IP Library Granted Patent US 9,448,485
Granted Patent B2
US 9,448,485 · App. 14/344,943 · Granted Sep 20, 2016

Composition for forming fine resist pattern and pattern forming method using same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,448,485
App. No.
14/344,943
Granted
Sep 20, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

[Object] To provide a composition enabling to form a fine negative photoresist pattern free from troubles, such as, surface roughness, bridge defects, and resolution failure; and also to provide a pattern formation method using that composition. [Means to Solve the Problem] A fine pattern-forming composition is used for miniaturizing a resist pattern by fattening said pattern in a process of formation of a negative resist pattern using a chemically amplified resist composition. The fine pattern-forming composition comprises a polymer comprising a repeating unit having a structure of the following formula (A), (B) or (C): and a solvent. This composition is cast on a negative resist pattern obtained by development with an organic solvent developer, and then heated to form a fine pattern.

Claims (17)

1. A method for forming a miniaturized negative resist pattern, comprising the steps of

coating a semiconductor substrate with a chemically amplified photoresist composition, to form a photoresist layer;

exposing to light said semiconductor substrate coated with said photoresist layer;

developing said photoresist layer with an organic solvent developer after said exposing step, to form a photoresist pattern;

coating said photoresist pattern with a fine pattern-forming composition comprising: a polymer comprising a repeating unit having a structure of the following formula (A), (B) or (C):

and

an inorganic acid,

a solvent,

where the fine pattern-forming composition has a pH of 2 to 11;

heating the coated photoresist pattern, and

washing to remove excess of the fine pattern-forming composition.

2. The method according to claim 1 for forming a negative resist pattern, wherein said photoresist composition further comprises a photo acid-generating agent.

3. The method for forming a miniaturized negative resist pattern of claim 1 wherein the fine pattern-forming composition has an inorganic acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid.

4. The method for forming a miniaturized negative resist pattern of claim 1 wherein the fine pattern-forming composition has an inorganic acid, and the inorganic acid is present at 0.5 to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the polymer.

5. The method for forming a miniaturized negative resist pattern of claim 1 where the fine pattern-forming composition has a pH between 3 and 10.

6. The method for forming a miniaturized negative resist pattern of claim 1 where the fine pattern-forming composition in which the polymer comprises structure (B).

7. The method for forming a miniaturized negative resist pattern of claim 6 where the polymer is selected from the group consisting of P 1 , P 2 and P 3

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2015
From: AZ ELECTRONIC MATERIALS USA CORP.
To: MERCK PATENT GMBH
Reel/Frame 034742/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2014
From: OKAYASU, TETSUO; SEKITO, TAKASHI; ISHII, MASAHIRO
To: AZ ELECTRONIC MATERIALS USA CORP.
Reel/Frame 034568/0951 →