Reaction mechanism of ZrO x metal resists with extreme ultraviolet irradiation

The reaction mechanism of ZrO-based metal resists by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) exposure was investigated using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. EUV exposure did not affect the amorphous structure of the metal resist. After EUV exposure, the π* states of the C atom and the σ* states of the O atom of the cell molecules were reacted. Moreover, EUV exposure decomposed the carbonyl species of the cell molecules and forms the high oxidation states of ZrO x . Thus, the metal resist reaction occurred with the decomposition of cell molecules and the formation of ZrO2 by EUV exposure.