Abstract: The negative resist composition comprises (1) a film-forming polymer which is itself soluble in basic aqueous solutions, and contains a first monomer unit with an alkali-soluble group in the molecule and a second monomer unit with an alcohol structure on the side chain which is capable of reacting with the alkali-soluble group, and (2) a photo acid generator which, when decomposed by absorption of image-forming radiation, is capable of generating an acid that can induce reaction between the alcohol structure of the second monomer unit and the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit, or protect the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit. The resist composition can form intricate negative resist patterns with practical sensitivity and no swelling.

Abstract: A negative resist composition comprises at least a constituent component which has a vinyl ether structure protected with an acetal in a molecule thereof. In the formation of negative resist patterns, an aqueous basic solution can be used without swelling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist pattern thickening material which can thicken a resist pattern to be thickened regardless of a material or a size thereof so as to form a fine space pattern, exceeding an exposure limit of exposure light. The resist pattern thickening material comprises: a resin; a crosslinking agent; and a nitrogen-containing compound. In a process for forming a resist pattern of the present invention, the resist pattern thickening material is applied on a surface of a resist pattern to be thickened, thereby forming a resist pattern. A process for manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention includes: applying the thickening material on a surface of a resist pattern to be thickened which is formed on an underlying layer, so as to thicken the resist pattern to be thickened and form a resist pattern; and patterning the underlying layer by etching using the resist pattern.

Abstract: To thicken a resist pattern to be thickened to thereby easily form a fine pattern exceeding an exposure limit of optical source of conventional exposure devices, a process forms a resist pattern to be thickened by patterning a resist on an underlying object; applying a surfactant composition containing at least a surfactant on the resist pattern to be thickened; and applying a resist pattern thickening material containing at least a resin and a surfactant thereonto. The resist pattern to be thickened is thus thickened to form a fine pattern having a narrowed pitch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist pattern thickening material and the like which can thicken a resist pattern and form a fine space pattern. The resist pattern thickening material contains: a resin; a crosslinking agent; and at least one type selected from cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and non-ionic surfactants selected from alkoxylate surfactants, fatty acid ester surfactants, amide surfactants, alcohol surfactants, and ethylene diamine surfactants. In a process for forming a resist pattern of the present invention, after a resist pattern is formed, the thickening material is applied onto a surface of the pattern. A process for manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention includes: after forming a resist pattern on an underlying layer, applying the thickening material on a surface of the pattern so as to thicken the pattern; and a step of patterning the underlying layer by etching by using the pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist pattern thickening material and the like which can thicken a resist pattern and form a fine space pattern, exceeding exposure limits of exposure light used during patterning. The resist pattern thickening material contains a resin and a surfactant. In a process for forming a resist pattern of the present invention, after a resist pattern to be thickened is formed, the resist pattern thickening material is coated on a surface thereof. A process for manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention includes: a step of, after forming a resist pattern to be thickened on an underlying layer, coating the thickening material on a surface of the resist pattern to be thickened so as to thicken the resist pattern to be thickened and form a resist pattern; and a step of patterning the underlying layer by etching by using the resist pattern.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a biodegradable resin composition having excellent physical properties such as strength, water-resistance, molding workability, thermal-resistance, and suitable for a molded article for various electric products. The biodegradable resin composition of the present invention contains a biodegradable resin and filler coated with a biodegradable coating resin in which the filler coated with the biodegradable coating resin is contained within the biodegradable resin. Preferable aspects are such as an aspect that the filler is at least one of mica, talc and montmorillonite, an aspect that a filler content of the biodegradable resin is in the range of 5 mass % to 50 mass %, an aspect that an average diameter of the filler is in the range of 0.01 &mgr;m to 200 &mgr;m, and an aspect that the biodegradable resin is polylactic acid.

Abstract: A chemically amplified resist material comprising a base resin and a photo acid generator having sensitivity at the wavelength of patterning exposure; wherein, the chemically amplified resist material further comprising an activator that generates an acid or a radical by a treatment other than the patterning exposure. A patterning method using the same is also disclosed.

Abstract: A resist composition has a polymer containing a carboxyl group with a protective group at a side chain of a monomer unit, the polymer being insoluble to basic aqueous solution and becoming soluble to basic aqueous solution when the protective group of the carboxyl group is eliminated from the side chain, the protective group of the carboxyl group being represented by: where R is a hydrogen atom or a single-bonded hydrocarbon group, n is an integer 1 to 4, and R is bonded to a position other than the ester bonded position.

Abstract: To provide a method for easily forming microscopic patterns exceeding the limit of exposure in the patterning technique utilizing the photolithography method in the vacuum deep ultraviolet ray region, a resist pattern swelling material is comprised by mixing a water-soluble or alkali-soluble composition comprising a resin and a cross linking agent and any one of a non-ionic interfacial active agent and an organic solvent selected from a group of the alcohol based, chain or cyclic ester based, ketone based, chain or cyclic ether based organic solvents.

Abstract: The present invention provided an improvement to reduce an edge roughness during forming a small and fine pattern. Such and objective is to accomplish that after patterning a resist film, a coating film is formed on the resist film, so as to intermix the resist film material with the coating film material at the interface therebetween to reduce the edge roughness. There is provided a resist pattern-improving material, comprising: (a) a water-soluble or alkali-soluble composition, comprising: (i) a resin, and (ii) a crosslinking agent. Alternatively, The resist pattern-improving material, comprising (a) a water-soluble or alkali-soluble composition, comprising: (i) a resin, and (ii) a nonionic surfactant. According to the present invention, a pattern is prepared in the step, comprising: (a) forming a resist pattern; and (b) coating the resist pattern-improving material on the surface of the resist pattern.

