JP2007256641A - Positive resist composition and pattern forming method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems in techniques to improve performances in microprocessing of semiconductor elements using active rays or radiation, particularly, KrF excimer laser light, electron beams or EUV light, and to provide a positive resist composition having high sensitivity, reduced roughness and pattern density dependence, and showing excellent sensitivity and dissolution contrast even in exposure to EUV light, and to provide a pattern forming method using the composition. <P>SOLUTION: The resist composition comprises a resin containing an ester group having a structure in which an aliphatic ring is ring-condensed with a benzene ring having an acid-labile group, and a compound which generates an acid by irradiation with active rays or radiation. The pattern forming method is carried out by using the above composition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a positive resist composition suitably used in an ultramicrolithography process such as the manufacture of VLSI and high-capacity microchips and other photo-publishing processes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a positive photoresist capable of forming a high-definition pattern using KrF excimer laser light, electron beam, EUV light, etc., and a semiconductor device using KrF excimer laser light, electron beam, EUV light The present invention relates to a positive resist composition that can be suitably used for microfabrication and a pattern formation method using the same.

  Conventionally, in the manufacturing process of semiconductor devices such as IC and LSI, fine processing by lithography using a photoresist composition has been performed. In recent years, with the high integration of integrated circuits, the formation of ultrafine patterns in the submicron region and the quarter micron region has been required. Accordingly, there is a tendency for the exposure wavelength to be shortened from g-line to i-line and further to KrF excimer laser light. Furthermore, at present, in addition to excimer laser light, lithography using electron beams, X-rays, or EUV light is also being developed.

  Lithography using an electron beam or EUV light is positioned as a next-generation or next-generation pattern forming technique, and a positive resist with high sensitivity and high resolution is desired. In particular, high sensitivity is a very important issue for shortening the wafer processing time. However, in positive resists for electron beams and EUV, if high sensitivity is to be pursued, not only the resolution will be lowered. The development of resists that satisfy these characteristics at the same time is strongly desired. Here, the density dependency means a pattern dimension difference between a portion where the resist pattern density is high and a portion where the resist pattern density is low. If this difference is large, the process margin becomes narrow during actual pattern formation. One of the important issues in resist technology development is how to reduce the size. High sensitivity, high resolution, good pattern shape, and good density dependence are in a trade-off relationship, and how to satisfy them simultaneously is very important.

Furthermore, in lithography using KrF excimer laser light, it is also important to satisfy high sensitivity, high resolution, good pattern shape, and good density dependency at the same time. is there.
As a resist suitable for the lithography process using KrF excimer laser light, electron beam, or EUV light, a chemically amplified resist utilizing an acid-catalyzed reaction is mainly used from the viewpoint of high sensitivity. In the resist, as a main component, a phenolic polymer (hereinafter abbreviated as a phenolic acid-decomposable resin) having a property that is insoluble or hardly soluble in an antari developer and becomes soluble in an antari developer by the action of an acid, and A chemically amplified resist composition comprising an acid generator is effectively used.

With respect to these positive resists, several resist compositions using a phenolic acid-decomposable resin obtained by copolymerizing an acid-decomposable acrylate monomer having an alicyclic group as an acid-decomposable group have been known. For example, positive resist compositions disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5 can be exemplified.
Patent Document 6 discloses a resist containing a resin containing a repeating unit derived from cinnamic acid ester in order to improve pattern shape and etching resistance.
However, in any combination of these, the present situation is that high sensitivity, line edge roughness and density dependency reduction in the ultrafine region are not satisfied at the same time,
Improvement of EUV exposure suitability is also desired.

US Pat. No. 5,561,194 JP 2001-166474 A JP 2001-166478 A JP 2003-107708 A JP 2001-194792 A US Pat. No. 6,312,870

  An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of performance improvement technology in microfabrication of a semiconductor device using actinic rays or radiation, in particular, KrF excimer laser light, electron beam or EUV light, and is highly sensitive. An object of the present invention is to provide a positive resist composition that is less dependent on roughness and density, and is excellent in sensitivity and dissolution contrast even in exposure with EUV light, and a pattern forming method using the same.

As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have surprisingly found that the subject of the present invention is a positive resist composition containing a resin using a specific phenolic acid-decomposable resin having a different structure and pattern formation using the same Achieved by the method.
That is, the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.

(1) A resist composition comprising (A) a resin containing a group represented by formula (I) as a partial structure, and (B) a resin containing a compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation. .

R represents a group that is linked to a benzene ring to form an alicyclic ring. A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a group that decomposes under the action of an acid, or a group that includes a group that decomposes under the action of an acid. n represents an integer of 1 to 3.

(2) The resist composition as described in (1) above, wherein the resin (B) contains a repeating unit represented by the general formula (II).

X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group (for example, a methyl group which may have a substituent), a chlorine atom, a fluorine atom, or a cyano group. R represents a group that is linked to a benzene ring to form an alicyclic ring. A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a group that decomposes under the action of an acid, or a group that includes a group that decomposes under the action of an acid. n represents an integer of 1 to 3.

(3) The resist composition as described in (1) or (2) above, wherein the resin (A) contains at least one of the repeating units represented by the general formula (A1) or (A2) .

A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom or a group containing a group decomposing by the action of an acid or a group decomposing by the action of an acid. p represents an integer of 0 to 3. S ₁ represents a monovalent substituent. q represents 0-3. However, p + q ≦ 5.
A ₂ represents a group containing a group decomposing by the action of an acid or a group decomposing by the action of an acid.
X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group (in particular, a substituted alkyl group includes a CF ₃ group, an alkyloxycarbonylmethyl group, an alkylcarbonyloxymethyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, and an alkoxymethyl group), a halogen atom, a cyano group, Or represents an alkyloxycarbonyl group.

(4) A pattern forming method comprising the steps of: forming a resist film with the resist composition according to any one of (1) to (3) above; and exposing and developing.

  According to the present invention, the pattern formation by irradiation with an electron beam, KrF excimer laser light, EUV light, etc. is highly sensitive, and the roughness and density dependency are reduced. A positive resist composition excellent in contrast and a pattern forming method using the same can be provided.

Hereinafter, the compounds used in the present invention will be described in detail.
In addition, in the description of the group (atomic group) in this specification, the description which does not describe substitution and non-substitution includes what has a substituent with what does not have a substituent. For example, the “alkyl group” includes not only an alkyl group having no substituent (unsubstituted alkyl group) but also an alkyl group having a substituent (substituted alkyl group).

