Patent ID: 7678527

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a photolithographic scanner, said photolithographic scanner comprising a light source and a last lens element, said light source producing light having a wavelength, said last lens element having a refractive index; providing an index-matching liquid (IML) based on said wavelength and said refractive index; providing a photoresist, said photoresist comprising a combination of one or more IML-non-soluble additives and one or more IML-soluble-additives and other constituents wherein form and concentration are determined by properties of said IML; binding said other constituents of said photoresist to said IML-non-soluble additives; placing said IML in contact with both said last lens element and said photoresist; preventing diffusion of said IML-non-soluble additives and said other bound constituents into said IML; thus neutralizing acid diffusing from said IML into said photoresist; promoting diffusion of said IML-soluble-additives from said photoresist into said IML and creating a concentration of said IML-soluble additives in said IML; thus improving wettability and creating surface inhibition of surface layer of said photoresist; and illuminating said IML and said photoresist with said light from said last lens element.