Abstract: The present invention relates to a positive bottom photoimageable antireflective coating composition which is capable of being developed in an aqueous alkaline developer, wherein the antireflective coating composition comprises a polymer comprising at least one recurring unit with a chromophore group and one recurring unit with a hydroxyl and/or a carboxyl group, a vinyl ether terminated crosslinking agent of structure (7), and optionally, a photoacid generator and/or an acid and/or a thermal acid generator, where structure (7) is wherein W is selected from (C1-C30) linear, branched or cyclic alkyl moiety, substituted or unsubstituted (C3-C40) alicyclic hydrocarbon moiety and substituted is or unsubstituted (C3-C40) cycloalkylalkylene moiety; R is selected from C1-C10 linear or branched alkylene and n?2. The invention further relates to a process for using such a composition.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition comprising a (A) binder polymer, a (B) photopolymerizing compound having ethylenic unsaturated bonds in the molecule, a (C) photopolymerization initiator and a (D) polymerization inhibitor, wherein the (C) photopolymerization initiator comprises an acridine compound, and the content of the (D) polymerization inhibitor is 20-100 ppm by weight.

Abstract: A first film-modifying method includes forming a second film on a first film that includes an acid-dissociable group. The second film is an acid transfer resin film that includes a photoacid generator. The second film is exposed via a mask so that the second film generates an acid. The acid generated by the second film is transferred to the first film.

Abstract: To provide a dithiane derivative, having a structure expressed by the following general formula 1: where R1 is —H, or —CH3, a polymer containing a monomer unit containing the dithiane derivative, a resist composition containing the polymer, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using the resist composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photoimageable antireflective coating composition capable of forming a pattern by development in an aqueous alkaline solution, comprising, (i) a polymer A soluble in a coating solvent and comprises a chromophore, a crosslinking moiety, and optionally a cleavable group which under acid or thermal conditions produces a functionality which aids in the solubility of the polymer in an aqueous alkaline solution and; (ii) at least one photoacid generator; (iii) a crosslinking agent; (iv) optionally, a thermal acid generator; (v) a polymer B which is soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution prior to development, where polymer B is non-miscible with polymer A and soluble in the coating solvent, and; (vi) a coating solvent composition, and (vii) optionally, a quencher. The invention also relates to a process for imaging the antireflective coating.

Abstract: There is provided an acid having a fluorine-containing carbanion structure or a salt having a fluorine-containing carbanion structure, which is represented by the following general formula (1). By using a photoacid generator for chemically amplified resist materials that generates this acid, it is possible to provide a photoacid generator which has a high sensitivity to the ArF excimer laser light or the like, of which acid (photo generated acid) to be generated has a sufficiently high acidity, and which has a high dissolution in resist solvent and a superior compatibility with resin, and a resist material containing such a photoacid generator.

Abstract: Positive-working imageable elements having improved sensitivity, high resolution, and solvent resistance are prepared using a water-insoluble polymeric binder comprising vinyl acetal recurring units that have pendant hydroxyaryl groups, and recurring units comprising carboxylic acid aryl ester groups that are substituted with a cyclic imide group. These imageable elements can be imaged and developed to provide various types of elements including lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: Photoresist compositions include a blend of a phenolic polymer with a (meth)acrylate-based copolymer free of ether-containing and/or carboxylic acid-containing moieties. The (meth)acrylate copolymer includes a first monomer selected from the group consisting of an alkyl acrylate, a substituted alkyl acrylate, an alkyl (meth)acrylate, a substituted alkyl methacrylate and mixtures thereof, and a second monomer selected from the group consisting of an acrylate, a (meth)acrylate or a mixture thereof having an acid cleavable ester substituent; and a photoacid generator. Also disclosed are processes for generating a photoresist image on a substrate with the photoresist composition.

