Abstract: Overcoating compositions for photoresist and methods for reducing linewidth of the photoresist patterns are disclosed. More specifically, an overcoating composition containing acids is coated on a whole surface of a photoresist pattern formed by a common lithography process to diffuse the acids into the photoresist pattern. The photoresist in the portion where the acids are diffused is developed with an alkali solution to be removed. As a result, the linewidth of positive photoresist patterns can be reduced, and the linewidth of negative photoresist patterns can be prevented from slimming in a subsequent linewidth measurement process using SEM.

Abstract: A cross-linking polymer for an organic anti-reflective coating that is able to improve the uniformity of an ultra-fine photoresist pattern formed using a photolithography process and an ArF light source with 194 nm wavelength. Organic anti-reflective coatings including the same and a method for forming a photoresist pattern using the same are also disclosed. The disclosed cross-linking polymer is capable of preventing scattered reflection from a bottom film layer, eliminating standing wave effect due to alteration of thickness of the photoresist film, and increasing uniformity of the thickness of photoresist pattern. At the same time, the disclosed cross-linking pattern increases the etching velocity of the organic anti-reflective coating so that it can be easily removed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a light absorbent agent polymer for organic anti-reflective coating which can prevent diffused reflection of lower film layer or substrate and reduce standing waves caused by variation of thickness of the photoresist itself, thereby, increasing uniformity of the photoresist pattern, in a process for forming ultra-fine patterns of photoresist for photolithography by using 193 nm ArF among processes for manufacturing semiconductor device, and its preparation method. Also, the present invention discloses an organic anti-reflective coating composition comprising the light absorbent agent polymer for the organic anti-reflective coating and a pattern formation process using the coating composition.

Abstract: Disclosed are an organic anti-reflective coating composition and a method for forming a photoresist pattern using the same in order to improve uniformity of the pattern in an ultra-fine pattern formation process of the photoresist. The organic anti-reflective coating composition is able to prevent excessive generation of acid in a portion to be exposed to light caused by a photo acid generator contained in a photoresist film during a photoresist pattern formation process by means of exposure to light, in turn, to inhibit such acid from diffusing up to the other portion not to be exposed to light to lead to damage or collapse of the photoresist pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are a composition for an organic bottom anti-reflective coating able to improve the uniformity of a photoresist pattern with respect to an ultra-fine pattern formation process among processes for manufacturing semiconductor device, which prevents scattered reflection from the bottom film layer and eliminating the standing wave effect due to alteration of the thickness of the photoresist film itself resulting in increase of uniformity of the photoresist pattern. The composition for organic bottom anti-reflective coating is able to reduce amount of polyvinylphenol by introducing a specific light absorbent agent having an etching velocity higher than of the polyvinylphenol, thus notably improving the etching velocity for the organic anti-reflective coating by about 1.5 times, so that and the present composition prevents over-etching of the photoresist to make it possible to conduct a smooth etching process for a layer to be etched.

Abstract: Overcoating compositions for a photoresist and methods of using the same are disclosed. More specifically, overcoating compositions for a photoresist comprising materials which can weaken acid stably are disclosed. These materials neutralize large amounts of acid produced in the upper portion of a photoresist film, thereby uniformizing vertical distribution of the acids. As a result, vertical and fine patterns of less than 100 nm thickness can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed are a light absorbent agent polymer for organic anti-reflective coating which can prevent diffused light reflection of bottom film layer or substrate and reduce standing waves caused by variation of thickness of the photoresist itself, thereby, increasing uniformity of the photoresist pattern, in a process for forming ultra-fine patterns of photoresist for photolithography by using 193 nm ArF among processes for manufacturing semiconductor device, and its preparation method. Also, the present invention discloses an organic anti-reflective coating composition comprising the light absorbent agent polymer for the organic anti-reflective coating and a pattern formation process using the coating composition.

Abstract: A hot plate oven used in a thermal process of forming an ultrafine photoresist pattern and a method of forming a pattern using the same. More particularly, a hot plate oven used to flow photoresist under the high pressure in the sealed oven during a resist flow process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are photoresist compositions, methods of forming photoresist patterns using the compositions, and semiconductor devices made by the methods. The negative photoresist composition includes a photoresist polymer having a polymerization repeating unit and a melamine derivative as a cross-linking agent, which prevents the collapse of photoresist patterns formed at a thickness of less than 50 nanometers (nm). Accordingly, the disclosed negative photoresist compositions are useful in a photolithography process, especially in those processes using EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet, 13 nanometers).

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for using an amine contamination-protecting top-coating composition. Preferably, the amine contamination-protecting top-coating composition of the present invention comprises an amine contamination-protecting compound. Useful amine contamination-protecting compounds include amine derivatives; amino acid derivatives; amide derivatives; urethane derivatives; urea derivatives; salts thereof; and mixtures thereof. The amine contamination-protecting top-coating composition of the present invention reduces or eliminates problems such as T-topping due to a post exposure delay effect and/or difficulties in forming a fine pattern below 100 nm due to acid diffusion associated with conventional lithography processes involving a photoresist polymer containing an alicyclic main chain using a light source, such as KrF (248 nm), ArF (193 nm), F2 (157 nm), E-beam, ion beam and extremely ultraviolet (EUV).

