Abstract: A photosensitive adhesive composition comprising: (A) a polyimide having a carboxyl group as a side chain, whereof the acid value is 80 to 180 mg/KOH; (B) a photo-polymerizable compound; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: A composition for radical polymerization includes a photosensitive material, a photoinitiator, a solvent, and a material for adjusting a size of a pattern. A method of forming a pattern using the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are photo sensitizers that include a polyol moiety covalently bonded to a fused aromatic moiety. Also disclosed is a method for improving UV laser ablation performance of a coating, such as a cationic UV curable coating, by incorporating an oxalyl-containing additive into the cationic UV curable or other coating. Oxalyl-containing sensitizers having the formula Q-O—C(O)—C(O)—O—R1 wherein Q represents a fused aromatic moiety and R1 is an alkyl or aryl group, are also disclosed, as are oxalyl-containing oxetane resins, oxalyl-containing polyester polyols, and cationic UV curable coating formulations that include oxalyl-containing additives.

Abstract: Self-aligned spacer multiple patterning method are provided. The methods involve alkaline treatment of photoresist patterns and allow for the formation of high density resist patterns. The methods find particular applicability in semiconductor device manufacture.

Abstract: A chemically amplified positive resist composition for EB or EUV lithography is provided comprising (A) a polymer or a blend of polymers wherein a film of the polymer or polymer blend is insoluble in alkaline developer, but turns soluble under the action of acid, (B) an acid generator, (C) a basic compound, and (D) a solvent. The basic compound (C) is a polymer comprising recurring units bearing a side chain having a secondary or tertiary amine structure as a basic active site and constitutes a part or the entirety of the polymer or polymers as component (A).

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive-type photosensitive composition which can form a metal compound film pattern at high resolution and with less affection by organic residues. The positive-type photosensitive composition comprises: a metal complex component (A) which can form a metal compound film when applied and subsequently fired; and a photosensitizing agent (B). In the composition, a ligand in the component (A) is preferably a multidentate ligand having an aromatic compound as its skeleton. According to this construction, even a composition containing substantially no photosensitive resin can impart photosensitivity and a metal compound film pattern can be formed readily.

Abstract: A positive type resist composition for use in liquid immersion exposure comprises: (A) a resin having a monocyclic or polycyclic cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon structure, the resin increasing its solubility in an alkali developer by an action of acid; (B) a compound generating acid upon irradiation with one of an actinic ray and a radiation; (C) an alkali soluble compound having an alkyl group of 5 or more carbon atoms; and (D) a solvent.

Abstract: An aromatic ring-containing polymer, a polymer mixture, an antireflective hardmask composition, and a method for patterning a material on a substrate, the aromatic ring-containing polymer including at least one aromatic ring-containing polymer represented by Formulae 1, 2, or 3.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide waveguide structures and methods of forming such structures where core and laterally adjacent cladding regions are defined. Some embodiments of the present invention provide waveguide structures where core regions are collectively surrounded by laterally adjacent cladding regions and cladding layers and methods of forming such structures.

Abstract: A photoresist composition is provided. The photoresist composition comprises two or more kinds of photoinitiators having different activation wavelengths whose difference is at least 20 nm. The photoresist composition has high sensitivity and forms a pattern whose thickness is easy to control depending on the exposure intensity through a slit or transflective mask. Further provided are a transparent thin film formed using the photoresist composition and a liquid crystal display device comprising the thin film.

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 method for reducing a photoresist critical dimension, the method comprising depositing a photoresist film on a substrate, wherein the photoresist film includes a thermal base generator; patterning the photoresist film to form a first patterned film possessing a first critical dimension; depositing a crosslinkable film over the first patterned film; heat-activating the first patterned film, either before or after depositing the crosslinkable film, to release a base in the first patterned film and cause crosslinking in the crosslinkable film in contact with the first patterned film; and developing the crosslinkable film to remove non-crosslinked soluble portions therein to form a second patterned film possessing a reduced critical dimension compared to the first critical dimension.

