A photomask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a chromium-containing film deposited thereon is provided. The chromium-containing film comprises at least one CrC compound layer comprising up to 50 at % of Cr, at least 25 at % of O and/or N, and at least 5 at % of C. From the blank, a photomask having a photomask pattern formed on the substrate is produced, the photomask being used in photolithography of forming a resist pattern with a line width of up to 0.1 m, using exposure light having a wavelength of up to 250 nm.

A lithography mask including a substrate, a phase shift layer on the substrate and an etch stop layer is provided. The phase shift layer is patterned and the substrate is protected from etching by the etch stop layer. The etch stop layer can be a material that is semi-transmissive to light used in photolithography processes or it can be transmissive to light used in photolithography processes.

A semiconductor structure includes first and second active regions extending in a first direction. The semiconductor structure further includes gate electrodes extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the gate electrodes includes a first segment over at least one of the first active region or the second active region; a gate extension extending beyond each of the first active region and the second active region, wherein the gate extension has a uniform width in the first direction, and a conductive element, wherein a width of the conductive element in the first direction increases as a distance from the gate extension increases along an entirety of the conductive element in the second direction.

A semiconductor structure includes a doped region extending in a first direction. The semiconductor structure further includes an electrode extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The electrode includes a first segment over the doped region; an extension extending beyond the doped region, wherein the extension has a uniform width in the first direction, and a conductive element, wherein a width of the conductive element in the first direction increases as a distance from the extension increases along an entirety of the conductive element in the second direction.

There is provided a phase shift mask for extreme-ultraviolet lithography and a method of manufacturing the phase shift mask. The phase shift mask includes a substrate, a reflective layer, device patterns, a frame pattern, or phase shift patterns. The frame pattern is a pattern that includes alignment holes exposing portions of the reflective layer. The phase shift patterns overlap with the device patterns.

There is provided a phase shift mask for extreme-ultraviolet lithography and a method of manufacturing the phase shift mask. The phase shift mask includes a substrate, a reflective layer, device patterns, a frame pattern, or phase shift patterns. The frame pattern is a pattern that includes alignment holes exposing portions of the reflective layer. The phase shift patterns overlap with the device patterns.

An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) method includes providing at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern. A resist layer is formed over a substrate. An optimum exposure dose of the resist layer is determined, and a latent image is formed on a same area of the resist layer by a multiple exposure process. The multiple exposure process includes a plurality of exposure processes and each of the plurality of exposure processes uses a different phase-shifting mask area from the at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern.

An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) method includes providing at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern. A resist layer is formed over a substrate. An optimum exposure dose of the resist layer is determined, and a latent image is formed on a same area of the resist layer by a multiple exposure process. The multiple exposure process includes a plurality of exposure processes and each of the plurality of exposure processes uses a different phase-shifting mask area from the at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern.

An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) method includes providing at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern. A resist layer is formed over a substrate. An optimum exposure dose of the resist layer is determined, and a latent image is formed on a same area of the resist layer by a multiple exposure process. The multiple exposure process includes a plurality of exposure processes and each of the plurality of exposure processes uses a different phase-shifting mask area from the at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern.

An extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) method includes providing at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern. A resist layer is formed over a substrate. An optimum exposure dose of the resist layer is determined, and a latent image is formed on a same area of the resist layer by a multiple exposure process. The multiple exposure process includes a plurality of exposure processes and each of the plurality of exposure processes uses a different phase-shifting mask area from the at least two phase-shifting mask areas having a same pattern.