Abstract: Methods of forming an electronic device, comprise: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising one or more layers to be patterned; (b) forming a photoresist layer over the one or more layers to be patterned, wherein the photoresist layer is formed from a composition that comprises: a matrix polymer comprising a unit having an acid labile group; a photoacid generator; and an organic solvent; (c) coating a photoresist overcoat composition over the photoresist layer, wherein the overcoat composition comprises: a matrix polymer; an additive polymer; a basic quencher; and an organic solvent; wherein the additive polymer has a lower surface energy than a surface energy of the matrix polymer, and wherein the additive polymer is present in the overcoat composition in an amount of from 1 to 20 wt % based on total solids of the overcoat composition; (d) exposing the photoresist layer to activating radiation; (e) heating the substrate in a post-exposure bake process; and (f) developing the exposed film with an or

Abstract: Topcoat compositions are provided that can be used in immersion lithography to form photoresist patterns. The topcoat compositions include a solvent system that comprises 1) a first organic solvent represented by formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups of 3-8 carbons and the total number of carbons of R1 and R2 is greater than 6; and 2) a second organic solvent that is a C4 to C10 monovalent alcohol.

Abstract: Photoresist pattern trimming compositions comprise a polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid, and an organic-based solvent system, wherein the aromatic sulfonic acid is of general formula (I): wherein: Ar1 represents an aromatic group; R1 independently represents a halogen atom, hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, or a combination thereof, wherein adjacent R1 groups together optionally form a fused ring structure with Ar1; a represents an integer of 2 or more; and b represents an integer of 1 or more, provided that a+b is at least 3 and is not greater than the total number of available aromatic carbon atoms of Ar1, and two or more of R1 are independently a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group bonded directly to an aromatic ring carbon atom.

Abstract: Photoresist compositions comprise: an acid-sensitive polymer comprising a repeating unit comprising an ester acetal group, wherein the acid-sensitive polymer is free of tertiary alkyl ester groups and is substantially free of aromatic groups; a material comprising a base-labile group; a photoacid generator compound that is free of fluorine which generates an acid having a pKa of -2 or greater, and wherein the photoresist composition is free of photoacid generators that generate an acid having a pKa of less than -2; and a solvent.. The photoresist compositions and pattern formation methods using the photoresist compositions find particular use in the formation of fine lithographic patterns in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

Abstract: Photoresist pattern trimming compositions comprise a polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid, and an organic-based solvent system, wherein the polymer comprises polymerized units of general formulas (I) and (II): wherein: X independently represents a halogen atom; Q represents a single bond, —O—, or —C(O)O—; R1 independently represents hydrogen, a halogen atom, C1-C12 alkyl or C1-C12 fluoroalkyl; R2 represents C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 fluoroalkyl; and m is an integer from 0 to 4; and wherein the polymerized units of general formula (I) are present in the polymer in an amount of 10 to 90 mol % and the polymerized units of general formula (II) are present in the polymer in an amount from 10 to 60 mol %, based on total polymerized units of the polymer. The photoresist pattern trimming compositions and their use in pattern formation methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more materials that comprise one or more base reactive groups and (i) one or more polar groups distinct from the base reactive groups, and/or (ii) at least one of the base reactive groups is a non-perfluorinated base reactive group. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: Pattern formation methods comprise: (a) forming an underlayer on a substrate, wherein the underlayer has a thickness of 5 microns or more; (b) forming a photoresist layer on the underlayer, wherein the photoresist layer is formed from a photoresist composition comprising a silicon-containing polymer, a photoacid generator, and a solvent, wherein the silicon-containing polymer comprises as polymerized units a monomer of formula (I): wherein: R1 is independently chosen from H, F, OH, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, C1-C6 hydroxy-haloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, or C1-C6 haloalkoxy; R2 is independently chosen from H or F; R3 is independently chosen from H, F, CH3, CF3, CHF2, or CH2F; comprises an acid cleavable group; and m is an integer from 0 to 2; (c) patternwise exposing the photoresist layer to activating radiation; (d) developing the exposed photoresist layer to form a photoresist pattern; and (f) transferring the pattern of the photoresist pattern into the underlayer using the photoresist pattern as an etch mas

