JP2010134106A - Active energy ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, and pattern forming method using active energy ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photosensitive resist composition for forming a resist pattern that has remedied collapse of the resist pattern, line edge roughness and generation of scum and that has little degradation in the profile and good follow-up property to an immersion liquid during immersion exposure, and to provide a pattern forming method using the photosensitive resist composition. <P>SOLUTION: The composition is an active energy ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition containing (A) a resin the solubility of which with an alkali developer solution is increased by an effect of an acid, (B) a compound generating an acid by irradiation with active rays or radiation, and (C) a resin having an ether bond and a fluorine atom in the main chain. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition used in a semiconductor manufacturing process such as an IC, a circuit board such as a liquid crystal or a thermal head, and other photofabrication lithography processes, and the sensitivity. The present invention relates to a pattern forming method using an actinic ray or radiation sensitive resin composition.

  In particular, the present invention relates to a photosensitive chemical amplification resist composition suitable for exposure with an immersion projection exposure apparatus using far ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 300 nm or less as a light source, and the photosensitive chemical amplification resist composition. The present invention relates to the pattern forming method used.

  In the present invention, “active light” or “radiation” means, for example, an emission line spectrum of a mercury lamp, far ultraviolet rays represented by an excimer laser, X-rays, electron beams, and the like. In the present invention, light means actinic rays or radiation.

  With the miniaturization of semiconductor elements, the exposure light source has become shorter in wavelength and the projection lens has a higher numerical aperture (high NA). Currently, an exposure machine with NA 0.84 using an ArF excimer laser having a 193 nm wavelength as a light source has been developed. ing. These can be expressed by the following equations as is generally well known.

(Resolving power) = k ₁ · (λ / NA)
(Depth of focus) = ± k ₂ · λ / NA ²
Here, λ is the wavelength of the exposure light source, NA is the numerical aperture of the projection lens, and k ₁ and k ₂ are coefficients related to the process.

  As a technique for increasing the resolving power in an optical microscope to increase the resolving power by further shortening the wavelength, a liquid with a high refractive index (hereinafter also referred to as “immersion liquid”) is conventionally filled between the projection lens and the sample. A so-called immersion method is known.

This “immersion effect” means that when λ ₀ is the wavelength of the exposure light in the air, n is the refractive index of the immersion liquid with respect to air, θ is the convergence angle of the light beam, and NA ₀ = sin θ. The above-described resolving power and depth of focus can be expressed by the following equations.

(Resolving power) = k ₁ · (λ ₀ / n) / NA ₀
(Depth of focus) = ± k ₂ · (λ ₀ / n) / NA ₀ ²
That is, the immersion effect is equivalent to using an exposure wavelength having a wavelength of 1 / n. In other words, in the case of a projection optical system with the same NA, the depth of focus can be increased n times by immersion.

This is effective for all pattern shapes, and can be combined with a super-resolution technique such as a phase shift method and a modified illumination method which are currently being studied.

  Examples of apparatuses in which this effect is applied to transfer of a fine image pattern of a semiconductor element are introduced in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and the like.

  Recent progress in immersion exposure technology is reported in Non-Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 2, Non-Patent Document 3, and the like. In the case of using an ArF excimer laser as a light source, pure water (refractive index of 1.44 at 193 nm) is considered to be most promising as an immersion liquid in terms of handling safety, transmittance at 193 nm, and refractive index.

  Since the resist for KrF excimer laser (248 nm), an image forming method called chemical amplification has been used as an image forming method for a resist in order to compensate for sensitivity reduction due to light absorption. Explaining by taking a positive chemical amplification image forming method as an example, the acid generator in the exposed area is decomposed by exposure to generate an acid upon exposure, and the generated acid is reacted as a reaction catalyst by post exposure baking (PEB). Is used to change an alkali-insoluble group to an alkali-soluble group, and an exposed portion is removed by alkali development.

  The resist for ArF excimer laser (193 nm) using this chemical amplification mechanism is now becoming mainstream, but when immersion exposure is performed, the formed line pattern collapses and becomes a defect during device manufacturing. However, the problem of the pattern collapse and the line edge roughness where the pattern side wall is rough are still insufficient.

  In addition, when a chemically amplified resist is applied to immersion exposure, the resist layer comes into contact with the immersion liquid at the time of exposure, so that the resist layer is altered and components that adversely affect the immersion liquid are leached from the resist layer. Has been pointed out. Patent Document 3 describes an example in which resist performance is changed by immersing a resist for ArF exposure in water before and after exposure, and points out a problem in immersion exposure. Patent Document 4 describes an example in which exudation is suppressed by adding a resin containing silicon or fluorine.