Abstract: Disclosed are a photosensitive compound and a method of manufacturing the same. The photosensitive is composed of a naphthoquinonediazide sulfonic ester compound having at least one naphthoquinonediazide sulfoxy group, and having either at least one carboxy group with 1 to 8 carbon atoms or at least one alkoxy group with 1 to 8 carbon atoms, in one molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photoresist composition comprising a resin, an acid generator and a compound represented by the formula (C1): wherein Rc2 represents a C7-C20 aralkyl group which can have one or more substituents, and Rc1 represents a group represented by the formula (1): wherein Rc3 and Rc4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched chain or cyclic C1-C12 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, Rc5 represents a C1-C30 divalent organic group, and Rc3 and Rc4 or Rc5 can be bonded each other to form a ring together with the nitrogen atom to which Rc3 and Rc4 or Rc5 are bonded.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (C1): wherein Rc2 represents a C6-C10 aromatic hydrocarbon group having at least one nitro group and Rc1 represents a group represented by the formula (1): wherein Rc4 represents a hydrogen atom etc., Rc5 represents a C1-C30 divalent hydrocarbon group, and Rc3 represents a group represented by the formula (3-1), (3-2) or (3-3): wherein Rc6, Rc7, Rc8, Rc9, Rc10, Rc11, Rc12, Rc13 and Rc14 each independently represent a C1-C30 hydrocarbon group, and a photoresist composition comprising a resin, an acid generator and the compound represented by the formula (C1).

Abstract: A resist composition that includes a base component (A) that exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid, an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, and an epoxy resin (G). Also, a method of forming a resist pattern that includes using the above resist composition to form a resist film on the substrate, conducting exposure of the resist film, and alkali-developing the resist film to form a resist pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photoresist composition comprising a resin which comprises a structural unit derived from a compound having an acid-labile group and a structural unit derived from a compound represented by the formula (a): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C1-C6 halogenated alkyl group, k represents an integer of 1 to 6, W1 represents a C6-C18 divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group which can have one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1-C12 alkyl group, a C1-C12 alkoxy group, a C6-C14 aryl group, a C7-C15 aralkyl group, a glycidyloxy group and a C2-C4 acyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a group represented by the formula (R2-1) or a group represented by the formula (R2-2), wherein R3, R4 and R5 independently each represent a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group, and R3 and R4 can be bonded each other to form a ring, R6 and R7 independently each represent a hydrogen atom or a

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: The present invention provides a planographic printing plate precursor including on a support a photosensitive layer that contains a polymerizable composition containing a specific binder polymer having a repeating unit of formula (I), an infrared absorbent, a polymerization initiator and a polymerizable compound, wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 represents a linking group which includes two or more atoms selected from a carbon atom, a hydrogen atom, an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom and a sulfur atom and has a number of atoms of 2 to 82; A represents an oxygen atom or —NR3— in which R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 1 to 5. The invention also provides a planographic printing plate precursor provided with a specific photosensitive layer with respect to an alkaline developer.

Abstract: A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15° C.-180° C. comprising (i) at least one low viscosity reactive resin; (ii) at least one higher viscosity resin having a viscosity greater than twice that of the low viscosity resin and a functionality of greater than or equal to 2; (iii) at least one curable toughener, (iv) at least one initiator for the polymerization of the resins, and (v) at least one stabilizer for delaying the curing of the resins of the composition. The composition can be jetted from piezo electric printing heads under the control of a computer program to form a multi-layered article, for example, a three dimensional article, in which the adjacent droplets merge and are cured homogeneously together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a positive resist composition and to a pattern forming process using the same. The present invention provides: a positive resist composition having an enhanced etching resistance and an excellent resolution and being capable of providing an excellent pattern profile even at a substrate-side boundary face of resist, in photolithography for fine processing, and particularly in lithography adopting, as an exposure source, KrF laser, extreme ultraviolet rays, electron beam, X-rays, or the like; and a pattern forming process utilizing the positive resist composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pigment-dispersed composition including at least a polymer compound (A-1) having at least one selected from the structural units represented by the following formulae (1) to (3), a pigment (B) and a solvent (C), and a pigment-dispersed composition including at least a resin (D) having an acid number of 100 mg KOH/g or more, a dispersion resin (A-2) having an acid number of less than 100 mg KOH/g and an unsaturation equivalent of less than 600, a pigment (B), and a solvent (C) [R1 to R20: a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group; A1 to A3: an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —N(R21)—; G1 to G3: a divalent organic group; X, Z: an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —N(R22)—; Y: an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a phenylene group, —N(R23)—; and R21 to R23: an alkyl group].

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel alkali-developable resin, a method of producing the alkali-developable resin, a photosensitive resin composition including the alkali-developable resin, and a device that is manufactured by using the photosensitive composition. In the case of when the alkali-developable resin is used as a component of the photosensitive composition, the photosensitivity, the developability and the film remaining rate of the pattern are improved.