Abstract: A pattern forming method which uses a positive resist composition comprises: (A) a fluorine-free resin capable of increasing its solubility in an alkaline developer under action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; (C) a fluorine-containing resin having at least one group selected from the group consisting of (X) an alkali-soluble group, (XI) a group capable of decomposing under action of an alkali developer and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer and (XII) a group capable of decomposing under action of an acid and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer; and (D) a solvent, the method comprising: (i) a step of applying the positive resist composition to a substrate to form a resist coating; (ii) a step of exposing the resist coating to light via an immersion liquid; (iii) a step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating; (iv) a step of heating the resist coating; an

Abstract: Acid-sensitive, developer-soluble bottom anti-reflective coating compositions are provided, along with methods of using such compositions and microelectronic structures formed thereof. The compositions preferably comprise a crosslinkable polymer dissolved or dispersed in a solvent system. The polymer preferably comprises recurring monomeric units having adamantyl groups. The compositions also preferably comprise a crosslinker, such as a vinyl ether crosslinking agent, dispersed or dissolved in the solvent system with the polymer. In some embodiments, the composition can also comprise a photoacid generator (PAG) and/or a quencher. The bottom anti-reflective coating compositions are thermally crosslinkable, but can be decrosslinked in the presence of an acid to be rendered developer soluble.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern and a negative-type photoresist composition, the method including forming a photoresist film on a substrate by coating a photoresist composition thereon, the photoresist composition including a polymer, a photoacid generator, and a solvent, wherein the polymer includes an alkoxysilyl group as a side chain and is cross-linkable by an acid to be insoluble in a developer; curing a first portion of the photoresist film by exposing the first portion to light, the exposed first portion being cured by a cross-linking reaction of the alkoxysilyl groups therein; and providing a developer to the photoresist film to remove a second portion of the photoresist film that is not exposed to light, thereby forming a photoresist pattern on the substrate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultraviolet-curing resin material for pattern transfer contains at least one of 2-methyl-2-adamantyl acrylate, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl acrylate, and 1,3-adamantanedimethanol diacrylate, isobornyl acrylate, polyfunctional acrylate, and a polymerization initiator, or contains at least one of the acrylates described above, a polymerization initiator, and fluorine-based alcohol.

Abstract: A salt having a divalent group represented by the formula (aa): wherein Xa and Xb independently each represent —O— or —S—, Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd independently each represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group or a C1-C4 alkoxy group, and m represents 1 or 2.

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 salt represented by the formula (I-AA): wherein Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a fluorine atom or a C1-C4 perfluoroalkyl group, X1 represents a single bond etc., Y1 represents a C1-C36 aliphatic hydrocarbon group etc., A1 and A2 independently each represents a C1-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group etc., Ar1 represents a (m4+1)-valent C6-C20 aromatic hydrocarbon group which can have one or more substituents, B1 represents a single bond etc., m1 and m2 independently each represents an integer of 0 to 2, m3 represents an integer of 1 to 3, with the proviso that m1 plus m2 plus m3 equals 3, and m4 represents an integer of 1 to 3, and a photoresist composition comprising the salt represented by the formula (I-AA) and a resin comprising a structural unit having an acid-labile group and being insoluble or poorly soluble in an aqueous alkali solution but becoming soluble in an aqueous alkali solution by the action of an acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photosensitive ink which can form a coated film that is excellent in insulation properties, heat resistance, low warping, low elasticity and adhesion with the substrate, when used as an ink for screen printing, and with which clogging of the screen, bleeding, blur, chipping and the like are unlikely to occur even when the screen printing is repeatedly carried out, so that which has an excellent ease of handling in printing. The ink composition comprises 100 parts by weight of an organic solvent-soluble polyimide block copolymer(s), and 1 to 100 parts by weight of a photoacid generator(s). The polyimide block copolymer(s) and the photoacid generator(s) are dissolved in an organic solvent. The polyimide block copolymer(s) contain(s) in its molecular skeleton a diamine having a siloxane bond, and an aromatic diamine having a hydroxyl group(s) and/or carboxyl group(s) at ortho-position with respect to an amino group.

Abstract: Methods of forming electronic devices are provided. The methods involve alkaline treatment of photoresist patterns and allow for the formation of high density resist patterns. The methods find particular applicability in semiconductor device manufacture.

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: Bilayer systems include a bottom layer formed of polydimethylglutarimide, an acid labile dissolution inhibitor and a photoacid generator. The bilayer system can be exposed and developed in a single exposure and development process.

