• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2005

We propose an effective and environmentally friendly dry stripping method using a supercritical carbon dioxide ($SCCO_2$) system modified by a single and multiple cosolvents to remove ion-implanted photoresist and residue from a wafer surface at three different temperatures (97, 148, $200^{\circ}C$) and pressures (200, 300, 400 bar). After high dose of ion implantation the photoresist was not easily removed by using pure $SCCO_2$, but swollen. The $SCCO_2$ system modified by single cosolvents and multiple cosolvents mixed with aprotic solvents could not effectively remove the heavy organics, but swell them. However, the $SCCO_2$ system modified with multiple cosolvent (5%, v/v) composed of DMSO and DIW showed high removal efficiency for ion-implanted photoresists at $97^{\circ}C$ and 200 bar for 30 min (about 80%). In this study it has been shown that the dry stripping method using $SCCO_2$ system modified with multiple cosolvents could replace either plasma ashing or acid and solvent wet bench method and dramatically reduce accompanied chemical usage and disposal.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2017

The supercritical $CO_2$ (sc-$CO_2$) mixture and the sc-$CO_2$-based Photoresist(PR) stripping(SCPS) process were applied to the removal of the post etch/ash PR residue on aluminum patterned wafers and the results were observed by scanning of electron microscope(SEM). In the case of MDII wafers, the carbonized PR was able to be effectively removed without pre-stripping by oxygen plasma ashing by using sc-$CO_2$ mixture containing the optimum formulated additives at the proper pressure and temperature, and the same result was also able to be obtained in the case of HDII wafer. It was found that the efficiency of SCPS of ion implanted wafer improved as the temperature of SCPS was high, so a very large amount of MEA in the sc-$CO_2$ mixture could be reduced if the temperature could be increased at condition that a process permits, and the ion implanted photoresist(IIP) on the wafer was able to be removed completely without pre-treatment of plasma ashing by using the only 1 step SCPS process. By using SCPS process, PR polymers formed on sidewalls of metal conductive layers such as aluminum films, titanium and titanium nitride films by dry etching and ashing processes were removed effectively with the minimization of the corrosion of the metal conductive layers.

• Clean Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.300-305
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• 2011

A mixture of supercritical carbon dioxide and a co-solvent was employed to strip a high-dose ion-implanted photoresist (HDIPR) from the surface of semiconductor wafers. The stripping efficiency was highly improved by the physical force generated from a ultrasonication tip inside the reactor. In addition, helium gas was injected in the reactor as a barrier gas before the introduction of pure supercritical $CO_2$ ($scCO_2$), which reduced the rinsing time significantly. The effect of co-solvents on the stripping efficiency was investigated. The wafer surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and by an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer.

• Clean Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2009

A high-dose ion-implanted photoresist (HDIPR) was stripped off from the surface of a semiconductor wafer by using a mixture of supercritical carbon dioxide and a co-solvent. The additional ultrasonication improved the stripping efficiency remarkably and thus reduced the stripping time by supplying physical force to the substrate. We investigated the effect of co-solvents, co-solvent concentration, and stripping temperature and pressure on the stripping efficiency. The wafer surfaces before and after stripping were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and by an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The HDIPR could be stripped off completely in 3 min with 10%(w/w) acetone/sc$C0_2$ mixture at 27.6 MPa and 343 K.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.544-548
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• 2008

At the semiconductor industry, Photoresist(PR) strip progress has high cost and time consuming process. Accordingly, many research group have been focused on the shortening of the PR strip progress. But the replacements of newly developed materials rather than normally used strip have accompanied by cost consumption. Therefore, we suggested the Plasma Liquid-Vapor Activation (PLVA) method of general PR strip solution for saving the PR strip time and the high strip rate of PR residue. The PLVA method was very effective for PR strip progress. Also, the ion damaged PR(high dose implanted photoresist: HDI-PR) was almost impossible to strip. However, it was very difficult to characterize the change of chemical composition of HDI-PR between with and without PLVA method. Thus, physical properties of HDI-PR surface with and without PLVA method were measured by using the nano-indenter system.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics A
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• v.32A no.1
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• pp.185-192
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• 1995

In this study, very fine photoresist pattern was examined using the image reversal process. And very fine photoriesist pattern (less than 0.2um) was obtsined by optimizing the exposure and reversal baking condition of photoresist. The produced pattern does not show the loss of thickness, and has a sparp negative edge profile. also, the ion implanted 0.25um T-shaped gate MESFET was fabricated using this resist pattern and the directional evaporation of gate metal. The fabricated MESFET has the maximum transconductance of 302 mS/mm, and the threshold voltage of -1.8V, and the drain saturation current of this MESFET was 191 mA/mm.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2009

In the modem semiconductor industry, the progress that consumes the most capital and labor is cleansing process. Cleansing process is to remove impurities that can affect the operation of the device and deteriorate its function. Especially, Photoresist (PR) progress that etches the device always requires cleansing at the end of the progress. Also, HDI-PR (High-Dose Ion-implanted Photoresist) created from PR progress is difficult to remove. Thus, in modem IC cleansing, many steps of cleansing are used, including dry and wet cleansing. In this paper, we suggested to combine existing dry-cleansing and wet-cleansing, each represented by plasma cleansing and stripper solution, as Plasma Liquid-Vapor Activation (PLVA). This PLVA method enhances the effect of existing cleansing solution, and decreases the amount of solution and time required to strip. We stripped HDI-PR by activated solution and measured surface hardness and Young's modulus by Nano-indenter. Nano-indenter is the equipment that determines the hardness and the modulus of elasticity by indenting nano-sized tip with specific shape into the surface and measuring weight and z-axis displacement. We measured the change of surface hardness and Young's modulus before and after the cleansing. As a result, we found out that the surface hardness of the sample sharply decreased after the cleansing by plasma-activated PR stripper solution. It can be considered that if physical surface-cleansing process is inserted after this, more effective elimination of HDI-PR is possible.