Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pattern formation method, comprising (a) applying a layer of a photoresist composition over a semiconductor substrate, (b) pattern-wise exposing the photoresist composition layer to i-line radiation; and (c) developing the exposed photoresist composition layer to provide a resist relief image; wherein the photoresist composition comprises a non-ionic photoacid generator; a solvent; a first polymer and a second polymer; and wherein the first polymer comprises a polymeric dye.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a copolymer comprising first polymerized units of the formula (1): wherein: R1 is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C3-C20 alkyl group that optionally includes one or more of —O—, —S—, —N—, —C(O)—, or —C(O)O—, —N—C(O)—, —C(O)—NR—; wherein R is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and second polymerized units of the formula (2): wherein: R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group that optionally includes one or more of —O—, —N—, —S—, —C(O)—, or —C(O)O—; wherein the first polymerized units and the second polymerized units are chemically different, and the copolymer is free of fluorine.

Abstract: A photoactive compound including an organic cation; and an anion represented by Formula (1): wherein X is an organic group; Y1 and Y2 are each independently a non-hydrogen substituent; Y1 and Y2 together optionally form a ring; Z2 is hydrogen, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted C1-30 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C3-30 cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C3-30 heterocycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-50 aryl, substituted or unsubstituted C7-50 arylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C7-50 alkylaryl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-50 aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted C3-30 heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted C4-30 alkylheteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted C4-30 heteroarylalkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted C3-30 heteroaryloxy; Z2 optionally further comprises one or more divalent linking groups as part of its structure; Z2 and one of Y1 or Y2 together optionally form a ring; X and Z2 together optionally form a ring; and X and one of Y1 or Y2 together optionally form a

Abstract: A photoacid generator, including an organic cation; and an anion including an anionic core, wherein the anionic core includes a cyclopentadienide group, wherein the cyclopentadienide group is substituted with an organic group including a semi-metal element, and wherein the anion is substituted with one or more electron withdrawing groups.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a copolymer comprising first polymerized units of the formula (1); wherein: R1 is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C3-C20 alkyl group that optionally includes one or more of —O—, —S—, —N—, —C(O)—, or —C(O)O—, —N—C(O)—, —C(O)—NR—; wherein R is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and second polymerized units of the formula (2): wherein: R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group that optionally includes one or more of —O—, —N—, —S—, —C(O)—, or —C(O)O—; wherein the first polymerized units and the second polymerized units are chemically different, and the copolymer is free of fluorine.

Abstract: Topcoat compositions are provided that can be used in immersion lithography to form photoresist patterns. The topcoat compositions include a solvent system that comprises 1) a first organic solvent represented by formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups of 3-8 carbons and the total number of carbons of R1 and R2 is greater than 6; and 2) a second organic solvent that is a C4 to C10 monovalent alcohol.

Abstract: New photoresist and topcoat compositions are provided that are useful in a variety of applications. In one aspect, new photoresist compositions are provided that comprise: (a) a first matrix polymer; (b) one or more acid generators; and (c) one or more additive compounds of Formulae (I) and/or (II).

Abstract: A photoresist composition comprises a first polymer formed by free radical polymerization. The first polymer comprises polymerized units formed from a monomer that comprises an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and an acid-labile group; a photoacid generator; a quencher of formula (1): and a solvent.

Abstract: Photoresist pattern trimming compositions comprise a polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid, and an organic-based solvent system, wherein the aromatic sulfonic acid is of general formula (I): wherein: Ar1 represents an aromatic group; R1 independently represents a halogen atom, hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic aryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, or a combination thereof, wherein adjacent R1 groups together optionally form a fused ring structure with Ar1; a represents an integer of 2 or more; and b represents an integer of 1 or more, provided that a+b is at least 3 and is not greater than the total number of available aromatic carbon atoms of Ar1, and two or more of R1 are independently a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group bonded directly to an aromatic ring carbon atom.

Abstract: A polymer, comprising a first repeating unit derived from a first monomer comprising a single ester acetal group, and a second repeating unit derived from a second monomer comprising a plurality of ester acetal groups.

Abstract: Photoresist compositions comprise: an acid-sensitive polymer comprising a repeating unit comprising an ester acetal group, wherein the acid-sensitive polymer is free of tertiary alkyl ester groups and is substantially free of aromatic groups; a material comprising a base-labile group; a photoacid generator compound that is free of fluorine which generates an acid having a pKa of -2 or greater, and wherein the photoresist composition is free of photoacid generators that generate an acid having a pKa of less than -2; and a solvent.. The photoresist compositions and pattern formation methods using the photoresist compositions find particular use in the formation of fine lithographic patterns in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

Abstract: A photoresist composition comprising a polymer, a photoacid generator, an additive comprising a tertiary carbon atom as a ring-forming atom of a lactone ring, and a solvent.

