Abstract: The resist compositions having an acid sensitive imaging polymer and a radiation sensitive acid generator component comprising: (i) a first radiation sensitive acid generator selected from the group consisting of dissolution-inhibiting acid generators, and (ii) a second radiation sensitive acid generator selected from the group consisting of unprotected acidic group-functionalized acid generators and acid labile group-protected acidic group-functionalized radiation sensitive acid generators; enables formation of high sensitivity resists suitable for use in EPL, EUV, soft x-ray, and other low energy intensity lithographic imaging applications. The resist compositions may be useful in other lithographic processes as well.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant film including Si, C, O and H atoms in a parallel plate chemical vapor deposition process utilizing a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (“PECVD”) process is disclosed. Electronic devices containing insulating layers of thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant materials that are prepared by the method are further disclosed. To enable the fabrication of a thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant film, specific precursor materials are used, such as, silane derivatives, for instance, diethoxymethylsilane (DEMS) and organic molecules, for instance, bicycloheptadiene and cyclopentene oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices having gapped dual stressors with dielectric gap fillers. Specifically, each CMOS device of the present invention includes at least one n-channel field effect transistor (n-FET) and at least one p-channel field effect transistor (p-FET). A tensilely stressed dielectric layer overlays the n-FET, and a compressively stressed dielectric layer overlays the p-FET. A gap is located between the tensilely and compressively stressed dielectric layers and is filled with a dielectric filler material. In one specific embodiment of the present invention, both the tensilely and compressively stressed dielectric layers are covered by a layer of the dielectric filler material, which is essentially free of stress. In an alternatively embodiment of the present invention, the dielectric filler material is only present in the gap between the tensilely and compressively stressed dielectric layers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a chemically amplified (CA) resist composition for printing features having a dimension of about 30 nm or less and a method of forming a material structure having a pattern containing features having a dimension of about 30 nm or less by using the inventive CA resist. The CA resist composition comprises (a) about 1 to about 50 weight % of a copolymer, (b) about 0.02 to about 25 weight % of a photoacid generator, (c) about 47 to about 99 weight % of a solvent, and (d) about 0.004 to about 25 weight % of a base additive. The copolymer comprises at least one hydrophilic monomer unit containing one or more polar functional groups and at least one hydrophobic monomer unit containing one or more aromatic groups. Some, but not all, of the one or more polar functional groups in the copolymer are protected with acid labile moieties having a low activation energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymers that are useful in negative resist compositions. Polymers of the present invention comprise (1) a first monomer having a polar functional group; (2) a second monomer; and optionally, (3) a third monomer that imparts at least one characteristic selected from crosslinkable functionality, etch resistance, and solubility modulation. The first monomer provides an acid catalyzed polarity switch upon elimination of the polar functional group, whereas, the second monomer provides aqueous dissolution. The polymers of the present invention may be incorporated into negative resist compositions, which may also include photoacid generators, crosslinking agents, basic compounds, solvents, dissolution accelerators, photobase generators, latent basic compounds, surfactants, adhesion promoters, and anti-foaming agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a melt-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material including the steps of maintaining a solid organic-inorganic hybrid material at a temperature above the melting point but below the decomposition temperature of the organic-inorganic hybrid material for a period of time sufficient to form a uniform melt and thereafter, cooling the uniform melt to an ambient temperature under conditions sufficient to produce the melt-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material.

Abstract: Compositions and techniques for the processing of semiconductor devices are provided. In one aspect of the invention, an antireflective hardmask composition is provided. The composition comprises a fully condensed polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane, {RSiO1.5}n, wherein n equals 8; and at least one chromophore moiety and transparent moiety. In another aspect of the invention, a method for processing a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises the steps of: providing a material layer on a substrate; forming an antireflective hardmask layer over the material layer. The antireflective hardmask layer comprises a fully condensed polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane, {RSiO1.5}n, wherein n equals 8; and at least one chromophore moiety and transparent moiety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate having thereon a patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer. The present invention also provides a method and a system for the production of the substrate having thereon a patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer. The substrate with the patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer is prepared by exposing a region of a substrate having thereon a film of a precursor of a small organic molecule to energy from an energy source to convert the film of a precursor of a small organic molecule to a patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Antireflective hardmask compositions and techniques for the use of antireflective hardmask compositions for processing of semiconductor devices are provided. In one aspect of the invention, an antireflective hardmask layer for lithography is provided. The antireflective hardmask layer comprises a carbosilane polymer backbone comprising at least one chromophore moiety and at least one transparent moiety; and a crosslinking component. In another aspect of the invention, a method for processing a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises the steps of: providing a material layer on a substrate; forming an antireflective hardmask layer over the material layer. The antireflective hardmask layer comprises a carbosilane polymer backbone comprising at least one chromophore moiety and at least one transparent moiety; and a crosslinking component.

