Abstract: A pattern is formed by coating a first positive resist composition comprising a copolymer comprising lactone-containing recurring units, acid labile group-containing recurring units and carbamate-containing recurring units, and a photoacid generator onto a substrate to form a first resist film, patternwise exposure, PEB, and development to form a first resist pattern, heating the first resist pattern for inactivation to acid, coating a second positive resist composition comprising a C3-C8 alcohol and an optional C6-C12 ether onto the first resist pattern-bearing substrate to form a second resist film, patternwise exposure, PEB, and development to form a second resist pattern.

Abstract: A sulfonium salt has formula (1) wherein R1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group except vinyl and isopropenyl, R2, R3, and R4 are alkyl, alkenyl, oxoalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or aryloxoalkyl or may bond together to form a ring with the sulfur atom, and n is 1 to 3. A chemically amplified resist composition comprising the sulfonium salt is capable of forming a fine feature pattern of good profile after development due to high resolution, improved focal latitude, and minimized line width variation and profile degradation upon prolonged PED.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising (A) a sulfonium salt of 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-trifluoromethylpropionic acid, (B) an acid generator, (C) a base resin, and (D) an organic solvent is suited for ArF immersion lithography. The carboxylic acid sulfonium salt is highly hydrophobic and little leached out in immersion water. By virtue of controlled acid diffusion, a pattern profile with high resolution can be constructed.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a high proportion of aromatic ring structure-containing units and containing an aromatic sulfonic acid sulfonium salt on a side chain is used to form a chemically amplified positive photoresist composition which is effective in forming a resist pattern having high etch resistance. The polymer overcomes the problems of dissolution in solvents for polymerization and purification and in resist solvents.

Abstract: A resist lower-layer composition configured to be used by a multi-layer resist method used in lithography to form a layer lower than a photoresist layer acting as a resist upper layer film. The resist lower-layer composition is insoluble or poorly-soluble in an alkaline developer after formation of the lower layer, and the resist lower-layer composition comprises, at least, a thermal acid generator for generating an acid by heating at a temperature of 100° C. or higher.

Abstract: A 2,2-bis(fluoroalkyl)oxirane (A) is prepared by reacting a fluorinated alcohol (1) with a chlorinating, brominating or sulfonylating agent under basic conditions to form an oxirane precursor (2) and subjecting the oxirane precursor to ring closure under basic conditions. R1 and R2 are fluoroalkyl groups, R3 and R4 are hydrogen or monovalent hydrocarbon groups, X is chlorine, bromine or —OSO2R5 group, and R5 is alkyl or aryl.

Abstract: A material comprising a novolac resin having a C6-C30 aromatic hydrocarbon group substituted with a sulfo group or an amine salt thereof is useful in forming a photoresist undercoat. The undercoat-forming material has an extinction coefficient sufficient to provide an antireflective effect at a thickness of at least 200 nm, and a high etching resistance as demonstrated by slow etching rates with CF4/CHF3 gas for substrate processing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polymer having a repeating unit shown by the following general formula (1). There can be, in a photolithography using a high energy beam such as an ArF excimer laser beam and an EUV as a light source, (1) a polymer that gives a resist composition having an appropriate adhesion with a substrate and being capable of forming a pattern having excellent resolution, especially an excellent rectangular pattern profile, (2) a chemically amplified resist composition containing the said polymer, and (3) a patterning process using the said chemically amplified resist composition.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having a hydroxyl group substituted with an acid labile group, an onium salt PAG capable of generating a sulfonic acid, imide acid or methide acid, and an onium salt PAG capable of generating a carboxylic acid. A resist film of the composition is improved in dissolution contrast during organic solvent development, and from which a hole pattern having minimized nano-edge roughness can be formed via positive/negative reversal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sulfonate shown by the following general formula (2). R1—COOC(CF3)2—CH2SO3?M+??(2) (In the formula, R1 represents a linear, a branched, or a cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 50 carbon atoms optionally containing a hetero atom. M+ represents a cation.) There can be provided: a novel sulfonate which is effective for a chemically amplified resist composition having a sufficiently high solubility (compatibility) in a resist solvent and a resin, a good storage stability, a PED stability, a further wider depth of focus, a good sensitivity, in particular a high resolution and a good pattern profile form; a photosensitive acid generator; a resist composition using this; a photomask blank, and a patterning process.