Abstract: Photoresist pattern trimming compositions comprise a polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid, and an organic-based solvent system, wherein the polymer comprises polymerized units of general formulas (I) and (II): wherein: X independently represents a halogen atom; Q represents a single bond, —O—, or —C(O)O—; R1 independently represents hydrogen, a halogen atom, C1-C12 alkyl or C1-C12 fluoroalkyl; R2 represents C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 fluoroalkyl; and m is an integer from 0 to 4; and wherein the polymerized units of general formula (I) are present in the polymer in an amount of 10 to 90 mol % and the polymerized units of general formula (II) are present in the polymer in an amount from 10 to 60 mol %, based on total polymerized units of the polymer. The photoresist pattern trimming compositions and their use in pattern formation methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Photoresist pattern trimming compositions comprise a polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid, and an organic-based solvent system, wherein the aromatic sulfonic acid is of general formula (I): wherein: Ar1 represents an aromatic group; R1 independently represents a halogen atom, hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, or a combination thereof, wherein adjacent R1 groups together optionally form a fused ring structure with Ar1; a represents an integer of 2 or more; and b represents an integer of 1 or more, provided that a+b is at least 3 and is not greater than the total number of available aromatic carbon atoms of Ar1, and two or more of R1 are independently a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group bonded directly to an aromatic ring carbon atom.

Abstract: New photoacid generator compounds (“PAGs”) are provided that comprise a cholate moiety and photoresist compositions that comprise such PAG compounds.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that comprise a component that comprises an amide group and multiple hydroxyl groups. Preferred photoresists of the invention may comprise a resin with photoacid-labile groups; a photoacid generator compound; and an amide component with multiple hydroxyl groups that can function to decrease undesired photogenerated-acid diffusion out of unexposed regions of a photoresist coating layer.

Abstract: Pattern-formation methods comprise: (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a photoresist pattern over the substrate; (c) applying a pattern treatment composition to the photoresist pattern, the pattern treatment composition comprising a solvent mixture comprising a first organic solvent and a second organic solvent, wherein the first organic solvent has a boiling point that is greater than a boiling point of the second organic solvent, and wherein the first organic solvent has a boiling point of 210° C. or more; and (d) thereafter heating the photoresist pattern. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: New polymers are provided comprising (i) one or more covalently linked photoacid generator moieties and (ii) one or more photoacid-labile groups, wherein the one or more photoacid generator moieties are a component of one or more of the photoacid-labile groups. Preferred polymers of the invention are suitable for use in photoresists imaged at short wavelengths such as sub-200 nm, particularly 193 nm.

Abstract: Photoresist topcoat compositions, comprising: a first polymer comprising a first repeat unit of general formula (I) and a second repeat unit of general formula (II): wherein: R1 independently represents H, F or optionally fluorinated C1 to C4 alkyl; R2 represents optionally fluorinated linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C20 alkyl; L1 represents a single bond or a multivalent linking group; and n is an integer of from 1 to 5; a second polymer comprising a first repeat unit of general formula (III) and a second repeat unit of general formula (IV): wherein: R3 independently represents H, F or optionally fluorinated C1 to C4 alkyl; R4 represents linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C20 alkyl; R5 represents linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C20 fluoroalkyl; L2 represents a single bond or a multivalent linking group; and n is an integer of from 1 to 5; and a solvent. Coated substrates coated with the described topcoat compositions and methods of processing a photoresist composition are also provided.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more materials that have sulfonamide substitution. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that comprise a carbamate compound that comprises 1) a carbamate group and 2) an ester group. Preferred photoresists of the invention may comprise a resin with acid-labile groups; an acid generator compound; and a carbamate compound that can function to decrease undesired photogenerated-acid diffusion out of unexposed regions of a photoresist coating layer.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that comprise a component that comprises a radiation-insensitive ionic compound. Preferred photoresists of the invention may comprise a resin with photoacid-labile groups; a photoacid generator compound; and a radiation-insensitive ionic compound that can function to decrease undesired photogenerated-acid diffusion out of unexposed regions of a photoresist coating layer.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprises one or more materials that have hetero-substituted carbocyclic aryl groups. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: New bis(sulfonyl)imide and tri(sulfonyl)methide photoacid generator compounds (“PAGs”) are provided as well as photoresist compositions that comprise such PAG compounds.

Abstract: Photoresist topcoat compositions, comprising: a first polymer comprising a first repeat unit of general formula (I) and a second repeat unit of general formula (II): wherein: R1 independently represents H, F or optionally fluorinated C1 to C4 alkyl; R2 represents optionally fluorinated linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C20 alkyl; L1 represents a single bond or a multivalent linking group; and n is an integer of from 1 to 5; a second polymer comprising a first repeat unit of general formula (III) and a second repeat unit of general formula (IV): wherein: R3 independently represents H, F or optionally fluorinated C1 to C4 alkyl; R4 represents linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C20 alkyl; R5 represents linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C20 fluoroalkyl; L2 represents a single bond or a multivalent linking group; and n is an integer of from 1 to 5; and a solvent. Coated substrates coated with the described topcoat compositions and methods of processing a photoresist composition are also provided.