In the immersion exposure process, when exposure is performed using a scanning immersion exposure machine, the exposure speed decreases unless the immersion liquid moves following the movement of the lens. Concerned about giving. In the case where the immersion liquid is water, it is desirable that the resist film be hydrophobic because the water followability is good.
JP-A-57-153433 JP-A-7-220990 International Publication No. 2004-068242 Pamphlet JP 2006-309245 A Bulletin of the International Society of Optical Engineering (Proc. SPIE), 2002, 4688, 11 J. et al. Vac. Sci. Tecnol. B 17 (1999) Bulletin of International Society of Optical Engineering (Proc. SPIE), 2000, 3999, 2nd page

  An object of the present invention is to provide a resist pattern that has improved resist pattern collapse, line edge roughness, and scum generation, has little profile deterioration, and has good followability to immersion liquid during immersion exposure. It is to provide a photosensitive chemically amplified resist composition that can be formed, and a pattern forming method using the photosensitive chemically amplified resist composition.

As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventor has reached the present invention shown below.
(1) (A) a resin whose solubility in an alkaline developer is increased by the action of an acid;
(B) a compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation,
(C) An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition containing a resin having an ether bond and a fluorine atom in the main chain.

  (2) The resin (C) is formed by connecting two divalent organic groups and two vinyl groups directly connected to the oxygen atom with the organic group in between, via the oxygen atom. The actinic ray according to (1), which is a repeating unit derived from a compound having an ether bond, wherein the two vinyl groups and the organic group have a repeating unit derived from a compound containing a fluorine atom. Or a radiation sensitive resin composition.

(3) The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to (1) or (2), wherein the resin (C) has a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (i).

In the formula, Rf ₁ represents a perfluoroalkylene group, a group having an ether bond in the perfluoroalkylene group, a perfluorocycloalkylene group, or a group having an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkylene group. Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ are each independently a fluorine atom, a perfluoroalkyl group, a group having an ether bond in a perfluoroalkylene group, a perfluorocycloalkylene group, a group having an ether bond in a perfluorocycloalkylene group, a perfluoroalkoxy group or a perfluoro A group having an ether bond in an alkoxy group is shown. Rf ₁ , Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ may be bonded to form a ring.

(4) The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to (3), wherein the repeating unit represented by the general formula (i) is a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (ii) object.

In the formula, Rf ₄ represents a tetravalent perfluoro linking group.

(5) The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to (4), wherein the repeating unit represented by the general formula (ii) is a repeating unit represented by the following formula (iii).

(6) The actinic ray or radiation sensitive material according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein the resin (C) further has a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (iv): Resin composition.

  In the formula, X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and L represents a divalent organic group.

(7) The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive property according to (6), wherein L is a divalent organic group represented by the following general formula (v), (vi), or (vii) Resin composition.

In the formula, Rf ₅ ′ represents a divalent perfluoroalkylene group, a group having an ether bond in the perfluoroalkylene group, a perfluorocycloalkylene group, or a group having an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkylene group. Ar ₁ ′ represents a divalent arylene group and may have a substituent. R ₆ represents a divalent alkylene group, an arylene group or an aralkylene group, and the alkylene group, arylene group or aralkylene group may have an ether bond, a thioether bond or a sulfonyl group, and may have a substituent. Also good.

  (8) The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the resin (A) contains a repeating unit containing a lactone structure.

  (9) The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the resin (A) has a monocyclic or polycyclic acid labile group.

  (10) The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the content of the resin (C) is 0.1 to 10% by mass based on the resin (A). Composition.

  (11) A pattern forming method comprising a step of forming a resist film with the actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to any one of (1) to (10), immersion exposure, and development. .

  According to the present invention, resist pattern collapse, line edge roughness, and scum generation are improved, profile deterioration is small, and it is possible to provide a resist pattern with good followability to immersion liquid during immersion exposure. It became.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out 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 does not have a substituent and what has 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).

(A) Resin whose solubility in an alkali developer is increased by the action of an acid (A) The resin of the component is a resin whose solubility in an alkali developer is increased by the action of an acid, and the main chain or side chain of the resin, or It is a resin having a group (hereinafter also referred to as “acid-decomposable group”) that decomposes by the action of an acid to generate an alkali-soluble group in both the main chain and the side chain.

  Alkali-soluble groups include phenolic hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, fluorinated alcohol groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfonamido groups, sulfonylimide groups, (alkylsulfonyl) (alkylcarbonyl) methylene groups, (alkylsulfonyl) (alkylcarbonyl) imides. Group, bis (alkylcarbonyl) methylene group, bis (alkylcarbonyl) imide group, bis (alkylsulfonyl) methylene group, bis (alkylsulfonyl) imide group, tris (alkylcarbonyl) methylene group, tris (alkylsulfonyl) methylene group, etc. Is mentioned.