Abstract: A chemically amplified resist composition is provided comprising (A) a specific tertiary amine compound, (B) a specific acid generator, (C) a base resin having an acidic functional group protected with an acid labile group, which is substantially insoluble in alkaline developer and turns soluble in alkaline developer upon deprotection of the acid labile group, and (D) an organic solvent. The resist composition has a high resolution, improved defect control in the immersion lithography, and good shelf stability.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resist composition, wherein the composition is used in a lithography and comprises at least: a polymer (A) that becomes a base resin whose alkaline-solubility changes by an acid, a photo acid generator (B) generating a sulfonic acid represented by the following general formula (1) by responding to a high energy beam, and a polymer additive (C) represented by the following general formula (2). There can be provided a resist composition showing not only excellent lithography properties but also a high receding contact angle, and in addition, being capable of suppressing a blob defect in both the immersion exposures using and not using a top coat; and a patterning process using the same.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chemically-amplified positive resist composition comprising, as main components, (A) a base polymer, which contains one or more kinds of a monomer unit represented by the following general formula (1) and the like, and is an alkali-insoluble polymer whose hydroxyl group is partly protected by an acetal group while alkali-soluble when deprotected by an acid catalyst, (B) a sulfonium salt containing a sulfonate anion, (C) a basic component, and (D) an organic solvent. In a lithography technology by a photo resist, an extremely high temporal stability is necessary. In addition, it must give a good pattern profile not dependent on a substrate and have a high resolution power. There can be provided a chemically-amplified positive resist composition which can solve these problems simultaneously, a resist patterning process using the same, and a method for producing a photo mask blank.

Abstract: A positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units of a specific structure adapted to generate an acid upon exposure to high-energy radiation, recurring units of a lactone ring-containing structure, and acid labile units, all the recurring units being free of hydroxyl, can form a fine size pattern having a rectangular profile and improved collapse resistance.

Abstract: A positive resist composition comprising (A) a polymer comprising recurring units of a specific structure adapted to generate an acid in response to high-energy radiation and acid labile units, the polymer having an alkali solubility that increases under the action of an acid, and (B) a sulfonium salt of a specific structure exhibits a high resolution in forming fine size patterns, typically trench patterns and hole patterns. Lithographic properties of profile, DOF and roughness are improved.

Abstract: A sulfonium salt having a 4-fluorophenyl group is introduced as recurring units into a polymer comprising hydroxyphenyl (meth)acrylate units and acid labile group-containing (meth)acrylate units to form a polymer which is useful as a base resin in a resist composition. The resist composition has a high sensitivity, high resolution and minimized LER.

Abstract: A sulfonium salt having a triphenylsulfonium cation and a sulfite anion within the molecule is best suited as a photoacid generator in chemically amplified resist compositions. Upon exposure to high-energy radiation, the sulfonium salt generates a sulfonic acid, which facilitates efficient scission of acid labile groups in chemically amplified positive resist compositions. Because of substantial non-volatility under high vacuum conditions in the EB or EUV lithography, the risk of the exposure tool being contaminated is minimized.

Abstract: A sulfonium salt of a naphthyltetrahydrothiophenium cation having a fluoroalkoxy chain with a specific anion is provided. The sulfonium salt is used as a photoacid generator to form a resist composition which when processed by immersion lithography, offers advantages of restrained dissolution in the immersion water and less pattern dependence or dark/bright bias.

Abstract: A sulfonium salt of a naphthylsulfonium cation having a hydrophilic phenolic hydroxyl group or ethylene glycol chain with a specific anion is provided. The sulfonium salt is used as a photoacid generator to form a resist composition which when processed by immersion lithography, offers advantages of restrained dissolution in the immersion water and less pattern dependence or dark-bright difference.

Abstract: Photoacid generators generate sulfonic acids of formula (1a) or (1b) upon exposure to high-energy radiation. R1—COOCH2CF2SO3?H+??(1a) R1—O—COOCH2CF2SO3?H+??(1b) R1 is a monovalent C20-C50 hydrocarbon group of steroid structure which may contain a heteroatom. The bulky steroid structure ensures adequate control of acid diffusion. The photoacid generators are compatible with resins and suited for use in chemically amplified resist compositions.