Abstract: To a resist composition, an alkali-soluble polymer having fluorinated ester-containing lactone units incorporated therein is included as an additive. The resist composition forms a resist film having a reduced contact angle after development. The resist film prevents water penetration during immersion lithography.

Abstract: A resist composition comprising as a quencher a nitrogen-containing organic compound bearing a nitrogen-containing heterocycle and having a molecular weight of at least 380 exhibits a high resolution and satisfactory mask coverage dependence and is useful in microfabrication using electron beam or deep-UV.

Abstract: [Problem] Provided is a resin having an alicyclic structure in a main chain, which is excellent in etching resistance and developing property, a resist composition for exposure with a high energy radiation using the resin, and a method for forming a pattern using the resist composition. [Means to Solve] Also provided is a hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymer which is comprised of alicyclic skeleton-containing structural units [A], [B] and a structural unit [C] selected from the following general formula [5] and/or [6]: wherein, e and f represent respectively an integer of 0 to 3, wherein the at least one of X1 of the general formula [1] of the structural unit [A], X of the general formula [3] and X3 of the general formula [4] of the structural unit [B] is —O—, and wherein the molar ratio of the structural units [A], [B] and [C] satisfies simultaneously that [A]/([B]+[C]) is from 20/80 to 98/2, ([A]+[B])/[C] is from 99/1 to 50/50, and ([A]+[C])/[B] is from 99/1 to 21/79.

Abstract: In an optical disc apparatus, a harsh blow sound due to collision of first stoppers of a tray and third stoppers of a main chassis when the tray reaches to a terminal position of drawing thereof is reduced. When a second stopper of the tray contacts with the front end portion of a cam slider, the front end portion of the cam slider is elastically deformed so that moving speed of the tray is largely decelerated. Consequently, the blow sound due to contact of the first stoppers of the tray and the third stoppers of the main chassis is radically reduced.

Abstract: In a positive resist composition comprising (A) a resin component which becomes soluble in an alkaline developer under the action of an acid and (B) a photoacid generator, component (A) is a polymer of formula (1) wherein R1 is H, methyl or trifluoromethyl, R2 and R3 are alkyl, R4 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, X1 is O, S or CH2CH2, X2 is O, S, CH2 or CH2CH2, n is 1 or 2, a1, a2, c, d1 and d2 each are from 0 to less than 1, b is from 0.01 to less than 1, and a1+a2+b+c+d1+d2=1. The resist composition forms a pattern with high rectangularity at an enhanced resolution when processed by ArF lithography.

Abstract: In a positive resist composition comprising (A) a resin component which becomes soluble in an alkaline developer under the action of an acid and (B) a photoacid generator, component (A) is a polymer of formula (1) wherein R1 is H, methyl or trifluoromethyl, R2 and R3 are alkyl, R4 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, X1 is O, S or CH2CH2, X2 is O, S, CH2 or CH2CH2, n is 1 or 2, a and b each are from 0.01 to less than 1, c, d1 and d2 each are from 0 to less than 1, and a+b+c+d1+d2=1. The resist composition forms a pattern with high rectangularity at an enhanced resolution when processed by ArF lithography.

Abstract: The invention provides a high-resolution resist material comprising an acid generator that has high sensitivity and high resolution with respect to high-energy rays of 300 nm or less, has small line-edge roughness, and is superior in heat stability and in shelf stability, and provides a pattern forming method that uses this resist material. The invention further provides a chemically amplified positive resist material comprising a base resin, an acid generator and a solvent in which the acid generator generates an alkylimidic acid containing a fluorine group, and provides a pattern forming method comprising a step of applying the resist material to the substrate, a step of performing exposure to a high-energy ray of a wavelength of 300 nm or less through a photomask following heat treatment, and a step of performing development by a developing solution following heat treatment.

Abstract: A polymer is provided comprising recurring units having formulas (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) in amounts of 1-60 mol % (1), 1-60 mol % (2), 1-50 mol % (3), 0-60 mol % (4), 0-30 mol % (5), and 0-30 mol % (6), and having a Mw of 3,000-30,000 and a Mw/Mn of 1.5-2.5. R1, R3, R4, R7, R9, and R11 are H or CH3, Y is methylene or O, R2 is CO2R10 when Y is methylene and R2 is H or CO2R10 when Y is O, R10 is C1-C15 alkyl which may be separated by O, R5 and R6 are H or OH, R8 is a tertiary ester type acid-labile protective group, and R12 is OH-containing fluoroalkyl. A resist composition comprising the polymer has a high resolution and is improved in line edge roughness and I/G bias.

Abstract: A high resolution resist material comprising an acid generator is provided so that high sensitivity and high resolution for high energy rays of 300 nm or less, small line-edge roughness, and excellence in heat stability and storage stability are obtained. Moreover, a pattern formation method using this resist material are provided. Specifically, a novel compound of the following general formula (1); and a positive resist material comprising this compound preferably as a photo acid generator, and a base resin; are provided. This positive resist material may contain a basic compound or a dissolution inhibitor.