Preferred alkali-soluble groups include carboxyl groups, fluorinated alcohol groups (preferably hexafluoroisopropanol), and sulfonic acid groups.
A preferable group as the acid-decomposable group is a group obtained by substituting the hydrogen atom of these alkali-soluble groups with a group capable of leaving with an acid.

Examples of the group leaving with an acid include -C (R ₃₆ ) (R ₃₇ ) (R ₃₈ ), -C (R ₃₆ ) (R ₃₇ ) (OR ₃₉ ), -C (R ₀₁ ) (R ₀₂ ). ) (OR ₃₉ ) and the like.
In the formula, R _{36 to} R ₃₉ each independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, or an alkenyl group. R ₃₆ and R ₃₇ may be bonded to each other to form a ring.
R _{01 and} R ₀₂ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or an alkenyl group.
The acid-decomposable group is preferably a cumyl ester group, an enol ester group, an acetal ester group, a tertiary alkyl ester group or the like. More preferably, it is a tertiary alkyl ester group.

The resin of component (A) preferably has a repeating unit having an acid-decomposable group. The repeating unit having an acid-decomposable group is preferably a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (AI).

In general formula (AI),
Xa ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a trifluoromethyl group or a hydroxymethyl group.
T represents a single bond or a divalent linking group.
Rx _{1 to} Rx ₃ each independently represents an alkyl group (straight or branched) or a cycloalkyl group (monocyclic or polycyclic).
At least two of Rx _{1 to} Rx ₃ may combine to form a cycloalkyl group (monocyclic or polycyclic).

Examples of the divalent linking group for T include an alkylene group, —COO—Rt— group, —O—Rt— group, and the like. In the formula, Rt represents an alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group.
T is preferably a single bond or a —COO—Rt— group. Rt is preferably an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, more preferably a —CH ₂ — group or a — (CH ₂ ) ₃ — group.
The alkyl group of Rx _{1 to} Rx ₃ is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group, or a t-butyl group.

Examples of the cycloalkyl group represented by Rx _{1 to} Rx ₃ include monocyclic cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopentyl group and cyclohexyl group, polycyclic cycloalkyl groups such as norbornyl group, tetracyclodecanyl group, tetracyclododecanyl group, and adamantyl group. Groups are preferred.
Examples of the cycloalkyl group formed by combining at least two of Rx _{1 to} Rx ₃ include a monocyclic cycloalkyl group such as a cyclopentyl group and a cyclohexyl group, a norbornyl group, a tetracyclodecanyl group, a tetracyclododecanyl group, A polycyclic cycloalkyl group such as an adamantyl group is preferred.
It is preferable that Rx ₁ is a methyl group or an ethyl group, and Rx ₂ and Rx ₃ are bonded to form the above-described cycloalkyl group.

As for the content rate of the repeating unit which has an acid-decomposable group, 20-50 mol% is preferable with respect to all the repeating units in resin (A), More preferably, it is 25-45 mol%.
Although the specific example of the repeating unit which has a preferable acid-decomposable group is shown below, this invention is not limited to this.

In the formula shown below, Xa ₁ represents H, CH ₃ , CF ₃ , or CH ₂ OH.

  The resin of component (A) preferably further has a repeating unit having at least one group selected from a lactone group, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, and an alkali-soluble group.

The repeating unit having a lactone group that can be contained in the component (A) resin will be described.
Any lactone group can be used as long as it has a lactone structure, but it is preferably a 5- to 7-membered ring lactone structure, and forms a bicyclo structure or a spiro structure in the 5- to 7-membered ring lactone structure. The other ring structure is preferably condensed. It is more preferable to have a repeating unit having a lactone structure represented by any of the following general formulas (LC1-1) to (LC1-16). The lactone structure may be directly bonded to the main chain. Preferred lactone structures are (LC1-1), (LC1-4), (LC1-5), (LC1-6), (LC1-13), (LC1-14), and a specific lactone structure is used. This improves line edge roughness and development defects.

The lactone structure moiety may or may not have a substituent (Rb ₂ ). Preferred substituents (Rb ₂ ) include an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 4 to 7 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and a carboxyl group. , Halogen atom, hydroxyl group, cyano group, acid-decomposable group and the like. More preferably, they are a C1-C4 alkyl group, a cyano group, and an acid-decomposable group. More preferably, they are a methyl group and a cyano group.

n ₂ represents an integer of 0-4. When n2 is 2 or more, a plurality of substituents (Rb ₂ ) may be the same or different, and a plurality of substituents (Rb ₂ ) may be bonded to form a ring. n ₂ is preferably 1.

