Abstract:
A resist film of a positive type containing a photoacid generator is formed on a substrate. Then, pattern exposure is performed by selectively irradiating the resist film with exposure light. Thereafter, first heating is performed on the resist film subjected to the pattern exposure. After the heating, first development is performed on the resist film, thereby forming a first resist pattern. Subsequently, the first resist pattern is exposed to a solution containing a thermal acid generator and containing neither polymer nor a cross-linking agent. After the exposure, second heating is performed on the first resist pattern. Second development is then performed on the first resist pattern, thereby forming a second resist pattern made of the first resist pattern having a reduced size.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of PCT International Application PCT/JP2009/005348 filed on Oct. 14, 2009, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-045616 filed on Feb. 27, 2009. The disclosures of these applications including the specifications, the drawings, and the claims are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to pattern forming methods for use in, for example, processes for fabricating semiconductor devices 
         [0003]    With increasing integration of semiconductor integrated circuits and downsizing of semiconductor elements, there has been a demand for acceleration of the development of lithography techniques. At present, pattern formation is performed by photolithography using mercury lamps, KrF excimer lasers, ArF excimer lasers, or the like, as sources of exposure light. In addition, resolution is increased by employing immersion lithography. Further, the use of extreme ultraviolet light having a shorter wavelength as exposure light is also studied. 
         [0004]    In this manner, various techniques are studied for pattern miniaturization. Among these techniques, a technique for obtaining a finer pattern by trimming an already formed resist pattern through etching has been recently proposed. 
         [0005]    A conventional pattern forming method for obtaining a fine pattern with a trimming technique through etching will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9D ,  10 A, and  10 B. 
         [0006]    First, a chemically amplified positive resist material having the following composition is prepared. 
         [0007]    Base polymer: poly(2-methyl-2-adamanthyl methacrylate (50 mol %)—γ-butyrolactone methacrylate (40 mol %)—2-hydroxy adamantane methacrylate (10 mol %)) . . . 2 g 
         [0008]    Photoacid generator: triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonic acid . . . 0.05 g 
         [0009]    Quencher: triethanolamine . . . 0.002 g 
         [0010]    Solvent: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate . . . 20 g 
         [0011]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 9A , the chemically amplified resist material is applied on a substrate  1 , and then is heated at a temperature of 90° C. for 60 seconds, thereby forming a resist film  2  with a thickness of 120 nm. 
         [0012]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 9B , the resist film  2  is irradiated with exposure light which is ArF excimer laser light having a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.93 through a mask  3 , thereby performing pattern exposure. 
         [0013]    After the pattern exposure, as shown in  FIG. 9C , the resist film  2  is heated with a hot plate at a temperature of 110° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0014]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 9D , the resist film  2  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby obtaining a first resist pattern  2   a  made of an unexposed portion of the resist film  2  and having a line width of 60 nm. 
         [0015]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 10A , the first resist pattern  2   a  is ashed with an oxygen-based etching gas. Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 10B , upper portions and side portions of the first resist pattern  2   a  are trimmed, thereby obtaining a second resist pattern  2   b  having a reduced (shrunk) line width of 50 nm. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0016]    The conventional pattern forming method employing a trimming technique, however, has a problem in which upper portions of the resultant second resist pattern  2   b  are rounded, resulting in a defective pattern showing so-called edge-rounding. Further, the conventional pattern forming method also has a problem of necessity of additional etching apparatus. 
         [0017]    In this manner, etching on a target film using the second resist pattern  2   b  with a defective pattern causes the pattern obtained from the target film to be defective, thereby reducing productivity and the yield in processes of fabricating semiconductor devices. 
         [0018]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to easily implement a pattern forming method for forming a desired pattern shape with a trimming technique. 
         [0019]    To easily implement a pattern forming method for forming a desired pattern shape with a trimming technique, the inventors of the present invention conducted various studies, to obtain the following findings. Specifically, a pattern with a desired shape can be easily obtained by exposing an initially formed resist pattern to a solution containing a thermal acid generator, and then heating and developing the resultant resist pattern. The thermal acid generator generates acid through heating after exposure to the solution containing this thermal acid generator, and causes acid elimination in the surface of the resist film forming the pattern. Accordingly, the surface of the pattern is dissolved by subsequent development, thus trimming the pattern. With this method, the pattern surface is uniformly dissolved, and thus, the pattern shape does not deteriorate. In addition, since the amount of trimming is determined only by the amount of the added thermal acid generator and conditions of heating, the method has high controllability of the line width of the pattern to be trimmed. In a process in which a resist pattern is directly exposed to an acid solution, acid might volatilize through heating before reaction between acid and the resist pattern, and thus, it is difficult to control the line width. 
