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Comparison and Uncertainties of Standards for CD-AFM Microscope Tip Width Calibration

Published

Author(s)

Ronald G. Dixson, Ndubuisi G. Orji

Abstract

Since the advent of critical-dimension atomic force microscopes (CD-AFMs) inthe 90s, these tools have enjoyed growing acceptance in semiconductormanufacturing both for process development and to support in-line criticaldimension (CD) metrology.  The most common application of CD-AFMs has beento support critical-dimension scanning electron microscope (CD-SEM) andscatterometer metrology as a reference for tool matching or as anon-destructive alternative to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) andscanning electron microscopy (SEM) cross sections.For many years, CD-AFM users typically developed in-house referencestandards for tip width calibration - often based on SEM or TEM crosssections.  But the uncertainty of such standards was often large or unknown.Tip characterizer samples - which used a sharp ridge to calibrate the tipwidth - are commercially available.  However, scanning such samples canresult in tip damage, and the uncertainty of tip calibrations based on thismethod is at least 5 nm.In 2004, NIST, SEMATECH, and VLSI Standards collaborated on the developmentand release of single crystal critical dimension reference materials(SCCDRMs) to SEMATECH member companies.  These specimens, which arefabricated using a lattice-plane-selective etch on (110) silicon, exhibitnear vertical sidewalls and high uniformity and can be used to calibrate CDAFM tip width to approximately 1 nm standard uncertainty (k = 1). Also in2004, commercial critical dimension standards (CCDS) were introduced.Using CD-AFM instruments at both NIST and SEMATECH, we have performed acomparison of nominal 45 nm and 70 nm CCDS specimens with the SCCDRMcalibration.  Our observations show that these two independently performedcalibrations are in agreement.
Proceedings Title
Proceedings of SPIE
Volume
6517
Conference Dates
February 26, 2007
Conference Location
San Jose, CA
Conference Title
Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XXI

Keywords

calibration, CD, CD-AFM, linewidth, metrology, SCCDRM, standards, traceability, uncertainty

Citation

Dixson, R. and Orji, N. (2007), Comparison and Uncertainties of Standards for CD-AFM Microscope Tip Width Calibration, Proceedings of SPIE, San Jose, CA (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created April 5, 2007, Updated February 19, 2017