Patent ID: 7498124

Claim:
A method for processing of a resist film formed on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a resist film on the substrate; applying a sacrificial surfactant-containing liquid onto the resist film to pre-wet the resist film and wherein a concentration for the surfactant-containing liquid is determined based on a thickness of the resist film, wherein the sacrificial surfactant-containing liquid is chosen based on one or more characteristics of the resist film; selecting a concentration of a developing solution in accordance with one or more characteristics of the sacrificial surfactant-containing liquid and the resist film; supplying the developing solution onto the resist film after applying the resist film surfactant-containing liquid on the substrate to displace the sacrificial surfactant-containing liquid; developing the resist film by allowing the substrate having the developing solution supplied thereto to stand for a prescribed time sufficient to permit a developing reaction to proceed; and thereafter, rinsing the substrate.