A lithography method to pattern a first semiconductor wafer is disclosed. An optical mask is positioned over the first semiconductor wafer. A first region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing light from a light source through transparent regions of the optical mask. A second region of the first semiconductor wafer is patterned by directing energy from an energy source to the second region, wherein the patterning of the second region comprises direct-beam writing.

A photoresist film is patterned into an array of island shapes with improved critical dimension uniformity and no phase edges by using two alternating phase shifting masks (AltPSMs) and one post expose bake (PEB). The photoresist layer is exposed with a first AltPSM having a line/space (L/S) pattern where light through alternating clear regions on each side of an opaque line is 180° phase shifted. Thereafter, there is a second exposure with a second AltPSM having a L/S pattern where opaque lines are aligned orthogonal to the lengthwise dimension of opaque lines in the first exposure, and with alternating 0° and 180° clear regions. Then, a PEB and subsequent development process are used to form an array of island shapes. The double exposure method enables smaller island shapes than conventional photolithography and uses relatively simple AltPSM designs that are easier to implement in production than other optical enhancement techniques.

A patterning method includes forming a multilayer photoresist stack on a substrate. The multilayer photoresist stack includes a first layer of a wet photoresist, deposited by spin-on deposition, over a second layer of a dry photoresist, deposited by vapor deposition. The multilayer photoresist stack is exposed to a first pattern of actinic radiation including relative, spatially-varying doses of actinic radiation and including high-dose regions, mid-dose regions and low-dose regions. The multilayer photoresist stack and the first pattern of actinic radiation are configured such that after the exposing the multilayer photoresist stack to the first pattern of actinic radiation, in the high-dose regions, developability of both the first layer and the second layer is changed; in the mid-dose regions, developability of the first layer is changed while developability of the second layer is unchanged; in the low-dose regions, developability of both the first layer and the second layer is unchanged.

Lithography fabrication methods for producing polymeric microneedles, microprobes, and other micron-sized structures with sharp tips. The fabrication process utilizes a single-step bottom-up exposure of photosensitive resin through a photomask micro-pattern, with a corresponding change/increase in refractive index of the resin creating a meta-state waveguide within the resin which focuses down additional transmitted energy and forms a converging shape (first harmonic microcone). Energy is diffracted through the tip of the first harmonic microcone as a second harmonic beam to form a second converging shape (second harmonic shape) adjacent the first microcone, followed by additional tertiary harmonic microcones, which can be built upon these structures with application of additional energy.

A mask includes a first region and a second region. The first region includes a first light-shielding strip and a second light-shielding strip, the second region includes a third light-shielding strip, the first light-shielding strip, the second light-shielding strip is located between the first light-shielding strip and the third light-shielding strip, the first light-shielding strip, the second light-shielding strip and the third light-shielding strip are configured to shield light and bound spaces, and the spaces are configured in such a manner that light is allowed to pass through the spaces. A width of the first light-shielding strip in a first direction is larger than a width of the second light-shielding strip in the first direction, and the width of the second light-shielding strip in the first direction is larger than a width of the third light-shielding strip in the first direction.

Techniques herein include methods for forming a direct write, tunable stress film and methods for correcting wafer bow using said stress film. The method can be executed on a coater-developer tool or track-based tool. The stress film can be based on a film that undergoes crosslinking/decrosslinking under external stimulus where direct write is achieved by, but is not limited to, 365 nm exposure and subsequent cure is used to “pattern-in” stress. No develop step may be required, which provides additional significant benefit in conserving film planarity. An amount of bow (or internal stress to create or affect a bow signature) can be tuned with exposure dose, bake temperature, bake time and number of bakes.

A transfer-printable (e.g., micro-transfer-printable) device source wafer comprises a growth substrate comprising a growth material, a plurality of device structures comprising one or more device materials different from the growth material, the device structures disposed on and laterally spaced apart over the growth substrate, each device structure comprising a device, and a patterned dissociation interface disposed between each device structure of the plurality of device structures and the growth substrate. The growth material is more transparent to a desired frequency of electromagnetic radiation than at least one of the one or more device materials. The patterned dissociation interface has one or more areas of relatively greater adhesion each defining an anchor between the growth substrate and a device structure of the plurality of device structures and one or more dissociated areas of relatively lesser adhesion between the growth substrate and the device structure of the plurality of device structures.

A method of reducing junction resistance variation for junctions in quantum information processing devices fabricated using two-step deposition processes. In one aspect, a method includes providing a dielectric substrate, forming a first resist layer on the dielectric substrate, forming a second resist layer on the first resist layer, and forming a third resist layer on the second resist layer. The first resist layer includes a first opening extending through a thickness of the first resist layer, the second resist layer includes a second opening aligned over the first opening and extending through a thickness of the second resist layer, and the third resist layer includes a third opening aligned over the second opening and extending through a thickness of the third resist layer.

Examples described herein provide a system, a software application, and a method of a lithography process to write multiple tones in a single pass. A system includes a stage and a lithography system. The lithography system includes image projection systems, a controller, and memory. The controller is coupled to the memory, which stores instruction code. Execution of the instruction code by the controller causes the controller to control the stage and the image projection systems to iteratively expose a photoresist supported by the stage and to move the stage relative to the image projection systems a step distance between sequential pairs of the exposures. Each exposure includes using write beam(s) projected from the image projection systems. Each exposure is at a respective one of different dosage amounts. An accumulation of the different dosage amounts is a full tone dosage amount for the photoresist.

A method includes the following steps. A photoresist is exposed to a first light-exposure through a first mask, wherein the first mask includes a first stitching region, and a portion of the photoresist corresponding to a portion of the first stitching region is unexposed during the first light-exposure. The photoresist is exposed to a second light-exposure through a second mask, wherein the second mask includes a second stitching region and a functional feature in the second stitching region, and the portion of the photoresist is exposed by the functional feature during the second light-exposure.