Patent ID: 8911932

Claim:
A method of photoimaging silicon hardmask films with a positive tone, and the method comprising: (i) incorporating a catalyst and a photoacid generator into a polysiloxane and polysilsesquioxane based hardmask composition, said catalyst being: capable of catalyzing condensation reactions to resin molecules of said polysiloxane and polysilsesquioxane based hardmask films, said condensation reactions forming inter- and intra-molecule linkage bonds, said linkage bonds forming molecular networks, and said molecular network making hardmask films insoluble in organic solvents or alkaline aqueous solutions, and easy to be deactivated by photo-generated acids, and deactivated catalyst loses capability of catalyzing said condensation reactions, and said photoacid generator being a chemical compound capable of producing acid upon exposure to radiations, said acid being able to deactivate said catalyst, and said radiations having wavelengths of 400 nanometers and shorter, (ii) radiating said polysiloxane and polysilsesquioxane based hardmask films with photomask images, said radiation causing: said photoacid generator being radiated in bright areas of said photomask images, radiated photoacid generator generating acid, said acid deactivating said catalyst, condensation reactions not taking place due to lack of active catalyst, and hard mask films in said bright areas being removed by organic solvents or alkaline aqueous solutions, and said photoacid generator not being radiated in dark areas of said photomask images, unradiated photoacid generator generating no acid, catalyst not being deactivated, condensation reactions taking place, and said hardmask films in said dark areas being not soluble in organic solvents or alkaline aqueous solutions.