Abstract: A photoresist copolymer is prepared from one or more carboxy-substituted bicycloalkene monomers, and this copolymer is used to prepare a photoresist for submicrolithography processes employing deep ultraviolet (ArF) as a light source. In addition to having high etch resistance and thermal resistance, the photoresist has good adhesiveness to the substrate and can be developed in a TMAH solution.

Abstract: Photoresist monomers, photoresist polymers prepared thereof, and photoresist compositions using the polymer are disclosed. More specifically, photoresist polymers comprising maleimide monomer represented by Formula 1, and a composition comprising the polymer thereof are disclosed. The photoresist composition has excellent etching resistance, heat resistance and adhesiveness, and can be developed in an aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution. As the composition has low light absorbance at 193 nm and 157 nm wavelength, and it is suitable for a process using ultraviolet light source such as VUV (157 nm) wherein, X1, X2, R1, R2 and R3 are defined in the specification.

Abstract: Photoresist monomers of following Formula 1, photoresist polymers thereof, and photoresist compositions containing the same. The photoresist polymers include a repeating unit comprising the photoresist monomer of Formula 1 as a comonomer and the photoresist compositions containing the same have excellent etching resistance, heat resistance and adhesiveness to a wafer, and are developable in aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solutions. In addition, the photoresist compositions have a low light absorbance at 157 nm wavelength, and thus are suitable for a photolithography process using ultraviolet light sources such as VUV (157 nm) in fabricating a minute circuit for a high integration semiconductor device. wherein Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6, Z1, Z2 and m are defined in the specification.

Abstract: Cleaning solutions for removing photoresist materials and a method of forming underlying layer patterns of semiconductor devices using the same. The cleaning solutions for removing photoresist include a solvent mixture of H2O and an organic solvent, an amine compound, a transition metal-removing material and an alkali metal-removing material, and may further include a hydrazine hydrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a fine pattern by a tri-layer resist process to overcome a bi-layer resist process is disclosed. When a fine pattern is formed using a silicon photoresist, a gas protection film is coated on a photoresist to prevent exhaustion of silicon gas generated from the photoresist in light examination of high energy. As a result, lens of exposure equipment may be prevented from being contaminated.

Abstract: Photoresist polymers and photoresist compositions containing the same are disclosed. A negative photoresist composition containing a photoresist polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by Formula 4 prevents collapse of patterns when photoresist patterns of less than 50 nm are formed. Accordingly, the disclosed negative photoresist composition is very effective for a photolithography process using EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet, 13 nm) light source.

Abstract: An organic anti-reflective coating composition and a method for forming photoresist patterns using the same are disclosed which can prevent reflection of the lower film layer or substrate and reduce standing waves caused by light and variation of in the thickness of the photoresist itself, thereby, increasing uniformity of the photoresist pattern, with respect to a microfine pattern-forming process using photoresists for a photolithography by using ArF with 193 nm wavelength among processes for manufacturing semiconductor device. More particularly, an organic anti-reflective coating composition and a method for forming photoresist patterns using the same are disclosed which can obtain perpendicular photoresist patterns and thus inhibit breakdown and/or collapse of the patterns by comprising an acid-diffusion inhibitor.

Abstract: A photoresist composition for a resist flow process and a method for forming a contact hole using the same. When a photoresist composition comprising a crosslinking agent of following Formula 1 or Formula 2, is used for a photoresist pattern formation process, it improves resist flow properties, L/S pattern resolution and contrast ratio. wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 individually represent H or substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched (C1-C10) alkyl. wherein R5, R6 and R7 individually represent H, substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched (C1-C10) alkyl or substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched (C1-C10) alkoxy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cross-linker monomer of formula 1, a photoresist polymer derived from a monomer comprising the same, and a photoresist composition comprising the photoresist polymer. The cross-linking unit of the photoresist polymer can be hydrolyzed (or degraded or broken) by an acid generated from a photoacid generator on the exposed region. It is believed that this acid degradation of the cross-linking unit increases the contrast ratio between the exposed region and the unexposed region. The photoresist composition of the present invention has improved pattern profile, enhanced adhesiveness, excellent resolution, sensitivity, durability and reproducibility. where A, B, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and k are as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides photoresist monomers, photoresist polymers derived from the same, processes for producing such photoresist polymers, photoresist compositions comprising such polymers, and processes for producing a photoresist pattern using such photoresist compositions. In particular, photoresist monomers of the present invention comprise a moiety of Formula 4: where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are those defined herein. Photoresist polymers of the present invention have a relatively high etching resistance, and therefore are useful in a thin resist process and a bilayer photoresist process. Moreover, photoresist polymers of the present invention have a high contrast ratio between an exposed region and a non-exposed region.