Abstract: A phenol novolak resin has a peak intensity ratio of ortho-ortho bond (o-o)/ortho-para bond (o-p)/para-para bond (p-p) in a resin structure not substantially varying in each molecular weight fraction and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 3000 to 20000 in terms of polystyrene, which peak intensity ratio is detected by 13C-NMR analysis. The phenol novolak resin can form both dense pattern and isolation pattern with good shapes in the formation of a fine resist pattern of not more than 0.35 ?m and has satisfactory sensitivity, definition, and focal depth range properties, and has a resin composition being uniform in each molecular weight fraction. A process for producing the phenol novolak resin, and a positive photoresist composition using the resin are also provided.

Abstract: A novel copolymer includes a repeating unit (B) derived from an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride, a repeating unit (C) represented by Formula (II), and a repeating unit (D) represented by Formula (III).

Abstract: A phenol novolak resin has a peak intensity ratio of ortho-ortho bond (o-o)/ortho-para bond (o-p)/para-para bond (p-p) in a resin structure not substantially varying in each molecular weight fraction and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 3000 to 20000 in terms of polystyrene, which peak intensity ratio is detected by 13C-NMR analysis. The phenol novolak resin can form both dense pattern and isolation pattern with good shapes in the formation of a fine resist pattern of not more than 0.35 &mgr;m and has satisfactory sensitivity, definition, and focal depth range properties, and has a resin composition being uniform in each molecular weight fraction. A process for producing the phenol novolak resin, and a positive photoresist composition using the resin are also provided.

Abstract: A novel copolymer includes a repeating unit (B) derived from an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride, a repeating unit (C) represented by Formula (II), and a repeating unit (D) represented by Formula (III).

Abstract: A novel copolymer includes a repeating unit (B) derived from an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride, a repeating unit (C) represented by Formula (II), and a repeating unit (D) represented by Formula (III).

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive photoresist composition including (A) an alkali-soluble resin and (B) a photosensitizer, and the ingredient (B) is a quinonediazide ester of, for example, 2,6-bis[4-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-2,5-dimethylbenzyl]-4-methylphenol, where the average degree of esterification of 20% to 80%.

Abstract: A positive photoresist composition includes (A) an alkali-soluble resin, (B) a photosensitizer including, for example, a quinonediazide ester of bis[2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methane, and (C) a compound having a gram absorption coefficient of 5 to 60 with respect to light with a wavelength of 365 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive photoresist composition including (A) an alkali-soluble resin and (B) a photosensitizer, and the ingredient (B) is a quinonediazide ester of, for example, 2,6-bis[4-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-2,5-dimethylbenzyl]-4-methylphenol, where the average degree of esterification of 20% to 80%.

Abstract: A novel copolymer includes a repeating unit (A) represented by, for example, Formula (I) below, and a repeating unit (B) derived from an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride. The novel copolymer is suitable for the preparation of a photoresist composition that has satisfactory transparency, high sensitivity and definition and exhibits satisfactory DOF properties in the field of photolithography using a deep UV light source. By the use of the photoresist composition, a process forms a resist pattern with a high aspect ratio.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive photoresist composition including (A) an alkali-soluble resin and (B) a photosensitizer, and the ingredient (B) is a quinonediazide ester of, for example, 2,6-bis[4-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-2,5-dimethylbenzyl]-4-methylphenol, where the average degree of esterification of 20% to 80%.

Abstract: A positive photoresist composition includes (A) an alkali-soluble resin, in which part of phenolic hydroxyl groups is protected by an acid-decomposable group; (B) a quinonediazide ester; and (C) a compound which generates an acid upon irradiation of light with a wavelength of 365 nm. This positive photoresist composition can form a fine pattern of about 0.35 &mgr;m in the photolithographic process using i-ray (365 nm), is excellent in focal depth range properties in such an ultrafine region, and has a high sensitivity.