[1] Resin (A) which is insoluble or hardly soluble in an alkali developer and whose solubility in an alkali developer is increased by the action of an acid
Resin (A) contains the repeating unit represented by general formula (I).

R represents a group that is linked to a benzene ring to form an alicyclic ring. A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a group that decomposes under the action of an acid, or a group that includes a group that decomposes under the action of an acid. n represents an integer of 1 to 3.

The alicyclic ring formed by R is preferably a 4- to 8-membered ring, more preferably a 5- or 6-membered ring, and examples thereof include pentane and hexane.
n represents an integer of 1 to 3, and preferably 1 or 2.

  The condensed benzene ring and alicyclic ring in the general formula (I) may have a substituent, and examples of the substituent include an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, and an acyloxy group. , An aryloxy group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group, a cyano group, a nitro group, and the like, preferably having 10 or less carbon atoms.

Examples of the group containing a group that decomposes by the action of an acid of A ₁ or a group that decomposes by the action of an acid include tertiary alkyl groups such as t-butyl group and t-amyl group, t-butoxycarbonyl group, t An acetal group represented by -butoxycarbonylmethyl group or -C (L ₁ ) (L ₂ ) -O-Z ₂ can be mentioned.
L _{1 and} L ₂ may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, or an aralkyl group.
Z represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aralkyl group.
Z and L ₁ may be bonded to each other to form a 5- or 6-membered ring.

The alkyl groups and cycloalkyl groups of L _{1 to} L ₂ and Z are methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl group, t-butyl group, pentyl group, cyclopentyl group, hexyl group, Examples thereof include a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a cyclohexyl group, an octyl group, and a dodecyl group, and a cycloalkyl group. These groups may have a substituent.

The preferred substituents that the alkyl group and cycloalkyl group of L _{1 to} L ₂ and Z may have include an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, an acylamino group, and a sulfonylamino group. , An alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an aralkylthio group, a thiophenecarbonyloxy group, a thiophenemethylcarbonyloxy group, a heterocyclic residue such as a pyrrolidone residue, and the like, preferably having 12 or less carbon atoms.

  Examples of the alkyl group having a substituent include a cyclohexylethyl group, an alkylcarbonyloxymethyl group, an alkylcarbonyloxyethyl group, a cycloalkylcarbonyloxymethyl group, a cycloalkylcarbonyloxyethyl group, an arylcarbonyloxyethyl group, and an aralkylcarbonyloxyethyl group. , Alkyloxymethyl group, cycloalkyloxymethyl group, aryloxymethyl group, aralkyloxymethyl group, alkyloxyethyl group, cycloalkyloxyethyl group, aryloxyethyl group, aralkyloxyethyl group, alkylthiomethyl group, cycloalkylthiomethyl Group, arylthiomethyl group, aralkylthiomethyl group, alkylthioethyl group, cycloalkylthioethyl group, arylthioethyl group, aralkyl Oechiru group, and the like.

  The alkyl and cycloalkyl in these groups are not particularly limited, and may further have a substituent such as the above-described alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, and alkoxy group.

  Examples of the alkylcarbonyloxyethyl group and cycloalkylcarbonyloxyethyl group include cyclohexylcarbonyloxyethyl group, t-butylcyclohexylcarbonyloxyethyl group, n-butylcyclohexylcarbonyloxyethyl group, and the like.

Aryl is not particularly limited, but generally includes those having 6 to 14 carbon atoms such as phenyl group, xylyl group, toluyl group, cumenyl group, naphthyl group, anthracenyl group, and the above-mentioned alkyl group and cycloalkyl group. And may have a substituent such as an alkoxy group.
Examples of the aryloxyethyl group include a phenyloxyethyl group, a cyclohexylphenyloxyethyl group, and the like. These groups may further have a substituent.

Aralkyl is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a benzyl group.
Examples of the aralkylcarbonyloxyethyl group include a benzylcarbonyloxyethyl group. These groups may further have a substituent.

Examples of the aralkyl group of L _{1 to} L ₂ and Z in the general formula include those having 7 to 15 carbon atoms such as benzyl group and phenethyl group. These groups may have a substituent.

Preferred substituents for the aralkyl group include an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an acyl group, an acylamino group, a sulfonylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an aralkylthio group, and the like, and an aralkyl group having a substituent Examples thereof include an alkoxybenzyl group, a hydroxybenzyl group, and a phenylthiophenethyl group. The range of the carbon number of the substituent that the aralkyl group as L _{1 to} L ₂ and Z may have is preferably 12 or less.

Examples of the 5- or 6-membered ring formed by combining Z and L ₁ with each other include a tetrahydropyran ring and a tetrahydrofuran ring.
In the present invention, Z is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group. Thereby, the effect of the present invention becomes more remarkable.

  As the repeating unit having a group represented by the general formula (I), a repeating unit represented by the general formula (II) is preferable.

X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group (for example, a methyl group which may have a substituent), a chlorine atom, a fluorine atom, or a cyano group. R, A ₁ and n are the same as those in formula (I).

  Although the specific example of the repeating unit which has group represented by general formula (I) below is given, it is not limited to these.

  The resin (A) preferably contains at least one of the repeating units represented by the general formula (A1) or (A2).

A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom or a group containing a group decomposing by the action of an acid or a group decomposing by the action of an acid. p represents an integer of 0 to 3. S ₁ represents a monovalent substituent. q represents 0-3. However, p + q ≦ 5.
Examples of the monovalent substituent of S ₁ include an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyl group, an aralkyloxy group, a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, and a nitro group. , A sulfonylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, and an aralkylthio group. When q is 2 or more, S ₁ may be the same or different.

A ₂ represents a group containing a group decomposing by the action of an acid or a group decomposing by the action of an acid.
X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group (in particular, a substituted alkyl group includes a CF ₃ group, an alkyloxycarbonylmethyl group, an alkylcarbonyloxymethyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, and an alkoxymethyl group), a halogen atom, a cyano group, Or represents an alkyloxycarbonyl group.

The group that decomposes by the action of an acid as A ₁ or the group that contains a group that decomposes by the action of an acid is a group that decomposes by the action of an acid as A ₁ in General Formula (I) or a group that decomposes by the action of an acid. It is the same as the containing group.
The substitution position of OA _{1 on} the benzene ring is preferably p-position, m-position, or a mixture of p-position and m-position.