Examples of the repeating unit having a lactone structure represented by any one of the general formulas (LC1-1) to (LC1-16) include a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (AII).

In general formula (AII),
Rb ₀ represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Preferred substituents that the alkyl group represented by Rb ₀ may have include a hydroxyl group and a halogen atom. Examples of the halogen atom for Rb ₀ include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom. Preferred are a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, and a trifluoromethyl group, and a hydrogen atom and a methyl group are particularly preferred.

Ab represents a single bond, an alkylene group, a divalent linking group having a monocyclic or polycyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon structure, an ether group, an ester group, a carbonyl group, or a divalent linking group obtained by combining these. Preferably a single bond, -Ab ₁ -CO ₂ - is a divalent linking group represented by.
Ab ₁ is a linear, branched alkylene group, monocyclic or polycyclic cycloalkylene group, preferably a methylene group, an ethylene group, a cyclohexylene group, an adamantylene group or a norbornylene group.
V represents a group having a structure represented by any one of the general formulas (LC1-1) to (LC1-16).

  The repeating unit having a lactone group usually has an optical isomer, but any optical isomer may be used. One optical isomer may be used alone, or a plurality of optical isomers may be mixed and used. When one kind of optical isomer is mainly used, the optical purity (ee) thereof is preferably 90 or more, more preferably 95 or more.

As for the content rate of the repeating unit which has a lactone group, 15-60 mol% is preferable with respect to all the repeating units in resin (A), More preferably, it is 20-50 mol%, More preferably, it is 30-50 mol%.
Specific examples of the repeating unit having a lactone group are listed below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Particularly preferred repeating units having a lactone group include the following repeating units. By selecting an optimal lactone group, the pattern profile and the density dependence become good.

The resin of component (A) preferably has a repeating unit having a hydroxyl group or a cyano group. This improves the substrate adhesion and developer compatibility. The repeating unit having a hydroxyl group or a cyano group is preferably a repeating unit having an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure substituted with a hydroxyl group or a cyano group. The alicyclic hydrocarbon structure in the alicyclic hydrocarbon structure substituted with a hydroxyl group or a cyano group is preferably an adamantyl group, a diamantyl group, or a norbornane group. As the alicyclic hydrocarbon structure substituted with a preferred hydroxyl group or cyano group, partial structures represented by the following general formulas (VIIa) to (VIId) are preferred.

In general formulas (VIIa) to (VIIc),
R ₂ c to R ₄ c each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a cyano group. However, at least one of R ₂ c to R ₄ c represents a hydroxyl group or a cyano group. Preferably, one or two of R ₂ c to R ₄ c are a hydroxyl group and the remaining is a hydrogen atom. In general formula (VIIa), more preferably, _two of R ₂ c to R ₄ c are hydroxyl groups and the remaining are hydrogen atoms.

Examples of the repeating unit having a partial structure represented by the general formulas (VIIa) to (VIId) include the repeating units represented by the following general formulas (AIIa) to (AIId).

In the general formulas (AIIa) to (AIId),
R ₁ c represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a trifluoromethyl group or a hydroxymethyl group.
R ₂ c to R ₄ c are in the general formula (VIIa) ~ (VIIc), same meanings as R ₂ c~R ₄ c.

The content of the repeating unit having a hydroxyl group or a cyano group is preferably 5 to 40 mol%, more preferably 5 to 30 mol%, still more preferably 10 to 25 mol%, based on all repeating units in the resin (A).
Specific examples of the repeating unit having a hydroxyl group or a cyano group are given below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The resin of component (A) preferably has a repeating unit having an alkali-soluble group. Examples of the alkali-soluble group include a carboxyl group, a sulfonamide group, a sulfonylimide group, a bisulsulfonylimide group, and an aliphatic alcohol (for example, hexafluoroisopropanol group) substituted with an electron-attracting group at the α-position. It is more preferable to have a repeating unit. By containing the repeating unit having an alkali-soluble group, the resolution in contact hole applications is increased. The repeating unit having an alkali-soluble group includes a repeating unit in which an alkali-soluble group is directly bonded to the main chain of the resin, such as a repeating unit of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, or an alkali in the main chain of the resin through a linking group. Either a repeating unit to which a soluble group is bonded, or a polymerization initiator or chain transfer agent having an alkali-soluble group is used at the time of polymerization and introduced at the end of the polymer chain, and the linking group is monocyclic or polycyclic. It may have a cyclic hydrocarbon structure. Particularly preferred are repeating units of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

As for the content rate of the repeating unit which has an alkali-soluble group, 0-20 mol% is preferable with respect to all the repeating units in resin (A), More preferably, it is 3-15 mol%, More preferably, it is 5-10 mol%.
Specific examples of the repeating unit having an alkali-soluble group are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  As the repeating unit having at least one group selected from a lactone group, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group and an alkali-soluble group, more preferably, a repeating unit having at least two groups selected from a lactone group, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group and an alkali-soluble group Preferably, it is a repeating unit having a cyano group and a lactone group. Particularly preferred is a repeating unit having a structure in which a cyano group is substituted on the lactone structure of (LCI-4).

