Double-sided diffractive photo-mask for sub-500nm resolution proximity i-line mask-aligner lithography

Diffractive mask-aligner lithography is capable to print structures that have a sub-500-nanometer resolution by using non-contact mode. This requires the use of specially designed phase-masks and dedicated illumination conditions in the Mask-Aligner to obtain the optimal exposure conditions, a spectral filter and a polarizer needs to be placed in the beam path. We introduce here mask designs that includes a polarizer on the top side of a photo-mask and a diffractive element on the bottom one. This enables printing of high resolution structures of arbitrary orientation by using a classical mask-aligner in proximity exposure mode.

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