Patent · US Active

Resist performance for the negative tone develop organic development process

US9057960B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
5References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 2013
Grant dateJun 16, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 14, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/38
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A process and composition for negative tone development comprises providing a photoresist film that generates acidic sites. Irradiating the photoresist film patternwise provides an irradiated film having exposed and unexposed regions where the exposed regions comprise imaged sites. Baking the irradiated film at elevated temperatures produces a baked-irradiated film comprising the imaged sites which after irradiating, baking, or both irradiating and baking comprise acidic imaged sites. Treating the baked-irradiated film with a liquid, gaseous or vaporous weakly basic compound converts the acidic imaged sites to a base treated film having chemically modified acidic imaged sites. Applying a solvent developer substantially dissolves regions of the film that have not been exposed to the radiant energy, where the solvent developer comprises a substantial non-solvent for the chemically modified acidic imaged sites. One-step simultaneous base treatment and solvent development employs a composition comprising a mix of the basic compound and solvent developer.

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