  The resin of component (A) may further have a repeating unit that has an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure and does not exhibit acid decomposability. This can reduce the elution of low molecular components from the resist film to the immersion liquid during immersion exposure. Examples of such a repeating unit include 1-adamantyl (meth) acrylate, diamantyl (meth) acrylate, tricyclodecanyl (meth) acrylate, and cyclohexyl (meth) acrylate repeating units.

  In addition to the above repeating structural unit, the resin of component (A) includes dry etching resistance, standard developer suitability, substrate adhesion, resist profile, and general required properties of resist, such as resolution, heat resistance, and sensitivity. Various repeating structural units can be included for the purpose of adjusting the above.

  Examples of such repeating structural units include, but are not limited to, repeating structural units corresponding to the following monomers.

Thereby, the performance required for the resin of component (A), in particular,
(1) Solubility in coating solvent,
(2) Film formability (glass transition point),
(3) Alkali developability,
(4) Membrane slip (hydrophobic, alkali-soluble group selection),
(5) Adhesion of unexposed part to substrate,
(6) Dry etching resistance,
Etc. can be finely adjusted.

As such a monomer, for example, a compound having one addition polymerizable unsaturated bond selected from acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters, acrylamides, methacrylamides, allyl compounds, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, etc. Etc.
In addition, any addition-polymerizable unsaturated compound that can be copolymerized with monomers corresponding to the above various repeating structural units may be copolymerized.

  In the resin of component (A), the molar ratio of each repeating structural unit is the resist dry etching resistance, standard developer suitability, substrate adhesion, resist profile, and general resist performance required for resolving power and heat resistance. In order to adjust the sensitivity and the like, it is set as appropriate.

  When the positive resist composition of the present invention is for ArF exposure, the resin of component (A) preferably has no aromatic group from the viewpoint of transparency to ArF light.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the resin (A) of this invention does not contain a fluorine atom and a silicon atom from a compatible viewpoint with resin (C).

  As the resin of component (A), preferably, all of the repeating units are composed of (meth) acrylate-based repeating units. In this case, all of the repeating units are methacrylate repeating units, all of the repeating units are acrylate repeating units, or all of the repeating units are methacrylate repeating units and acrylate repeating units. Although it can be used, the acrylate-based repeating unit is preferably 50 mol% or less of the total repeating units. More preferably, the (meth) acrylate repeating unit having an acid-decomposable group represented by the general formula (AI) is 20 to 50 mol%, the (meth) acrylate repeating unit having a lactone group is 20 to 50 mol%, It is a copolymer having 5 to 30 mol% of (meth) acrylate-based repeating units having an alicyclic hydrocarbon structure substituted with a hydroxyl group or a cyano group, and further containing 0 to 20 mol% of other (meth) acrylate-based repeating units. .

  When the positive resist composition of the present invention is irradiated with KrF excimer laser light, electron beam, X-ray, or high energy light (EUV, etc.) having a wavelength of 50 nm or less, the resin of component (B) is represented by the general formula (AI In addition to the repeating unit represented by), it is preferable to further have a hydroxystyrene-based repeating unit. More preferably, it has a hydroxystyrene-based repeating unit, a hydroxystyrene-based repeating unit protected with an acid-decomposable group, and an acid-decomposable repeating unit such as a (meth) acrylic acid tertiary alkyl ester.

  Preferred examples of the repeating unit having an acid-decomposable group include t-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene, 1-alkoxyethoxystyrene, a repeating unit of (meth) acrylic acid tertiary alkyl ester, and the like. The repeating unit by 2-adamantyl (meth) acrylate and dialkyl (1-adamantyl) methyl (meth) acrylate is more preferable.

