Experimental analysis and optimization of a photo resist coating process for photolithography in wafer fabrication

This investigation is applied the Taguchi method and combination the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to the photo resist (PR) coating process for photolithography in wafer manufacturing. Plans of experiments via nine experimental runs are based on the orthogonal arrays. In this study, the thickness mean and the uniformity of thickness of the PR are adopted as the quality targets of the PR coating process. This partial factorial design of the Taguchi method provides an economical and systematic method for determining the applicable process parameters. Furthermore, the ANOVA prediction of the thickness mean and the uniformity of thickness for the PR has been applied in terms of the PR temperature, chamber humidity, spinning rate, and dispensation rate by means of the designs of experiments (DOE) method. The PR temperature and the chamber humidity are found to be the most significant factors in both the thickness mean and the uniformity of thickness for a PR coating process. Finally, the sensitivity study of optimum process parameters was also discussed.