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> trenches following the edges of my mask pattern. However this was very
> sparse throughout the wafer, while the marks I've shown cover the whole
> surface and I could not find anything correlating to this large scale
> effect (I used our optical profilometer for this). But interesting that
> liquid being trapped under the overhang of a lift-off mask can cause this,
> which means we need to be more careful with the rinse steps.
>
> Dave Hollingshead suggested the MLA150 laser causing surface
> modifications. Unfortunately I had the same issues when working with a
> contact aligner, so I guess that this is not the case.
>
> Malcom Hathaway suggested a change in the substrate reflectivity, which is
> my current hypothesis. However this seems to affect both Si and oxide,
> since I see this effect on both cases, so this may be in fact a case of
> chemicals sticking to the surface and not coming out even during long
> piranha baths. I have AFM and other surface characterization options
> planned, it is a matter of finding a good time to have it done now.
>
> Thank you all again for the suggestions and references. I'll make sure to
> post an update here if I have anything useful.
>
> Best,
> --
> Gustavo de Oliveira Luiz, PhD
> Applications/Research Specialist
> nanoFAB, University of Alberta
>
> On Fri, Mar 24, 2023 at 3:21?PM Hathaway, Malcolm R <
> hathaway at cns.fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hi Gustavo,
>>
>> Another thought (from a non-photo-expert, for sure!):
>>
>> It may be the prior photo steps are changing the reflectivity of the
>> silicon (or aluminum, on Travis's samples), especially as it shows up as
>> having an effect on dose. Surface roughening? A very thin chemical
>> residue?
>>
>> Perhaps an AFM scan would be revealing...
>>
>>
>> Mac Hathaway
>> Harvard CNS
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu> on behalf of Massey,
>> Travis <massey21 at llnl.gov>
>> *Sent:* Friday, March 24, 2023 2:30 PM
>> *To:* Gustavo de Oliveira Luiz <deolivei at ualberta.ca>;
>> labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu <labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>
>> *Subject:* Re: [labnetwork] Strange "sample memory" with LOR 5B
>>
>>
>> Hi Gustavo,
>>
>>
>>
>> I don?t have a definitive answer for you, and I?m certainly no chemist,
>> but also consider the role of AZ Developer (another base) and reactions of
>> NMP with residual water or alkaline solutions.
>>
>>
>>
>> First, the pair of alkaline developers *may* actually be enough to break
>> through the relatively thin oxide created by the piranha, at which point
>> the bases will start attacking the silicon. Second, if this is only
>> happening with LOR, it?s also possible that residual liquid (likely
>> alkaline) is being trapped under the AZ 1512 then reacting with the NMP.
>> Spinning may not do a great job of removing this liquid trapped beneath the
>> resist overhang. I suspect a bulk attack, though, since the residual
>> patterns in the wafer reflect the resist pattern itself rather than the
>> perimeters of the resist patterns. I haven?t noticed this before on SiO2,
>> but NMP alone ? and especially water-contaminated NMP ? can attack some
>> metals (Al, Cu, etc.). This paper suggests that acidic or alkaline
>> contaminants in NMP may exacerbate the problem. I see these ghosts of
>> previous patterns all the time in aluminum-coated wafers I pattern and
>> reuse repeatedly for process development/characterization, and I?ve
>> recently started seeing it on Ti as well ? no LOR, just an assortment of
>> positive resists.
>>
>> https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=9211805
>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ieeexplore.ieee.org_stamp_stamp.jsp-3Ftp-3D-26arnumber-3D9211805&d=DwMGaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=TEMLD8-VsxCGtcVzmvpT5GFNSczskEKHzW6aYlttmIY&m=1-k7qvkCMYMPtYpozWsK_KGAJGieHTpEbECqW_3lIM8S9M8eXG8-e5DadL6e-7pS&s=Z-bdFigBPa6X1HeTz5-YGnfzpYQPP0zbhVFxbzVW_0A&e=>
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Travis Massey
>>
>> Center for Micro and Nanotechnology
>>
>> Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu> * On Behalf Of *Gustavo
>> de Oliveira Luiz
>> *Sent:* Friday, March 24, 2023 10:37 AM
>> *To:* labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu