Patents by Inventor Rikimaru Sakamoto

Rikimaru Sakamoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9761741
    Abstract: There is provided a novel material used for solar cells that can contribute to the improvement in maximum output of solar cells. A film-forming material for forming a light-collecting film on a transparent electrode of a solar cell, including an aromatic group-containing organic polymer compound (A), wherein the film-forming material exhibits an index of refraction of 1.5 to 2.0 at a wavelength of 633 nm and a transmittance of 95% or more with respect to light having a wavelength of 400 nm, and a solar cell obtained by coating a cured film made from the film-forming material on a surface of a transparent electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Ebara, Hikaru Imamura, Rikimaru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9753369
    Abstract: Disclosed is a developer, one that does not cause pattern collapse during the formation process, for the formation of a fine pattern and a method for pattern formation using the developer. A developer used in a lithography process includes a polymer for forming a dry-etching mask and an organic solvent. The polymer is preferably a curable resin different from a curable resin forming a resist film. The developer is preferably used after exposure of the resist film. The organic solvent in the developer is preferably butyl acetate or a mixed solvent of butyl acetate and an alcohol, or 2-pentanone or a mixed solvent of 2-pentanone and an alcohol. Also disclosed is a method for producing a semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL IDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Rikimaru Sakamoto, Yasushi Sakaida, Bangching Ho
  • Publication number: 20170250079
    Abstract: There is provided a composition that a resist pattern having a reduced LWR representing variations in line width of the resist pattern, compared to conventional resist patterns, can be formed. A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography comprising a polymer, 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of a compound having an amino group protected with a tert-butoxycarbonyl group and an unprotected carboxyl group, or a hydrate of the compound, relative to 100 parts by mass of the polymer, and a solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tokio NISHITA, Noriaki FUJITANI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9746764
    Abstract: A mask blank, including: a thin film for forming a transfer pattern; a resist underlying film made of a resist underlying composition and provided on the thin film; a resist film made of a chemically amplified resist and provided on the resist underlying film; and a mixture film provided so as to be interposed between the resist underlying film and the resist film, wherein the resist underlying film is configured so that a molecular weight is reduced from the thin film side to the resist film side in a thickness direction, and has a low molecular weight region in which the molecular weight is low on the resist film side surface, and the mixture film is formed by mixing a component of the low molecular weight region and a component of the chemically amplified resist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: HOYA CORPORATION, NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Hiromatsu, Masahiro Hashimoto, Yasushi Sakaida, Ryuta Mizuochi, Rikimaru Sakamoto, Masaki Nagai
  • Patent number: 9746768
    Abstract: There is provided a resist overlayer film forming composition for use in a lithography process in semiconductor device production, which does not intermix with a resist, blocks undesirable exposure light particularly in EUV exposure, for example, UV and DUV and selectively transmits EUV alone, and which can be developed with a developer after exposure. A resist overlayer film forming composition comprising: a polymer including an organic group including a linear or branched saturated alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 10, in which some or all of hydrogen atoms thereof are substituted with fluorine atoms, and an optionally substituted C8-16 ether compound as a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Ohnishi, Rikimaru Sakamoto, Noriaki Fujitani
  • Publication number: 20170227850
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film for lithography has high solubility in a resist solvent (solvent used in lithography) for expressing good coating film forming property and a smaller selection ratio of dry etching rate as compared with a resist. A resist underlayer film-forming composition containing a novolac resin containing a structure (C) obtained by a reaction of an aromatic ring of an aromatic compound (A) with a hydroxy group-containing aromatic methylol compound (B). The aromatic compound (A) may be a component constituting the structure (C) in the novolac resin. The hydroxy group-containing aromatic methylol compound (B) may be a compound of Formula (1): The hydroxy group-containing aromatic methylol compound (B) may be 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, or 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethyl phenol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Takafumi ENDO
  • Publication number: 20170205711
    Abstract: This composition for forming an extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) or electron-beam upper-layer resist film including (a) a polymer (P) and (b) a solvent, the solvent containing 1 to 13 mass % of a C4-12 ketone compound with respect to the entire solvent, is used in the lithography process of a procedure for manufacturing a semiconductor device. Without needing to be intermixed with a resist, and particularly on the occasion of EUV exposure, the composition for forming an EUV or electron-beam upper-layer resist film blocks undesirable exposure light, e.g., ultraviolet (UV) or deep ultraviolet (DUV) rays, and selectively transmits only the EUV rays, and can be developed using a developing solution after exposure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki FUJITANI, Takafumi ENDO, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170168397
