Abstract: A basic developer/quencher solution formulated to include at least one supercritical fluid or liquid solvent and a base may be used to quench a photo-generated acid within a photoresist as well as develop the photoresist. The supercritical fluid or liquid solvent may be carbon dioxide and the base may be quaternary ammonium salt that has side groups that increase the solubility of the quaternary ammonium salt in carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A basic supercritical solution formulated to include at least one supercritical fluid and a base may be used to quench a photo-generated acid within a photoresist as well as develop the photoresist. The base may be the supercritical fluid in the basic supercritical solution. A super critical fluid is a state of matter above the critical temperature and pressure (Tc and Pc). A basic supercritical solution formulated to include at least one supercritical fluid has a low viscosity and surface tension and is capable of penetrating narrow features having high aspect ratios and the photoresist material due to the gas-like nature of the supercritical fluid.

Abstract: A compound including a polymeric chain, an acid labile group attached to the polymeric chain, and at least one hydrophilic group attached to the acid labile group is disclosed. Compositions including the compound, and methods of using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A compound including a polymeric chain, and an acid labile group attached to the polymeric chain at an anhydride linkage is disclosed. Compositions including the compound, and methods of using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are spirocyclic olefin polymers, methods of preparing spirocyclic olefin polymers, photresist compositions including spirocyclic olefin resin binders and methods of forming relief images using such photoresist compositions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a photoactive compound may be attached to a polymer backbone. This embodiment may be more resistant to the generation of reactive outgassing components and may exhibit better contrast.

Abstract: Outgassing of reactive material upon exposure of a photolithographic resist may be reduced. Outgassing may foul optical components of the photolithographic system. In one embodiment, a ring compound with iodine or sulfur may be formed. The ring compound may be more resistant to the generation of reactive outgassing components.

Abstract: A series structure of a chemically amplified negative tone photoresist that is not based on cross-linking chemistry is herein described. The photoresist may comprise: a first aromatic structure copolymerized with a cycloolefin, wherein the cycloolefin is functionalized with a di-ol. The photoresist may also include a photo acid generator (PAG). When at least a portion of the negative tone photoresist is exposed to light (EUV or UV radiation), the PAG releases an acid, which reacts with the functionalized di-ol to rearrange into a ketone or aldehyde. Then new ketone or aldehyde is less soluble in developer solution, resulting in a negative tone photoresist.

Abstract: A method of forming an opening in a disclosed ILD is described. The ILD in one embodiment includes a matrix material and a photosensitive porogen. Hard sidewalls are formed in the ILD allowing a thin barrier layer to be used in a dual damascene copper and porous low-k without pore sealing steps.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a non-chemically amplified photoresist, which results in reduced line wide roughness (LWR). In accordance with one embodiment the photoresist includes a developer-soluble resin (DSR) and a photoactive compound (PAC). For one embodiment of the invention, the even distribution of the PAC within the DSR results in reduced acid diffusion thus reducing LWR. Prior to exposure to the light source, the PAC inhibits solubility of the DSR in the developer. Upon exposure the PAC converts to acid to promote solubility of the DSR. The even distribution of the PAC within the photoresist results in reduced LWR and a reduction in defects. For one embodiment the photoresist is applied in the EUV technology (e.g., wavelength is 13.4 nm). For such an embodiment the LWR may be reduced to less than 1.5 nm allowing for effective fabrication of devices having feature sizes of approximately 15 nm.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and compositions for providing photoresists with improved liquid-contact properties. For one embodiment of the invention, a photoresist is provided having one or more constituent components that are resistant to diffusion between the photoresist and an index-matching liquid (IML). For such an embodiment in which the IML is water, a photoresist component is provided that is hydrophobic thus reducing diffusion between the photoresist and the water. In various alternative embodiments of the invention, a photoresist is provided having one or more constituent components that encourage diffusion between the photoresist layer and the IML in such manner as to impart beneficial liquid-contact properties to the photoresist layer. For such an embodiment in which the IML is water, a photoresist is provided having one or more hydrophilic constituents.

