Abstract: Coating compositions include a polymer including: wherein R1 is a silicon containing moiety, R2 is an acid stable lactone functionality, and R3 is an acid labile lactone functionality; X1, X2, X3 are independently H or CH3; and m and o are non-zero positive integers and n is zero or a positive integer representing the number of repeat units; a photoacid generator; and a solvent. Also disclosed are methods for forming a pattern in the coating composition containing the same.

Abstract: A curable liquid formulation comprising: (i) one or more near-infrared absorbing polymethine dyes; (ii) one or more crosslinkable polymers; and (iii) one or more casting solvents. The invention is also directed to solid near-infrared absorbing films composed of crosslinked forms of the curable liquid formulation. The invention is also directed to a microelectronic substrate containing a coating of the solid near-infrared absorbing film as well as a method for patterning a photoresist layer coated on a microelectronic substrate in the case where the near-infrared absorbing film is between the microelectronic substrate and a photoresist film.

Abstract: A curable liquid formulation comprising: (i) one or more near-infrared absorbing polymethine dyes; (ii) one or more crosslinkable polymers; and (iii) one or more casting solvents. The invention is also directed to solid near-infrared absorbing films composed of crosslinked forms of the curable liquid formulation. The invention is also directed to a microelectronic substrate containing a coating of the solid near-infrared absorbing film as well as a method for patterning a photoresist layer coated on a microelectronic substrate in the case where the near-infrared absorbing film is between the microelectronic substrate and a photoresist film.

Abstract: A silicon-containing antireflective coating formulation comprising: (i) an aqueous base insoluble organosilicon component having a multiplicity of hydrocarbon groups derivatized with hydroxy groups in the absence of Si—O—C and Si—O—H moieties; (ii) a vinylether component having a multiplicity of vinylether groups; and (iii) a casting solvent. Also disclosed is a method for converting the silicon-containing antireflective coating formulation into a crosslinked silicon-containing antireflective film comprising organosilicon units interconnected by acetal or ketal groups. The method entails (a) coating a substrate with the silicon-containing antireflective coating formulation and (b) heating the coated substrate to a temperature at which crosslinking between the organosilicon silicon component and vinylether component occurs.