         [0020]    Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-017993 shows a method using a heat generator, as a method for shrinking of a resist pattern. In the method of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-017993, a film made of polymer and a cross-linking agent are mixed with a resist pattern so that a portion which has become alkali-soluble due to the mixing is removed by development. The present invention differs from Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-017993 in that the resist pattern is only exposed to a thermal acid generator and materials different from those used in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-017993 are used. In addition, in the present invention, no films are formed on the surface of the resist pattern. Further, with respect to principles in shrinking of the pattern, the technique of the present invention employs acid elimination of the resist, and thus, differs from the technique of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-017993 in this regard. Moreover, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-017993, since a film is formed on the surface of the resist pattern, the film thickness might be uneven in portions having sparse or dense patterns during formation of the film. Accordingly, the amount of shrinkage of the pattern greatly depends on the degree of sparseness and denseness. 
         [0021]    In contrast, in the present invention, the process of exposing the resist pattern to the solution enables the thermal acid generator to be uniformly attached to the surface of the resist pattern, and thus, the process can be uniformly performed on portions having sparse and dense patterns. Accordingly, the amount of shrinkage of the pattern hardly depends on the degree of sparseness and denseness. 
         [0022]    Based on the foregoing findings, the present invention has been achieved in the following manner. 
         [0023]    A pattern forming method according to the present invention includes the steps of: forming, on a substrate, a resist film of a positive type containing a photoacid generator; performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating the resist film with exposure light; performing first heating on the resist film subjected to the pattern exposure; performing first development on the resist film after the heating, thereby forming a first resist pattern out of the resist film; exposing the first resist pattern to a solution containing a thermal acid generator and containing neither polymer nor a cross-linking agent; performing second heating on the first resist pattern after the exposure to the solution; and performing second development on the first resist pattern after the heating, thereby forming a second resist pattern made of the first resist pattern having a reduced size. 
         [0024]    In this pattern forming method, a first resist pattern is formed out of a resist film, and is exposed to a solution containing a thermal acid generator and containing neither polymer nor a cross-linking agent. Thereafter, second heating is performed on the first resist pattern, and then second development is performed on the first resist pattern, thereby forming a second resist pattern made of the first resist pattern having a reduced size. In this manner, acid from the thermal acid generator causes the surface of the first resist pattern to be uniformly dissolved, thereby easily obtaining a desired pattern shape. 
         [0025]    In the pattern forming method, the exposure light may be one of KrF excimer laser light, ArF excimer laser light, extreme ultraviolet light, and electron beams. 
         [0026]    In the pattern forming method, the step of performing the pattern exposure may be performed with a liquid provided on the resist film. Then, a finer pattern can be obtained. 
         [0027]    In this case, the liquid may be water. 
         [0028]    In the case of immersion lithography using a liquid for pattern exposure, the exposure light may be one of KrF excimer laser light and ArF excimer laser light. 
         [0029]    In the pattern forming method, the thermal acid generator is preferably decomposed by the second heating. 
         [0030]    In the pattern forming method, the photoacid generator is preferably decomposed at a temperature higher than a temperature of the second heating. Then, the photoacid generator is not decomposed by heat during the second heating. If the photoacid generator was decomposed by heat during the second heating, acid elimination would occur in the entire first resist pattern to increase the degree of dissolving in subsequent second development, resulting in excessive trimming or dissolving of the entire pattern. However, if the photoacid generator is decomposed at a temperature higher than that of the second heating, such problems do not occur. The temperature of the second heating differs among thermal acid generators to be used, and is in the range from about 90° C. to about 120° C., both inclusive, in most cases. However, the present invention is not limited to this temperature range. 
         [0031]    In the pattern forming method, the photoacid generator may be at least one of triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid, diphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, and diphenyliodonium nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid. 
         [0032]    In the pattern forming method, the thermal acid generator may be one of toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl and toluenesulfonic acid—(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclohexyl). 
         [0033]    In the pattern forming method, the step of exposing the first resist pattern to the solution may be performed with one of a puddle method, a dipping method, and a spray method. 
         [0034]    A solvent in which the thermal acid generator is to be dissolved is preferably a solvent in which the resist pattern is not dissolved. For example, an alcohol-based solvent may be used. Examples of alcohol-based solvents include, but not limited to, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, n-amyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, sec-amyl alcohol, and tert-amyl alcohol. 