Abstract: Negative-working imageable elements have an imageable layer comprising a free radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating radicals sufficient to initiate polymerization of the free radically polymerizable component upon exposure to imaging radiation, a radiation absorbing compound, one or more polymeric binders, and at least 5 weight % of core-shell particles comprising a hydrophobic polymeric core and a hydrophilic polymeric shell that is covalently bound to the polymeric core. The hydrophilic polymeric shell has one or more zwitterionic functional groups. These elements can be imaged such as by IR lasers to provide lithographic printing plates.

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 composition for forming a film for protecting wiring which in one aspect includes a polyimide precursor, a compound having at least two photopolymerizable groups, and a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the polyimide precursor includes a polyimide precursor obtained from a diamine component comprising a defined diamine compound. In other aspects, a dry film for forming a wiring-protecting film using the composition and a substrate having wiring protected by means of the dry film are provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed a negative resist composition comprising (A) a base polymer which is soluble in alkali and which is insolubilized in alkali by an action of an acid; and/or a combination of a crosslinking agent and a base polymer which is soluble in alkali and which is reacted with the crosslinking agent by an action of an acid to thereby be insolubilized in alkali, (B) an acid generator, and (C) a nitrogen-containing compound as a basic component; wherein the polymer to be used as the base polymer is: a polymer, which is obtained by polymerizing two or more kinds of monomers represented by the following general formula (1), or which is obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing one or more kinds of monomers represented by the general formula (1) and one or more kinds of styrene monomers represented by the following general formula (2).

Abstract: A chemically amplified resist composition comprises a polymer comprising units having polarity to impart adhesion and acid labile units adapted to turn alkali soluble under the action of acid. The polymer comprises recurring units having formula (1) wherein R1 is H, F, CH3 or CF3, Rf is H, F, CF3 or CF2CF3, A is a divalent hydrocarbon group, R2, R3 and R4 are alkyl, alkenyl, oxoalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or aryloxoalkyl. Recurring units containing an aromatic ring structure are present in an amount ?60 mol % and the recurring units having formula (1) are present in an amount <5 mol %.

Abstract: The invention relates to photopolymerizable flexographic printing elements which contain ethylenically unsaturated, alicyclic monomers and hard flexographic printing plates, in particular cylindrical continuous seamless flexographic printing plates, which can be produced therefrom.

Abstract: A photosensitive adhesive composition comprising (A) an alkali-soluble polymer, (B) a thermosetting resin, (C) one or more radiation-polymerizable compounds and (D) a photoinitiator, wherein the 5% weight reduction temperature of the mixture of all of the radiation-polymerizable compounds in the composition is 200° C. or higher.

Abstract: [Purpose] To provide a photosensitive resin composition having satisfactory compatibility during dry film formation, exhibiting similar sensitivity for exposure with both i-line radiation and h-line radiation type exposure devices, having excellent resolution and adhesiveness, allowing development with aqueous alkali solutions, and preferably, having no generation of aggregates during development. [Solution Means] A photosensitive resin composition comprising (a) 20-90 wt % of a thermoplastic copolymer having a specific copolymerizing component copolymerized, and having a carboxyl group content of 100-600 acid equivalents and a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000-500,000, (b) 5-75 wt % of an addition polymerizable monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic unsaturated group, (c) 0.01-30 wt % of a photopolymerization initiator containing a triarylimidazolyl dimer, and (d) 0.001-10 wt % of a pyrazoline compound.

Abstract: There is disclosed a negative resist composition comprising at least (A) a base resin that is alkaline-soluble and is made alkaline-insoluble by action of an acid, and/or a combination of a base resin that is alkaline-soluble and is made alkaline-insoluble by reaction with a crosslinker by action of an acid, with a crosslinker, (B) an acid generator, and (C) a compound containing a nitrogen as a basic component, and forming a resist film having the film thickness X (nm) of 50 to 100 nm, wherein, in the case that the resist film is formed from the negative resist composition under the film-forming conditions for the pattern formation, a dissolution rate of the resist film into the alkaline developer used in the development treatment for the pattern formation is 0.0333X?1.0 (nm/second) or more and 0.0667X?1.6 (nm/second) or less.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes: a support; and a photosensitive layer containing (A) an initiator compound, (B) a polymerizable compound and (C) a binder, wherein the photosensitive layer or other layer in contact with the support contains as (D) a component different from the component (C), a copolymer containing (a1) a repeating unit having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond introduced through an ion pair and (a2) a repeating unit having at least one functional group capable of interacting with a surface of the support.

