Patent ID: 8465901

Claim:
A method of adjusting dimensions of a resist pattern, comprising: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising one or more layers to be patterned; (b) applying a first layer of a photosensitive composition over the one or more layers to be patterned; (c) exposing the first layer to activating radiation through a patterned photomask; (d) developing the exposed first layer to form a resist pattern; (e) measuring a dimension of a feature of the resist pattern; (f) comparing the result of the dimension measurement with a predetermined target specification; (g) heat treating the resist pattern in a first hardbake process; (h) treating the hardbaked resist pattern with a material effective to make alkaline a surface of the resist pattern; (i) heat treating the resist pattern in a second hardbake process at a temperature based on the comparison of the result of the dimension measurement with the predetermined target specification; (j) applying a second layer of a thermally sensitive composition over the one or more layers to be patterned and in contact with the alkaline surface of the resist pattern, wherein the thermally sensitive composition is positive-acting and comprises a resin component and a thermal acid generator; (k) heat treating the second layer; and (l) developing the exposed second layer.