         [0035]    The amount of the thermal acid generator to be added to the solvent and the period during which the resist pattern is exposed to the solution depend on the amount of trimming of the resist pattern, and cannot be set at fixed values. For example, the amount of the thermal acid generator to be added to the solvent may be in the range from about 0.5%, by weight, to about 30%, by weight, both inclusive. The period during which the resist pattern is exposed to the solution may be in the range from about 5 seconds to about 300 seconds, both inclusive. However, the present invention is not limited to these ranges. 
         [0036]    According to the present invention, a pattern forming method for forming a desired pattern shape with a trimming technique can be easily implemented. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]      FIGS. 1A-1D  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of a pattern forming method according to a first embodiment. 
           [0038]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of the pattern forming method of the first embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of a pattern forming method according to a second embodiment. 
           [0040]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of the pattern forming method of the second embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIGS. 5A-5D  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of a pattern forming method according to a third embodiment. 
           [0042]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of the pattern forming method of the third embodiment. 
           [0043]      FIGS. 7A-7D  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of a pattern forming method according to a fourth embodiment. 
           [0044]      FIGS. 8A-8C  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of the pattern forming method of the fourth embodiment. 
           [0045]      FIGS. 9A-9D  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of a conventional pattern forming method. 
           [0046]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are cross-sectional views illustrating process steps of the conventional pattern forming method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment  
       [0047]    A pattern forming method according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1A-1D  and  2 A- 2 C. 
         [0048]    First, a chemically amplified positive resist material having the following composition is prepared. 
         [0049]    Base polymer: poly(2-methyl-2-adamanthyl methacrylate (50 mol %)—γ-butyrolactone methacrylate (40 mol %)—2-hydroxy adamantane methacrylate (10 mol %)) . . . 2 g 
         [0050]    Photoacid generator: triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonic acid . . . 0.05 g 
         [0051]    Quencher: triethanolamine . . . 0.002 g 
         [0052]    Solvent: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate . . . 20 g 
         [0053]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the chemically amplified resist material is applied on a substrate  101 , and then is heated at a temperature of 90° C. for 60 seconds, thereby forming a resist film  102  with a thickness of 120 nm. 
         [0054]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the resist film  102  is irradiated with exposure light which is ArF excimer laser light having a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.93 through a mask  103 , thereby performing pattern exposure. 
         [0055]    After the pattern exposure, as shown in  FIG. 1C , the resist film  102  is heated with a hot plate at a temperature of 110° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0056]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 1D , the resist film  102  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby obtaining a first resist pattern  102   a  made of an unexposed portion of the resist film  102  and having a line width of 60 nm. 
         [0057]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2A , a solution  104  containing a thermal acid generator having a composition below is dropped onto the substrate  101  with a puddle method to cover the first resist pattern  102   a,  thereby exposing the first resist pattern  102   a  to the solution  104  for 30 seconds. 
         [0058]    Thermal acid generator: toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl . . . 5 g 
         [0059]    Solvent: sec-butyl alcohol . . . 25 g 
         [0060]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the solution  104  is removed, and then the first resist pattern  102   a  is heated at a temperature of 95° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0061]    Then, the resultant first resist pattern  102   a  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby obtaining a second resist pattern  102   b  trimmed to have a line width of 50 nm and maintaining a desired shape of the first resist pattern  102   a,  as shown in  FIG. 2C . 
         [0062]    In this manner, in the first embodiment, the first resist pattern  102   a  is exposed to the solution  104  containing toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl as the thermal acid generator, and then is heated again at a temperature lower than that at post exposure bake. At this time, the thermal acid generator diffused in the surface of the first resist pattern  102   a  generates acid by heating, and causes acid elimination of acid leaving groups of main polymer (i.e., base polymer) located in the surface of the first resist pattern  102   a.  Accordingly, a subsequent phenomenon causes the surface of the first resist pattern  102   a  to be uniformly dissolved, thereby uniformly trimming the pattern. As a result, the second resist pattern  102   b  has a desired shape. 
       Second Embodiment  
       [0063]    A pattern forming method according to a second embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 3A-3D  and  4 A- 4 C. 
         [0064]    First, a chemically amplified positive resist material having the following composition is prepared. 
         [0065]    Base polymer: poly(2-methyl-2-adamanthyl methacrylate (50 mol %)—γ-butyrolactone methacrylate (40 mol %)—2-hydroxy adamantane methacrylate (10 mol %)) . . . 2 g 
         [0066]    Photoacid generator: triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonic acid . . . 0.05 g 
         [0067]    Quencher: triethanolamine . . . 0.002 g 
         [0068]    Solvent: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate . . . 20 g 
         [0069]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the chemically amplified resist material is applied on a substrate  201 , and then is heated at a temperature of 90° C. for 60 seconds, thereby forming a resist film  202  with a thickness of 120 nm. 
