IP Library Granted Patent US 7,150,961
Granted Patent B2
US 7,150,961 · App. 10/789,055 · Granted Dec 19, 2006

Additive for photoresist composition for resist flow process

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,150,961
App. No.
10/789,055
Granted
Dec 19, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides an additive for a photoresist composition for a resist flow process. A compound of following Formula 1 having low glass transition temperature is added to a photoresist composition containing a polymer which is not suitable for the resist flow process due to its high glass transition temperature, thus improving a flow property of the photoresist composition. As a result, the photoresist composition comprising an additive of Formula 1 can be used for the resist flow process. wherein, A, B, R and R′ are as defined in the specification of the invention.

Claims (30)

1. A resist flow process for forming a photoresist pattern comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a first photoresist pattern on a substrate using a photoresist composition comprising a photoresist polymer, a photo acid generator, an organic solvent, and an additive selected from the group consisting of compounds of the following Formulas 3 to 7:

wherein said photoresist polymer is a compound selected from the group consisting of the following Formulas 8 and 9:

wherein, R 1 is an acid labile protecting group:

R 2 is hydrogen; R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 –C 10 alkyl, C 1 –C 10 alkoxyalkyl, and C 1 –C 10 alkyl containing at least one hydroxyl group (—OH);

n is an integer from 1 to 5; and w+x+y=50 mol %, and z is 50 mol %; and

(b) performing resist flow process onto the first photoresist pattern to obtain a second photoresist pattern.

2. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(i) coating said photoresist composition on said substrate to form a photoresist film, wherein said substrate is a semiconductor devise; and

(ii) producing said first photoresist pattern using a lithography process.

3. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second photoresist pattern comprises a contact hole pattern.

4. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said resist flow process comprises heating to a temperature between Tg of photoresist polymer and a decomposition temperature (T d ) where the polymer starts to be decomposed.

5. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said additive is present in an amount ranging from 1 wt % to 70 wt % of the photoresist polymer.

6. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said photoacid generator is selected from the group consisting of diphenyl iodide hexafluorophosphate, diphenyl iodide hexafluoroarsenate, diphenyl iodide hexafluoroantimonate, diphenyl p-methoxyphenyl triflate, diphenyl p-toluenyl triflate, diphenyl p-isobutylphenyl triflate, diphenyl p-tert-butylphenyl inflate, triphenylsulfonium, hoxafluororphosphate, triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroarsenate, triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate, triphenylsulfonium triflate, dibutylnaphthylsulfonium triflate, and mixtures thereof.

7. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said photoacid generator is present in an amount ranging from 0.01 wt % to 10 wt % of the photoresist polymer.

8. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propyleneglycol methyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate and cyclohexanone.

9. The resist flow process according to claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent is present in an amount ranging from 100 wt % to 1000 wt % of the photoresist polymer.

10. A resist flow process for forming a photoresist pattern comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a first photoresist pattern on a substrate using a photoresist composition comprising a photoresist polymer, a photo acid generator, an organic solvent, and an additive selected from the group consisting of compounds of following Formulas 3 to 7:

(d) performing a resist flow process onto the first photoresist pattern to obtain a second photoresist pattern, wherein said photoresist polymer is selected from the group consisting of the following Formula 10 to 13:

11. The resist flaw process according to claim 10 , wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(i) coating said photoresist composition on said substrate to form a photoresist film, wherein said substrate is a semiconductor device; and

(ii) producing said first photoresist pattern using a lithography process.

12. The resist flow process according to claim 10 , wherein said first and second photoresist pattern comprises a contact hole pattern.

13. The resist flow process according to claim 10 , wherein said resist flow process comprises heating to a temperature between Tg of the photoresist polymer and a decomposition temperature (T d ) where the polymer starts to be decomposed.

14. The resist flow process according to claim 10 , wherein said additive is present in an amount ranging from 1 wt % to 70 wt % of the photoresist polymer.

15. The resist flow process according to claim 10 , wherein said photoacid generator is selected from the group consisting of diphenyl iodide hexafluorophosphate, diphenyl iodide hexafluoroarsenate, diphenyl iodide hexafluoroantimonate, diphenyl p-methoxyphenyl triflate, diphenyl p-toluenyl triflate, diphenyl p-isobutylphenyl triflate, diphenyl p-tert-butylphenyl triflate, triphenylsulfonium hexafluororphosphate, triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroarsenate, triphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate, triphenylsulfonium triflate, dibutylnaphthylsulfonium triflate, and mixtures thereof.

16. The resist flow process according to claim 10 , wherein amid photoacid generator is present in an amount ranging from 0.01 wt % to 10 wt % of the photoresist polymer.

17. The resist flow process according to claim 10 , wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propyleneglycol methyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate and cyclohexanone.

18. The resist flow process according to claim 10 , wherein said organic solvent is present in an amount ranging from 100 wt % to 1000 wt % of the photoresist polymer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2021
From: RESERVOIR LABS, INC.
To: SIGNIFICS AND ELEMENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057364/0569 →