A ₂ in the general formula (A2) represents a group containing a group decomposable by the action of an acid (acid-decomposable group) or a group decomposable by the action of an acid.
Examples of the acid-decomposable group of A ₂ or a group containing an acid-decomposable group include a hydrocarbon group (preferably having 20 or less carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 12), and a t-butyl group and a t-amyl group. And a hydrocarbon group having an alicyclic structure (for example, an alicyclic group itself and a group in which an alicyclic group is substituted on an alkyl group) are preferable. The alicyclic structure may be monocyclic or polycyclic. Specific examples include monocyclo, bicyclo, tricyclo, and tetracyclo structures having 5 or more carbon atoms. The carbon number is preferably 6-30, and particularly preferably 7-25. These alicyclic rings may have a substituent.
The alicyclic structure may be monocyclic or polycyclic. Specific examples include monocyclo, bicyclo, tricyclo, and tetracyclo structures having 5 or more carbon atoms. The carbon number is preferably 6-30, and particularly preferably 7-25. These alicyclic rings may have a substituent.
Examples of alicyclic structures are shown below.

  In the present invention, the alicyclic structure is preferably represented by a monovalent alicyclic group as an adamantyl group, a noradamantyl group, a decalin residue, a tricyclodecanyl group, a tetracyclododecanyl group, or a norbornyl group. And cedrol group, cyclohexyl group, cycloheptyl group, cyclooctyl group, cyclodecanyl group, and cyclododecanyl group. More preferred are an adamantyl group, a decalin residue, a norbornyl group, a cedrol group, a cyclohexyl group, a cycloheptyl group, a cyclooctyl group, a cyclodecanyl group, and a cyclododecanyl group.

Examples of the substituent that the alicyclic ring may have include an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, and an alkoxycarbonyl group. The alkyl group is preferably a lower alkyl group such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group or a butyl group, more preferably a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group or an isopropyl group. Examples of the alkoxy group include those having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, and a butoxy group. The alkyl group and the alkoxy group may have a further substituent. Examples of further substituents on the alkyl group and alkoxy group include a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, and an alkoxy group.

As the acid-decomposable group having an alicyclic structure, groups represented by the following general formula (pI) to general formula (pV) are preferable.

In the above formula, R ₁₁ represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group or a sec-butyl group, and Z represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon group together with a carbon atom. Represents the atomic group necessary to form.
R _{12 to} R ₁₆ each independently represents a linear or branched alkyl group or alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R _{12 to} R ₁₄ , or Either R ₁₅ or R ₁₆ represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon group.
R _{17 to} R ₂₁ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, provided that at least one of R _{17 to} R ₂₁ Represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon group. Further, either R ₁₉ or R ₂₁ represents a linear or branched alkyl group or alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
R _{22 to} R ₂₅ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, provided that at least one of R _{22 to} R ₂₅ Represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon group. R ₂₃ and R ₂₄ may be bonded to each other to form a ring.

In the general formulas (pI) to (pV), the alkyl group in R _{12 to} R ₂₅ may be either substituted or unsubstituted, and a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms Represents. Examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, and a t-butyl group.
Further, the further substituent of the alkyl group includes an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogen atom (a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom), an acyl group, an acyloxy group, a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, A carboxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a nitro group, etc. can be mentioned.

Examples of the alicyclic hydrocarbon group in R _{11 to} R _{25 or} the alicyclic hydrocarbon group formed by Z and a carbon atom include those described above as the alicyclic structure.

Specific examples of the acid-decomposable group containing an alicyclic structure as A ₂ are given below.

  Although the specific example of the repeating unit represented by general formula (A1) below is given, it is not limited to these.

Specific examples of the repeating unit represented by formula (A2), was replaced with the groups exemplified as the acid-decomposable group containing (meth) alicyclic structure of the hydrogen atom of the carboxylic acid in the acrylic acid as A ₂ Mention may be made of the repeating units corresponding to the monomers.

  It is also preferable that the resin (A) further has a repeating unit represented by the general formula (A3).

In general formula (A3),
R ₂ represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, or a perfluoro group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
R ₃ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a halogen atom, an aryl group, an alkoxy group or an acyl group.
q represents an integer of 0 to 4.
W represents a group that is not decomposed by the action of an acid.

  W represents a group that is not decomposed by the action of an acid (also referred to as an acid stabilizing group). Specifically, a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, an acyl group, an alkylamide group, An arylamidomethyl group, an arylamide group, etc. are mentioned. The acid stabilizing group is preferably an acyl group or an alkylamide group, and more preferably an acyl group, an alkylcarbonyloxy group, an alkyloxy group, a cycloalkyloxy group, or an aryloxy group.

In the acid stable group of W, the alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, n-butyl group, sec-butyl group and t-butyl group. As the alkyl group, those having 3 to 10 carbon atoms such as cyclopropyl group, cyclobutyl group, cyclohexyl group and adamantyl group are preferable, and as the alkenyl group, carbon number such as vinyl group, propenyl group, allyl group and butenyl group. Those having 2 to 4 carbon atoms are preferred, those having 2 to 4 carbon atoms such as vinyl, propenyl, allyl and butenyl groups are preferred as alkenyl groups, and phenyl, xylyl and toluyl groups are preferred as aryl groups. And those having 6 to 14 carbon atoms such as cumenyl group, naphthyl group and anthracenyl group are preferable. W may be at any position on the benzene ring, but is preferably a meta position or a para position of the styrene skeleton, particularly preferably a para position.

  Specific examples of the repeating unit represented by the general formula (A3) are shown below, but are not limited thereto.

Resin (A) is a resin (acid-decomposable resin) whose solubility in an alkaline developer is increased by the action of an acid, and is decomposed by the action of an acid in an arbitrary repeating unit. Contains the resulting group (acid-decomposable group).
Examples of the acid-decomposable group include those represented by —C (═O) —X ₁ —R ₀ other than those described above.
In the formula, R ₀ is a tertiary alkyl group such as t-butyl group or t-amyl group, isobornyl group, 1-ethoxyethyl group, 1-butoxyethyl group, 1-isobutoxyethyl group, 1-cyclohexyloxy. 1-alkoxyethyl group such as ethyl group, 1-methoxymethyl group, alkoxymethyl group such as 1-ethoxymethyl group, 3-oxoalkyl group, tetrahydropyranyl group, tetrahydrofuranyl group, trialkylsilyl ester group, 3- An oxocyclohexyl ester group, a 2-methyl-2-adamantyl group, a mevalonic lactone residue and the like can be mentioned. X ₁ represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, -NH -, - NHSO ₂ - or -NHSO ₂
NH- is represented.

