Patent · US Expired

Hybrid resist based on photo acid/photo base blending

US6338934B1 · kind B1 · utility

75Cited by
28References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 1999
Grant dateJan 15, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S430/12
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A photo resist composition contains a polymer resin, a first photo acid generator (PAG) requiring a first dose of actinic energy to generate a first photo acid, and a photo base generator (PBG) requiring a second dose of actinic energy, different from the first dose, to generate a photo base. The amounts and types of components in the photo resist are selected to produce a hybrid resist image. Either the first photo acid or photo base acts as a catalyst for a chemical transformation in the resist to induce a solubility change. The other compound is formulated in material type and loading in the resist such that it acts as a quenching agent. The catalyst is formed at low doses to induce the solubility change and the quenching agent is formed at higher doses to counterbalance the presence of the catalyst. Accordingly, the same frequency doubling effect of conventional hybrid resist compositions may be obtained, however, either a line or a space may be formed at the edge of an aerial image. Feature size may also be influenced by incorporating a quenching agent into the resist composition that does not require photo generation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.