         [0070]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 3B , with water  203  for immersion lithography provided between the resist film  202  and a projection lens  204  by, for example, a puddle method, the resist film  202  is irradiated, through the water  203 , with exposure light which is ArF excimer laser light having an NA of 1.2 and having passed through a mask (not shown), thereby performing pattern exposure. 
         [0071]    After the pattern exposure, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the resist film  202  is heated with a hot plate at a temperature of 110° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0072]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 3D , the resist film  202  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby forming a first resist pattern  202   a  made of an unexposed portion of the resist film  202  and having a line width of 55 nm. 
         [0073]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 4A , a solution  205  containing a thermal acid generator having a composition below is dropped onto the substrate  201  with a puddle method to cover the first resist pattern  202   a,  thereby exposing the first resist pattern  202   a  to the solution  205  for 90 seconds. 
         [0074]    Thermal acid generator: toluenesulfonic acid—(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclohexyl) . . . 2 g 
         [0075]    Solvent: isoamyl alcohol . . . 25 g 
         [0076]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the solution  205  is removed, and then the first resist pattern  202   a  is heated at a temperature of 100° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0077]    Then, the first resist pattern  202   a  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby obtaining a second resist pattern  202   b  trimmed to have a line width of 45 nm and maintaining a desired shape of the first resist pattern  202   a,  as shown in  FIG. 4C . 
         [0078]    In this manner, in the second embodiment, the first resist pattern  202   a  is exposed to the solution  205  containing toluenesulfonic acid—(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclohexyl) as the thermal acid generator, and then is heated again at a temperature lower than that at post exposure bake. At this time, the thermal acid generator diffused in the surface of the first resist pattern  202   a  generates acid by heating, and causes acid elimination of acid leaving groups of main polymer (i.e., base polymer) located in the surface of the first resist pattern  202   a.  Accordingly, a subsequent phenomenon causes the surface of the first resist pattern  202   a  to be uniformly dissolved, thereby uniformly trimming the pattern. As a result, the second resist pattern  202   b  has a desired shape. 
       Third Embodiment  
       [0079]    A pattern forming method according to a third embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5D  and  6 A- 6 C. 
         [0080]    First, a chemically amplified positive resist material having the following composition is prepared. 
         [0081]    Base polymer: poly(2-methyl-2-adamanthyl methacrylate (50 mol %)—γ-butyrolactone methacrylate (40 mol %)—2-hydroxy adamantane methacrylate (10 mol %)) . . . 2 g 
         [0082]    Photoacid generator: triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid . . . 0.05 g 
         [0083]    Quencher: triethanolamine . . . 0.002 g 
         [0084]    Solvent: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate . . . 20 g 
         [0085]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 5A , the chemically amplified resist material is applied on a substrate  301 , and then is heated at a temperature of 90° C. for 60 seconds, thereby forming a resist film  302  with a thickness of 120 nm. Then, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the resist film  302  is irradiated with exposure light which is ArF excimer laser light having an NA of 0.93 through a mask  303 , thereby performing pattern exposure. 
         [0086]    After the pattern exposure, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the resist film  302  is heated with a hot plate at a temperature of 110° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0087]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 5D , the resist film  302  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby obtaining a first resist pattern  302   a  made of an unexposed portion of the resist film  302  and having a line width of 60 nm. 
         [0088]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the substrate  301  having the first resist pattern  302   a  is immersed for  40  seconds in a vessel  305  filled with a solution  304  containing a thermal acid generator having a composition below, thereby exposing the first resist pattern  302   a  to the solution  304 . 
         [0089]    Thermal acid generator: toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl . . . 5 g 
         [0090]    Solvent: sec-butyl alcohol . . . 25 g 
         [0091]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the substrate  301  is taken out from the solution  304 , and then the first resist pattern  302   a  is heated at a temperature of 95° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0092]    Then, the first resist pattern  302   a  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby obtaining a second resist pattern  302   b  trimmed to have a line width of 50 nm and maintaining a desired shape of the first resist pattern  302   a,  as shown in  FIG. 6C . 
         [0093]    In this manner, in the third embodiment, the first resist pattern  302   a  is exposed to the solution  304  containing toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl as the thermal acid generator, and then is heated again at a temperature lower than that at post exposure bake. At this time, the thermal acid generator diffused in the surface of the first resist pattern  302   a  generates acid by heating, and causes acid elimination of acid leaving groups of main polymer (i.e., base polymer) located in the surface of the first resist pattern  302   a.  Accordingly, a subsequent phenomenon causes the surface of the first resist pattern  302   a  to be uniformly dissolved, thereby uniformly trimming the pattern. As a result, the second resist pattern  302   b  has a desired shape. 
