Abstract: A nonwoven laminate is provided having multi-purposes. One embodiment is an A-layer having a high surface tension factor to prevent water absorption and can be used for fender liners or underbody surfaces of motor vehicles to prevent water from absorbing into the material as well as ice accumulation. The water resistant properties are the result of utilizing a newly engineered hydrophobic PET (H-PET) fiber. Another embodiment, useable alone or in combination with the A-layer is a B-layer that has hollow multi-lobe cross-sectional fibers to provide enhanced sound absorption properties. One or both layers have thermo-moldable characteristics that allow them to be shaped into a specific geometry. In this case, the low melt fibers provided in one or both layers are “fused” and interlock or bridge together to yield a rigid nonwoven water/ice resistant and/or sound absorbing composite.

Abstract: Electroless copper plating compositions including (a) copper ions, (b) a complexing agent for copper ions, (c) a reducing agent, (d) a pH adjustor and (e) a stabilizer is disclosed. The stabilizer has a specific chemical structure, and contributes to stable an electroless copper plating composition from decomposition.

Abstract: Articles with graphene are selectively transparent to electromagnetic radiation. The articles transmit electromagnetic radiation in the infrared and visible light bands while inhibiting incident radio frequency radiation. The articles have high electrical conductivity and may be used in windows and domes.

Abstract: Topcoat compositions comprise: a matrix polymer; a surface active polymer comprising a polymerized unit formed from a monomer of the following general formula (I): wherein: R1 represents H, F, methyl or fluorinated methyl; R2 represents optionally substituted C1 to C8 alkylene or optionally substituted C1 to C8 fluoroalkylene, optionally comprising one or more heteroatom; R3 represents H, F, optionally substituted C1 to C10 alkyl or optionally substituted C5 to C15 aryl, optionally comprising one or more heteroatom; R4 represents optionally substituted C1 to C8 alkyl, optionally substituted C1 to C8 fluoroalkyl or optionally substituted C5 to C15 aryl, optionally comprising one or more heteroatom; X represents O, S or NR5, wherein R5 is chosen from hydrogen and optionally substituted C1 to C5 alkyl; and a is 0 or 1; and a solvent. Also provided are coated substrates and pattern-forming methods which make use of the topcoat compositions.

Abstract: Block copolymers comprise a first block comprising an alternating copolymer, and a second block comprising a unit comprising a hydrogen acceptor. The block copolymers find particular use in pattern shrink compositions and methods in semiconductor device manufacture for the provision of high resolution patterns.

Abstract: Reaction products of one or more amino acids and one or more epoxies are included in copper and copper alloy electroplating baths to provide good throwing power. Such reaction products may plate copper and copper alloys with good surface properties and good physical reliability.

Abstract: Arylclobutene-containing multi-functional monomers are useful in the preparation of arylcyclobutene-based polymer coatings. Compositions comprising one or more arylclobutene-containing multi-functional monomers and one or more oligomers comprising as polymerized units one or more arylcyclobutene monomer provide arylcyclobutene-based polymer coatings having reduced stress. Such compositions are useful in the manufacture of electronic devices.

Abstract: Wet-strippable antireflective compositions comprising one or more silicon-containing polymers that are free of Q-monomers and hydridosilanes as polymerized units are provided. These compositions are useful in the manufacture of various electronic devices.

Abstract: The present development is a metal particle coated nanowire catalyst for use in the hydrodesulfurization of fuels and a process for the production of the catalyst. The catalyst comprises titanium(IV) oxide nanowires wherein the nanowires are produced by exposure of a TiO2—KOH paste to microwave radiation. Metal particles selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, or a combination thereof, are impregnated on the metal oxide nanowire surface. The metal impregnated nanowires are sulfided to produce catalytically-active metal particles on the surface of the nanowires The catalysts of the present invention are intended for use in the removal of thiophenic sulfur from liquid fuels through a hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process in a fixed bed reactor. The presence of nanowires improves the HDS activity and reduces the sintering effect, therefore, the sulfur removal efficiency increases.

Abstract: Provided are ionic thermal acid generators comprising an anion of an aromatic sulfonic acid comprising one or more fluorinated alcohol group and a cation. Also provided are photoresist pattern trimming compositions that include an ionic thermal acid generator, a matrix polymer and a solvent, and methods of trimming a photoresist pattern using the trimming compositions. The thermal acid generators, compositions and methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Electroplating methods enable the plating of photoresist defined features which have substantially uniform morphology. The electroplating methods include copper electroplating baths with reaction products of imidazole compounds, bisepoxides and halobenzyl compounds to electroplate the photoresist defined features. Such features include pillars, bond pads and line space features.

Abstract: Wet-strippable underlayer compositions comprising one or more silicon-containing polymers comprising a backbone comprising Si—O linkages, one or more organic blend polymers, and a cure catalyst are provided. These compositions are useful in the manufacture of various electronic devices.

Abstract: Provided are methods of trimming photoresist patterns. The methods involve coating a photoresist trimming composition over a photoresist pattern, wherein the trimming composition includes a matrix polymer, a free acid having fluorine substitution and a solvent, the trimming composition being free of cross-linking agents. The coated semiconductor substrate is heated to cause a change in polarity of the resist polymer in a surface region of the photoresist pattern. The photoresist pattern is contacted with a developing solution to remove the surface region of the photoresist pattern. The methods find particular applicability in the formation of very fine lithographic features in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to new polymers that comprise units that contain one or more photoacid generator groups and photoresists that contain the polymers. Preferred polymers of the invention are suitable for use in photoresists imaged at short wavelengths such as sub-250 nm or sub-200 nm, particularly 248 nm and 193 nm.

Abstract: A barrel plating or high-speed rotary plating method for electronic components, and a neutral tin plating solution used therein. A plating solution that includes (A) stannous ions, (B) an acid or a salt, (C) a complexing agent, and (D) a diamine that has a polyoxyalkylene chain, and that has a pH in a range between 4 and 8 is used. The use of this neutral tin plating solution prevents the electronic components from coupling together during the barrel plating, enabling an improvement in manufacturability in barrel plating.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a composition having a blend of an electron transport material and an organo alkali-metal salt wherein the salt has a glass transition greater than 115° C. The organo-alkali metal salt may be selected from the group consisting of lithium 2-(2-pyridyl)phenolate (LiPP), lithium 2-(2?,2?-bipyridine-6?-yl)phenolate (LiBPP), 2-(isoquinoline-10-yl)phenolate (LiIQP), and lithium 2-(2-phenylquinazolin-4-yl)phenolate and lithium 2-(4-phenylquinazolin-2-yl)phenolate. In a preferred embodiment, the organo-alkali metal salt is lithium 2-(2?,2?-bipyridine-6?-yl)phenolate (LiBPP). Aspects of the invention also provide films and devices having a film layer prepared from the composition.

Abstract: Shielding coatings are applied to polymer substrates for selective metallization of the substrates. The shielding coatings include a primer component and a hydrophobic top coat. The primer is first applied to the polymer substrate followed by application of the top coat component. The shielding coating is then selectively etched to form an outline of a desired current pattern. A catalyst is applied to the patterned polymer substrate followed by electroless metal plating in the etched portions. The portions of the polymer substrate which contain the shielding coating inhibit electroless metal plating. The primers contain polyamines and the top coat contains hydrophobic alky organic compounds.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to coating compositions that comprise a resin component, wherein the predominant portion of the resin component comprising one or more resins that are at least substantially free of fluorine. Coating compositions of the invention are useful as photoresist overcoat layers, including in immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.