Abstract: A novel sulfonium compound of formula (A) and a chemically amplified resist composition comprising the same as a PAG are provided. When processed by photolithography using KrF or ArF excimer laser, EB or EUV, the resist composition has a high sensitivity and reduced acid diffusion and is improved in lithography properties.

Abstract: A photoresist layer is coated over a wafer. The photoresist layer includes a metal-containing material. An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process is performed to the photoresist layer to form a patterned photoresist. The wafer is cleaned with a cleaning fluid to remove the metal-containing material. The cleaning fluid includes a solvent having Hansen solubility parameters of delta D in a range between 13 and 25, delta P in a range between 3 and 25, and delta H in a range between 4 and 30. The solvent contains an acid with an acid dissociation constant less than 4 or a base with an acid dissociation constant greater than 9.

Abstract: Techniques for EUV resist pattern transfer using a graded hardmask are provided. In one aspect, a method of patterning is provided. The method includes: forming a graded hardmask on a device stack; depositing a resist onto the graded hardmask; patterning the resist to form a pattern in the resist having at least one feature; modifying at least one surface region to increase an etch rate of the graded hardmask; transferring the pattern from the resist to the graded hardmask; and transferring the pattern from the graded hardmask to at least one underlying layer of the device stack. A device structure formed by the patterning method is also provided.

Abstract: A photoresist includes a core group that contains metal, and one or more first ligands or one or more second ligands attached to the core group. The first ligands each have a following structure: The second ligands each have a following structure: represents the core group. L? represents a chemical that includes 0˜2 carbon atoms saturated by Hydrogen (H) or Fluorine (F). L represents a chemical that includes 1˜6 carbon atoms saturated by H or F. L? represents a chemical that includes 1˜6 carbon atoms saturated by H. L?? represents a chemical that includes 1˜6 carbon atoms saturated by H or F. Linker represents a chemical that links L? and L?? together.

Abstract: A mask includes a substrate, a reflective multilayer, an absorption layer and an absorption part. The substrate includes a mask image region and a mask frame region, wherein the mask frame region has a mask black border region adjacent to the mask image region. The reflective multilayer is disposed over the substrate. The absorption layer is disposed over the reflective multilayer. The absorption part is disposed in the reflective multilayer and the absorption layer and in the mask black border region, wherein an entire top surface of the absorption part is substantially flush with a top surface of the absorption layer.

Abstract: A system and method for depositing a photoresist and utilizing the photoresist are provided. In an embodiment a deposition chamber is utilized along with a first precursor material comprising carbon-carbon double bonds and a second precursor material comprising repeating units to deposit the photoresist onto a substrate. The first precursor material is turned into a plasma in a remote plasma chamber prior to being introduced into the deposition chamber. The resulting photoresist comprises a carbon backbone with carbon-carbon double bonds.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, X1, X2, Xa, Xb, L1, L2, L3 and L4 are defined in the specification.

Abstract: An alternating phase-shifting mask (Alt-PSM) comprising a 0° phase portion having a first width and a 180° phase portion having a second width greater than the first width. Example differences between the width of the 180° phase portion and the 0° phase portion may be 10 nm, 15 nm, or 20 nm. An Alt-PSM having phase portions of different widths can have an aerial image intensity transmission graph that is symmetric, for example, at 0.2-0.3 intensity.

Abstract: Provided is a mask blank (100) for manufacturing a phase shift mask, the mask blank enabling formation of a high-precision and fine pattern on a light shielding film.

Abstract: A chemically-amplified negative resist composition includes: (A) an acid generator containing an onium salt (s) shown by the following formula(e) (A-1) and/or (A-2); and (B) a base polymer containing repeating units shown by the following formulae (B1) and (B2). Thus, the present invention provides: a chemically-amplified negative resist composition which provides a pattern with high sensitivity, low LWR and CDU, and favorable profile; and a resist patterning process using the composition.

Abstract: A positive-type photosensitive resin composition comprises a (a) polybenzoxazole precursor, a (b) crosslinking agent, a (c) photosensitive agent, and a (d) solvent, wherein the (a) polybenzoxazole precursor comprises a structure represented by Formula (1) below, and the (c) photosensitive agent is a compound comprising a structure represented by Formula (2) below. In Formula (1), U is a bivalent organic group, a single bond, —O—, or —SO2—, V is a group comprising an aliphatic structure, and the carbon number in the aliphatic structure is 1 to 30.