  The resin of component (A) can be synthesized according to a conventional method (for example, radical polymerization). For example, as a general synthesis method, a monomer polymerization method in which a monomer species and an initiator are dissolved in a solvent and the polymerization is performed by heating, and a solution of the monomer species and the initiator is dropped into the heating solvent over 1 to 10 hours. The dropping polymerization method is added, and the dropping polymerization method is preferable. Examples of the reaction solvent include ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, diisopropyl ether, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone, ester solvents such as ethyl acetate, amide solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide, Furthermore, the solvent which melt | dissolves the composition of this invention like the below-mentioned propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, and cyclohexanone is mentioned. More preferably, the polymerization is performed using the same solvent as the solvent used in the positive resist composition of the present invention. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the particle at the time of a preservation | save can be suppressed.

  The polymerization reaction is preferably performed in an inert gas atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon. As a polymerization initiator, a commercially available radical initiator (azo initiator, peroxide, etc.) is used to initiate the polymerization. As the radical initiator, an azo initiator is preferable, and an azo initiator having an ester group, a cyano group, or a carboxyl group is preferable. Preferred initiators include azobisisobutyronitrile, azobisdimethylvaleronitrile, dimethyl 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionate) and the like. If desired, an initiator is added or added in portions, and after completion of the reaction, it is put into a solvent and a desired polymer is recovered by a method such as powder or solid recovery. The concentration of the reaction is 5 to 50% by mass, preferably 10 to 30% by mass. The reaction temperature is usually 10 ° C to 150 ° C, preferably 30 ° C to 120 ° C, more preferably 60-100 ° C.

  The weight average molecular weight of the component (A) resin is preferably 1,000 to 200,000, more preferably 2,000 to 20,000, and still more preferably 3,000 as a polystyrene-converted value by the GPC method. ˜15,000, particularly preferably 5,000 to 12,000. By setting the weight average molecular weight to 1,000 to 200,000, deterioration of heat resistance and dry etching resistance can be prevented, developability is deteriorated, and viscosity is increased, resulting in deterioration of film forming property. Can be prevented.

  The degree of dispersion (molecular weight distribution) is usually 1 to 3, preferably 1 to 2.6, more preferably 1 to 2, and particularly preferably 1.4 to 1.7. The smaller the molecular weight distribution, the better the resolution and the resist shape, and the smoother the side wall of the resist pattern, the better the roughness.

In the positive resist composition of the present invention, the blending amount of the resin as the component (A) in the whole composition is preferably 50 to 99.9% by mass, more preferably 60 to 99.0% by mass in the total solid content. It is.
In the present invention, the resin of component (A) may be used alone or in combination.

The resin (A) of the present invention preferably further contains a repeating unit represented by the general formula (III) that has neither a hydroxyl group nor a cyano group.

In general formula (III), R ₅ represents a hydrocarbon group having at least one cyclic structure and having neither a hydroxyl group nor a cyano group.
Ra represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a —CH ₂ —O—Ra ₂ group. In the formula, Ra ₂ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an acyl group. The specific description of Ra is the same as the description of Ra in the general formula (I).

The cyclic structure possessed by R ₅ includes a monocyclic hydrocarbon group and a polycyclic hydrocarbon group. Examples of the monocyclic hydrocarbon group include cycloalkenyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms such as cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, cycloheptyl group, cyclooctyl group and the like, and cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 12 carbon atoms and cyclohexenyl group. Groups. Preferable monocyclic hydrocarbon groups are monocyclic hydrocarbon groups having 3 to 7 carbon atoms, and more preferable examples include a cyclopentyl group and a cyclohexyl group.

The polycyclic hydrocarbon group includes a ring assembly hydrocarbon group and a bridged cyclic hydrocarbon group, and examples of the ring assembly hydrocarbon group include a bicyclohexyl group and a perhydronaphthalenyl group. As the bridged cyclic hydrocarbon ring, for example, bicyclic such as pinane, bornane, norpinane, norbornane, bicyclooctane ring (bicyclo [2.2.2] octane ring, bicyclo [3.2.1] octane ring, etc.) Hydrocarbon rings and tricyclic hydrocarbon rings such as homobredan, adamantane, tricyclo [5.2.1.0 ^2,6 ] decane, tricyclo [4.3.1.1 ^2,5 ] undecane ring, tetracyclo [ 4.4.0.1 ^2,5 . 1 ^7,10 ] dodecane, perhydro-1,4-
And tetracyclic hydrocarbon rings such as methano-5,8-methanonaphthalene ring. The bridged cyclic hydrocarbon ring includes a condensed cyclic hydrocarbon ring such as perhydronaphthalene (decalin), perhydroanthracene, perhydrophenanthrene, perhydroacenaphthene, perhydrofluorene, perhydroindene, perhydroindene. A condensed ring in which a plurality of 5- to 8-membered cycloalkane rings such as a phenalene ring are condensed is also included.

