Patent ID: 7090963
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a material structure on a substrate, said material structure having a pattern containing features having a half-pitch of about 50 nm or less, said method comprising: (A) providing a substrate with a layer of said material, (B) applying a positive tone resist composition to said substrate to form a resist layer on said substrate, said resist composition comprising (a) an acid-sensitive imaging polymer matrix, and (b) a radiation-sensitive acid generator, said imaging polymer comprising a pendant acid-labile moiety selected from the group consisting of ketals, acetals and orthoesters, (C) patternwise exposing said substrate to radiation whereby acid is generated by said radiation-sensitive acid generator in exposed regions of said resist layer, (D) treating the exposed resist layer with a deprotection reaction-dependent co-reactant at a temperature of about 20–50° C. for about 1 to 30 minutes to promote acid-catalyzed reaction in exposed portions of said resist layer but not so long as to cause resolution degradation due to acid diffusion-induced blur, (E) developing a patterned resist structure in said resist layer by removing radiation exposed portions of said resist if said resist is a positive tone resist, and (F) transferring resist structure pattern to said material layer by removing portions of said material layer through spaces in said resist structure pattern.