Abstract: Leveling agents for metal plating baths are provided. Plating baths containing such leveling agents provide metal deposits having substantially level surfaces. Such leveling agents may be selected to selectively incorporate desired levels of impurities into the metal deposit.

Abstract: A polymer comprises the polymerized product of monomers comprising a nitrogen-containing monomer comprising formula (Ia), formula (Ib), or a combination of formulas (Ia) and (Ib), and an acid-deprotectable monomer having the formula (II): wherein a is 0 or 1, each Ra is independently H, F, C1-10 alkyl, or C1-10 fluoroalkyl, L1 is a straight chain or branched C1-20 alkylene group, or a monocyclic, polycyclic, or fused polycyclic C3-20 cycloalkylene group, each Rb is independently H, C1-10 alkyl, C3-20 cycloalkyl, C3-20 heterocycloalkyl, an aliphatic C5-20 oxycarbonyl, or a C1-30 acyl group optionally including a heteroatom substituent group, where each Rb is separate or at least one Rb is attached to an adjacent Rb; LN is a nitrogen-containing monocyclic, polycyclic, or fused polycyclic C3-20 heterocycloalkylene group, and X is H, C1-10 alkyl, aliphatic C5-20 oxycarbonyl, or a C1-30 acyl group optionally including a heteroatom substituent group; and each Rc is independently C1-10 alkyl, C3-20 cycloalkyl, o

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprises two or more distinct materials that can be substantially non-mixable with a resin component of the resist. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: Leveling agents for metal plating baths are provided. Plating baths containing such leveling agents provide metal deposits having substantially level surfaces. Such leveling agents may be selected to selectively incorporate desired levels of impurities into the metal deposit.

Abstract: Leveling agents for metal plating baths are provided. Plating baths containing such leveling agents provide metal deposits having substantially level surfaces. Such leveling agents may be selected to selectively incorporate desired levels of impurities into the metal deposit.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprises two or more distinct materials that can be substantially non-mixable with a resin component of the resist. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: New methods are provided for synthesis of photoacid generator compounds (“PAGs”), new photoacid generator compounds and photoresist compositions that comprise such PAG compounds. In a particular aspect, sulfonium-containing (S+) photoacid generators and methods of synthesis of sulfonium photoacid generators are provided.

Abstract: New lithographic processing methods are provided which are particularly useful in immersion lithography schemes. In one aspect, processes of the invention comprise: applying on a substrate a photoresist composition; exposing the photoresist layer to radiation activating for the photoresist composition; removing a portion but not all of the exposed photoresist layer; and developing the treated photoresist layer to provide a photoresist relief image.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. In one preferred aspect, photoresist composition are provided that comprise: (i) one or more resins that comprise photoacid-labile groups, (ii) a photoactive component, and (iii) one or more materials that comprise photoacid labile groups and that are distinct from the one or more resins; wherein the deprotection activation energy of photoacid-labile groups of the one or more materials is about the same as or lower than the deprotection activation energy of photoacid-labile groups of the one or more resins. In another preferred aspect, photoresist compositions are provided that comprise (i) one or more resins, (ii) a photoactive component, and (iii) one or more materials that comprise a sufficient amount of acidic groups to provide a dark field dissolution rate of at least one angstrom per second.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more materials that have sulfonamide substitution. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprises one or more materials that have hetero-substituted carbocyclic aryl groups. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more block copolymers. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer dining immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new polymers that contain repeat units of phenol and photoacid-labile esters that contain an alicyclic group, preferably a bulky group that suitably may contain 7 to about 20 carbons, such as an alkyladamantyl, ethylfencyl, tricyclo decanyl, or pinanyl group. Polymers of the invention are useful as a component of chemically-amplified positive-acting resists.

Abstract: Plating baths containing a mixture of leveling agents, where the mixture includes a first level agent having a first diffusion coefficient and a second leveling agent having a second diffusion coefficient, are provided. Such plating baths deposit a metal layer, particularly a copper layer, that is substantially planar across a range of electrolyte concentrations. Methods of depositing metal layers using such plating baths are also disclosed. These baths and methods are useful for providing a planar layer of copper on a substrate having small apertures, such as an electronic device.

Abstract: Multilayer photoresist systems are provided. In particular aspects, the invention relates to underlayer composition for an overcoated photoresist, particularly an overcoated silicon-containing photoresist. Preferred underlayer compositions comprise one or more resins or other components that impart etch-resistant and antireflective properties, such as one or more resins that contain phenyl or other etch-resistant groups and anthracene or other moieties that are effective anti-reflective chromophores for photoresist exposure radiation.

Abstract: Plating baths containing a mixture of leveling agents, where the mixture includes a first level agent having a first diffusion coefficient and a second leveling agent having a second diffusion coefficient, are provided. Such plating baths deposit a metal layer, particularly a copper layer, that is substantially planar across a range of electrolyte concentrations. Methods of depositing metal layers using such plating baths are also disclosed. These baths and methods are useful for providing a planar layer of copper on a substrate having small apertures, such as an electronic device.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprises two or more distinct materials that can be substantially non-mixable with a resin component of the resist. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: Plating baths containing a mixture of leveling agents, where the mixture includes a first level agent having a first diffusion coefficient and a second leveling agent having a second diffusion coefficient, are provided. Such plating baths deposit a metal layer, particularly a copper layer, that is substantially planar across a range of electrolyte concentrations. Methods of depositing metal layers using such plating baths are also disclosed. These baths and methods are useful for providing a planar layer of copper on a substrate having small apertures, such as an electronic device.

Abstract: New photoresists are provided that can be applied and imaged with reduced undesired outgassing and/or as thick coating layers. Preferred resists of the invention are chemically-amplified positive-acting resists that contain photoactive and resin components.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more materials having a water contact angle that can be changed by treatment with base and/or one or more materials that comprise fluorinated photoacid-labile groups and/or one or more materials that comprise acidic groups spaced from a polymer backbone. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.