As for the content rate of the repeating unit which has group represented by general formula (I) in resin (A), 5-60 mol% is preferable in all the repeating units which comprise resin (A), More preferably, it is 10-55. It is mol%, Especially preferably, it is 15-50 mol%.
As for the content rate of the repeating unit which has an acid-decomposable group, 5-60 mol% is preferable in all the repeating units, More preferably, it is 10-55 mol%, Especially preferably, it is 20-40 mol%.

As for the content rate of the repeating unit represented by general formula (A1) in resin (A), 5-40 mol% is preferable in all the repeating units, More preferably, it is 10-35 mol%, Especially preferably, 15- 30 mol%.
As for the content rate of the repeating unit represented by general formula (A2) in resin (A), 5-40 mol% is preferable in all the repeating units, More preferably, it is 10-35 mol%, Especially preferably, 15- 30 mol%.

  The resin (A) may further have a repeating unit represented by the general formula (A3), which is preferable from the viewpoints of improving the film quality and suppressing the decrease in the film thickness of the unexposed area. The content of the repeating unit represented by the general formula (A3) is preferably 0 to 50 mol%, more preferably 0 to 40 mol%, and particularly preferably 0 to 40 mol% in each of all the repeating units. 30 mol%.

  The resin (A) is copolymerized with other polymerizable monomers suitable so that an alkali-soluble group such as a phenolic hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group can be introduced in order to maintain good developability for an alkali developer. In order to improve the film quality, other hydrophobic polymerizable monomers such as alkyl acrylate and alkyl methacrylate may be copolymerized.

Resin (A) is, for example, after dissolving the monomer giving the above repeating unit in an organic solvent such as THF, ethyl acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, methoxybutanol, etc. Add peroxide polymerization initiator such as peroxide and azo to react with stirring to polymerize, then re-precipitate the polymer such as hexane and methanol in a poor solvent and filter to powder. can do. In addition, it is preferable to use a dropping polymerization method in which a monomer dissolved in the solvent and an initiator are added together or separately into the polymerization reaction solution.

The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the resin (A) is preferably in the range of 2,000 to 200,000. If it is less than 2,000, the film loss is large due to the development of the unexposed area. If it exceeds 200,000, the dissolution rate of the alkali-soluble resin itself in the alkali is slowed and the sensitivity is lowered. More preferably, it is the range of 5,000-100,000, More preferably, it is the range of 8,000-50,000.
Moreover, molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) becomes like this. Preferably it is 1.0-4.0, More preferably, it is 1.0-2.0, Most preferably, it is 1.0-1.6.
Here, the weight average molecular weight is defined by a polystyrene conversion value of gel permeation chromatography.

Moreover, you may use resin (A) in combination of 2 or more types.
The addition amount of the resin (A) is usually 10 to 96% by mass, preferably 15 to 96% by mass, and particularly preferably 20 to 95% by mass with respect to the total solid content of the positive resist composition. .

  Although the specific example of resin (A) is given to the following, it is not limited to these.

[2] Compound that generates acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation In the resist composition of the present invention, a known compound may be used as a compound (acid generator) that generates acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation. However, it is preferable to contain a compound that generates sulfonic acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation (sulfonic acid generator) and / or a compound that generates carboxylic acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation (carboxylic acid generator). .

<Compound (B) that generates sulfonic acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation>
The compound that generates sulfonic acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation contained in the resist composition of the present invention (also referred to as compound (B) or sulfonic acid generator) is an actinic ray such as KrF excimer laser light, electron beam, EUV, etc. Or a compound that generates sulfonic acid upon irradiation with radiation, and examples thereof include diazonium salts, phosphonium salts, sulfonium salts, iodonium salts, imide sulfonates, oxime sulfonates, diazodisulfones, disulfones, and o-nitrobenzyl sulfonates. .

  Further, a group that generates an acid upon irradiation with these actinic rays or radiation, or a compound in which a compound is introduced into the main chain or side chain of the polymer, for example, US Pat. No. 3,849,137, German Patent No. 3914407. JP, 63-26653, JP, 55-164824, JP, 62-69263, JP, 63-146038, JP, 63-163452, JP, 62-153853, The compounds described in JP-A 63-146029 can be used.

Furthermore, compounds capable of generating an acid by light described in US Pat. No. 3,779,778, European Patent 126,712 and the like can also be used.

In the present invention, examples of sulfonic acid generators that are preferable from the viewpoint of improving image performance such as resolution and pattern shape include sulfonium salts, iodonium salts, imide sulfonates, oxime sulfonates, diazodisulfones, and disulfones.
Among these, examples of particularly preferable ones are listed below.

Although content of a compound (B) is used at 5-20 mass% on the basis of the total solid of a resist composition, Preferably it is 6-18 mass%, Most preferably, it is 7-16 mass%. It is 5% by mass or more from the viewpoint of sensitivity and line edge roughness, and 20% by mass or less from the viewpoint of resolution, pattern shape, and film quality. Moreover, 1 type may be used for a compound (B), and 2 or more types may be mixed and used for it. For example, as the compound (B), a compound that generates aryl sulfonic acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation and a compound that generates alkyl sulfonic acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation may be used in combination.
Compound (B) can be synthesized by a known method such as the synthesis method described in JP-A-2002-27806.

<Compound capable of generating carboxylic acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation (C)>
The positive resist composition of the present invention includes a compound (also referred to as a compound (C) or a carboxylic acid generator) that generates a carboxylic acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation together with a sulfonic acid generator (compound (B)). It is preferable to use it.
As the carboxylic acid generator, a compound represented by the following general formula (C) is preferable.

In the general formula (C), R _{21 to} R ₂₃ each independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group or an aryl group, and R ₂₄ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group or an aryl group. Z represents a sulfur atom or an iodine atom. When Z is a sulfur atom, p is 1, and when Z is an iodine atom, p is 0.

