Patent ID: 7316885

Claim:
A method of forming a resist pattern comprising: a resist pattern formation step, in which a positive resist composition comprising a resin component (A) that displays increased alkali solubility under action of acid, and an acid generator component (B) that generates acid on exposure is applied to a substrate, a prebake is conducted, said resist composition is selectively exposed, post exposure baking (PEB) is conducted, and alkali developing is used to form a resist pattern; and a narrowing step in which a pattern size of said resist pattern is narrowed by heat treatment, wherein said component (A) utilizes a resin with a structural unit (a1) derived from a (meth)acrylate ester represented by a general formula (I) shown below: wherein, R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; X represents a hydrocarbon group with 1 to 4 rings; R 1 to R 3 either each represent, independently, a lower alkyl group, or alternatively, one of R 1 to R 3 represents a lower alkyl group, and two remaining groups represent lower alkylene groups, terminals of which are bonded together to form a single ring containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms including bonded terminal carbon atoms.