Improved electron-beam patterning of Si with self-assembled monolayers

A set of processes has been explored that enhances the utility of self-assembled-monolayer electron-beam resists for patterning silicon. A self-assembled monolayer resist of octadecylsiloxane was exposed using a scanning electron microscope with a 20 keV beam energy and dose of 320 μCl cm². After the patterned monolayer was developed using ultraviolet light and ozone, it served as a wet etch mask for the underlying native oxide. Linewidths of ∼30 nm were etched in silicon using the patterned oxide as a reactive ion etch mask. The maximum etch depth achieved in silicon was 90 nm using this process.