Lithography
Heidelberg DWL66 Laser Printer
A laser source pattern generator used for making photomasks. A resolution limit of 1.5 microns is reliably demonstrated in our facility.
4 inch and 5 inch photomasks are patterned.
Mask Fabrication Costs
Karl Suss MA6B #1 Contact Printer
Karl Suss MA6 BA6 Contact Aligner/Printer: 1000 W broadband UV arc lamp produces 8 – 12 mW/cm2 intensity at the wafer. Resolution demonstrated to .5 micron spaces between geometries. Substrate size ranges from 5×5 mm to 150 mm (6 inch). We have mask/wafer hardware for 3, 4 and 6 in diameter substrates. System has automatic wedge compensation for both contact and proximity printing. Alignment gap is programmable from 0 to 300 micron, resolution 1 micron. Substrates and photomasks are loaded manually. For extra small substrate alignment, the system uses a reference and scan alternating alignment microscope motion. Objective lens separation distance is 40 to 140 mm. Alignment microscope illumination is filtered to prevent resist exposure on substrate. There are three objective lenses: 5x, 10x, and 20x magnification. This system also has back side alignment and illumination microscopes. The system is microprocessor controlled for convenient operator interface.
Daily Startup Checks & Operational Verifications
Operation Manual
Obducat Nano-Imprinter
Lithography imprint system for defining nano-meter features.
Ultratech Mask Cleaner
An automated system that can clean multiple masks using detergent and high pressure DI water.
CEE Spincoater
A Brewer Scientific system for coating silicon wafers with a controlled thickness of photoresist.
A precision vented hotplate, built into the chassis, allows controlled post baking of the resist.
Headway Spin Coater
The CB-15 Headway spinner has a 15 inch bowl in a vented SS hood. The spinner is used to spin coat thin films of photoresist onto silicon wafers and photomasks.
CPK Chrome Etch
The CPK Acid and Base processor can spin-spray acids, bases, water, and nitrogen onto substrates in a programmable process with variable spin speeds and chemical spray times. Several programs are stored to enable chrome etching of photomasks, and development of photoresists.
Daily Startup Checks & Operational Verifications
CPK Spin Processor Solvent Develop
The CPK Solvent processor can spin-spray solvents (acetone, Ipa) , water, and nitrogen onto substrates in a programmable process with variable spin speeds and chemical spray times. Several programs are stored to enable cleaning of substrates or developing of resists.
Daily Startup Checks & Operational Verifications
Blue M Ovens
The Blue M ovens are used for resist process bake steps. Four ovens cover temperatures from 65 to 180 C.
Cole Parmer Ovens
The Cole Parmer digital ovens are used for SU-8 thermal bake processing typically for MEMS processes.
HMDS
The YES 310 vacuum oven is used to coat substrates with HMDS to enhance resist adhesion to the substrates.
Raith 150 Two E-Beam Lithography System
UTD received funding from the National Science Foundation for a high resolution electron beam lithography system as a result of a proposal written by Dr. Walter Hu, Dr. Lawerence Overzet and Dr. J. B. Lee for the purpose of providing researchers in the North Texas area capability for patterning nano-scale devices commensurate with the leading edge of nano-scale research. The system purchased is the new Raith 150Two EBL system, and it was installed and commissioned in the UTD NSERL Cleanroom in May of 2012. Staff and appropriate graduate students have been trained on the system by Raith training engineers and are currently starting projects using the object. Staff is in the process of characterizing performance and documenting the object procedures and lithography processes.
Key System Capability Specs:
- Thermal Field Emitter filament with beam size=/<2nm
- Beam current range 5 pA-20 nA
- Beam energy 100 eV – 30 keV
- Stage x,y,z travel range 150 x 150 x 20 mm
- Current density >/=20,000 A/cm (squared)
- Stitching accuracy =/< 40 nm (mean + 3 sigma)
- Overlay accuracy =/< 40 nm (mean + 3 sigma)
- Minimum resolution =< 10 nm
- Configured with 4″ wafer holder
- GDSII pattern creation software is included in object software and also available on line
“Squirm Mark Array” Alignment: Preliminary Test Process
Raith Overlay Alignment: e-Beam over Optical Patterns
Karl Suss MA6B #2 Contact Printer
This is our newest contact printer, which takes the place of the Quintel. It was installed in the summer of 2019. It is equipped with a special sample holder for small Si chips/irregularly shaped samples, as well as full Si wafers. The user manual has detailed instructions on how to use the tool, how to use the sample holder, and how to perform front and backside alignment procedures. Please contact Dr. Roger Robbins for training.