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0094]    A pattern forming method according to a fourth embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 7A-7D  and  8 A- 8 C. 
         [0095]    First, a chemically amplified positive resist material having the following composition is prepared. 
         [0096]    Base polymer: poly(2-methyl-2-adamanthyl methacrylate (50 mol %)—γ-butyrolactone methacrylate (40 mol %)—2-hydroxy adamantane methacrylate (10 mol %)) . . . 2 g 
         [0097]    Photoacid generator: triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid . . . 0.05 g 
         [0098]    Quencher: triethanolamine . . . 0.002 g 
         [0099]    Solvent: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate . . . 20 g 
         [0100]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 7A , the chemically amplified resist material is applied on a substrate  401 , and then is heated at a temperature of 90° C. for 60 seconds, thereby forming a resist film  402  with a thickness of 120 nm. 
         [0101]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 7B , with water  403  for immersion lithography provided between the resist film  402  and a projection lens  404  by, for example, a puddle method, the resist film  402  is irradiated, through the water  403 , with exposure light which is ArF excimer laser light having an NA of 1.2 through a mask (not shown), thereby performing pattern exposure. 
         [0102]    After the pattern exposure, as shown in  FIG. 7C , the resist film  402  is heated with a hot plate at a temperature of 110° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0103]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 7D , the resist film  402  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby forming a first resist pattern  402   a  made of an unexposed portion of the resist film  402  and having a line width of 55 nm. 
         [0104]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 8A , a solution  405  containing a thermal acid generator having a composition below is sprayed onto the first resist pattern  402   a  on the substrate  401 , thereby exposing the first resist pattern  402   a  to the solution  405  for 90 seconds. 
         [0105]    Thermal acid generator: toluenesulfonic acid—(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclohexyl) . . . 2 g 
         [0106]    Solvent: isoamyl alcohol . . . 25 g 
         [0107]    Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 8B , the solution  405  is removed, and then the first resist pattern  402   a  is heated at a temperature of 100° C. for 60 seconds. 
         [0108]    Then, the first resist pattern  402   a  is developed with a 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer, thereby obtaining a second resist pattern  402   b  trimmed to have a line width of 45 nm and maintaining a desired shape of the first resist pattern  402   a,  as shown in  FIG. 8C . 
         [0109]    In this manner, in the fourth embodiment, the first resist pattern  402   a  is exposed to the solution  405  containing toluenesulfonic acid—(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclohexyl) as the thermal acid generator, and then is heated again at a temperature lower than that at post exposure bake. At this time, the thermal acid generator diffused in the surface of the first resist pattern  402   a  generates acid by heating, and causes acid elimination of acid leaving groups of main polymer (i.e., base polymer) located in the surface of the first resist pattern  402   a.  Accordingly, a subsequent phenomenon causes the surface of the first resist pattern  402   a  to be uniformly dissolved, thereby uniformly trimming the pattern. As a result, the second resist pattern  402   b  has a desired shape. 
         [0110]    In the first through fourth embodiments, the photoacid generator forming the chemically amplified resist material contains triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid. Alternatively, in these embodiments, at least one of those materials including diphenyliodonium trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and diphenyliodonium nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid may be used. 
         [0111]    As the thermal acid generator for trimming, toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl is used in the first and third embodiments, and toluenesulfonic acid—(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclohexyl) is used in the second and fourth embodiments. Alternatively, toluenesulfonic acid—(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclohexyl) may be used in the first and third embodiments, and toluenesulfonic acid cyclohexyl may be used in the second and fourth embodiments. 
         [0112]    In the first through fourth embodiments, sec-butyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol are used as the solvent in which the thermal acid generator is to be dissolved. However, the present invention is not limited to these materials. Alternatively, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, n-amyl alcohol, sec-amyl alcohol, or tert-amyl alcohol may be used, for example. 
         [0113]    In the first through fourth embodiments, ArF excimer laser is used as exposure light for pattern exposure. Alternatively, KrF excimer laser light may also be used. Further, in the first and third embodiments using dry exposure techniques, in addition to KrF excimer laser light, extreme ultraviolet light or electron beams may also be used. 
         [0114]    According to the present invention, a pattern forming method for forming a desired pattern shape with a trimming technique can be easily implemented. Thus, the present invention is useful for, for example, forming fine patterns in processes for fabricating semiconductor devices, for example.