Abstract: A patterning process includes (1) forming, on a body to be processed on which a titanium-containing hard mask is formed, an organic underlayer film; (2) forming, on the organic underlayer film, a titanium-containing resist underlayer film having a titanium content of 10% to 60% by mass; (3) forming a photoresist film on the titanium-containing resist underlayer film; (4) forming a photoresist pattern by exposing the photoresist film and developing; (5) pattern-transferring onto the titanium-containing resist underlayer film by using the photoresist pattern as a mask; (6) pattern-transferring onto the organic underlayer film by using the titanium-containing resist underlayer film as a mask; and (7) removing the titanium-containing hard mask and the titanium-containing resist underlayer film by wet stripping method. A patterning process including removing a resist underlayer film using a wet stripper having a milder condition than the conventional stripper without causing damage to a body to be processed.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polymer comprising repeat units selected from formulae (1) to (4), an aromatic ring-containing polymer, a near-infrared absorbing dye, and a solvent is used to form a near-infrared absorptive film. R1, R7, R9, and R14 are H, methyl, fluorine or trifluoromethyl, R2 to R6 are H, F, trifluoromethyl, —C(CF3)2OR16, alkyl or alkoxy, at least one of R2 to R6 being F or a fluorinated group, R16, R8 and R13 are H or a monovalent organic group, L1 is a single bond or —C(?O)O—, m is 0 or 1, L2 is a di- or trivalent hydrocarbon group, n is 1 or 2, R10 to R12 are H, hydroxyl, halogen or a monovalent organic group, and R15 is a fluorinated C2-C15 hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: A negative developable bottom antireflective coating (NDBARC) material includes a polymer containing an aliphatic alcohol moiety, an aromatic moiety, and a carboxylic acid moiety. The NDBARC composition is insoluble in a typical resist solvent such as propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) after coating and baking. The NDBARC material also includes a photoacid generator, and optionally a crosslinking compound. In the NDBARC material, the carboxylic acid provides the developer solubility, while the alcohol alone, the carboxylic acid alone, or their combination provides the PGMEA resistance. The NDBARC material has resistance to the resist solvent, and thus, intermixing does not occur between NDBARC and resist during resist coating over NDBARC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid photoresist composition for improved resolution and a pattern forming method using the photoresist composition. The photoresist composition includes a radiation sensitive acid generator, a crosslinking agent and a polymer having a hydrophobic monomer unit and a hydrophilic monomer unit containing a hydroxyl group. At least some of the hydroxyl groups are protected with an acid labile moiety having a low activation energy. The photoresist is capable of producing a hybrid response to a single exposure. The patterning forming method utilizes the hybrid response to form a patterned structure in the photoresist layer. The photoresist composition and the pattern forming method of the present invention are useful for printing small features with precise image control, particularly spaces of small dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoresist composition capable of negative development and a pattern forming method using the photoresist composition. The photoresist composition includes an imaging polymer, a crosslinking agent and a radiation sensitive acid generator. The imaging polymer includes a monomeric unit having an acid-labile moiety-substituted hydroxyl group. The patterning forming method utilizes an organic solvent developer to selectively remove an unexposed region of a photoresist layer of the photoresist composition to form a patterned structure in the photoresist layer. The photoresist composition and the pattern forming method are especially useful for forming material patterns on a semiconductor substrate using 193 nm (ArF) lithography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developable bottom antireflective coating (BARC) composition and a pattern forming method using the BARC composition. The BARC composition includes a first polymer having a first carboxylic acid moiety, a hydroxy-containing alicyclic moiety, and a first chromophore moiety; a second polymer having a second carboxylic acid moiety, a hydroxy-containing acyclic moiety, and a second chromophore moiety; a crosslinking agent; and a radiation sensitive acid generator. The first and second chromophore moieties each absorb light at a wavelength from 100 nm to 400 nm. In the patterning forming method, a photoresist layer is formed over a BARC layer of the BARC composition. After exposure, unexposed regions of the photoresist layer and the BARC layer are selectively removed by a developer to form a patterned structure in the photoresist layer. The BARC composition and the pattern forming method are especially useful for implanting levels.

Abstract: Methods are presented of forming sub-lithographic patterns using double exposure. One method may include providing a photoresist layer over a layer to be patterned; exposing the photoresist layer using a first mask having a first opening; developing the photoresist layer to transfer the first opening into the photoresist layer, forming a boundary in the photoresist layer about the transferred first opening that is hardened; exposing the photoresist layer using a second mask having a second opening that overlaps the boundary; and developing the photoresist layer to transfer the second opening into the photoresist layer, leaving the boundary, wherein the boundary has a sub-lithographic dimension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photolithography methods for enhancing lithographic imaging of isolated and semi-isolated features. A first layer of a first photoresist is formed over a substrate. A second layer of a second photoresist is formed over the first layer. The second photoresist includes a polymer containing an absorbing moiety. The second layer is exposed through a first patterned mask and developed to form a first relief image. The first relief image and the first layer are exposed through a second patterned mask. One of the first and the second patterned masks includes a dense pattern, while the other includes an isolated or a semi-isolated pattern. The first relief image and base soluble regions of the first layer are removed to form a second relief image with an isolated or a semi-isolated pattern. The second layer can also be bleachable upon exposure and bake in the present invention.

