2D self-aligned via patterning strategy with EUV single-exposure in 3nm technology

EUV lithography (EUVL) is rising up as a solution of sub-10nm technology node via patterning. Due to better resolution of EUVL than it of immersion ArF (iArF) lithography, multiple iArF masks can be replaced by one EUV mask. However, for 24nm by 24nm metal grid, two diagonally neighboring vias yield either contour of two holes or peanut-shape contour. Because of the large variability of the via contours, the two vias are separably patterned with two different masks. We propose to insert bridge patterns (BPs) at the middle of the diagonally neighboring vias, so that single EUV exposure can draw peanut-shape contour consistently. In this study, we also assume 2D self-aligned via (2D SAV) which can align via holes in both vertical and horizontal direction for better edge placement error margin, so unique re-targeted via patterns that is called bridged via (BV) appears. We investigate impact of BV size and BP shapes on simulated contour using source mask optimization, and popular BVs are compared in terms of probability of failure which are calculated with Monte-Carlo simulation.