In the general formula (C), R _{21 to} R ₂₃ each independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, or an aryl group, and these groups may have a substituent.
Examples of the substituent that the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group or alkenyl group may have include a halogen atom (a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a fluorine atom, etc.), an aryl group (a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, etc.), a hydroxy group, An alkoxy group (methoxy group, ethoxy group, butoxy group, etc.) etc. can be mentioned.
Examples of the substituent that the aryl group may have include a halogen atom (chlorine atom, bromine atom, fluorine atom, etc.), nitro group, cyano group, alkyl group (methyl group, ethyl group, t-butyl group, t -Amyl group, octyl group, etc.), hydroxy group, alkoxy group (methoxy group, ethoxy group, butoxy group, etc.) and the like.

R _{21 to} R ₂₃ are preferably each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms. And more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and particularly preferably an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. Each of these groups may have a substituent.

R ₂₄ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group or an aryl group.
Examples of the substituent that the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, and alkenyl group may have are the same as those described as examples of the substituent when R ₂₁ is an alkyl group. Examples of the substituent for the aryl group, the R ₂₁ may be the same as those mentioned as examples of the substituent when it is an aryl group.

R ₂₄ is preferably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and more Preferably, they are a C1-C18 alkyl group, a C3-C18 cycloalkyl group, and a C6-C18 aryl group, Most preferably, a C1-C12 alkyl group, C3-C3 A cycloalkyl group having 12 carbon atoms and an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. Each of these groups may have a substituent.

Z represents a sulfur atom or an iodine atom. p is 1 when Z is a sulfur atom, and 0 when Z is an iodine atom.
Two or more cation moieties of formula (C) are bonded by a single bond or a linking group (for example, -S-, -O-, etc.) to form a cation structure having a plurality of cation moieties of formula (C). May be.

  Although the preferable specific example of the compound (C) which generate | occur | produces carboxylic acid by irradiation of actinic light or a radiation below is given, of course, it is not limited to these.

The content of the compound (C) in the positive resist composition of the present invention is preferably 0.01 to 10% by mass, more preferably 0.03 to 5% by mass, based on the total solid content of the composition. Particularly preferably, the content is 0.05 to 3% by mass. In addition, these compounds that generate a carboxylic acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The compound (C) / compound (B) (mass ratio) is usually 99.9 / 0.1 to 50/50, preferably 99/1 to 60/40, particularly preferably 98/2 to 70/30. .
Compound (C) can be synthesized by a known method such as a synthesis method described in JP-A-2002-27806.

[3] Organic Basic Compound In the present invention, it is preferable to use an organic basic compound from the viewpoint of improving performance such as resolution and improving storage stability. As the organic basic compound, a compound containing a nitrogen atom (nitrogen-containing basic compound) is more preferable.
A preferable organic basic compound in the present invention is a compound having a stronger basicity than phenol.
As a preferable chemical environment, structures of the following formulas (A) to (E) can be exemplified. Formulas (B) to (E) may be part of a ring structure.

In the formula (A), R ²⁰⁰ , R ²⁰¹ and R ²⁰² may be the same or different, and are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group, or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms. Here, R ²⁰¹ and R ²⁰² may combine with each other to form a ring.
The alkyl group, cycloalkyl group and aryl group as R ²⁰⁰ , R ²⁰¹ and R ²⁰² are
It may have a substituent. As the alkyl group and cycloalkyl group having a substituent, an aminoalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and an aminocycloalkyl group, and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms are preferable.
In the formula (E), R ²⁰³ , R ²⁰⁴ , R ²⁰⁵ and R ²⁰⁶ may be the same or different and each represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a cycloalkyl group.
Further preferred compounds are nitrogen-containing basic compounds having two or more nitrogen atoms of different chemical environments in one molecule, and particularly preferably both a substituted or unsubstituted amino group and a ring structure containing a nitrogen atom. Or a compound having an alkylamino group.

  Preferred examples include guanidine, aminopyridine, aminoalkylpyridine, aminopyrrolidine, indazole, imidazole, pyrazole, pyrazine, pyrimidine, purine, imidazoline, pyrazoline, piperazine, aminomorpholine, aminoalkylmorpholine and the like. Preferred substituents that these may have include amino groups, alkylamino groups, aminoaryl groups, arylamino groups, alkyl groups (substituent alkyl groups, particularly aminoalkyl groups), alkoxy groups, acyl groups, and acyloxy groups. , Aryl group, aryloxy group, nitro group, hydroxyl group, cyano group and the like.

Particularly preferred compounds include guanidine, 1,1-dimethylguanidine, 1,1,3,
3, -tetramethylguanidine, imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole, N-methylimidazole, 2-phenylimidazole, 4,5-diphenylimidazole, 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole, 2-aminopyridine 3-aminopyridine, 4-aminopyridine, 2-dimethylaminopyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, 2-diethylaminopyridine, 2- (aminomethyl) pyridine, 2-amino-3-methylpyridine, 2-amino-4 -Methylpyridine, 2-amino-5-methylpyridine, 2-amino-6-methylpyridine, 3-aminoethylpyridine, 4-aminoethylpyridine,

3-aminopyrrolidine, piperazine, N- (2-aminoethyl) piperazine, N- (2-aminoethyl) piperidine, 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4-piperidinopiperidine, 2-iminopiperidine, 1- (2-aminoethyl) pyrrolidine, pyrazole, 3-amino-5-methylpyrazole, 5-amino-3-methyl-1-p-tolylpyrazole, pyrazine, 2- (aminomethyl)- Examples include 5-methylpyrazine, pyrimidine, 2,4-diaminopyrimidine, 4,6-dihydroxypyrimidine, 2-pyrazoline, 3-pyrazoline, N-aminomorpholine, N- (2-aminoethyl) morpholine. It is not limited to this.
These nitrogen-containing basic compounds are used alone or in combination of two or more.

A tetraalkylammonium salt type nitrogen-containing basic compound can also be used. Among these, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide having 1 to 8 carbon atoms (tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, tetra- (
n-butyl) ammonium hydroxide and the like are preferred. These nitrogen-containing basic compounds are used alone or in combination of two or more.

The use ratio of the acid generator and the organic basic compound in the composition is preferably (total amount of acid generator) / (organic basic compound) (molar ratio) = 2.5 to 300. By setting the molar ratio to 2.5 or more, high sensitivity is obtained, and by setting the molar ratio to 300 or less, it is possible to suppress the resist pattern from becoming thicker over time until post-exposure heat treatment and improve resolution. . (Total amount of acid generator) / (organic basic compound) (molar ratio) is preferably 5.0 to 200, more preferably 7.0 to 150.