Abstract: A photosensitive adhesive composition comprising: (A) a polyimide having a carboxyl group as a side chain, whereof the acid value is 80 to 180 mg/KOH; (B) a photo-polymerizable compound; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a resist utilized in a photolithography patterning process. The resist includes a polymeric material having a plurality of zipper molecules, each including a first zipper portion and a second zipper portion, wherein the first and second zipper portions each include a plurality of zipper branches bonded together in pairs and cleavable to one of thermal energy, radiation energy, and chemical reaction.

Abstract: An antireflective hardmask composition layer including a polymer having Si—O and non-silicon inorganic units in its backbone. The polymer includes chromophore and transparent moieties and a crosslinking component. The antireflective hardmask composition layer is employed in a method of forming a patterned material on a substrate.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for enhancing the sensitivity of an inorganic resist composition are disclosed. In one aspect, compositions for use with a matrix material (e.g., a lithographically sensitive polymeric material such as a hydrogen-bearing siloxane material) can be formulated with a sensitizer, where the sensitizer can be present in a relatively small amount. The sensitizer can include a radical generator, and can act to enhance the efficiency of radical generation and/or resist crosslinking when the resist is impinged by a selected lithographic radiation. The methods of the present invention can be especially useful in performing short wavelength (e.g., less than 200 nm) lithography, or for processes such as e-beam lithography, which traditionally suffer from low throughput. Methods of utilizing one or more of these aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A salt represented by the formula (I-CC): wherein Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a fluorine atom etc., X1 represents a single bond etc., Y1 represents a C1-C36 aliphatic hydrocarbon group etc., A1 and A2 independently each represents a C1-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group etc., Ar1 represents a (m4+1)-valent C6-C20 aromatic hydrocarbon group which can have one or more substituents, B1 represents a single bond etc., B2 represents a group capable of being eliminated by the action of an acid, m1 and m2 independently each represents an integer of 0 to 2, m3 represents an integer of 1 to 3, with the proviso that m1 plus m2 plus m3 equals 3, and m4 represents an integer of 1 to 3, and a photoresist composition comprising the salt represented by the formula (I-CC) and a resin comprising a structural unit having an acid-labile group and being insoluble or poorly soluble in an aqueous alkali solution but becoming soluble in an aqueous alkali solution by the action of an acid.

Abstract: A silsesquioxane resin comprised of the units (Ph(CH2)rSiO(3-x)/2(OR?)x)m, (HSiO(3-x)/2(OR?)x)n?(MeSiO(3-x)/2(OR?)x)o?(RSiO(3-x)/2(OR?)x)p, (R1SiO(3-x)/2(OR?)x)q where Ph is a phenyl group, Me is a methyl group; R? is hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R is selected from an aryl sulfonate ester group; and R1 is selected from substituted phenyl groups, ester groups, polyether groups; mercapto groups, and reactive or curable organic functional groups; and r has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; x has a value of 0, 1 or 2; wherein in the resin m has a value of 0 to 0.95; n has a value of 0.05 to 0.95; o has a value of 0.05 to 0.95; p has a value of 0.05 to 0.5; q has a value of 0 to 0.5; and m+n+o+p+q=1.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition for an interlayer insulating film or a protective film of a substrate for circuit formation, which includes a polymer (a) having a structural unit shown by the formula (A) and a compound (b) which generates a radical when irradiated with active rays and has a structure shown by the following formula (B).

Abstract: To provide a photosensitive resin composition in which a hardened film obtained from the photosensitive resin composition has properties comparable to those of a film hardened at a high temperature, a method for manufacturing a patterned hardened film using the photosensitive resin composition, and an electronic part. The photosensitive resin composition includes (a) a polybenzoxazole precursor having a repeating unit represented by a general formula (I): wherein U and V represent a divalent organic group, and at least one of U and V is a group containing an aliphatic chain structure having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; (b) a photosensitizer; (c) a solvent; and (d) a crosslinking agent capable of causing crosslinking or polymerization by heating.

