Paving the way for multiple applications for the 3D-AFM technique in the semiconductor industry

The 3D-AFM technique is a very well known technique as a non destructive reference to calibrate CD-SEM and Scatterometry metrology. However, recent hardware, tip design and tip treatment improvements have offered to the technique new capabilities that pave the way for multiple applications in the semiconductor industry. The 3D-AFM technique is today not only a calibrating technique but also a process control technique that can be use either at the R&D level or in fab environment. In this paper, we will address the limits of the 3D-AFM technique for the semiconductor industry depending on the applications by focusing our study on tip to sample interactions. We will identify, test and validate potential industrial solutions that could extend the 3D-AFM potentialities. Subsequently, we will show some interesting applications of the technique related to LER/LWR transfer during silicon gate patterning and related to advance multiwires devices fabrication.