[4] Surfactants In the present invention, surfactants can be used, which are preferable from the viewpoints of film forming properties, pattern adhesion, development defect reduction, and the like.

  Specific examples of the surfactant include polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, polyoxyethylene Polyoxyethylene alkyl allyl ethers such as nonylphenol ether, polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene block copolymers, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan tristearate Sorbitan fatty acid esters such as rate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene Sorbitan mono palmitate - door,

Nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate, F-top EF301, EF303, EF352 (Shin-Akita Kasei) (Made by Co., Ltd.), MegaFuck F171, F173 (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd.), Florad FC430, FC431 (Sumitomo 3M), Asahi Guard AG710, Surflon S-382, SC101, SC102 , SC103, SC104, SC105, SC106 (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Troysol S-366 (manufactured by Troy Chemical Co., Ltd.), silicon surfactants, organosiloxane polymer KP341 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and acrylic or methacrylic acid-based (co) polymer Polyflow No. 75, no. 95 (manufactured by Kyoeisha Yushi Chemical Co., Ltd.). The compounding amount of these surfactants is usually 2 parts by mass or less, preferably 1 part by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the solid content in the composition of the present invention.
These surfactants may be added alone or in some combination.

The surfactant is any one of fluorine and / or silicon surfactants (fluorine surfactants and silicon surfactants, surfactants containing both fluorine atoms and silicon atoms), or It is preferable to contain 2 or more types.
As these surfactants, for example, JP-A-62-36663, JP-A-61-226746, JP-A-61-226745, JP-A-62-170950, JP-A-63-34540 No. 7, JP-A-7-230165, JP-A-8-62834, JP-A-9-54432, JP-A-9-5988, JP-A 2002-277862, US Pat. No. 5,405,720. , No. 5,360,692, No. 5,529,881, No. 5,296,330, No. 5,543,098, No. 5,576,143, No. 5,294,511, No. 5,824,451. The following commercially available surfactants can also be used as they are.
Examples of commercially available surfactants that can be used include F-top EF301, EF303 (manufactured by Shin-Akita Kasei Co., Ltd.), Florard FC430, 431 (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), MegaFuck F171, F173, F176, F189, R08 (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd.), Surflon S-382, SC101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Troisol S-366 (Troy Chemical Co., Ltd.), etc. Fluorine type surfactant or silicon type surfactant can be mentioned. Polysiloxane polymer KP-341 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) can also be used as a silicon-based surfactant.

In addition to the known surfactants described above, the surfactant is derived from a fluoroaliphatic compound produced by a telomerization method (also called telomer method) or an oligomerization method (also called oligomer method). A surfactant using a polymer having a fluoroaliphatic group can be used. The fluoroaliphatic compound can be synthesized by the method described in JP-A-2002-90991.
As the polymer having a fluoroaliphatic group, a copolymer of a monomer having a fluoroaliphatic group and (poly (oxyalkylene)) acrylate and / or (poly (oxyalkylene)) methacrylate is preferable and distributed irregularly. Or may be block copolymerized. Examples of the poly (oxyalkylene) group include a poly (oxyethylene) group, a poly (oxypropylene) group, a poly (oxybutylene) group, and the like, and a poly (oxyethylene, oxypropylene, and oxyethylene group). A unit having different chain lengths in the same chain length, such as a block linked body) or a poly (block linked body of oxyethylene and oxypropylene) group, may be used. Furthermore, a copolymer of a monomer having a fluoroaliphatic group and (poly (oxyalkylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate) is not only a binary copolymer but also a monomer having two or more different fluoroaliphatic groups, Further, it may be a ternary or higher copolymer obtained by simultaneously copolymerizing two or more different (poly (oxyalkylene)) acrylates (or methacrylates).
Examples of commercially available surfactants include Megafac F178, F-470, F-473, F-475, F-476, and F-472 (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd.). Further, a copolymer of an acrylate (or methacrylate) having a C ₆ F ₁₃ group and (poly (oxyalkylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate), an acrylate (or methacrylate) having a C ₆ F ₁₃ group and (poly (oxy) (Ethylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate) and (poly (oxypropylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate) copolymer, acrylate (or methacrylate) and (poly (oxyalkylene)) acrylate having C ₈ F ₁₇ groups (or Copolymer of acrylate (or methacrylate), (poly (oxyethylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate), and (poly (oxypropylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate) having a C ₈ F ₁₇ group Coalesce, etc. Can.

  The amount of the surfactant used is preferably 0.0001 to 2% by mass, more preferably 0.001 to 1% by mass, based on the total amount of the positive resist composition (excluding the solvent).

[5] Other components The positive resist composition of the present invention may further contain a dye, a photobase generator and the like, if necessary.

1. Dye A dye can be used in the present invention.
Suitable dyes include oily dyes and basic dyes. Specifically, Oil Yellow # 101, Oil Yellow # 103, Oil Pink # 312, Oil Green BG, Oil Blue BOS, Oil Blue # 603, Oil Black BY, Oil Black BS, Oil Black T-505 (oriental chemical industry) Co., Ltd.), crystal violet (CI42555), methyl violet (CI42535), rhodamine B (CI45170B), malachite green (CI42000), methylene blue (CI522015) and the like.

2. Photobase generator As photobase generators that can be added to the composition of the present invention, JP-A-4-151156, JP-A-4-162040, JP-A-5-197148, JP-A-5-5995, JP-A-6-194835, Examples thereof include compounds described in JP-A-8-146608, JP-A-10-83079 and European Patent No. 622682, specifically, 2-nitrobenzylcarbamate, 2,5-dinitrobenzylcyclohexylcarbamate, N-cyclohexyl-4- Methylphenylsulfonamide, 1,1-dimethyl-2-phenylethyl-N-isopropylcarbamate and the like can be suitably used. These photobase generators are added for the purpose of improving the resist shape and the like.

