Abstract: There are provided a method of forming a resist pattern includes: a step (1) in which a resist composition containing a base component (A) that generates base upon exposure and exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution by the action of acid is applied to a substrate to form a resist film; a step (2) in which the resist film 2 is subjected to exposure; a step (3) in which baking is conducted after the step (2); and a step (4) in which the resist film 2 is subjected to an alkali development, thereby forming a negative-tone resist pattern in which the unexposed portion 2b of the resist film 2 has been dissolved and removed, and the resist composition used in the step (1).

Abstract: A method and photoresist material for the patterning of integrated circuit (IC) components using ultra violet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) that includes providing a substrate, forming a first material layer over the substrate, forming a second material layer over the first material layer, the second material layer having a luminescent agent, and exposing one or more portions of the second material layer.

Abstract: A resist composition which generates a base upon exposure and exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid, and the resist composition including: a base component (A) that exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid; an acidic compound component (G1) including a nitrogen-containing cation having a pKa value of 7 or less and a counteranion; and a buffer component (K) including a nitrogen-containing cation and a counteranion being a conjugate base for the acid having a pKa value of 0 to 5.

Abstract: A polymer is obtained from a hydroxyphenyl methacrylate monomer having an acid labile group substituted thereon. A positive resist composition comprising the polymer as a base resin has a very high contrast of alkaline dissolution rate before and after exposure, a high resolution, a good profile and minimal line edge roughness of a pattern after exposure, a retarded acid diffusion rate, and good etching resistance.

Abstract: A resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) including a compound represented by (b1-1), a compound represented by (b1-1?) and/or a compound represented by (b1-1?) (R1?-R3? represents an aryl group or an alkyl group, provided that at least one of R1?-R3? represents a substituted aryl group being substituted with a group represented by (b1-1-0), and two of R1?-R3? may be mutually bonded to form a ring with the sulfur atom; X represents a C3-C30 hydrocarbon group; Q1 represents a carbonyl group-containing divalent linking group; X10 represents a C1-C30 hydrocarbon group; Q3 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; Y10 represents —C(?O)— or —SO2—; Y11 represents a C1-C10 alkyl group or a fluorinated alkyl group: Q2 represents a single bond or an alkylene group; and W represents a C2-C10 alkylene group).

Abstract: Compounds of the formula (I), wherein Ar1 is for example phenylene or biphenylene both unsubstituted or substituted; Ar2 and Ar3 are for example independently of each other phenyl, naphthyl, biphenylylyl or heteroaryl, all optionally substituted; or Ar1 and Ar2 for example together with a direct bond, O, S or (CO), form a fused ring system; R is for example hydrogen, C3-C30cycloalkyl or C1-C18alkyl; and R1, R2 and R3 independently of each other are for example C1-C10haloalkyl; are effective photoacid generators (PAG).

Abstract: Embodiments include a silicon-containing antireflective material including a silicon-containing base polymer, a non-polymeric silsesquioxane material, and a photoacid generator. The silicon-containing base polymer may contain chromophore moieties, transparent moieties, and reactive sites on an SiOx background, where x ranges from approximately 1 to approximately 2. Exemplary non-polymeric silsesquioxane materials include polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes having acid labile side groups linked to hydrophilic groups Exemplary acid labile side groups may include tertiary alkyl carbonates, tertiary alkyl esters, tertiary alkyl ethers, acetals and ketals, Exemplary hydrophilic groups may include phenols, alcohols, carboxylic acids, amides, and sulfonamides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer compound including a dye, and a curable resin composition including the same. The polymer compound including the dye according to the present invention may exhibit characteristics such as excellent heat resistance, solubility, coating uniformity, chemical resistance and the like by introducing a single molecule type dye into a side chain of a polymer binder to be modified into a polymer form and applying the modified polymer to a curable composition.

Abstract: A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid, an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure and a fluorine-containing polymeric compound (C?) which generates acid upon exposure, the base component (A) having a structural unit (a0-1) represented by general formula (a0-1) and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, and the fluorine-containing polymeric compound (C?) having a structural unit (c0) which generates acid upon exposure and a structural unit (c1) represented by formula (c1) (wherein R2 represents a divalent linking group, R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton, Q0 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, and R0 represents an organic group which may have a fluorine atom).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an arylsulfonium salt that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates an acid, the arylsulfonium salt containing at least one aryl ring on which there are a total of one or more electron donating groups, the acid generated upon exposure to actinic rays or radiation having a volume of 240 ?3 or greater.

