Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive polymer composition which has good filterability and good film formability of a flat film on an electron beam resist and can be suitably used for an antistatic film for electron beam resist writing, showing excellent antistatic property in the electron beam writing process due to the property of low volume resistivity (?·cm), and, reducing an effect on lithography by making an effect of an acid diffused from the film minimum, and further having excellent peelability by H2O or an alkaline developer after writing.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition is provided comprising (A) a quencher in the form of a sulfonium salt of carboxylic acid having a nitrogen-bearing heterocycle and (B) a base polymer containing a specific polymer which is decomposed under the action of acid to increase its solubility in alkaline developer. The resist composition exhibits a high resolution during pattern formation and forms a pattern with improved LER, fidelity and dose margin.

Abstract: A chemically amplified negative resist composition comprising (A) an acid generator in the form of a sulfonium salt having formula (A1) or iodonium salt having formula (A2) and (B) a base polymer containing a polymer comprising repeat units having formula (B1) is provided. The resist composition exhibits a high resolution during pattern formation and forms a pattern with satisfactory LER and fidelity.

Abstract: A chemically amplified negative resist composition is provided comprising (A) a quencher in the form of a sulfonium salt of carboxylic acid having a nitrogen-bearing heterocycle and (B) a base polymer containing a specific polymer. The resist composition exhibits a high resolution during pattern formation and forms a pattern with improved LER, fidelity and dose margin.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition is provided comprising (A) an acid generator containing a specific sulfonium salt and/or a specific iodonium salt and (B) a base polymer containing a specific polymer which is decomposed under the action of acid to increase its solubility in alkaline developer. The resist composition exhibits a high resolution during pattern formation and forms a pattern with improved LER, rectangularity and fidelity.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition is provided comprising a polymer comprising units containing a phenolic hydroxy group and units containing a carboxy group protected with an acid labile group. A resist pattern with a high resolution, reduced LER, rectangularity, and minimized influence of develop loading can be formed.

Abstract: A photomask blank has a resist film which is obtained by coating a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising phenolic hydroxy-containing repeat units and repeat units having a carboxy group which is protected with an acid labile group in the form of a tertiary hydrocarbyl group having an electron attractive moiety and/or hydroxy-substituted phenyl moiety bonded to the tertiary carbon, and an organic solvent. The resist film is processed to form a pattern with a high resolution, reduced LER, improved rectangularity, and pattern fidelity.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition is provided comprising (A) an acid diffusion-controlling agent in the form of an onium salt compound having a specific phenoxide anion, (B) a polymer comprising specific repeat units and adapted to be decomposed under the action of acid to increase its solubility in alkaline developer, and (C) a photoacid generator. A resist pattern with a high resolution, reduced LER, and improved CDU is formed. Because of minimal defects, the resist pattern can be inspected with light of short wavelength 300-400 nm.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition is provided comprising a base polymer which contains a polymer comprising a phenolic hydroxy group-containing unit, a unit containing a phenolic hydroxy group protected with an acid labile group, and a unit containing a carboxy group protected with an acid labile group. The aromatic ring-containing repeat units account for at least 65 mol % of the overall repeat units of the polymer. A resist pattern with a very high resolution, reduced LER, improved rectangularity, and minimized influence of develop loading can be formed.

Abstract: A negative resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having at least two acid-eliminatable hydroxyl or alkoxy groups in the molecule is effective for forming a resist pattern having a high resolution and minimal LER while minimizing defects.

Abstract: A chemically amplified resist composition contains (A) a polymer compound containing one or two or more kinds of repeating units, at least one kind of the repeating units is polymerized from a polymerizable monomer with not more than 1000 ppm of a residual oligomer in a form of dimer to hexamer. An object of the present invention is to provide: a chemically amplified resist composition capable of achieving favorable resolution, pattern profile, and line edge roughness, and simultaneously suppressing development-residue defect, which would otherwise cause mask defect; and a method for forming a resist pattern by using this composition.

Abstract: A negative-tone resist composition is provided that contains a free photoacid generator and a multifunctional polymer covalently bound to a photoacid-generating moiety, where the composition is substantially free of cross-linking agents. Multifunctional polymers useful in conjunction with the resist composition are also provided, as is a process for generating a resist image on a substrate using the present compositions and polymers.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition is provided comprising a base polymer which contains a polymer comprising an acid generating unit, a phenolic hydroxy group-containing unit, a unit containing a phenolic hydroxy group protected with an acid labile group, and a unit containing a carboxy group protected with an acid labile group. A resist pattern with a high resolution, reduced LER, improved rectangularity, and minimized influence of develop loading can be formed.

Abstract: A chemically amplified negative resist composition comprising (A) a sulfurane or selenurane compound having formula (A1) wherein M is sulfur or selenium and (B) a base polymer containing a polymer comprising repeat units having formula (B1) is provided. The resist composition exhibits a high resolution during pattern formation and forms a pattern with minimal LER or LWR.

Abstract: A negative resist composition comprising an onium salt having formula (A) and a base polymer is provided. The resist composition exhibits a high resolution during pattern formation and forms a pattern with minimal LER.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition is provided comprising (A) a sulfurane or selenurane compound having formula (A1) wherein M is sulfur or Selenium and (B) a base polymer containing a polymer comprising repeat units having formula (B1). The resist composition exhibits a high resolution during pattern formation and forms a pattern with improved LER and CDU.

Abstract: A negative resist composition comprising an onium salt of arenesulfonic acid having a bridged ring-containing group and a base polymer is provided, the onium salt being capable of generating a bulky acid having an appropriate strength and controlled diffusion. When the resist composition is processed by lithography, a dot pattern of rectangular profile having high resolution and reduced LER is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist composition, including: (A) a sulfonium salt containing an anion and a cation, the cation including a partial structure shown by the following general formula (A1); and (B) a polymer compound containing a repeating unit shown by the following general formula (B1). The present invention provides a resist composition that causes few defects and is excellent in lithography performance, having regulated acid diffusion, in photolithography using a high energy beam as a light source, and a resist patterning process using this resist composition.

Abstract: A novel sulfonium compound has formula (A). A positive resist composition comprising a polymer and a quencher containing the sulfonium compound is improved in resolution and LER during pattern formation and has storage stability. In formula (A), R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently a C1-C20 monovalent hydrocarbon group, p is an integer of 0-5, q is an integer of 0-5, and r is an integer of 0-4.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive polymer composition which has good filterability and good film formability of a flat film on an electron beam resist and can be suitably used for an antistatic film for electron beam resist writing, showing excellent antistatic property in the electron beam writing process due to the property of low volume resistivity (?·cm), and, reducing an effect on lithography by making an effect of an acid diffused from the film minimum, and further having excellent peelability by H2O or an alkaline developer after writing.