Patent ID: 7566525

Claim:
A method for forming a photoresist pattern with enhanced etch resistance on a semiconductor substrate, the method comprising: forming a photoresist layer over the substrate; doping the photoresist layer by Si, Ti or Ta molecules, wherein the doping comprises implanting the Si, Ti, or Ta molecules into the photoresist layer; forming at least one photoresist pattern by selectively exposing the photoresist layer to a light source; depositing a water-soluble silicon-containing polymer layer on the photoresist pattern over the substrate; thermally treating the photoresist pattern and the water-soluble silicon-containing polymer layer to form a cross-linked anti-etch shielding layer between the photoresist pattern and the water-soluble silicon-containing polymer layer; removing the water-soluble silicon-containing polymer layer; and performing a plasma treatment on the cross-linked anti-etch shielding layer and the photoresist pattern for enhancing an etch resistance thereof.