Abstract: Line edge roughness may be reduced by treating a patterned photoresist with a plasticizer. The plasticizer may be utilized in a way to surface treat the photoresist after development. Thereafter, the plasticized photoresist may be subjected to a heating step to reflow the photoresist. The reflow process may reduce the line edge roughness of the patterned, developed photoresist.

Abstract: Chemically amplified photoresists with reduced outgassing or no outgassing may be used in a vacuum environment of a lithography tool, such as an extreme ultraviolet lithography tool. A chemically amplified photoresist has a photoacid generator molecule. When the photoacid generator is irradiated, an acid is generated. The acid reacts with a protecting group in the photoresist to form an open-ring structure with reduced outgassing or no outgassing.

Abstract: A Langmuir-Blodgett film may be utilized as a chemically amplified photoresist layer. Langmuir-Blodgett films have highly vertically oriented structures which may be effective in reducing line edge or line width roughness in chemically amplified photoresists.

Abstract: The present invention includes polymers and photoresist compositions that comprise the polymers as a resin binder component. Photoresists of the invention include chemically-amplified positive-acting resists that can be effectively imaged at short wavelengths such as sub-200 nm, particularly 193 nm. Polymers of the invention suitably contain 1) photoacid labile groups that preferably contain an alicyclic moiety; 2) a polymerized electron-deficient monomer; 3) a polymerized cyclic olefin moiety. Particularly preferred polymers of the invention are tetrapolymers or pentapolymers, preferably with differing polymerized norbornene units.

Abstract: A system, method, and software to form photoresist resin which has a more uniform distribution of polymers are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes introducing a first monomer into a reaction vessel; introducing a second monomer into the reaction vessel; and introducing an initiator into the reaction vessel to cause a polymerization of the first and second monomers, wherein the introducing the first and second monomers into the reaction vessel is performed in a manner that a concentration ratio of the first and second monomers is a function of a predetermined inverse relationship to a reactivity ratio of the first and second monomers. In another embodiment, the method includes introducing an initiator into the reaction vessel to cause a living or pseudo-living polymerization of the first and second monomers.

Abstract: The present invention includes polymers and photoresist compositions that comprise the polymers as a resin binder component. Photoresists of the invention include chemically-amplified positive-acting resists that can be effectively imaged at short wavelengths such as sub-200 nm, particularly 193 nm. Polymers of the invention suitably contain 1) photoacid labile groups that preferably contain an alicyclic moiety; 2) a polymerized electron-deficient monomer; 3) a polymerized cyclic olefin moiety. Particularly preferred polymers of the invention are tetrapolymers or pentapolymers, preferably with differing polymerized norbornene units.

Abstract: The invention includes polymers that contain a heterocyclic ring, preferably an oxygen-or sulfur-containing ring. The heterocyclic ring is preferably fused to the polymer backbone. The invention also provides photoresists that contain such polymers, particularly for imaging at short wavelengths such as sub-200 nm.

Abstract: The invention includes polymers that contain a heterocyclic ring, preferably an oxygen- or sulfur-containing ring. The heterocyclic ring is preferably fused to the polymer backbone. The invention also provides photoresists that contain such polymers, particularly for imaging at short wavelengths such as sub-200 nm.

Abstract: The present invention includes polymers and photoresist compositions that comprise the polymers as a resin binder component. Photoresists of the invention include chemically-amplified positive-acting resists that can be effectively imaged at short wavelengths such as sub-200 nm, particularly 193 nm. Polymers of the invention suitably contain 1) photoacid labile groups that preferably contain an alicyclic moiety; 2) a polymerized electron-deficient monomer; 3) a polymerized cyclic olefin moiety. Particularly preferred polymers of the invention are tetrapolymers or pentapolymers, preferably with differing polymerized norbornene units.