Abstract: A positive-type photosensitive resin composition comprises a (a) polybenzoxazole precursor, a (b) crosslinking agent, a (c) photosensitive agent, and a (d) solvent, wherein the (a) component comprises a structural unit represented by Formula (1) below, and the (b) component is a compound represented by Formula (2) below. In Formula (1), U is a bivalent organic group, a single bond, —O—, or —SO2—, V is a group comprising an aliphatic structure, and the carbon number in the aliphatic structure is 1 to 30. In Formula (2), R1 is independently a hydrogen atom or a group represented by —CH2—O—R2. At least one of the plurality of R1s is a group represented by —CH2—O—R2. R2 is independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Post exposure bake methods are provided. In one example, a method includes placing a workpiece having a photoresist layer on a workpiece support disposed in a processing chamber. The method includes exposing the photoresist to photons of a wavelength through a photomask. The method includes performing a post exposure bake heating process on the workpiece with the photoresist heating layer. The post exposure bake heating process can include heating the workpiece with both a radiant heat source and a second heat source disposed in the workpiece support until a temperature of the workpiece reaches a post exposure bake setpoint temperature.

Abstract: An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition contains a resin (C) having a repeating unit represented by Formula (1). A pattern forming method includes a step of forming a film with the actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, and a method of manufacturing an electronic device includes the pattern forming method, in Formula (1), Z represents a halogen atom, a group represented by R11OCH2—, or a group represented by R12OC(?O)CH2—. R11 and R12 each represent a monovalent substituent. X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom. L represents a (n+1)-valent linking group. R represents a group having a group that is decomposed due to the action of an alkali developer to increase solubility in an alkali developer, n represents a positive integer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a solution which contains an organic solvent as a main component (content: equal to or greater than 98% by mass) and has an excellent defect inhibition ability. Another object of the present invention is to provide a solution storage body storing the solution, an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition containing the solution, and a pattern forming method and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device using the solution. The solution of the present invention is a solution containing at least one kind of organic solvent having a boiling point lower than 200° C. and an organic impurity having a boiling point equal to or higher than 250° C., in which a content of the organic solvent with respect to a total mass of the solution is equal to or greater than 98% by mass, and a content of the organic impurity with respect to the total mass of the solution is equal to or greater than 0.1 mass ppm and less than 100 mass ppm.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a curved-surface metal line is provided. A three-dimensional structure is formed with a metal member and then fixed together with an insulator. Alternatively, the metal member and the insulator are embedded-formed to jointly form the three-dimensional structure, or the metal member and the insulator are fixed together and then jointly form the three-dimensional structure. Then, a photoresist protection layer is formed outside the metal member, and a selective exposure treatment is performed such that corresponding locations of the photoresist protection layer being exposed is subject to a photochemical reaction. The photoresist protection layer is developed, and after the photoresist protection layer is partially dissolved, portions of the metal member at the corresponding locations are simultaneously exposed. The exposed portions of the metal member are etched, and residual portions of the photoresist protection layer are removed to form the metal line provided on the insulator.

Abstract: A processing method is disclosed that enables an improved directed self-assembly (DSA) processing scheme by allowing the formation of improved guide strips in the DSA template that may enable the formation of sub-30 nm features on a substrate. The improved guide strips may be formed by improving the selectivity of wet chemical processing between different organic layers or films. In one embodiment, treating the organic layers with one or more wavelengths of ultraviolet light may improve selectivity. The first wavelength of UV light may be less than 200 nm and the second wavelength of UV light may be greater than 200 mn.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a positive photoresist composition including a major adhesive material and a photosensitizer, wherein the photoresist composition further includes a photoisomerizable compound which would be converted into an ionic structure with an increased degree of molecular polarity after ultraviolet irradiation. The formation of the ionic structure with increased polarity of the molecule reduces the adhesion between the positive photoresist and the organic film layer, facilitates stripping after formation of the via, and improves the product rate of pass. Further, the present disclosure provides a via-forming method using the positive resist composition, a display substrate including the via formed by the via-forming method, and a display device including the display substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprises at least one random copolymer having at least one repeat unit of structure (1), The present invention also relates to novel processes for forming patterns using this novel crosslinked layer on a substrate by enable a film of a block copolymer coated on the novel crosslinked layer to undergo self-assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to methods of forming gratings. The method includes depositing a resist material on a grating material disposed over a substrate, patterning the resist material into a resist layer, projecting a first ion beam to the first device area to form a first plurality of gratings, and projecting a second ion beam to the second device area to form a second plurality of gratings. Using a patterned resist layer allows for projecting an ion beam over a large area, which is often easier than focusing the ion beam in a specific area.