Abstract: Disclosed are a positive photoresist composition including (A) an alkali-soluble resin, (B) a photosensitizer containing a quinonediazide ester of, e.g., bis[2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methane and (C) e.g., 2,6-bis(2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methylphenol; and a process including the steps of coating the composition onto a 8 to 12-inch substrate, drying, exposing and developing the same. The composition which can form a pattern having a good shape whose dimensional changes are minimized in a wide range over surface of the substrate, particularly in processes using a large-diameter substrate, and the process for forming a resist pattern using the composition are provided.

Abstract: A novolak resin precursor is composed of bonded phenolic moieties, one of the hydrogen atoms in the o- or p-positions relative to the hydroxy group of each phenolic moiety is substituted with an alkyl or alkenyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and the other two hydrogen atoms are bonded through methylene bonds. The content of ortho-ortho bonding is 30 to 70% relative to the number of total methylene bonds and the weight average molecular weight of the precursor is 300 to 10,000. A novolak resin is obtained from this precursor, and a positive photoresist composition comprises this novolak resin. The invention provides a positive photoresist composition that comprises less binuclear compounds, suppresses scum formation, is excellent in terms of definition and coating performance and provides a resist pattern having satisfactory heat resistance.

Abstract: A positive photoresist composition includes (A) an alkali-soluble resin, (B) a quinonediazide ester of, e.g., bis[2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methane and/or 2,4-bis[4-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-5-methylbenzyl]-6-cyclohexylphenol, and (C) 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone. The composition exhibits high sensitivity and definition and improved focal depth range properties and underexposure margin.

Abstract: Disclosed are a positive photoresist composition including (A) an alkali-soluble resin, (B) a photosensitizer containing a quinonediazide ester of, e.g., bis[2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methane and (C) e.g., 2,6-bis(2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methylphenol; and a process including the steps of coating the composition onto a 8 to 12-inch substrate, drying, exposing and developing the same. The composition which can form a pattern having a good shape whose dimensional changes are minimized in a wide range over surface of the substrate, particularly in processes using a large-diameter substrate, and the process for forming a resist pattern using the composition are provided.

Abstract: A novel copolymer includes a repeating unit (A) represented by, for example, Formula (I) below, and a repeating unit (B) derived from an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride. The novel copolymer is suitable for the preparation of a photoresist composition that has satisfactory transparency, high sensitivity and definition and exhibits satisfactory DOF properties in the field of photolithography using a deep UV light source. By the use of the photoresist composition, a process forms a resist pattern with a high aspect ratio.

Abstract: A novel copolymer includes a repeating unit (B) derived from an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride, a repeating unit (C) represented by Formula (II), and a repeating unit (D) represented by Formula (III).

Abstract: Disclosed are a positive photoresist composition including (A) an alkali-soluble resin, (B) a photosensitizer containing a quinonediazide ester of, e.g., bis[2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methane and (C) e.g., 2,6-bis(2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methylphenol; and a process including the steps of coating the composition onto a 8 to 12-inch substrate, drying, exposing and developing the same. The composition which can form a pattern having a good shape whose dimensional changes are minimized in a wide range over surface of the substrate, particularly in processes using a large-diameter substrate, and the process for forming a resist pattern using the composition are provided.

Abstract: A positive photoresist composition includes (A) an alkali-soluble resin, in which part of phenolic hydroxyl groups is protected by an acid-decomposable group; (B) a quinonediazide ester; and (C) a compound which generates an acid upon irradiation of light with a wavelength of 365 nm. This positive photoresist composition can form a fine pattern of about 0.35 &mgr;m in the photolithographic process using i-ray (365 nm), is excellent in focal depth range properties in such an ultrafine region, and has a high sensitivity.

Abstract: A positive photoresist composition includes (A) an alkali-soluble resin, (B) a quinonediazide ester of, e.g., bis[2,5-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methane and/or 2,4-bis[4-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-5-methylbenzyl]-6-cyclohexylphenol, and (C) 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone. The composition exhibits high sensitivity and definition and improved focal depth range properties and underexposure margin.