Abstract: A curable liquid formulation containing at least (i) one or more near-infrared absorbing triphenylamine-based dyes, and (ii) one or more casting solvents. The invention is also directed to solid near-infrared absorbing films composed of crosslinked forms of the curable liquid formulation. The invention is also directed to a microelectronic substrate containing a coating of the solid near-infrared absorbing film as well as a method for patterning a photoresist layer coated on a microelectronic substrate in the case where the near-infrared absorbing film is between the microelectronic substrate and a photoresist film.

Abstract: There is provided a positive type resist composition comprising (A) a resin component with only units derived from an acrylate ester in the principal chain, for which the solubility in alkali increases under the action of acid, (B) an acid generator component which generates acid on exposure, and (C) an organic solvent component, wherein the resin component (A) is a copolymer comprising (a1) a structural unit derived from an acrylate ester comprising, as an acid dissociable dissolution inhibiting group on a side chain, a polycyclic dissolution inhibiting group which is eliminated more easily than a 2-methyl-2-adamantyl group, (a2) a structural unit derived from an acrylate ester comprising a lactone containing polycyclic group on a side chain, and (a3) a structural unit derived from an acrylate ester comprising a hydroxyl group containing polycyclic group on a side chain; as well as a resist pattern formation method using such a composition.

Abstract: There is provided a composition for forming a resist underlayer film that can be homogeneously applied and a sublimate is suppressed during the thermal curing. There is also provided a composition for forming a resist underlayer film having a high selection ratio of dry etching relative to a resist applied thereon. A composition for forming a resist underlayer film for lithography comprising: a polysilane compound having a unit structure of Formula (1): (where R1 and R2 are independently a group of —X—Y (where X is an oxygen atom, a C1-18 alkylene group or a group of —OCnH2n— (where n is an integer of 1 to 18) and Y is a lactone ring or an adamantane ring), or one of R1 and R2 is the group of —X—Y and another thereof is an aryl group, a methyl group, an ethyl group or a C3-6 cycloalkyl group); and an organic solvent.

Abstract: A photosensitive adhesive composition comprising: (A) a polyimide having a carboxyl group as a side chain, whereof the acid value is 80 to 180 mg/KOH; (B) a photo-polymerizable compound; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: The invention provides various ionic and non-ionic photoacid generator compounds. Photoresist compositions that include the novel ionic and non-ionic photoacid generator compounds are also provided. The invention further provides methods of making and using the photoacid generator compounds and photoresist compositions disclosed herein. The compounds and compositions are useful as photoactive components in chemically amplified resist compositions for various microfabrication applications.

Abstract: New photoresist compositions are provided that are useful for immersion lithography. Preferred photoresist compositions of the invention comprises two or more distinct materials that can be substantially non-mixable with a resin component of the resist. Particularly preferred photoresists of the invention can exhibit reduced leaching of resist materials into an immersion fluid contacting the resist layer during immersion lithography processing.

Abstract: There is provided a resist underlayer film forming composition used in a lithography process for producing semiconductor devices. A method of producing a semiconductor device comprising: forming a coating film by applying a resist underlayer film forming composition containing a polymer, a crosslinker and a photoacid generator on a semiconductor substrate; forming an underlayer film by irradiating light to the coating film; and forming a photoresist by applying a photoresist composition on the underlayer film and heating the resultant layer. The polymer polymer is a polymer having a benzene ring or a hetero ring in a main chain or a side chain bonded to the main chain, and the content rate of a benzene ring in the polymer is 30 to 70% by mass. The polymer may be a polymer containing a lactone structure.

Abstract: A photoacid generator, which shows very high sensitivity in the near ultraviolet range of about 300 to 400 nm, and also can remarkably increase a reaction rate of a photoreactive composition using the same, and a photoreactive composition which can initiate the reaction even by irradiation with near ultraviolet light within a short time and also can obtain a desired reaction product.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a first material layer over the substrate; forming a second material layer over the first material layer, wherein the second material layer comprises a photodegradable base material; and exposing at least a portion of the second material layer.

Abstract: Devices having a thin film or laminate structure comprising hafnium and/or zirconium oxy hydroxy compounds, and methods for making such devices, are disclosed. The hafnium and zirconium compounds can be doped, typically with other metals, such as lanthanum. Examples of electronic devices or components that can be made include, without limitation, insulators, transistors and capacitors. A method for patterning a device using the materials as positive or negative resists or as functional device components also is described. For example, a master plate for imprint lithography can be made. An embodiment of a method for making a device having a corrosion barrier also is described. Embodiments of an optical device comprising an optical substrate and coating also are described. Embodiments of a physical ruler also are disclosed, such as for accurately measuring dimensions using an electron microscope.

