Patent ID: 8658346

Claim:
A multiple pattern-forming process comprising the steps of: (1) coating a first positive resist composition comprising as a base resin a polymer comprising recurring units adapted to increase alkali solubility under the action of acid and recurring units having lactone structure onto a substrate and baking to form a first resist film, exposing the first resist film to high-energy radiation, post-exposure baking, and developing the first resist film with an alkaline developer to form a first positive resist pattern including a large area pattern feature having a short side of at least 200 nm, (2) applying a resist-modifying composition comprising an aminosilanol compound as a basic nitrogen-containing compound having a conjugate acid pKa of at least 4 onto the first resist pattern and heating to modify the first resist pattern, and (3) coating a second positive resist composition thereon and baking to form a second resist film, exposing the second resist film to high-energy radiation, post-exposure baking, and developing the second resist film with an alkaline developer to form a second resist pattern, wherein the large area pattern feature in the first resist pattern has a film retentivity of at least 50% after the formation of the second resist pattern.