Abstract: The invention relates to a process for amplifying structured resists. The process permits a subsequent increase in the etch resistance and a change in the structure size of the resist even in the case of ultrathin layers. The chemical amplification is carried out in a solvent that is so nonpolar that it does not dissolve the structured resist or dissolves it only to an insignificant extent. Because of the lower surface tension of these solvents, the danger of a collapse of these structures is additionally avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing amplified negative resist structures in which, following exposure and contrasting of the resist, the resist structure is simultaneously developed and aromatized. This substantially simplifies the production of amplified resist structures. Amplifying agents include compounds having not only a reactive group for attachment to an anchor group of the polymer, but also at least one aromatic group.

Abstract: A process for chemically amplifying structured resists includes applying a chemically amplified resist to a substrate and structuring it in a customary manner. Preferably, the amplification agent is applied in an aqueous phase to the structured resist and, after chemical amplification is complete, excess agent is removed by an aqueous wash medium. By using water as a solvent for the amplification agent and as a wash medium, it is possible to avoid organic solvents that constitute an explosion hazard. Furthermore, removal of partially exposed resist sections is suppressed.

Abstract: The novel process lends itself to the production of highly resolved resist structures. A resist structure having webs is produced from a photoresist on a substrate and then the sidewalls of the webs are selectively chemically amplified so that chemically amplified sidewall structures are obtained. After the removal of the chemically unamplified sections, the amplified sidewall structures are transferred to the substrate. The process permits a resolution of structures that are not producible using the currently customary exposure wavelengths.

Abstract: A photoresist compound or composition achieves a uniform volume growth in a chemical expansion on a chemically expandable photomask during a method for structuring a layer of the photoresist compound. The photoresist composition comprises a film-forming polymer having molecular groups that can be converted into alkali-soluble groups through acid-catalyzed separation reactions, and reactive molecular groups that can react with an expansion component so as to form a chemical bond. In addition, the photoresist composition comprises a photoacid generator that releases an acid upon exposure with radiation from a suitable wavelength range, and a thermoacid generator that releases an acid when supplied with sufficient thermal energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing amplified negative resist structures in which, following exposure and contrasting of the resist in a developing step, the resist structure is simultaneously developed and silylated. This substantially simplifies the production of amplified resist structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for amplifying structured resists. The process permits a subsequent increase in the etch resistance and a change in the structure size of the resist even in the case of ultrathin layers. The chemical amplification is carried out in a solvent that is so nonpolar that it does not dissolve the structured resist or dissolves it only to an insignificant extent. Because of the lower surface tension of these solvents, the danger of a collapse of these structures is additionally avoided.

Abstract: A process for chemically amplifying structured resists includes applying a chemically amplified resist to a substrate and structuring it in a customary manner. Preferably, the amplification agent is applied in the aqueous phase to the structured resist and, after chemical amplification is complete, excess agent is removed by an aqueous wash medium. By using water as a solvent for the amplification agent and as a wash medium, it is possible to avoid organic solvents that constitute an explosion hazard. Furthermore, removal of partially exposed resist sections is suppressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for consolidating resist structures. It uses a resist that includes a film-forming polymer containing free acidic or basic groups. The amplifying agent used is a compound having a basic group or acidic group complementary to the groups of the film-forming polymer. During the amplifying reaction, the amplifying agent is coordinated to the film-forming polymer by an acid-base reaction in the course of which the amplifying agent and the anchor group of the film-forming polymer form a salt.

Abstract: The novel process lends itself to the production of highly resolved resist structures. A resist structure having webs is produced from a photoresist on a substrate and then the sidewalls of the webs are selectively chemically amplified so that chemically amplified sidewall structures are obtained. After the removal of the chemically unamplified sections, the amplified sidewall structures are transferred to the substrate. The process permits a resolution of structures that are not producible using the currently customary exposure wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing amplified negative resist structures in which, following exposure and contrasting of the resist in a developing step, the resist structure is simultaneously developed and silylated. This substantially simplifies the production of amplified resist structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing amplified negative resist structures in which, following exposure and contrasting of the resist in a developing step, the resist structure is simultaneously developed and aromatized. This substantially simplifies the production of amplified resist structures. Amplifying agents used include compounds having not only a reactive group for the attachment to the anchor group of the polymer, but also at least one aromatic group.

Abstract: A photoresist compound achieves a uniform volume growth in a chemical expansion reaction on a chemically expandable photomask during a method for structuring a layer of the photoresist compound. The photoresist compound comprises a film-forming polymer having molecular groups that can be converted into alkali-soluble groups through acid-catalyzed separation reactions, and reactive molecular groups that can react with an expansion component so as to form a chemical bond. In addition, the photoresist compound comprises a photoacid generator that releases an acid upon exposure with radiation from a suitable wavelength range, and a thermoacid generator that releases an acid when supplied with sufficient thermal energy.

Abstract: In a process for photolithographic generation of structures in the sub-200 nm range, a layer of amorphous hydrogen-containing carbon (a-C:H) with an optical energy gap of <1 eV or a layer of sputtered amorphous carbon (a-C) is applied as the bottom resist to a substrate (layer thickness .ltoreq.500 nm); the bottom resist is provided with a layer of an electron beam-sensitive silicon-containing or silylatable photoresist as the top resist (layer thickness .ltoreq.50 nm); the top resist is structured by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) or scanning force microscopy (SFM) with electrons of an energy of .ltoreq.80 eV; and then the structure is transferred to the bottom resist by etching with an anisotropic oxygen plasma and next is transferred to the substrate by plasma etching.

Abstract: Nicotinamide and its analogues (but not nicotinic acid) are effective in preventing or reversing the effects of microbial toxins, e.g. pertussis toxin, which ADP-ribosylate G-proteins.

Abstract: A plasma burner or torch for emission spectrometry comprises an induction coil for generating a plasma, an outer jacket, an inner jacket coaxial therewith, a sleeve inside the inner jacket and coaxial therewith, a capillary tube inside the sleeve and oriented along the axis of symmetry, a cooling gas feed line, a plasma gas feed line, and an aerosol gas feed line. The distance of the sleeve from the inner jacket of the plasma burner is advantageously smaller than the distance between the sleeve and the capillary tube. The sleeve preferably consists essentially of quartz. In such a plasma torch, the rate of consumption of the plasma gas as well as of the cooling gas is reduced, while the detection power of the device for elements such as boron, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc is comparable to conventional standard burners.