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film allows an excellent resist pattern shape to be formed when an upper resist layer is exposed to light and developed using an alkaline developing solution or organic solvent; and composition for forming the resist underlayer film. A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography, the composition including, as a silane, hydrolyzable silane, hydrolysis product thereof, hydrolysis-condensation product thereof, or combination, wherein the hydrolyzable silane includes hydrolyzable silane of Formula (1): R1aR2bSi(R3)4?(a+b) ??Formula (1) [where R1 is an organic group of Formula (2): —R4—R5—R6 ??Formula (2) (where R4 is optionally substituted C1-10 alkylene group; R5 is a sulfonyl group or sulfonamide group; and R6 is a halogen-containing organic group)]. In Formula (2), R6 may be a fluorine-containing organic group like trifluoromethyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru SHIBAYAMA, Kenji TAKASE, Makoto NAKAJIMA, Satoshi TAKEDA, Hiroyuki WAKAYAMA, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170153549
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography having an aliphatic polycyclic structure including, as a silane, a hydrolyzable silane, a hydrolysis product thereof, a hydrolysis-condensation product thereof, or a combination thereof, in which the aliphatic polycyclic structure is a structure which a hydrolyzable silane of Formula (1): R1aR2bSi(R3)4?(a+b)??Formula (1) (where R1 is an organic group having an aliphatic polycyclic structure and bonded to a Si atom through a Si—C bond; R3 is an ethoxy group; a is an integer of 1; b is an integer of 0 to 2; and a+b is an integer of 1 to 3) has, or a structure included in a compound added as an aliphatic polycyclic compound, an aliphatic polycyclic dicarboxylic acid, or an aliphatic polycyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydride, each optionally having a double bond, a hydroxy group, or an epoxy group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru SHIBAYAMA, Shuhei SHIGAKI, Makoto NAKAJIMA, Satoshi TAKEDA, Hiroyuki WAKAYAMA, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170153548
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel resist underlayer film-forming composition capable of forming a resist underlayer film that has etching resistance and excellent embeddability in a surface having concave portions and/or convex portions. A resist underlayer film-forming composition comprising a polymer having a structural unit represented by formula (1) or formula (2): (wherein X is an arylene group, n is 1 or 2, and R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1-3 alkyl group, or a phenyl group), and a solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Takafumi ENDO, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9632414
    Abstract: A coating liquid to be applied to resist pattern, which can be used in place of the conventional rinsing liquid. A coating liquid to be applied to a resist pattern having a polymer having a structural unit of the following Formula (1) and a structural unit of the following Formula (2), and a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 3,500, and a solvent containing water as a main component (where R1 is a C1-8 organic group).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Sakaida, Rikimaru Sakamoto, Shuhei Shigaki
  • Publication number: 20170108777
    Abstract: An additive for a resist underlayer film-forming composition containing a copolymer having structural units of Formulae (1) to (4), and a resist underlayer film-forming composition containing the additive: (where each R1 is independently a hydrogen atom or methyl group, Ar is arylene group, Pr is a protecting group or a hydrogen atom, X is a direct bond or a —C(?O)O—R2— group, R2 constituting the —C(?O)O—R2— group is a C1-3 alkylene group, the alkylene group is bonded to a sulfur atom, R3 is a hydrogen atom, methyl group, methoxy group, or halogeno group, R4 is a C1-3 alkyl group in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluoro group, and Z is an organic group having 4 to 7-membered ring lactone skeleton, adamantane skeleton, or norbornane skeleton).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuto HASHIMOTO, Yasushi SAKAIDA, Kenji TAKASE, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9627217
    Abstract: There is provided a composition for forming an EUV resist underlayer film which shows a good resit form. A resist underlayer film-forming composition for EUV lithography, including: polysiloxane (A) containing a hydrolyzed condensate of hydrolyzable silane (a); and hydrolyzable silane compound (b) having a sulfonamide structure, a carboxylic acid amide structure, a urea structure, or an isocyanuric acid structure. A resist underlayer film-forming composition for EUV lithography, including: polysiloxane (B) containing a hydrolyzed condensate of hydrolyzable silane (a) and hydrolyzable silane compound (b) having a sulfonamide structure, a carboxylic acid amide structure, a urea structure, or an isocyanuric acid structure. The polysiloxane (A) is preferably a co-hydrolyzed condensate of a tetraalkoxysilane, an alkyltrialkoxysilane and an aryltrialkoxysilane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Shigaki, Hiroaki Yaguchi, Wataru Shibayama, Rikimaru Sakamoto, BangChing Ho
  • Publication number: 20170097568
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition has high solubility in a solvent used at a lithography process for exhibiting good coating film forming properties and able to decrease a sublime generated during formation of a film. A resist underlayer film-forming composition having a novolac resin having a structure group (C) obtained by a reaction of an aromatic ring structure of an aromatic ring-containing compound (A) with a vinyl group of an aromatic vinyl compound (B). The aromatic vinyl compound (B) is represented by Formula (1), and is specifically styrene, 2-vinylnaphthalene, 4-tert-butylstyrene, or 4-tert-butoxystyrene. The structure group (C) is represented by Formula (2). The aromatic ring-containing compound (A) is an aromatic amine compound or a phenolic hydroxy group-containing compound. The novolac resin is a resin produced by a reaction of the aromatic amine compound or the phenolic hydroxy group-containing compound with aldehyde or ketone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi ENDO, Keisuke HASHIMOTO, Hirokazu NISHIMAKI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170045820