Abstract: A photoresist composition, comprising: a polymer comprising: a first repeating unit derived from a first monomer comprising a substituted lactone, wherein the first repeating unit comprises a lactone ring derived from the substituted lactone, and wherein a carbon atom of the lactone ring forms a part of a backbone of the polymer, and a second repeating unit derived from a second monomer comprising an acetal group; a photoacid generator; and a solvent.

Abstract: Photoresist pattern trimming compositions comprise a polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid, and an organic-based solvent system, wherein the polymer comprises polymerized units of general formulas (I) and (II): wherein: X independently represents a halogen atom; Q represents a single bond, —O—, or —C(O)O—; R1 independently represents hydrogen, a halogen atom, C1-C12 alkyl or C1-C12 fluoroalkyl; R2 represents C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 fluoroalkyl; and m is an integer from 0 to 4; and wherein the polymerized units of general formula (I) are present in the polymer in an amount of 10 to 90 mol % and the polymerized units of general formula (II) are present in the polymer in an amount from 10 to 60 mol %, based on total polymerized units of the polymer. The photoresist pattern trimming compositions and their use in pattern formation methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pattern formation method, comprising (a) applying a layer of a photoresist composition over a semiconductor substrate, (b) pattern-wise exposing the photoresist composition layer to i-line radiation; and (c) developing the exposed photoresist composition layer to provide a resist relief image; wherein the photoresist composition comprises a non-ionic photoacid generator; a solvent; a first polymer and a second polymer; and wherein the first polymer comprises a polymeric dye.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a copolymer comprising first polymerized units of the formula (1); wherein: R1 is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C3-C20 alkyl group that optionally includes one or more of —O—, —S—, —N—, —C(O)—, or —C(O)O—, —N—C(O)—, —C(O)—NR—; wherein R is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and second polymerized units of the formula (2): wherein: R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group that optionally includes one or more of —O—, —N—, —S—, —C(O)—, or —C(O)O—; wherein the first polymerized units and the second polymerized units are chemically different, and the copolymer is free of fluorine.

Abstract: Photoresist compositions comprise: an acid-sensitive polymer comprising a first repeating unit formed from a first free radical polymerizable monomer comprising an acid-decomposable group and a second repeating unit formed from a second free radical polymerizable monomer comprising a carboxylic acid group; a compound comprising two or more enol ether groups, wherein the compound is different from the acid-sensitive polymer; a material comprising a base-labile group; a photoacid generator; and a solvent. The photoresist compositions and pattern formation methods using the photoresist compositions find particular use in the formation of fine lithographic patterns in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photoresist composition, comprising a first polymer formed by free radical polymerization, the first polymer comprising polymerized units formed from a monomer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and an acid-labile group; a photoacid generator; a quencher of formula (1): wherein: R1 is independently a hydrogen atom, C1-C20 linear, C3-C20 branched, or C3-20 cyclic alkyl, the alkyl optionally comprising an —O— group other than at an alpha-position with respect to the amide C(O), or C6-C20 aryl; R2 is independently a hydrogen atom, C1-C20 linear, C3-C20 branched, or C3-C20 cyclic alkyl, or C6-C20 aryl; L is C1-C20 linear or C3-C20 branched alkylene comprising one or more heteroatom-containing groups independently selected from —O—, —S—, or —N(R3)—, wherein R3 is selected from a hydrogen atom or C1-C20 linear or C3-C20 branched or cyclic alkyl; each of R1, R2, and L may independently be substituted or unsubstituted; wherein the quencher is free of crosslinkable groups;

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprise one or more materials that comprise one or more base reactive groups and (i) one or more polar groups distinct from the base reactive groups, and/or (ii) at least one of the base reactive groups is a non-perfluorinated base reactive group. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a first repeating unit derived from a monomer comprising a hydroxy-aryl group; a second repeating unit derived from a monomer comprising a hydroxy-aryl group protected with an acetal or ketal group; a third repeating unit derived from a (meth)acrylate monomer comprising a cycloaliphatic group; and a fourth repeating unit derived from a monomer comprising an acid-sensitive group, wherein the first, the second, the third, and the fourth repeating units are different from each other.