Abstract: A curable liquid formulation containing at least (i) one or more near-infrared absorbing triphenylamine-based dyes, and (ii) one or more casting solvents. The invention is also directed to solid near-infrared absorbing films composed of crosslinked forms of the curable liquid formulation. The invention is also directed to a microelectronic substrate containing a coating of the solid near-infrared absorbing film as well as a method for patterning a photoresist layer coated on a microelectronic substrate in the case where the near-infrared absorbing film is between the microelectronic substrate and a photoresist film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoresist composition capable of negative development and a pattern forming method using the photoresist composition. The photoresist composition includes an imaging polymer, a crosslinking agent and a radiation sensitive acid generator. The imaging polymer includes a monomeric unit having an acid-labile moiety-substituted hydroxyl group. The patterning forming method utilizes an organic solvent developer to selectively remove an unexposed region of a photoresist layer of the photoresist composition to form a patterned structure in the photoresist layer. The photoresist composition and the pattern forming method are especially useful for forming material patterns on a semiconductor substrate using 193 nm (ArF) lithography.

Abstract: A method that forms a film of photoresist composition on a substrate and exposes a first and second region of the film to radiation through a first and second mask having a first and second image pattern, respectively. The photoresist composition includes a polymer including labile group(s), base soluble group(s), a photosensitive acid generator, and a photosensitive base generator. The photosensitive acid generator generates first and second amounts of acid upon exposure to first and second doses of radiation, respectively. The second amount of acid exceeds the first amount of acid. The second dose of radiation exceeds the first dose of radiation. The photosensitive base generator generates a first and second amount of base upon exposure to the first and second dose of radiation, respectively. The first amount of base exceeds the first amount of acid. The second amount of acid exceeds the second amount of base.

Abstract: Compositions characterized by the presence of an aqueous base-soluble polymer having aromatic moieties and aliphatic alcohol moieties have been found which are especially useful as developable bottom antireflective coatings in 193 nm lithographic processes. The compositions enable improved lithographic processes which are especially useful in the context of subsequent ion implantation or other similar processes where avoidance of aggressive antireflective coating removal techniques is desired.

Abstract: A composition of matter. The composition of matter includes a polymer having an ethylenic backbone and comprising a first monomer having an aromatic moiety, a second monomer having a base soluble moiety or an acid labile protected base soluble moiety, and a third monomer having a fluoroalkyl moiety. Also a photoresist formulation including the composition of matter and a method of imaging using the photoresist formulation including the composition of matter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photolithography methods for enhancing lithographic imaging of isolated and semi-isolated features. A first layer of a first photoresist is formed over a substrate. A second layer of a second photoresist is formed over the first layer. The second photoresist includes a polymer containing an absorbing moiety. The second layer is exposed through a first patterned mask and developed to form a first relief image. The first relief image and the first layer are exposed through a second patterned mask. One of the first and the second patterned masks includes a dense pattern, while the other includes an isolated or a semi-isolated pattern. The first relief image and base soluble regions of the first layer are removed to form a second relief image with an isolated or a semi-isolated pattern. The second layer can also be bleachable upon exposure and bake in the present invention.

Abstract: A second photoresist having a second photosensitivity is formed on a substrate. A first photoresist having a first photosensitivity, which is greater than second photosensitivity, is formed on the second photoresist. Preferably, the first photoresist is a gray resist that becomes transparent upon exposure. At least one portion of the first photoresist is lithographically exposed employing a first reticle having a first pattern to form at least one transparent lithographically exposed resist portion, while the second photoresist remains intact. The second photoresist is lithographically exposed employing a second reticle including a second pattern to form a plurality of lithographically exposed shapes in the second photoresist. The plurality of lithographically exposed shapes have a composite pattern which is the derived from the second pattern by limiting the second pattern only within the area of the at least one transparent lithographically exposed resist pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a near-infrared (NIR) film composition for use in vertical alignment and correction in the patterning of integrated semiconductor wafers and a pattern forming method using the composition. The NIR absorbing film composition includes a NIR absorbing dye having a polymethine cation and a crosslinkable anion, a crosslinkable polymer and a crosslinking agent. The patterning forming method includes aligning and focusing a focal plane position of a photoresist layer by sensing near-infrared emissions reflected from a substrate containing the photoresist layer and a NIR absorbing layer formed from the NIR absorbing film composition under the photoresist layer. The NIR absorbing film composition and the pattern forming method are especially useful for forming material patterns on a semiconductor substrate having complex buried topography.