Abstract: A fluorinated monomer of cyclic acetal structure has formula (1) wherein R is a C1-C20 alkyl group which may be substituted with halogen or separated by oxygen or carbonyl, and Z is a divalent organic group which forms a ring with alkylenoxy and contains a polymerizable unsaturated group. A polymer derived from the fluorinated monomer may be endowed with appropriate water repellency, water sliding property, lipophilicity, acid lability and hydrolyzability and is useful in formulating a protective coating composition and a resist composition.

Abstract: A polymer comprising recurring units of formula (1) and having a solubility in alkaline developer which increases under the action of an alkaline developer is provided. The polymer has transparency to radiation of up to 200 nm and improved water repellency, water slip, acid lability and hydrolysis and is useful as an additive polymer to formulate a resist composition. R1 is H, F, methyl, or trifluoromethyl, R2 is a monovalent fluorinated hydrocarbon group, An is a (n+1)-valent hydrocarbon or fluorinated hydrocarbon group, and n is 1, 2 or 3.

Abstract: A protective film-forming composition comprising a polymer comprising fluorinated alcohol units of the structure: —C(CF3)2OR1 wherein R1 is H or a monovalent hydrocarbon group and having a Mw of 1,000-500,000 is applied onto a resist film to form a protective film thereon. The protective film-forming composition has high water repellent and water slip performance. The protective film exhibits barrier properties to water and prevents any resist components from being leached out in water.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having a protected hydroxyl group, a photoacid generator, an organic solvent, and a hydroxyl-free polymeric additive comprising fluorinated recurring units. A negative pattern is formed by coating the resist composition, prebaking to form a resist film, exposing, baking, and developing the exposed film in an organic solvent-based developer to selectively dissolve the unexposed region of resist film.

Abstract: A protective coating composition comprising a polymer of acyl-protected hexafluoroalcohol structure as a base polymer, optionally in admixture with a second polymer containing sulfonic acid amine salt in recurring units is applied onto a resist film. The protective coating is transparent to radiation of wavelength up to 200 nm.

Abstract: A resist protective coating material is provided comprising a polymer having a partial structure of formula (1) wherein R0 is H, F, alkyl or alkylene, and R1 is fluorinated alkyl or alkylene. In a pattern-forming process, the material forms on a resist film a protective coating which is water-insoluble, dissolvable in alkaline developer and immiscible with the resist film, allowing for effective implementation of immersion lithography. During alkali development, development of the resist film and removal of the protective coating can be simultaneously achieved.

Abstract: An additive polymer comprising recurring units of formula (1) is added to a resist composition comprising a base resin, a photoacid generator, and an organic solvent. R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R2 is alkylene or fluoroalkylene, and R3 is fluoroalkyl. The additive polymer is highly transparent to radiation with wavelength of up to 200 nm. Water repellency, water slip, acid lability, hydrolysis and other properties of the polymer may be adjusted by a choice of polymer structure.

Abstract: The invention is a protective film material for immersion lithography that enables desirable immersion lithography, can be removed simultaneously with development of a photoresist layer, and has excellent process adaptability. The invention also includes a method for forming a pattern using the material. More specifically, the invention is a protective film material comprising (i) a blend of a polymer comprising a repeating unit having a fluorine-containing alkyl or alkylene group which contains at least one fluorine atom and an optional alkali soluble repeating unit and a polymer comprising a repeating unit having a fluorine-free alkyl group and an optional alkali soluble repeating unit, or (ii) a polymer comprising a repeating unit having a fluorine-containing alkyl or alkylene group which contains at least one fluorine atom and a repeating unit having a fluorine-free alkyl group and an optional alkali-soluble repeating unit.

Abstract: A resist composition is provided comprising (A) an additive polymer of acyl-protected hexafluoroalcohol structure, (B) a base polymer having a structure derived from lactone ring, hydroxyl group and/or maleic anhydride, the base polymer becoming soluble in alkaline developer under the action of acid, (C) a photoacid generator, and (D) an organic solvent. The additive polymer is transparent to radiation of wavelength up to 200 nm, and its properties can be tailored by a choice of the polymer structure.

Abstract: A polymer obtained through copolymerization of a monomer having a hexafluoroalcohol pendant whose hydroxyl moiety has been protected and a monomer having an acid labile group is useful as an additive to a photoresist composition for immersion lithography. When processed by immersion lithography, the resist composition exhibits good water repellency and water slip and produces few development defects.

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: A polymer having a partial structure —C(CF3)2OH in recurring units is used as an additive to formulate a resist composition. A photoresist film formed from the resist composition has sufficient barrier performance against water to prevent any resist components from being leached in water and thus minimize any change of pattern profile.

Abstract: A protective coating composition comprising a copolymer of an alkali-soluble (?-trifluoromethyl) acrylate and a norbornene derivative as a base polymer, optionally in admixture with a second polymer containing sulfonic acid and/or sulfonic acid amine salt in repeat units is applied onto a resist film. The protective coating is effective in minimizing development defects and forming a resist pattern of improved profile.

Abstract: A fluorinated ester monomer is provided having formula (1) wherein R1 is H, CH3 or CF3, R2 and R3 are H or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or R2 and R3 forms a hydrocarbon ring, R4 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and k is 0 or 1. A polymer obtained from the monomer has transparency to radiation with a wavelength of up to 200 nm and appropriate alkaline hydrolysis, is constructed such that any of water repellency, water slip and surface segregation may be adjusted by a choice of its structure, and is useful in forming ArF immersion lithography materials.

Abstract: A copolymer of an alkali-soluble (?-trifluoromethyl)-acrylate and a norbornene derivative is useful as an additive to a resist composition. When processed by immersion lithography, the resist composition exhibits excellent water repellency and water slip and forms a pattern with few development defects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resist top coat composition and a patterning process adopting such a material, which resist top coat composition is provided for forming a top coat on a photoresist film so as to protect the photoresist film, in liguid immersion photolithography.

Abstract: The invention provides a resist top coat composition wherein the composition contains polymer (P1-1) with a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000, having at least repeating units represented by the following general formulae (1a), (1b-1), and (1c). There can be a resist top coat composition having excellent water repellent and water sliding properties with fewer development defects and with a good resist pattern profile after development, and a patterning process using this composition.

Abstract: A polymer obtained through copolymerization of a monomer having a hexafluoroalcohol pendant and a monomer having a hexafluoroalcohol pendant whose hydroxyl moiety has been protected is useful as an additive to a photoresist composition and as a protective coating material for immersion lithography. When processed by immersion lithography, the resist composition and protective coating composition exhibit good water repellency and water slip and produce few development defects.

Abstract: To a resist composition comprising a polymer which changes its alkali solubility under the action of an acid as a base resin, is added a copolymer comprising recurring units containing amino and recurring units containing ?-trifluoromethylhydroxy as an additive. The composition is suited for immersion lithography.

Abstract: A polymer comprising recurring units of formula (1) and having a solubility in alkaline developer which increases under the action of an alkaline developer is provided. The polymer has transparency to radiation of up to 200 nm and improved water repellency, water slip, acid lability and hydrolysis and is useful as an additive polymer to formulate a resist composition. R1 is H, F, methyl, or trifluoromethyl, R2 is a monovalent fluorinated hydrocarbon group, An is a (n+1)-valent hydrocarbon or fluorinated hydrocarbon group, and n is 1, 2 or 3.