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: The present invention provides a patterning process, in which a resistance with regard to an organic solvent used for a composition for formation of a reverse film is rendered to a positive pattern to the degree of necessity and yet solubility into an alkaline etching liquid is secured, thereby enabling to finally obtain a negative image by a positive-negative reversal by performing a wet etching using an alkaline etching liquid. A resist patterning process of the present invention using a positive-negative reversal comprises at least a step of forming a resist film by applying a positive resist composition; a step of obtaining a positive pattern by exposing and developing the resist film; a step of crosslinking the positive resist pattern thus obtained; a step of forming a reverse film; and a step of reversing the positive pattern to a negative pattern by dissolving into an alkaline wet-etching liquid for removal.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition comprising: (A) a binder polymer; (B) a photopolymerizable compound that has an ethylenically unsaturated bond; and (C1) a compound represented by general formula (1) below, wherein, at least one R represents a C1-10 alkoxy group or a C1-12 alkyl group; the sum of a, b, and c is 1 to 6; and when the sum of a, b, and c is 2 to 6, each R may be the same as or different from one another.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition comprising: (A) a binder polymer; (B) a photopolymerizable compound that has an ethylenically unsaturated bond; and (C1) a compound represented by general formula (1) below, wherein, at least one R represents a C1-10 alkoxy group or a C1-12 alkyl group; the sum of a, b, and c is 1 to 6; and when the sum of a, b, and c is 2 to 6, each R may be the same as or different from one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides coating compositions comprising (i) a) a compound containing a free carbonyl group and b) a nucleophile or (ii) a compound containing a free carbonyl group, which compound is substituted with one or more nucleophilic groups. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions, and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.

Abstract: A method of forming fine patterns of a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first mask patterns on a substrate such that the plurality of first mask patterns are separated from one another by a space located therebetween, in a direction parallel to a main surface of the substrate, forming a plurality of capping films formed of a first material having a first solubility in a solvent on sidewalls and a top surface of the plurality of first mask patterns. The method further includes forming a second mask layer formed of a second material having a second solubility in the solvent, which is less than the first solubility, so as to fill the space located between the plurality of first mask patterns, and forming a plurality of second mask patterns corresponding to residual portions of the second mask layer which remain in the space located between the plurality of first mask patterns, after removing the plurality of capping films and a portion of the second mask layer using the solvent.

Abstract: A polymer compound is provided which is excellent in heat resistance and insulating property, and a photosensitive resin composition is provided which includes the polymer compound, and may form a cured pattern or a cured film excellent in pattern forming property, resolution, heat resistance and insulating property. Also, a method for forming a cured pattern excellent in pattern forming property, resolution, heat resistance and insulating property using the photosensitive resin composition, and an electronic device having high reliance for a semiconductor device or for a display device are provided. The photosensitive resin composition includes a polymer compound obtained by reacting a monomer represented by Formula (1) and a monomer represented by Formula (2), and a photosensitizing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: a resist composition such as a chemically amplified resist composition for providing an excellent pattern profile even at a substrate-side boundary face of resist, in addition to a higher resolution in photolithography for micro-fabrication, and particularly in photolithography adopting, as an exposure source, KrF laser, ArF laser, F2 laser, ultra-short ultraviolet light, electron beam, X-rays, or the like; and a patterning process utilizing the resist composition. The present invention provides a chemically amplified resist composition comprising one or more kinds of amine compounds or amine oxide compounds (except for those having a nitrogen atom of amine or amine oxide included in a ring structure of an aromatic ring) at least having a carboxyl group and having no hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to a nitrogen atom as a basic center.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photosensitive composition, which is capable of being irradiated with high energy beam having a wave length of 1 to 300 nm band. The photosensitive composition includes a binder resin; and a photoelectron absorbent, capable of being excited with photoelectron emitted from the binder resin that absorbs the high energy beam, when the binder resin is irradiated with the high energy beam.