Abstract: An adamantane derivative capable of affording a cured product which is excellent in optical characteristics such as transparency and light resistance, durability such as long-term heat resistance, and electrical characteristics such as dielectric constant, a process for producing such an adamantane derivative, and a curable composition containing such an adamantane derivative, the adamantane derivative being represented by the general formula (I) shown below and having a group selected from an acrylate group, a methacrylate group and a trifluoromethacrylate group, where R1 represents a group selected from a hydroxyl group, an acrylate group, a methacrylate group and a trifluoromethacrylate group, R2 represents a group selected from a hydrogen atom, a methyl group and a trifluoromethyl group, k is an integer of 0 to 4 and n is an integer of 1 to 6.

Abstract: A positive-type photosensitive composition including an alkali-soluble polymer formed through copolymerization of monomer (A) represented by the following General Formula (I) and other radical polymerizable monomer (B), a 1,2-quinonediazide compound, and a nanowire structure: where R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C5 alkyl group, n is an integer of 1 to 5, and m is an integer of 1 to 7.

Abstract: A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the component (A) including a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) (wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R1 represents an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group; and R2 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group), and the acid generator (B) including an acid generator (B1) having an anion moiety represented by general formula (I) (wherein X represents a hydrocarbon group of 3 to 30 carbon atoms; Q1 represents a divalent linking group containing an oxygen atom; and Y1 represents an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a fluorinated alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms).

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: A positive photosensitive composition comprises: (A) 5 to 20 parts by weight of the total amount of at least one compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray; and (B) 100 parts by weight of the total amount of at least one fluorine atom-containing resin having a group that increases a solubility of the resin in an alkaline developer by the action of an acid.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes: a support; and a photosensitive layer containing a binder polymer containing a positively charged nitrogen atom in at least one of a main chain and a side chain of the binder polymer, a compound containing an ethylenically unsubstituted bond; and a radical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a polymer, an acid-labile group-containing resin, a radiation-sensitive acid generator, and a solvent, the polymer including repeating units shown by following general formulas (1) and (2). wherein R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group, R3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluorine atom, or a derivative thereof, and Z represents a group that includes a group that generates an acid upon exposure to light. The radiation-sensitive resin composition produces an excellent pattern shape, reduces the amount of elution into an immersion liquid upon contact during liquid immersion lithography, ensures that a high receding contact angle is formed by a resist film and an immersion liquid, and rarely causes development defects.

Abstract: Provided is an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, a resist film formed with the composition, and a pattern-forming method using the same. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (P) a resin that contains the following repeating units (A), (B) and (C); and a solvent having a boiling temperature of 150° C. or less, (A) a repeating unit containing a group capable of decomposing and forming an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (B) a repeating unit containing a group capable of decomposing and forming a carboxylic acid by the action of an acid, and (C) a repeating unit containing a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond.

Abstract: Negative-working imageable elements have a hydrophilic substrate and a single thermally-sensitive imageable layer. This layer can include an infrared radiation absorbing compound and polymeric particles that coalesce upon thermal imaging. These coalesceable polymeric particles comprise a thermoplastic polymer and a colorant to provide improved visible contrast between exposed and non-exposed regions in the imaged element, such as lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: The positive resist composition including a base material component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the positive resist composition characterized in that in those cases where a resist film is formed on a substrate using the positive resist composition and is then subjected to a selective exposure and developing to form a hole pattern, followed by a bake treatment, a bake treatment temperature (Tf), at which the size of the hole is reduced by 10%, as compared to the size of the hole before the bake treatment, is at least 100° C.