Abstract: A photoresist composition is provided that includes a polymer having at least one acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a formula where R1 represents hydrogen (H), a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons, or a semi- or perfluorinated linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons; and where R2 represents an unsubstituted aliphatic group or a substituted aliphatic group having zero or one trifluoromethyl (CF3) group attached to each carbon of the substituted aliphatic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; and where R3 represents hydrogen (H), methyl (CH3), trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl (CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated aliphatic chain; and where R4 represents trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl (CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group. A method of patterning a substrate using the photoresist composition is also provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a melt-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material including the steps of maintaining an solid organic-inorganic hybrid material at a temperature above the melting point but below the decomposition temperature of the organic-inorganic hybrid material for a period of time sufficient to form a uniform melt and thereafter, cooling the uniform melt to an ambient temperature under conditions sufficient to produce the melt-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material.

Abstract: Lithographic imaging of 50 nm (or less) half-pitch features in chemically amplified resists (commonly used in the manufacture of integrated circuits) is enabled by the use of reduced temperature post-exposure processing and low activation energy chemically amplified resists. The post-exposure processing preferably involves ambient to moderately elevated temperature and the presence of a deprotection reaction-dependent co-reactant (e.g., water).

Abstract: Soluble, photosensitive precursors of pentacene are synthesized by a one-step Diels-Alder reaction of pentacene with N-sulfinylamides. These precursors may include a photopolymerizable group, which renders the pentacene precursor as a negative tone resist. The pentacene precursor may also include an acid-sensitive protecting group, which in the presence of a photoacid generator and upon exposure to UV light, is removed and the product becomes base soluble. Patterned pentacene thin films may be obtained by exposure to UV light through a mask and/or heating, and used as an active channel material for an organic field effect transistor.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant film comprising Si, C, O and H atoms in a parallel plate chemical vapor deposition process utilizing a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (“PECVD”) process is disclosed. Electronic devices containing insulating layers of thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant materials that are prepared by the method are further disclosed. To enable the fabrication of a thermally stable ultralow dielectric constant film, specific precursor materials are used, such as, silane derivatives, for instance, diethoxymethylsilane (DEMS) and organic molecules, for instance, bicycloheptadiene and cyclopentene oxide.

Abstract: A photoresist composition is provided that includes a polymer having at least one acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a formula where R1 represents hydrogen (H), a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons, or a semi- or perfluorinated linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons; and where R2 represents an unsubstituted aliphatic group or a substituted aliphatic group having zero or one trifluoromethyl (CF3) group attached to each carbon of the substituted aliphatic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; and where R3 represents hydrogen (H), methyl (CH3), trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl(CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated aliphatic chain; and where R4 represents trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl (CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group. A method of patterning a substrate using the photoresist composition is also provided herein.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for forming planarizing underlayers for multilayer lithographic processes are characterized by the presence of (A) a polymer containing: (i) cyclic ether moieties, (ii) saturated polycyclic moieties, and (iii) aromatic moieties for compositions not requiring a separate crosslinker, or (B) a polymer containing: (i) saturated polycyclic moieties, and (ii) aromatic moieties for compositions requiring a separate crosslinker. The compositions provide outstanding optical, mechanical and etch selectivity properties. The compositions are especially useful in lithographic processes using radiation less than 200 nm in wavelength to configure underlying material layers.

Abstract: Lithographic imaging of 50 nm (or less) half-pitch features in chemically amplified resists (commonly used in the manufacture of integrated circuits) is enabled by the use of reduced temperature post-exposure processing and low activation energy chemically amplified resists. The post-exposure processing preferably involves ambient to moderately elevated temperature and the presence of a deprotection reaction-dependent co-reactant (e.g., water).

Abstract: Compositions suitable for forming planarizing underlayers for multilayer lithographic processes are characterized by the presence of (A) a polymer containing: (i) cyclic ether moieties, (ii) saturated polycyclic moieties, and (iii) aromatic moieties for compositions not requiring a separate crosslinker, or (B) a polymer containing: (i) saturated polycyclic moieties, and (ii) aromatic moieties for compositions requiring a separate crosslinker. The compositions provide outstanding optical, mechanical and etch selectivity properties. The compositions are especially useful in lithographic processes using radiation less than 200 nm in wavelength to configure underlying material layers.

Abstract: A photoresist composition is provided that includes a polymer having at least one acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a formula: where R1 represents hydrogen (H), a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons, or a semi- or perfluorinated linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons; and where R2 represents an unsubstituted aliphatic group or a substituted aliphatic group having zero or one trifluoromethyl (CF3) group attached to each carbon of the substituted aliphatic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; and where R3 represents hydrogen (H), methyl (CH3), trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl (CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated aliphatic chain; and where R4 represents trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl (CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group. A method of patterning a substrate using the photoresist composition is also provided herein.

Abstract: Soluble, photosensitive precursors of pentacene are synthesized by a one-step Diels-Alder reaction of pentacene with N-sulfinylamides. These precursors may include a photopolymerizable group, which renders the pentacene precursor as a negative tone resist. The pentacene precursor may also include an acid-sensitive protecting group, which in the presence of a photoacid generator and upon exposure to UV light, is removed and the product becomes base soluble. Patterned pentacene thin films may be obtained by exposure to UV light through a mask and/or heating, and used as an active channel material for an organic field effect transistor.