Abstract: The present invention provides a patterning process, in which a resistance with regard to an organic solvent used for a composition for formation of a reverse film is rendered to a positive pattern to the degree of necessity and yet solubility into an alkaline etching liquid is secured, thereby enabling to finally obtain a negative image by a positive-negative reversal by performing a wet etching using an alkaline etching liquid. A resist patterning process of the present invention using a positive-negative reversal comprises at least a step of forming a resist film by applying a positive resist composition; a step of obtaining a positive pattern by exposing and developing the resist film; a step of crosslinking the positive resist pattern thus obtained; a step of forming a reverse film; and a step of reversing the positive pattern to a negative pattern by dissolving into an alkaline wet-etching liquid for removal.

Abstract: In a mixture of silsesquioxane compounds comprising silsesquioxane units having a side chain including a direct bond between a silicon atom and a norbornane skeleton and having a degree of condensation of substantially 100%, a dimethylene chain of the norbornane skeleton remote from the silicon bonded side is substituted with at least one substituent group other than hydrogen, and an isomer having a bulkier substituent group on the dimethylene chain at an exo position is present in a higher proportion.

Abstract: Double patterns are formed by coating a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising an acid labile group-bearing resin and a photoacid generator and prebaking to form a resist film on a processable substrate, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, PEB, and developing with an alkaline developer to form a positive resist pattern, treating the positive resist pattern to be alkali soluble and solvent resistant, coating a negative resist composition and prebaking to form a reversal film, and exposing the reversal film to high-energy radiation, PEB, and developing with an alkaline developer to form a negative resist pattern. The last development step includes the reversal transfer step of dissolving away the positive resist pattern which has been converted to be soluble in developer.

Abstract: A metal oxide-containing film is formed from a heat curable composition comprising (A) a metal oxide-containing compound obtained through hydrolytic condensation between a hydrolyzable silicon compound and a hydrolyzable metal compound, (B) a hydroxide or organic acid salt of Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs, or a sulfonium, iodonium or ammonium compound, (C) an organic acid, and (D) an organic solvent. The metal oxide-containing film ensures effective pattern formation.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising a silicone resin, a photoacid generator, a nitrogen-containing organic compound, and a solvent. The silicone resin is obtained through cohydrolytic condensation of a mixture of three silane monomers containing a fluorinated norbornane group, an organic group having a carboxyl group protected with an acid labile group, and a lactone ring-bearing organic group, respectively. The resist composition has satisfactory resolution and overcomes the problem of a low selective etching ratio between resist film and organic film during oxygen reactive etching.

Abstract: Provided is a positive resist material, particularly a chemically amplified positive resist material having higher sensitivity, higher resolution, a higher exposure latitude and better process adaptability than conventional positive resist materials, and providing a good pattern profile after exposure, particularly having lessened line edge roughness and exhibiting excellent etching resistance. These materials may contain, preferably an organic solvent and acid generator, more preferably a dissolution inhibitor or a basic compound and/or a surfactant. Provided is a positive resist material comprising a polymer comprising at least one monomer unit selected from a group consisting of a monomer unit (A), a monomer unit (B) and a monomer unit (C) represented by the following formula (1); and having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 100° C. or greater.

Abstract: Silicon compounds having fluorinated hemiacetal structure are provided. Silicone resins having the same structure have an appropriate acidity to enable formation of a finer pattern by minimizing the pattern collapse by swelling, exhibit improved resistance to the etching used in the pattern transfer to an organic film, and are thus suited for use in resist compositions for the bilayer process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a patterning process, in which a resistance with regard to an organic solvent used for a composition for formation of a reverse film is rendered to a positive pattern to the degree of necessity and yet solubility into an alkaline etching liquid is secured, thereby enabling to finally obtain a negative image by a positive-negative reversal by performing a wet etching using an alkaline etching liquid. A resist patterning process of the present invention using a positive-negative reversal comprises at least a step of forming a resist film by applying a positive resist composition; a step of obtaining a positive pattern by exposing and developing the resist film; a step of crosslinking the positive resist pattern thus obtained; a step of forming a reverse film; and a step of reversing the positive pattern to a negative pattern by dissolving into an alkaline wet-etching liquid for removal.

Abstract: Double patterns are formed by coating a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising an acid labile group-bearing resin and a photoacid generator and prebaking to form a resist film on a processable substrate, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, PEB, and developing with an alkaline developer to form a positive resist pattern, treating the positive resist pattern to be alkali soluble and solvent resistant, coating a negative resist composition and prebaking to form a reversal film, and exposing the reversal film to high-energy radiation, PEB, and developing with an alkaline developer to form a negative resist pattern. The last development step includes the reversal transfer step of dissolving away the positive resist pattern which has been converted to be soluble in developer.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising a silicone resin, a photoacid generator, a nitrogen-containing organic compound, and a solvent. The silicone resin is obtained through cohydrolytic condensation of a mixture of three silane monomers containing an organic group having a hydroxyl group and having at least 3 fluorine atoms, in total, on a proximate carbon atom, an organic group having a carboxyl group protected with an acid labile group, and a lactone ring-bearing organic group, respectively. The resist composition has satisfactory resolution and overcomes the problem of a low selective etching ratio between resist film and organic film during oxygen reactive etching.

