Thermo-optical optimization of extreme-ultraviolet pellicles for future generations

The thermo-optical optimization of extreme-ultraviolet pellicles for 3 nm node or smaller is described. Various material and multilayer structure candidates for the optimized pellicles are simulated using a finite element method. The result shows that a silicon-cored pellicle has relatively high transmission, whereas a graphene-cored pellicle shows relatively low stress compared with its material tensile strength.