Preferred examples of the bridged cyclic hydrocarbon ring include a norbornyl group, an adamantyl group, a bicyclooctanyl group, a tricyclo [5,2,1,0 ^2,6 ] decanyl group, and the like. More preferable examples of the bridged cyclic hydrocarbon ring include a norbornyl group and an adamantyl group.

  These alicyclic hydrocarbon groups may have a substituent, and preferred substituents include a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group protected with a protecting group, an amino group protected with a protecting group, and the like. It is done. Preferred halogen atoms include bromine, chlorine and fluorine atoms, and preferred alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, butyl and t-butyl groups. The above alkyl group may further have a substituent, and the substituent that may further have a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group protected with a protecting group, an amino protected with a protecting group The group can be mentioned.

  Examples of the protecting group include an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aralkyl group, a substituted methyl group, a substituted ethyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, and an aralkyloxycarbonyl group. Preferred alkyl groups include alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferred substituted methyl groups include methoxymethyl, methoxythiomethyl, benzyloxymethyl, t-butoxymethyl, 2-methoxyethoxymethyl groups, and preferred substituted ethyl groups. 1-ethoxyethyl, 1-methyl-1-methoxyethyl, preferred acyl groups include formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, isobutyryl, valeryl, pivaloyl groups, etc., aliphatic acyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyl Examples of the group include an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

The content of the repeating unit represented by the general formula (III) having neither a hydroxyl group nor a cyano group is preferably from 0 to 40 mol%, more preferably based on all repeating units in the resin (A). 0 to 20 mol%.
Specific examples of the repeating unit represented by the general formula (III) are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

(B) Compound that generates acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation The positive resist composition of the present invention contains a compound that generates acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation (hereinafter also referred to as “acid generator”). To do.
As an acid generator, photo-initiator of photocation polymerization, photo-initiator of photo-radical polymerization, photo-decoloring agent of dyes, photo-discoloring agent, or irradiation with actinic ray or radiation used for micro-resist etc. Known compounds that generate acids and mixtures thereof can be appropriately selected and used.

  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, such as US Pat. No. 3,849,137, German Patent No. No. 3914407, JP-A 63-26653, JP-A 55-164824, JP-A 62-69263, JP-A 63-146038, JP-A 63-163452, The compounds described in JP-A-62-153853 and 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, etc. can also be used.
Preferred compounds among the acid generators include compounds represented by the following general formulas (ZI), (ZII), and (ZIII).

In the general formula (ZI),
R ₂₀₁ , R ₂₀₂ and R ₂₀₃ each independently represents an organic group.
The carbon number of the organic group as R ₂₀₁ , R ₂₀₂ and R ₂₀₃ is generally 1-30, preferably 1-20.
Two of R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ may be bonded to form a ring structure, and the ring may contain an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond, an amide bond, or a carbonyl group. The two of the group formed by bonding of the R ₂₀₁ to R _203, there can be mentioned an alkylene group (e.g., butylene, pentylene).
Z ⁻ represents a non-nucleophilic anion.

Examples of the non-nucleophilic anion as Z ⁻ include a sulfonate anion, a carboxylate anion, a sulfonylimide anion, a bis (alkylsulfonyl) imide anion, and a tris (alkylsulfonyl) methyl anion.

A non-nucleophilic anion is an anion that has an extremely low ability to cause a nucleophilic reaction, and is an anion that can suppress degradation over time due to an intramolecular nucleophilic reaction. This improves the temporal stability of the resist.
Examples of the sulfonate anion include an aliphatic sulfonate anion, an aromatic sulfonate anion, and a camphor sulfonate anion.
Examples of the carboxylate anion include an aliphatic carboxylate anion, an aromatic carboxylate anion, and an aralkylcarboxylate anion.

The aliphatic moiety in the aliphatic sulfonate anion may be an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group, preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms and a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms such as methyl. Group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl group, sec-butyl group, pentyl group, neopentyl group, hexyl group, heptyl group, octyl group, nonyl group, decyl group, undecyl group, dodecyl group , Tridecyl group, tetradecyl group, pentadecyl group, hexadecyl group, heptadecyl group, octadecyl group, nonadecyl group, eicosyl group, cyclopropyl group, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, adamantyl group, norbornyl group, bornyl group and the like.
The aromatic group in the aromatic sulfonate anion is preferably an aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a tolyl group, and a naphthyl group.