Abstract: A metal oxide-containing film is formed from a heat curable composition comprising (A) a metal oxide-containing compound obtained through hydrolytic condensation between a hydrolyzable silicon compound and a hydrolyzable metal compound, (B) a hydroxide or organic acid salt of Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs, or a sulfonium, iodonium or ammonium compound, (C) an organic acid, and (D) an organic solvent. The metal oxide-containing film ensures effective pattern formation.

Abstract: Fluorine-containing silicon compounds having the general formula (1): wherein X1, X2, and X3 each are hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, a straight, branched or cyclic alkoxy group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a monovalent organic group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having a straight, branched, cyclic or polycyclic skeleton, Y is a divalent organic group, R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having a straight, branched, cyclic or polycyclic skeleton, or R1 and R2 may bond together to form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached silicone resins obtained from the compounds of formula (1) has an appropriate acidity to enable formation of a finer pattern while minimizing the pattern collapse by swelling when used in a resist composition.

Abstract: In a mixture of silsesquioxane compounds comprising silsesquioxane units having a side chain including a direct bond between a silicon atom and a norbornane skeleton and having a degree of condensation of substantially 100%, a dimethylene chain of the norbornane skeleton remote from the silicon bonded side is substituted with at least one substituent group other than hydrogen, and an isomer having a bulkier substituent group on the dimethylene chain at an exo position is present in a higher proportion.

Abstract: A silsesquioxane compound mixture having a high proportion of silsesquioxane compounds bearing bulky substituent groups on side chain and having a degree of condensation of substantially 100% is prepared by a first stage wherein a silane feed comprising a trifunctional silane bearing a bulky substituent group on side chain represented by formula (1): wherein Y is an aliphatic or aromatic organic group optionally having a functional group, X1, X2 and X3 are H, halogen, alkoxy or aryloxy is hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid or base catalyst, and a second stage wherein dehydrating condensation is carried out in the presence of a strong base catalyst while removing the water resulting from condensation out of the reaction system.

Abstract: Fluorine-containing silicon compounds having the general formula (1): wherein X1, X2, and X3 each are hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, a straight, branched or cyclic alkoxy group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a monovalent organic group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having a straight, branched, cyclic or polycyclic skeleton, Y is a divalent organic group, R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having a straight, branched, cyclic or polycyclic skeleton, or R1 and R2 may bond together to form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached silicone resins obtained from the compounds of formula (1) has an appropriate acidity to enable formation of a finer pattern while minimizing the pattern collapse by swelling when used in a resist composition.

Abstract: A silsesquioxane compound mixture having a high proportion of silsesquioxane compounds bearing bulky substituent groups on side chain and having a degree of condensation of substantially 100% is prepared by a first stage wherein a silane feed comprising a trifunctional silane bearing a bulky substituent group on side chain represented by formula (1): wherein Y is an aliphatic or aromatic organic group optionally having a functional group, X1, X2 and X3 are H, halogen, alkoxy or aryloxy is hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid or base catalyst, and a second stage wherein dehydrating condensation is carried out in the presence of a strong base catalyst while removing the water resulting from condensation out of the reaction system.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising a silicone resin, a photoacid generator, a nitrogen-containing organic compound, and a solvent. The silicone resin is obtained through cohydrolytic condensation of a mixture of three silane monomers containing a fluorinated norbornane group, an organic group having a carboxyl group protected with an acid labile group, and a lactone ring-bearing organic group, respectively. The resist composition has satisfactory resolution and overcomes the problem of a low selective etching ratio between resist film and organic film during oxygen reactive etching.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising a silicone resin, a photoacid generator, a nitrogen-containing organic compound, and a solvent. The silicone resin is obtained through cohydrolytic condensation of a mixture of three silane monomers containing a norbornane group having hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol, an organic group having a carboxyl group protected with an acid labile group, and a lactone ring-bearing organic group, respectively. The resist composition has satisfactory resolution and overcomes the problem of a low selective etching ratio between resist film and organic film during oxygen reactive etching.

Abstract: Silicon compounds having fluorinated hemiacetal structure are provided. Silicone resins having the same structure have an appropriate acidity to enable formation of a finer pattern by minimizing the pattern collapse by swelling, exhibit improved resistance to the etching used in the pattern transfer to an organic film, and are thus suited for use in resist compositions for the bilayer process.

Abstract: A silsesquioxane compound mixture having a high proportion of silsesquioxane compounds bearing bulky substituent groups on side chain and having a degree of condensation of substantially 100% is prepared by a first stage wherein a silane feed comprising a trifunctional silane bearing a bulky substituent group on side chain represented by formula (1): wherein Y is an aliphatic or aromatic organic group optionally having a functional group, X1, X2 and X3 are H, halogen, alkoxy or aryloxy is hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid or base catalyst, and a second stage wherein dehydrating condensation is carried out in the presence of a strong base catalyst while removing the water resulting from condensation out of the reaction system.