Abstract: Disclosed is a method for decreasing the surface defects of a patterned photoresist layer on a substrate surface obtained by the procedure comprising the steps of (a) forming a photoresist layer of a positive-working chemical-amplification photoresist composition on the substrate surface, (b) patternwise exposing the photoresist layer to actinic rays, (c) subjecting the patternwise-exposed photoresist layer to a post-exposure baking treatment and (d) a development treatment. The improvement can be accomplished by bringing the photoresist layer after the post-exposure baking treatment into contact with an aqueous acidic solution having a pH of 3.5 or lower for 1 to 90 seconds. The acid contained in the aqueous acidic solution is preferably an aromatic sulfonic acid or, more preferably, a diphenyl ether sulfonic acid such as dodecyl(diphenyl ether) disulfonic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist composition comprising (A) polyhydroxystyrene in which at least a portion of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups are substituted with an acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group, and the solubility in an alkali solution of the polyhydroxystyrene increasing when the acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group is eliminated by an action of an acid, and (B) a component capable of generating an acid by irradiation with radiation, wherein a retention rate of the acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group of the component (A) after a dissociation test using hydrochloric acid is 40% or less, and also provides a chemical amplification type positive resist composition which contains polyhydroxystyrene in which at least a portion of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups are substituted with a lower alkoxy-alkyl group having a straight-chain or branched alkoxy group, and the solubility in an alkali solution of the polyhydroxystyrene increasing when the lower alkoxy-alkyl group

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist composition comprising (A) polyhydroxystyrene in which at least a portion of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups are substituted with an acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group, and the solubility in an alkali solution of the polyhydroxystyrene increasing when the acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group is eliminated by an action of an acid, and (B) a component capable of generating an acid by irradiation with radiation, wherein a retention rate of the acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group of the component (A) after a dissociation test using hydrochloric acid is 40% or less, and also provides a chemical amplification type positive resist composition which contains polyhydroxystyrene in which at least a portion of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups are substituted with a lower alkoxy-alkyl group having a straight-chain or branched alkoxy group, and the solubility in an alkali solution of the polyhydroxystyrene increasing when the lower alkoxy-alkyl group

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist composition comprising (A) polyhydroxystyrene in which at least a portion of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups are substituted with an acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group, and the solubility in an alkali solution of the polyhydroxystyrene increasing when the acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group is eliminated by an action of an acid, and (B) a component capable of generating an acid by irradiation with radiation, wherein a retention rate of the acid-dissociable dissolution inhibiting group of the component (A) after a dissociation test using hydrochloric acid is 40% or less, and also provides a chemical amplification type positive resist composition which contains polyhydroxystyrene in which at least a portion of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups are substituted with a lower alkoxy-alkyl group having a straight-chain or branched alkoxy group, and the solubility in an alkali solution of the polyhydroxystyrene increasing when the lower alkoxy-alkyl group

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for decreasing the surface defects of a patterned photoresist layer on a substrate surface obtained by the procedure comprising the steps of (a) forming a photoresist layer of a positive-working chemical-amplification photoresist composition on the substrate surface, (b) patternwise exposing the photoresist layer to actinic rays, (c) subjecting the patternwise-exposed photoresist layer to a post-exposure baking treatment and (d) a development treatment. The improvement can be accomplished by bringing the photoresist layer after the post-exposure baking treatment into contact with an aqueous acidic solution having a pH of 3.5 or lower for 1 to 90 seconds. The acid contained in the aqueous acidic solution is preferably an aromatic sulfonic acid or, more preferably, a diphenyl ether sulfonic acid such as dodecyl(diphenyl ether)disulfonic acids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for decreasing the surface defects of a patterned photoresist layer on a substrate surface obtained by the procedure comprising the steps of (a) forming a photoresist layer of a positive-working chemical-amplification photoresist composition on the substrate surface, (b) patternwise exposing the photoresist layer to actinic rays, (c) subjecting the patternwise-exposed photoresist layer to a post-exposure baking treatment and (d) a development treatment. The improvement can be accomplished by bringing the photoresist layer after the post-exposure baking treatment into contact with an aqueous acidic solution having a pH of 3.5 or lower for 1 to 90 seconds. The acid contained in the aqueous acidic solution is preferably an aromatic sulfonic acid or, more preferably, a diphenyl ether sulfonic acid such as dodecyl(diphenyl ether) disulfonic acids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for decreasing the surface defects of a patterned photoresist layer on a substrate surface obtained by the procedure comprising the steps of (a) forming a photoresist layer of a positive-working chemical-amplification photoresist composition on the substrate surface, (b) patternwise exposing the photoresist layer to actinic rays, (c) subjecting the patternwise-exposed photoresist layer to a post-exposure baking treatment and (d) a development treatment. The improvement can be accomplished by bringing the photoresist layer after the post-exposure baking treatment into contact with an aqueous acidic solution having a pH of 3.5 or lower for 1 to 90 seconds. The acid contained in the aqueous acidic solution is preferably an aromatic sulfonic acid or, more preferably, a diphenyl ether sulfonic acid such as dodecyl(diphenyl ether) disulfonic acids.