Abstract: Polymers, methods of use thereof, and methods of decomposition thereof, are provided. One exemplary polymer, among others, includes, a photodefinable polymer having a sacrificial polymer and a photoinitiator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sulfonium salt used in a resist composition that can give a pattern having a high resolution, especially an excellent rectangularity of a pattern form and a small roughness, while not readily generating a defect, in the photolithography using a high energy beam as a light source; a resist composition that contains the sulfonium salt; and a patterning process using this resist composition, wherein the sulfonium salt is shown by the following general formula (1a), wherein each of R and R0 independently represents a hydrogen atom, or a linear, branched, or cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may be optionally substituted by a heteroatom or interposed by a heteroatom.

Abstract: A photoacid generator includes those of formula (I): wherein each Ra in formula 1 is independently H, F, a C1-10 nonfluorinated organic group, C1-10 fluorinated organic group, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, provided at least one Ra is F or a C1-10 fluorinated organic group, the C1-10 fluorinated and nonfluorinated organic groups each optionally comprising O, S, N, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing heteroatoms; L1 is a linking group comprising a heteroatom comprising O, S, N, F, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; G+ is an onium salt of the formula (II): wherein in formula (II), X is S or I, each R0 is independently C1-30 alkyl group; a polycyclic or monocyclic C3-30 cycloalkyl group; a polycyclic or monocyclic C4-30 aryl group; or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, provided at least one R0 is substituted where each R0 is a C6 monocyclic aryl group, and wherein when X is I, a is 2, and where X is S, a is 3,

Abstract: A sulfonic acid anion-containing polymer having a triarylsulfonium cation is prepared by (1) preparing a sulfonic acid anion-containing polymer having an ammonium or metal cation not bound thereto, (2) purifying the polymer by water washing or crystallization, and (3) then reacting the polymer with a triarylsulfonium salt. A resist composition comprising the inventive polymer is effective for controlling acid diffusion since the sulfonium salt is bound to the polymer backbone.

Abstract: Resist compositions that can be used in immersion lithography without the use of an additional topcoat are disclosed. The resist compositions comprise a photoresist polymer, at least one photoacid generator, a solvent; and a self-topcoating resist additive. A method of forming a patterned material layer on a substrate using the resist composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluorinated monomer of cyclic acetal structure has formula (1) wherein R is a C1-C20 alkyl group which may be substituted with halogen or separated by oxygen or carbonyl, and Z is a divalent organic group which forms a ring with alkylenoxy and contains a polymerizable unsaturated group. A polymer derived from the fluorinated monomer may be endowed with appropriate water repellency, water sliding property, lipophilicity, acid lability and hydrolyzability and is useful in formulating a protective coating composition and a resist composition.

Abstract: There is provided an underlayer coating forming composition for lithography, and an underlayer coating having a high dry etching rate compared with photoresist, and causing no intermixing with the photoresist, which are used in lithography process of manufacture of semiconductor device. Concretely, it is an underlayer coating forming composition for lithography comprising a dextrin ester compound that at least 50% of hydroxy groups in dextrin is converted into ester groups, a crosslinking compound, and an organic solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed are the deactivation mechanism and chemistry platforms that make high-silicon hardmask films photo-imageable like positive-tone photoresist for microphotolithography. The deactivation mechanism requires a catalyst to promote crosslinking reactions, and a photoacid generator to deactivate the catalyst. The initial hardmask films are soluble in developers. If not radiated, films become insoluble in developers due to crosslinking reactions promoted by catalyst. If radiated, films remain soluble in developers due to deactivation of catalyst by photoacid generator. Compositions of positive-tone photo-imageable hardmask based on the chemistry of polysiloxane and polysilsesquioxanes are disclosed as well. Also disclosed is a method of modifying polysiloxane and polysilsesquioxane films for controlled diffusion of catalysts, photoacid generators, and quenchers.

Abstract: An actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition comprises (A) a resin that when acted on by an acid, exhibits an increased solubility in an alkali developer, (B) a compound that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates an acid, (C) a resin containing two or more resins (c) each having at least either a fluorine atom or a silicon atom, and (D) a solvent.

Abstract: A resist composition for immersion exposure, including: a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of an acid, and contains no structural unit (c1) represented by the general formula (c1-1) shown below; an acid generator component (B) which generates an acid upon exposure; and a fluorine-containing resin component (C) which contains the structural unit (c1) (in the formula (c1-1), R represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a halogen atom, or a halogenated lower alkyl group; Rf represents a fluorinated alkyl group; and Y0 represents an alkylene group).