Abstract: A coloring agent dispersion which contains a satisfactorily dispersed pigment, and results in a photosensitive resin composition capable of forming a cured film when mixed in the photosensitive resin composition; a photosensitive resin composition containing the coloring agent dispersion; a cured product of the composition; an organic EL element provided with the cured product; a method for forming a pattern using the composition; and a method for producing a photosensitive resin composition using the dispersion. In a coloring agent dispersion including a coloring agent which contains a pigment and a dispersant, a dispersant containing a silsesquioxane compound of a specific structure is used.

Abstract: A novel imidazole compound that yields a surface treatment liquid that is very effective at suppressing migration and oxidation of a wiring surface; a metal surface treatment liquid that contains the imidazole compound; a metal surface treatment method that uses the metal surface treatment liquid; and a laminate production method that uses the surface treatment liquid. A metal is surface-treated using the surface treatment liquid which includes a saturated fatty acid or a saturated fatty acid ester of a specific structure, in which a prescribed position is substituted by an aromatic group of a prescribed structure and an imidazolyl group that may have a substituent group.

Abstract: A coloring agent dispersion which contains a satisfactorily dispersed pigment, and results in a photosensitive resin composition capable of forming a cured film when mixed in the photosensitive resin composition; a photosensitive resin composition containing the coloring agent dispersion; a cured product of the composition; an organic EL element provided with the cured product; a method for forming a pattern using the composition; and a method for producing a photosensitive resin composition using the dispersion. In a coloring agent dispersion including a coloring agent which contains a pigment and a dispersant, a dispersant containing a silsesquioxane compound of a specific structure is used.

Abstract: A novel imidazole compound that yields a surface treatment liquid that is very effective at suppressing migration and oxidation of a wiring surface; a metal surface treatment liquid that contains the imidazole compound; a metal surface treatment method that uses the metal surface treatment liquid; and a laminate production method that uses the surface treatment liquid. A metal is surface-treated using the surface treatment liquid which includes a saturated fatty acid or a saturated fatty acid ester of a specific structure, in which a prescribed position is substituted by an aromatic group of a prescribed structure and an imidazolyl group that may have a substituent group.

Abstract: A phenol novolak resin has a peak intensity ratio of ortho-ortho bond (o-o)/ortho-para bond (o-p)/para-para bond (p-p) in a resin structure not substantially varying in each molecular weight fraction and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 3000 to 20000 in terms of polystyrene, which peak intensity ratio is detected by 13C-NMR analysis. The phenol novolak resin can form both dense pattern and isolation pattern with good shapes in the formation of a fine resist pattern of not more than 0.35 ?m and has satisfactory sensitivity, definition, and focal depth range properties, and has a resin composition being uniform in each molecular weight fraction. A process for producing the phenol novolak resin, and a positive photoresist composition using the resin are also provided.

Abstract: A phenol novolak resin has a peak intensity ratio of ortho-ortho bond (o-o)/ortho-para bond (o-p)/para-para bond (p-p) in a resin structure not substantially varying in each molecular weight fraction and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 3000 to 20000 in terms of polystyrene, which peak intensity ratio is detected by 13C-NMR analysis. The phenol novolak resin can form both dense pattern and isolation pattern with good shapes in the formation of a fine resist pattern of not more than 0.35 &mgr;m and has satisfactory sensitivity, definition, and focal depth range properties, and has a resin composition being uniform in each molecular weight fraction. A process for producing the phenol novolak resin, and a positive photoresist composition using the resin are also provided.

Abstract: A phenol novolak resin has a peak intensity ratio of ortho-ortho bond (o-o)/ortho-para bond (o-p)/para-para bond (p-p) in a resin structure not substantially varying in each molecular weight fraction and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 3000 to 20000 in terms of polystyrene, which peak intensity ratio is detected by 13C-NMR analysis. The phenol novolak resin can form both dense pattern and isolation pattern with good shapes in the formation of a fine resist pattern of not more than 0.35 &mgr;m and has satisfactory sensitivity, definition, and focal depth range properties, and has a resin composition being uniform in each molecular weight fraction. A process for producing the phenol novolak resin, and a positive photoresist composition using the resin are also provided.