Abstract: A resist pattern thickening material has resin, a crosslinking agent and a compound having a cyclic structure, or resin having a cyclic structure at a part. A resist pattern has a surface layer on a resist pattern to be thickened with etching rate (nm/s) ratio of the resist pattern to be thickened the surface layer of 1.1 or more, under the same condition, or a surface layer to a resist pattern to be thickened. A process for forming a resist pattern includes applying the thickening material after forming a resist pattern to be thickened on its surface. A semiconductor device has a pattern formed by the resist pattern. A process for manufacturing the semiconductor device has applying, after forming a resist pattern to be thickened, the thickening material to the surface of the resist pattern to be thickened, and patterning the underlying layer by etching, the pattern as a mask.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistance head of the present invention comprises the steps of forming an organic film on a multilayered film constituting a magnetoresistance device, forming an upper film formed of resist or inorganic film on the organic film, patterning the organic film and the upper film, cutting into edges of the organic film patterns from edges of the upper film patterns inwardly to such an extent that particles of the thin film being formed on the upper film and the multilayered film do not contact to side portions of the organic film patterns.

Abstract: The negative resist composition comprises (1) a film-forming polymer which is itself soluble in basic aqueous solutions, and contains a first monomer unit with an alkali-soluble group in the molecule and a second monomer unit with an alcohol structure on the side chain which is capable of reacting with the alkali-soluble group, and (2) a photo acid generator which, when decomposed by absorption of image-forming radiation, is capable of generating an acid that can induce reaction between the alcohol structure of the second monomer unit and the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit, or protect the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit. The resist composition can form intricate negative resist patterns with practical sensitivity and no swelling.

Abstract: A resist pattern thickness reducing material has at least one type selected from a water soluble resin and an alkali-soluble resin. A process for forming a resist pattern includes a step for coating the resist pattern thickness reducing material such that the surface of a first resist pattern formed is covered and forming a mixing layer of the resist pattern thickness reducing material and the material of the resist pattern, on the surface of the resist pattern.

Abstract: The negative resist composition comprises (1) a film-forming polymer which is itself soluble in basic aqueous solutions, and contains a first monomer unit with an alkali-soluble group in the molecule and a second monomer unit with an alcohol structure on the side chain which is capable of reacting with the alkali-soluble group, and (2) a photo acid generator which, when decomposed by absorption of image-forming radiation, is capable of generating an acid that can induce reaction between the alcohol structure of the second monomer unit and the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit, or protect the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit. The resist composition can form intricate negative resist patterns with practical sensitivity and no swelling.

Abstract: The negative resist composition comprises (1) a film-forming polymer which is itself soluble in basic aqueous solutions, and contains a first monomer unit with an alkali-soluble group in the molecule and a second monomer unit with an alcohol structure on the side chain which is capable of reacting with the alkali-soluble group, and (2) a photo acid generator which, when decomposed by absorption of image-forming radiation, is capable of generating an acid that can induce reaction between the alcohol structure of the second monomer unit and the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit, or protect the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit. The resist composition can form intricate negative resist patterns with practical sensitivity and no swelling.

Abstract: The negative resist composition comprises (1) a film-forming polymer which is itself soluble in basic aqueous solutions, and contains a first monomer unit with an alkali-soluble group in the molecule and a second monomer unit with an alcohol structure on the side chain which is capable of reacting with the alkali-soluble group, and (2) a photo acid generator which, when decomposed by absorption of image-forming radiation, is capable of generating an acid that can induce reaction between the alcohol structure of the second monomer unit and the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit, or protect the alkali-soluble group of the first monomer unit. The resist composition can form intricate negative resist patterns with practical sensitivity and no swelling.

Abstract: A novel chemical amplification resist composition which comprises an alkali-soluble base resin, a photoacid generator and a dissolution inhibitor and in which a cyclic or acyclic structure constituting a matrix portion of the molecule of said dissolution inhibitor contains at least one lone pair-containing portion which can provide a hydrogen bond sufficient to shift and gather an alkali-soluble moiety of said base resin to and on a side of said molecule of the dissolution inhibitor compound. The resist composition can exhibit both excellent sensitivity and resolution and accordingly can be utilized in the formation of very fine resist patterns in a lithographic process. A method for forming such resist patterns is also disclosed.

Abstract: A resist pattern thickening material comprises a resin, a crosslinking agent and a water-soluble aromatic compound. A resist pattern comprises an upperlayer on an underlayer resist pattern with an etching rate (Å/s) ratio of the underlayer resist pattern to the upper layer under the same condition of 1.1 or more, or comprises an upperlayer containing an aromatic compound on an underlayer resist pattern. A method for forming a resist pattern comprises applying a resist pattern thickening material after forming an underlayer resist pattern, on the surface of the pattern. A semiconductor device comprises a pattern formed by the resist pattern. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device comprises applying after forming an underlayer resist pattern on an underlying layer, the thickening material to the surface of the pattern to thicken the pattern, and patterning the underlying layer by etching using the pattern as a mask.