Abstract: In a resist composition comprising a base resin which is a high molecular weight structure free from an aromatic substituent group, a photoacid generator, and a solvent, the photoacid generator is a one capable of generating a perfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid. The resist composition has many advantages including excellent resolution, minimized size difference between isolated and densely packed patterns, and minimized line edge roughness.

Abstract: A high resolution resist material comprising an acid generator is provided so that high sensitivity and high resolution for high energy rays of 300 nm or less, small line-edge roughness, and excellence in heat stability and storage stability are obtained. Moreover, a pattern formation method using this resist material are provided. Specifically, a novel compound of the following general formula (1); and a positive resist material comprising this compound preferably as a photo acid generator, and a base resin; are provided. This positive resist material may contain a basic compound or a dissolution inhibitor. Further, the present invention provides a pattern formation method comprising the steps of applying this positive resist material on a substrate, then heat-treating the material, exposing the treated material to a high energy ray having a wavelength of 300 nm or less via a photo mask, optionally heat-treating the exposed material, and developing the material using a developer.

Abstract: A high resolution resist material comprising an acid generator is provided so that high sensitivity and high resolution for high energy rays of 300 nm or less, small line-edge roughness, and excellence in heat stability and storage stability are obtained. Moreover, a pattern formation method using this resist material are provided. Specifically, a novel compound of the following general formula (1); and a positive resist material comprising this compound preferably as a photo acid generator, and a base resin; are provided. This positive resist material may contain a basic compound or a dissolution inhibitor. Further, the present invention provides a pattern formation method comprising the steps of applying this positive resist material on a substrate, then heat-treating the material, exposing the treated material to a high energy ray having a wavelength of 300 nm or less via a photo mask, optionally heat-treating the exposed material, and developing the material using a developer.

Abstract: A rinse comprising a water-soluble polymer is suited for use in a lithographic process. In the lithographic process for the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits involving the exposure of resist to various types of radiation (e.g., UV, deep UV, vacuum UV, electron beams, x-rays, and laser beams), the invention can prevent resist insoluble components from generating on and attaching to the resist film or substrate, and if insoluble components attach, can effectively remove the insoluble components, thus avoiding a lowering of production yield by defects resulting from the insoluble components.

Abstract: In an optical disc apparatus, harsh blow sound due to collision of first stoppers of a tray and third stoppers of a main chassis when the tray reaches to a terminal position of drawing thereof is reduced. The tray further has a second stopper which contacts with a front end portion of a cam slider when the tray reaches to a position just before a terminal position of drawing of the tray. The cam slider is made of a resin material such as polyacetal superior to wear resistance and having a coefficient of elasticity smaller than that of a material of the tray. When the second stopper of the tray contacts with the front end portion of the cam slider, the front end portion of the cam slider is elastically deformed so that moving speed of the tray is largely decelerated. Consequently, the blow sound due to contact of the first stoppers of the tray and the third stoppers of the main chassis is radically reduced.

Abstract: A resist patterning process is provided comprising the steps of (a) applying a resist composition onto a substrate to form a resist film, (b) prebaking the resist film, (c) exposing the prebaked resist film to a pattern of radiation, (d) post-exposure baking the exposed resist film, (e) developing the resist film to form a resist pattern, and (f) post baking the resist pattern for causing thermal flow. The resist composition contains a polymer comprising structural units of formula [I] in a backbone and having acid labile groups on side chains as a base resin and a photoacid generator. X1 and X2 are —O—, —S—, —NR—, —PR— or —CR2—, R is H or C1-20 alkyl, and m is 0 or an integer of 1 to 3. The invention is effective for improving the degree of integration of semiconductor LSI.

Abstract: A polymer comprising recurring units of formulae (1) to (4) wherein R1, R3, R4 and R7 are hydrogen or methyl, R2 is an acid labile group, R5 and R6 are hydrogen or hydroxyl, and R8 is a lactone structure group and having a Mw of 1,000-50,000 is provided. A resist composition comprising the inventive polymer has a sensitivity to high-energy radiation, improved resolution and etching resistance and lends itself to lithographic micropatterning with electron beams or deep UV.

Abstract: A resist composition comprising a hydrogenated product of ring-opening metathesis polymer and a poly(meth)acrylic acid derivative as a base resin is sensitive to high-energy radiation, has excellent sensitivity, resolution, and etch resistance, and lends itself to micropatterning with electron beams or deep-UV.

Abstract: A polymer comprising recurring units of formula (1-1) or (1-2) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are H or alkyl, or R1 and R2, and R3 and R4 taken together may form a ring with each pair being alkylene, and k is 0 or 1 and having a Mw of 1,000-500,000 is novel. A resist composition comprising the polymer as a base resin is sensitive to high-energy radiation, has excellent sensitivity, resolution, etching resistance, and minimized swell and lends itself to micropatterning with electron beams or deep-UV.

Abstract: Novel amine compounds having a nitrogen-containing cyclic structure and a hydrating group such as a hydroxy, ether, ester, carbonyl, carbonate group or lactone ring are useful for use in resist compositions for preventing a resist film from thinning and also for enhancing the resolution and focus margin of resist.

Abstract: Amine compounds having a cyano group are useful in resist compositions for preventing a resist film from thinning and also for enhancing the resolution and focus margin of resist.