[6] Solvent The resist composition of the present invention is usually applied on a support in a solvent that dissolves the above components. The solid content concentration of all resist components is usually preferably 2 to 30% by mass, more preferably 3 to 25% by mass.
Solvents used here include ethylene dichloride, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, 2-heptanone, γ-butyrolactone, methyl ethyl ketone, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 2-methoxyethyl acetate, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate , Propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, toluene, ethyl acetate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, methyl methoxypropionate, ethyl ethoxypropionate, methyl pyruvate, ethyl pyruvate, propyl pyruvate, N, N-dimethyl Formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone, tetrahydrofuran and the like are preferable. Or mixed to use.

[7] Pattern Formation Method The positive resist composition of the present invention is applied on a substrate to form a thin film. The thickness of this coating film is preferably 0.05 to 4.0 μm.

  In the present invention, a commercially available inorganic or organic antireflection film can be used if necessary. Furthermore, an antireflection film can be applied to the resist lower layer and used.

  As the antireflection film used as the lower layer of the resist, either an inorganic film type such as titanium, titanium dioxide, titanium nitride, chromium oxide, carbon, amorphous silicon, or an organic film type made of a light absorber and a polymer material may be used. it can. The former requires equipment such as a vacuum deposition apparatus, a CVD apparatus, and a sputtering apparatus for film formation. Examples of the organic antireflection film include a condensate of a diphenylamine derivative and a formaldehyde-modified melamine resin described in JP-B-7-69611, an alkali-soluble resin, a light absorber, and maleic anhydride copolymer described in US Pat. No. 5,294,680. A reaction product of a coalescence and a diamine type light absorbent, a resin binder described in JP-A-6-186863 and a methylolmelamine thermal crosslinking agent, a carboxylic acid group, an epoxy group and a light-absorbing group described in JP-A-6-118656. An acrylic resin-type antireflection film in the same molecule, a composition comprising methylol melamine and a benzophenone-based light absorber described in JP-A-8-87115, and a low-molecular light absorber added to a polyvinyl alcohol resin described in JP-A-8-179509. And the like.

  In addition, as the organic antireflection film, commercially available organic antireflection films such as DUV30 series, DUV-40 series manufactured by Brewer Science, and AR-2, AR-3, AR-5 manufactured by Shipley may be used. it can.

  In the manufacture of precision integrated circuit elements, the pattern forming process on the resist film is carried out on the substrate (eg, silicon / silicon dioxide coated substrate, glass substrate, ITO substrate, quartz / chromium oxide coated substrate, etc.). A resist pattern is formed by applying a resist composition, forming a resist film, and then irradiating actinic rays or radiation such as KrF excimer laser light, electron beam, EUV light, etc., heating, developing, rinsing and drying. Can be formed.

Examples of the alkaline developer used in development include inorganic alkalis such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium metasilicate, and aqueous ammonia, and primary amines such as ethylamine and n-propylamine. Secondary amines such as diethylamine and di-n-butylamine, tertiary amines such as triethylamine and methyldiethylamine, alcoholamines such as dimethylethanolamine and triethanolamine, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, An aqueous solution (usually 0.1 to 20% by mass) of an alkali such as a quaternary ammonium salt such as choline or a cyclic amine such as pyrrole or piperidine can be used. Furthermore, an appropriate amount of an alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol or a nonionic surfactant may be added to the alkaline aqueous solution.
Among these developers, quaternary ammonium salts are preferable, and tetramethylammonium hydroxide and choline are more preferable.
The pH of the alkali developer is usually 10-15.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention further in detail, the content of this invention is not limited by this. Moreover, in the following, resin A-2-A-16 respond | corresponds to resin illustrated previously.

<Synthesis of Resin (A-13)>
16.5 g of 1,5-dihydroxytetrahydronaphthalene was added to 200 ml of acetone, and 20 g of N-methylpyrrolidone was added thereto. Thereto, 10.4 g of methacryloyl chloride was added dropwise over 1 hour and stirred at room temperature for 8 hours. The reaction solution was added to an aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, followed by separation and extraction with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer was dried over magnesium chloride, concentrated with an evaporator, and then subjected to column chromatography (silica gel) to obtain 5-hydroxy-tetrahydronaphthalene methacrylate (5.0 g).

Acetoxystyrene, styrene and 5-hydroxy-tetrahydronaphthalene methacrylate were charged at a ratio (molar ratio) of 60/15/25 and dissolved in tetrahydrofuran to prepare 100 mL of a solution having a solid content concentration of 20% by mass. To this solution, 2 mol% of a polymerization initiator V-65 manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. was added and added dropwise to 10 mL of tetrahydrofuran heated to 60 ° C. over 4 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. After completion of dropping, the reaction solution was heated for 4 hours, 1 mol% of V-65 was added again, and the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, crystallized in 3 L of hexane, and the precipitated white powder was collected by filtration.
The composition ratio of the polymer determined from C ¹³ NMR was 58/15/27 (molar ratio). Moreover, the weight average molecular weight of standard polystyrene conversion calculated | required by GPC measurement was 11000.

  This polymer was dissolved in 100 ml of acetone, 5 ml of hydrochloric acid was added and stirred for 1 hour, and distilled water was added to precipitate the polymer. The precipitate was washed with distilled water and then dried under reduced pressure. After dissolving the polymer in 100 ml of ethyl acetate, hexane was added and the precipitated polymer was powdered by drying under reduced pressure. The weight average molecular weight in terms of standard polystyrene determined by GPC measurement for this powder was 10,000.

  Resins exemplified in the structure shown in Table 1 were synthesized in the same manner as in Synthesis Example 1 above.

  Alkali development by the action of an acid containing at least one repeating unit selected from the repeating unit represented by formula (A1) or the repeating unit represented by formula (A2) used in the examples of the present invention. The resin having increased solubility in the liquid and the acid generator were synthesized by a known synthesis method such as the synthesis method described in JP-A-2002-27806.

[Example 1]
(1) Preparation and coating of positive resist Resin (0.93 g) and sulfonic acid generator B-2 (0.065 g) are dissolved in 8.8 g of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, and D is added as an organic basic compound.
-1 (see below) 0.003 g, and Megafac F176 (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd., hereinafter abbreviated as W-1) 0.001 g as a surfactant are added and dissolved, and the resulting solution is dissolved. The resist solution was obtained by microfiltration with a 0.1 μm aperture membrane filter.
This resist solution was applied onto a 6-inch silicon wafer using a spin coater Mark8 manufactured by Tokyo Electron, and baked at 110 ° C. for 90 seconds to obtain a uniform film having a thickness of 0.25 μm.

