Patent ID: 6919167
Filing Date: 2005-07-19
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method for carrying out positive tone lithography with a carbon dioxide development system, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate, said substrate having a polymer resist layer formed thereon; (b) exposing at least one portion of said polymer resist layer to radiant energy to increase the polarity of said exposed portion and thereby form at least one light field region in said polymer resist layer while concurrently maintaining at least one portion of said polymer layer unexposed to said radiant energy to thereby form at least one dark field region in said polymer resist layer; (c) contacting said polymer resist layer to a carbon dioxide solvent system, said solvent system comprising a polar group, under conditions in which said at least one light field region is preferentially removed from said substrate by said carbon dioxide solvent system as compared to said at least one dark field region; wherein said carbon dioxide solvent system comprises a continuous phase and a discrete phase, said continuous phase comprising carbon dioxide and said discrete phase comprising a polar fluid, with said at least one light field region being preferentially soluble in said polar fluid as compared to said at least one dark field region; and wherein said solvent system further comprises a surfactant.