Abstract: In a halftone phase shift mask blank comprising a substrate, a light absorbing film, and a phase shifter film, the light absorbing film contains a metal element of Group 4A in a distribution having a higher metal element content in an upper region than in a lower region. Also provided is a halftone phase shift mask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a halftone phase shift film of a single layer or multiple layers having a preselected phase difference and transmittance, wherein at least one layer of the halftone phase shift film contains at least 90 atom % of silicon and a plurality of metal elements, typically Mo and Zr or Hf.

Abstract: A pattern is formed through positive/negative reversal by coating a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising an acid labile group-bearing resin, a photoacid generator, and an organic solvent onto a substrate, prebaking the resist composition, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, post-exposure heating, and developing the exposed resist film with an alkaline developer to form a positive pattern; irradiating or heating the positive pattern to facilitate elimination of acid labile groups and crosslinking for improving alkali solubility and imparting solvent resistance; coating a reversal film-forming composition thereon to form a reversal film; and applying an alkaline wet etchant thereto for dissolving away the positive pattern.

Abstract: A film-depositing target for use in the manufacture of a halftone phase shift mask blank includes a transparent substrate and a translucent film of one or more layers having a controlled phase and transmittance, at least one layer of the translucent film including silicon, molybdenum and zirconium at the same time as constituent elements, and at least two elements, zirconium and molybdenum in a molar ratio Zr/Mo between 0.05 and 5.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray which will ensure the secure immobilization of a material in a site-selective manner at a low cost.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a substrate for microarray which will allow, when a monomolecular film with silicon oxide chains formed on a substrate is used for the immobilization of a target molecule, a chemically amplified type resist film to be directly applied onto the substrate so as to simplify the process and enable fine processing, without causing therewith any problems such as the degradation of resolution and detachment, through more simplified procedures than are possible with the conventional method.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray, in which a monomolecular film is not detached when a target molecule is immobilized on the substrate using the monomolecular film having a silicon oxide chain is provided. A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray comprising; at least a step of forming a monomolecular film on the substrate using a silane compound, wherein the monomolecular film is formed using a solution comprising the silane compound and a nitrogen-containing organic base in the step.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray wherein a monomolecular film for immobilizing a target molecule can be simply formed position-selectively in manufacture of the substrate for making the microarray is provided. A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray, comprising, a step of forming a resist film on the substrate using a chemically amplified positive resist composition using a copolymer where a content of a monomer unit having a hydroxyl group is 5 mole % or less relative to total monomer units as a binder; a step of patterning the resist film; a step of forming a monomolecular film having a silicon oxide chain on the substrate having the patterned resist film; and subsequently a step of removing the resist film.

Abstract: A halftone phase shift mask blank has a phase shifter film on a transparent substrate. The phase shifter film is composed of a metal silicide compound containing Mo, at least one metal selected from Ta, Zr, Cr and W, and at least one element selected from O, N and C. The halftone phase shift mask blank has improved processability and high resistance to chemicals, especially to alkaline chemicals.

Abstract: A halftone phase shift mask blank has a phase shifter film on a transparent substrate. The phase shifter film is composed of a metal silicide compound containing Mo, at least one metal selected from Ta, Zr, Cr and W, and at least one element selected from O, N and C. The halftone phase shift mask blank has improved processability and high resistance to chemicals, especially to alkaline chemicals.

Abstract: A control system and method of controlling a battery powered heating device such as a soldering or desoldering tool that includes a control circuit to control the delivery of power to a cartridge heating tip and to cycle the power to the cartridge heating tip during times of no use so as to minimize the amount of power expended to maintain the device in a ready or usable state.

Abstract: Novel silicon-containing polymers are obtained by copolymerizing a vinylsilane monomer with a compound having a low electron density unsaturated bond such as maleic anhydride, maleimide derivatives or tetrafluoroethylene. Using the polymers, chemical amplification positive resist compositions sensitive to high-energy radiation and having a high sensitivity and resolution at a wavelength of less than 300 nm and improved resistance to oxygen plasma etching are obtained.

Abstract: A rinse comprising a water-soluble polymer is suited for use in a lithographic process. In the lithographic process for the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits involving the exposure of resist to various types of radiation (e.g., UV, deep UV, vacuum UV, electron beams, x-rays, and laser beams), the invention can prevent resist insoluble components from generating on and attaching to the resist film or substrate, and if insoluble components attach, can effectively remove the insoluble components, thus avoiding a lowering of production yield by defects resulting from the insoluble components.

Abstract: In a halftone phase shift mask blank comprising a substrate, a light absorbing film, and a phase shifter film, the light absorbing film contains a metal element of Group 4A in a distribution having a higher metal element content in an upper region than in a lower region. Also provided is a halftone phase shift mask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a halftone phase shift film of a single layer or multiple layers having a preselected phase difference and transmittance, wherein at least one layer of the halftone phase shift film contains at least 90 atom % of silicon and a plurality of metal elements, typically Mo and Zr or Hf.

Abstract: For the manufacture of a halftone phase shift mask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a translucent film of one or more layers having a controlled phase and transmittance, at least one layer of the translucent film comprising Si, Mo and Zr at the same time, a target comprising at least Zr and Mo in a molar ratio Zr/Mo between 0.05 and 5 is useful.

Abstract: Silicon-containing polymers comprising recurring units of formula (1) are novel wherein R1 is a single bond or alkylene, R2 is hydrogen or alkyl, R3, R4 and R5 are alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl or silicon-containing group, R6 is hydrogen, methyl, cyano or —C(?O)OR8 wherein R8 is hydrogen, alkyl or acid labile group, R7 is alkyl, —NR9R10 or —OR11 wherein R9, R10 and R11 are hydrogen or alkyl, a and b are positive numbers satisfying 0<a+b?1. Resist compositions comprising the polymers are sensitive to high-energy radiation and have a high sensitivity and resolution at a wavelength of less than 300 nm and improved resistance to oxygen plasma etching.

Abstract: Silicon-containing polymers comprising recurring units of three components represented by the general formula (1) are novel wherein R1, R2 and R3 are hydrogen or C1-10 alkyl, R4, R5 and R6 are hydrogen, C1-20 alkyl or haloalkyl, or C6-20 aryl, R7 is C4-20 alkyl, n is 1 to 5, p, q and r are positive numbers.

Abstract: A resist composition comprising a hydrogenated product of ring-opening metathesis polymer and a poly(meth)acrylic acid derivative as a base resin is sensitive to high-energy radiation, has excellent sensitivity, resolution, and etch resistance, and lends itself to micropatterning with electron beams or deep-UV.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising a fluorochemical surfactant which functions to reduce the contact angle of a coating of the resist composition with water or an aqueous base developer as the amount of the fluorochemical surfactant increases. The resist composition forms a coating having a thickness uniformity, free of defects, and wettable with an aqueous base developer when applied onto a substrate, and has a good storage stability in that particles do not increase during storage in solution form.