    Abstract: A composition for forming a resist underlayer film which make possible to form a desired high-adhesion resist pattern. A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography containing a polymer having the following structure Formula (1) or (2) at a terminal of a polymer chain, crosslinker, compound promoting crosslinking reaction, and organic solvent. (wherein R1 is a C1-6 alkyl group optionally having a substituent, phenyl group, pyridyl group, halogeno group, or hydroxy group, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, hydroxy group, halogeno group, or ester group of —C(?O)O—X wherein X is a C1-6 alkyl group optionally having a substituent, R3 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, hydroxy group, or halogeno group, R4 is a direct bond or divalent C1-8 organic group, R5 is a divalent C1-8 organic group, A is an aromatic ring or heteroaromatic ring, t is 0 or 1, and u is 1 or 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi SAKAIDA, Tokio NISHITA, Noriaki FUJITANI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170045818
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography capable of being dry-etched during pattern transfer from the upper layer or during substrate processing and capable of being removed with an alkaline aqueous solution after the substrate processing. The composition includes a polymer (A) having an acrylamide structure or an acrylic acid ester structure; a polymer (B) having a blocked isocyanate structure; and a solvent (C). The polymer (A) is a polymer including a unit structure of Formula (1). The polymer (B) is a polymer including a unit structure of Formula (2). A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes steps for: forming a resist pattern; etching an inorganic hard mask layer with use of the resist pattern; etching a resist underlayer film with use of the pattered inorganic hard mask layer; and processing a semiconductor substrate with use of the pattered resist underlayer film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo KARASAWA, Tokio NISHITA, Yasunobu SOMEYA, Takafumi ENDO, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170045819
    Abstract: A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography capable of being dry-etched during pattern transfer from the upper layer or during substrate processing and capable of being removed with an alkaline aqueous solution after the substrate processing. A resist underlayer film-forming composition for lithography includes a polymer (A) including a unit structure of Formula (1) and a unit structure of Formula (2); a crosslinkable compound (B) having at least two groups selected from blocked isocyanate groups, methylol group, or C1-5 alkoxy methyl groups; and a solvent (C), characterized in that the polymer (A) is a polymer in which the unit structure of Formula (1) and the unit structure of Formula (2) are copolymerized in a mol % ratio of the unit structure of Formula (1):the unit structure of Formula (2)=25 to 60:75 to 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo KARASAWA, Yasunobu SOMEYA, Takafumi ENDO, Tokio NISHITA, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170010535
    Abstract: A resist overlayer film forming composition for use in a lithography process in semiconductor device production does not intermix with a resist, blocks undesirable exposure light particularly in EUV exposure, for example, UV and DUV and selectively transmits EUV alone, and can be developed with a developer after exposure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Noriaki FUJITANI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160363863
    Abstract: An electron beam resist underlayer film-forming composition includes a polymer containing a unit structure having a lactone ring and a unit structure having a hydroxy group. The polymer may be a polymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer mixture containing a lactone (meth)acrylate, a hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, and phenyl (meth)acrylate or benzyl (meth)acrylate. A method for producing a semiconductor device including: applying the electron beam resist underlayer film-forming composition onto a substrate and heating the applied composition to form an electron beam resist underlayer film; coating the electron beam resist underlayer film with an electron beam resist; irradiating the substrate coated with the electron beam resist underlayer film and the electron beam resist with an electron beam; developing the substrate; and transferring an image onto the substrate by dry etching to form an integrated circuit element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi SAKAIDA, Ryuta MIZUOCHI, Rikimaru SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160363867
    Abstract: There is provided a polymer-containing coating liquid which is applied to a resist pattern and which is used in place of a conventional rinsing liquid. A coating liquid that is applied to a resist pattern comprising a polymer having a structural unit of Formula (1): (wherein R1 is a C1-12 organic group, and X is an organic group of Formula (2): (wherein R2 and R3 are each independently a linear or branched alkylene group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 3, R2 is bonded to an oxygen atom in Formula (1), R4 is a C1-4 alkoxy group, an allyloxy group, or a hydroxy group, and p is 0, 1, or 2)), and a solvent containing water and/or alcohols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: NISSAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Shigaki, Yasushi Sakaida, Rikimaru Sakamoto