiently reduced as compared with the cleaning solution A 209. In this case, the amount of the cleaning solution A 209 consumed by the developing solution 207 decreases in the process of performing the cleaning treatment, and it is possible to keep the concentration to be substantially constant from a supply time. Therefore, the cleaning nozzle 202 is scanned, thereby the developing solution 207 is momentarily replaced with the cleaning solution A 209 (e.g., ozone water), and it is possible to perform the cleaning-treatment in the whole surface of the semiconductor substrate 206 in short time.
water + ozone
A diagram in which a flow of development start, developing solution flow, and development end is shown along a time axis is shown in FIG. 24. After a developing solution supply step, stationary development is performed for (x−1) seconds. Thereafter, the substrate was rotated at a predetermined revolution number (250 rpm) for two seconds, and the developing solution was fluidized. The development was stopped in 30 seconds after the development start. At this time, x was defined as the timing to fluidize the solution. The dispersion (3σ) of 130 nmL/S(1:1) pattern with a change of x in two to 12 seconds is shown in FIG. 25. The dispersion without fluidizing any solution is 10.2 nm. Since the solution was fluidized, the dispersion decreased. Especially, best uniformity was obtained with six seconds. Moreover, the uniformity was relatively good with four, eight seconds. That is, with the solution flow in the vicinity of the off time obtained from the reflected light intensity change of the object pattern (off time�two seconds, that is, off time�33%), good uniformity is obtained.
A diagram in which a sequence is shown along the time axis is shown in FIG. 24. After the developing solution supply step, the stationary development was performed for (x−1) seconds. Thereafter, the substrate was rotated at the predetermined revolution number (250 rpm) for two seconds, and the developing solution was fluidized. The development was stopped in 60 seconds after the development start. At this time, x was defined as the timing to fluidize the solution. The dispersion (3σ) of the 130 nmL/S(1:1) pattern with a change of x in ten to 35 seconds is shown in FIG. 27. The dispersion without fluidizing any solution is 9.8 nm. Since the solution was fluidized, the dispersion decreased. Especially, best uniformity was obtained with 20 seconds. Moreover, the uniformity was relatively good with 15, 25 seconds. That is, with the solution flow in the vicinity of the off time obtained from the reflected light intensity change of the object pattern (off time�five seconds, that is, off time�25%), good uniformity was obtained.
Seventh Embodiment In the semiconductor manufacturing process, an operation of paddle-forming the developing solution on the substrate in which the resist film is formed, and processing the resist film in a desired shape is repeatedly performed. In the related art, the substrate in which the resist film is formed has heretofore been coated with the developing-solution to perform the developing step. In general, the developing solution supply nozzle is used to supply the developing solution. In the developing method in which the developing solution supply nozzle is used in this manner, the tip end of the nozzle from which the developing solution is discharged is positioned in the vicinity of the substrate, and the solution is supplied. Therefore, the developing solution in which the resist is dissolved contacts the nozzle. As a result, a solid material of the resist sticks to the developing solution supply nozzle. This sticking material sometimes causes the defect of the substrate.
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