(2) Production of Positive Resist Pattern This resist film was irradiated with an electron beam using an electron beam drawing apparatus (HL750, acceleration voltage 50 KeV manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.). After irradiation, it was baked at 110 ° C. for 90 seconds, immersed in an aqueous 2.38 mass% tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution for 60 seconds, rinsed with water for 30 seconds and dried. The obtained pattern was evaluated by the following method.

(2-1) Sensitivity The cross-sectional shape of the obtained pattern was observed using a scanning electron microscope (S-4300, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.). The minimum irradiation energy when resolving a 0.15 μm line (line: space = 1: 1) was defined as sensitivity.
(2-2) LWR (Line width roughness)
About the resist pattern obtained by carrying out similarly to the above, the line width was observed with the scanning electron microscope (S-9220 by Hitachi, Ltd.), and the fluctuation | variation (LWR) of the line width in the line width of 130 nm was observed. Using a length-measuring scanning electron microscope (SEM), the line width was detected at a plurality of positions in the measurement monitor, and the dispersion (3σ) of variations in the detected positions was used as an LWR index.
(2-3) Dense / Dense Dependence The line width of the dense pattern (line: space = 1: 1) and the line width of the isolated pattern in the 0.15 μm line pattern at the irradiation dose showing the above sensitivity are measured, and the difference between them is measured. Sparse and dense dependence.

As a result of Example 1, the sensitivity was 9.5 μC / cm ² , the LWR was 7.2 nm, and the density dependency was 11 nm.

[Examples 2 to 4 and Comparative Example 1]
Using the compounds shown in Table 2, resist preparation / coating and electron beam exposure evaluation were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

The component (c) used in the examples, other components, and the resins used in the comparative examples are shown below.
[Organic basic compound (base)]
D-1: Tri-n-hexylamine D-2: 2,4,6-triphenylimidazole D-3: Tetra- (n-butyl) ammonium hydroxide

[Surfactant]
W-1: Fluorine-based surfactant, MegaFuck F-176 (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd.)
W-2: Fluorine / silicone surfactant, MegaFac R08 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.)
W-3: Silicon-based surfactant, siloxane polymer KP341 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)

  From Table 2, it can be seen that the positive resist composition of the present invention has higher sensitivity, less roughness and density dependence, and is superior to the compound of the comparative example with respect to pattern formation by electron beam irradiation.

Example 5
The resist was prepared and coated as shown in Table 3 by the same operation as in Example 1 to obtain a resist film. However, the film thickness was 0.40 μm.

(3) Formation of positive pattern The obtained resist film was subjected to pattern exposure using a KrF excimer laser stepper (FPA3000EX-5 manufactured by Canon Inc., wavelength 248 nm). The post-exposure processing was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. The pattern was evaluated as follows.
(3-1) Sensitivity The cross-sectional shape of the obtained pattern was observed using a scanning electron microscope (S-4300, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.). The minimum irradiation energy when resolving a 0.18 μm line (line: space = 1: 1) was defined as sensitivity.
(3-2) LWR (Line width roughness)
About the resist pattern obtained by carrying out similarly to the above, the line width was observed with the scanning electron microscope (S-9220 by Hitachi, Ltd.), and the fluctuation | variation (LWR) of the line width in the line width of 130 nm was observed. Using a length-measuring scanning electron microscope (SEM), the line width was detected at a plurality of positions in the measurement monitor, and the dispersion (3σ) of variations in the detected positions was used as an LWR index.
(3-3) Density dependency The line width of the dense pattern (line: space = 1: 1) and the line width of the isolated pattern in the 0.18 μm line pattern at the irradiation dose exhibiting the above sensitivity are measured, and the difference between them is measured. Sparse and dense dependence.

[Examples 6 to 11 and Comparative Example 2]
Using the compounds shown in Table 3, resist preparation / coating and KrF excimer laser exposure evaluation were performed in the same manner as in Example 5 as described above. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3.

  From Table 3, it can be seen that the positive resist composition of the present invention has high sensitivity, small roughness and density dependence, and superiority compared to the compound of the comparative example with respect to pattern formation by KrF excimer laser exposure.

[Examples 12 to 15 and Comparative Example 3]
Using each resist composition shown in Table 4, a resist film was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. However, the resist film thickness was 0.13 μm. The obtained resist film was subjected to surface exposure using EUV light (wavelength 13 nm) while changing the exposure amount by 0.5 mJ in the range of 0 to 5.0 mJ, and further baked at 110 ° C. for 90 seconds. Thereafter, using a 2.38 mass% tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) aqueous solution, the dissolution rate at each exposure amount was measured to obtain a sensitivity curve. In this sensitivity curve, the exposure amount when the dissolution rate of the resist is saturated was taken as sensitivity, and the dissolution contrast (γ value) was calculated from the gradient of the linear portion of the sensitivity curve. The larger the γ value, the better the dissolution contrast.
The results are shown in Table 4.

  From Table 4, it can be seen that the positive resist composition of the present invention is superior in sensitivity and high contrast as compared with the composition of the comparative example in the property evaluation by irradiation with EUV light.

Claims (4)

(A) A resist composition containing a resin containing a group represented by formula (I) as a partial structure, and (B) a resin containing a compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation.

R represents a group that is linked to a benzene ring to form an alicyclic ring. A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a group that decomposes under the action of an acid, or a group that includes a group that decomposes under the action of an acid. n represents an integer of 1 to 3. Resin (B) contains the repeating unit represented by general formula (II), The resist composition of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a chlorine atom, a fluorine atom, or a cyano group. R represents a group that is linked to a benzene ring to form an alicyclic ring. A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a group that decomposes under the action of an acid, or a group that includes a group that decomposes under the action of an acid. n represents an integer of 1 to 3. The resist composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resin (A) contains at least one of the repeating units represented by the general formula (A1) or (A2).

A ₁ represents a hydrogen atom or a group containing a group decomposing by the action of an acid or a group decomposing by the action of an acid. p represents an integer of 0 to 3. S ₁ represents a monovalent substituent. q represents 0-3. However, p + q ≦ 5.
A ₂ represents a group containing a group decomposing by the action of an acid or a group decomposing by the action of an acid.
X represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, or an alkyloxycarbonyl group. A pattern forming method comprising: forming a resist film from the resist composition according to claim 1, exposing and developing the resist film.