Patent ID: 6887653

Claim:
A method for structuring a photoresist layer, which comprises the steps of: providing a substrate having a photoresist layer applied thereto at least in parts, the photo-resist layer containing: a film-forming polymer having molecular groups which can be converted into alkali-soluble groups by acid-catalyzed cleavage reactions; a photo acid generator which liberates an acid on exposure to a first light having a defined wavelength range Î”Î» 1 ; and a photo base generator which liberates a base on exposure to a second light having a defined wavelength range Î”Î» 2 ; exposing the photoresist layer in parts to the first light having the defined wavelength range Î”Î» 1 , a wavelength of the first light being chosen so that the photo base generator is substantially inert to irradiation; exposing the photoresist layer to the second light having the defined wavelength range Î”Î» 2 ; a wavelength of the second light being chosen so that the photo acid generator is substantially inert to the irradiation; heating the photoresist layer to a temperature at which a cleavage reaction catalyzed by photolytically produced acid takes place; and developing the photoresist layer with an alkaline solution.