Abstract: A mask-forming film has a transparent layer between the imageable layer and the carrier sheet, which transparent layer has a refractive index that is lower (by at least 0.04) than that of the carrier sheet or any immediately adjacent layer between it and the carrier sheet. This lower refractive index layer modifies the path of incident radiation during mask image transfer so as to provide steeper shoulder angles in the relief image solid areas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing fine patterns of semiconductor devices using a double exposure patterning process for manufacturing the second photoresist patterns by simply exposing without an exposure mask. The method comprises the steps of: forming a first photoresist pattern on a semiconductor substrate on which a layer to be etched is formed; coating a composition for a mirror interlayer on the first photoresist pattern to form a mirror interlayer; forming a photoresist layer on the resultant; and forming a second photoresist pattern which is made by a scattered reflection of the mirror-interlayer and positioned between the first photoresist patterns, by exposing the photoresist layer to a light having energy which is lower than a threshold energy (Eth) of the photoresist layer without an exposure mask, and then developing the same.

Abstract: A positive resist composition including a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) (R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 represents a divalent linking group, R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton thereof) and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, an acid-generator component (B) and a fluorine-containing polymeric compound (F1) having a structural unit containing a base dissociable group.

Abstract: A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the component (A) including a polymeric compound (A1) having an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group in the structure thereof and including a structural unit (a0) having an —SO2-containing cyclic group on the terminal of the side chain, and the component (B) including an acid generator (B1) containing a compound represented by general formula (b1-1) (R0 represents a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, provided that the carbon atom adjacent to the sulfur atom within the —SO3? group has no fluorine atom bonded thereto, and Z+ represents an organic cation).

Abstract: A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid, and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the base component (A) including a polymeric compound (A1) containing a structural unit (a0) having an aromatic group, a structural unit (a5) represented by general formula (a5-1) shown below, and a structural unit (a1) containing an acid-dissociable, dissolution-inhibiting group. In the formula (a5-1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 represents a divalent linking group, and R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton thereof.

Abstract: A positive resist composition including: a polymeric compound (A1) having a structural unit (a0) that contains a “cyclic group containing —SO2—” on the side chain terminal, and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group; an acid generator component (B); and a fluorine-containing resin component having a structural unit (f1) represented by general formula (f1-0): wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; Q0 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group having a fluorine atom; and RX0 represents an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group-containing group which may contain a fluorine atom, with the provision that at least one fluorine atom is contained in formula (f1-0).

Abstract: A positive resist composition comprising as a base resin a polymer having carboxyl groups whose hydrogen is substituted by an acid labile group of fluorene structure exhibits a high contrast of alkaline dissolution rate before and after exposure, a high resolution, a good pattern profile and minimal LER after exposure, a significant effect of suppressing acid diffusion rate, and improved etching resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photosensitive resin composition suitable for use in a transflective liquid crystal display (LCD). The photosensitive resin composition uses, as an alkali-soluble binder resin, a blend of two kinds of binder resins. The first binder resin has a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 1,000 but lower than 20,000 and contains no reactive group. The second binder resin has a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 20,000 but lower than 80,000 and contains reactive groups. The photosensitive resin composition has good adhesion to an underlying substrate while forming a high resolution fine pattern.

Abstract: A positive photosensitive composition ensuring wide exposure latitude and reduced line edge roughness not only in normal exposure (dry exposure) but also in immersion exposure, a pattern forming method using the positive photosensitive composition, and a novel resin contained in the positive photosensitive composition are provided, which are a positive photosensitive composition comprising (A) a resin having a specific lactone structure in the side chain and being capable of increasing the solubility in an alkali developer by the action of an acid and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, a pattern forming method using the positive photosensitive composition, and a novel resin contained in the positive photosensitive composition.

Abstract: Polymers comprising a first methacrylate monomer having a pendent spacer between the polymer backbone and an acid-liable acetal group, a second methacrylate monomer having a pendent group including a fluorinated alkyl group and a third methacrylate monomer having a pendent hydrocarbon group. Photoresist formulations include the polymers, a photoacid generator and a casting solvent. Methods of patterning photoresist films formed from the photoresist formulations are characterized by post-exposure bakes at temperatures of about 60° C. or less.

Abstract: A patterning process includes (1) coating and baking a first positive resist composition to form a first resist film, exposing, post-exposure baking, and alkali developing to form a first resist pattern, (2) applying a resist-modifying composition to the first resist pattern and heating to modify the first resist pattern, (3) coating and baking a second positive resist composition to form a second resist film, exposing, post-exposure baking, and alkali developing to form a second resist pattern. The modified first resist film has a contact angle with pure water of 50°-85°.