  The alkyl group, cycloalkyl group and aryl group in the aliphatic sulfonate anion and aromatic sulfonate anion may have a substituent. Examples of the substituent of the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, and aryl group in the aliphatic sulfonate anion and aromatic sulfonate anion include, for example, a nitro group, a halogen atom (fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom), carboxyl group , Hydroxyl group, amino group, cyano group, alkoxy group (preferably having 1 to 15 carbon atoms), cycloalkyl group (preferably having 3 to 15 carbon atoms), aryl group (preferably having 6 to 14 carbon atoms), alkoxycarbonyl group ( Preferably 2 to 7 carbon atoms, acyl group (preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms), alkoxycarbonyloxy group (preferably 2 to 7 carbon atoms), alkylthio group (preferably 1 to 15 carbon atoms), alkylsulfonyl group (Preferably having 1 to 15 carbon atoms), alkyliminosulfonyl group (preferably having 2 to 15 carbon atoms), aryl Ruoxysulfonyl group (preferably having 6 to 20 carbon atoms), alkylaryloxysulfonyl group (preferably having 7 to 20 carbon atoms), cycloalkylaryloxysulfonyl group (preferably having 10 to 20 carbon atoms), alkyloxyalkyloxy group (Preferably having 5 to 20 carbon atoms), a cycloalkylalkyloxyalkyloxy group (preferably having 8 to 20 carbon atoms), and the like. About the aryl group and ring structure which each group has, an alkyl group (preferably C1-C15) can further be mentioned as a substituent.

Examples of the aliphatic moiety in the aliphatic carboxylate anion include the same alkyl group and cycloalkyl group as in the aliphatic sulfonate anion.
Examples of the aromatic group in the aromatic carboxylate anion include the same aryl group as in the aromatic sulfonate anion.
The aralkyl group in the aralkyl carboxylate anion is preferably an aralkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as benzyl group, phenethyl group, naphthylmethyl group, naphthylethyl group, naphthylbutyl group, and the like.

The alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group and aralkyl group in the aliphatic carboxylate anion, aromatic carboxylate anion and aralkylcarboxylate anion may have a substituent. Examples of the substituent of the alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group and aralkyl group in the aliphatic carboxylate anion, aromatic carboxylate anion and aralkylcarboxylate anion include, for example, the same halogen atom and alkyl as in the aromatic sulfonate anion Group, cycloalkyl group, alkoxy group, alkylthio group and the like.
Examples of the sulfonylimide anion include saccharin anion.

The alkyl group in the bis (alkylsulfonyl) imide anion and tris (alkylsulfonyl) methyl anion is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, An isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a pentyl group, a neopentyl group, and the like can be given. Examples of substituents for these alkyl groups include halogen atoms, alkyl groups substituted with halogen atoms, alkoxy groups, alkylthio groups, alkyloxysulfonyl groups, aryloxysulfonyl groups, cycloalkylaryloxysulfonyl groups, and the like. Alkyl groups substituted with fluorine atoms are preferred.
Examples of other non-nucleophilic anions include fluorinated phosphorus, fluorinated boron, and fluorinated antimony.

Examples of the non-nucleophilic anion of Z ⁻ include an aliphatic sulfonate anion in which the α-position of the sulfonic acid is substituted with a fluorine atom, an aromatic sulfonate anion substituted with a fluorine atom or a group having a fluorine atom, and an alkyl group. A bis (alkylsulfonyl) imide anion substituted with a fluorine atom and a tris (alkylsulfonyl) methide anion wherein an alkyl group is substituted with a fluorine atom are preferred. The non-nucleophilic anion is more preferably a perfluoroaliphatic sulfonic acid anion having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, a benzenesulfonic acid anion having a fluorine atom, still more preferably a nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid anion, a perfluorooctanesulfonic acid anion, It is a pentafluorobenzenesulfonic acid anion and 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) benzenesulfonic acid anion.

Examples of the organic group as R ₂₀₁ , R ₂₀₂ and R ₂₀₃ include the corresponding groups in the compounds (ZI-1), (ZI-2) and (ZI-3) described later.
In addition, the compound which has two or more structures represented by general formula (ZI) may be sufficient. For example, the general formula at least one of R ₂₀₁ to R ₂₀₃ of a compound represented by (ZI), the structures attached to at least one of R ₂₀₁ to R ₂₀₃ of another compound represented by formula (ZI) It may be a compound.
More preferable (ZI) components include compounds (ZI-1), (ZI-2), and (ZI-3) described below.

The compound (ZI-1) is at least one of the aryl groups R ₂₀₁ to R ₂₀₃ in formula (ZI), arylsulfonium compounds, namely, compounds containing an arylsulfonium as a cation.
In the arylsulfonium compound, all of R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ may be an aryl group, or a part of R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ may be an aryl group with the remaining being an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group.

  Examples of the arylsulfonium compound include triarylsulfonium compounds, diarylalkylsulfonium compounds, aryldialkylsulfonium compounds, diarylcycloalkylsulfonium compounds, and aryldicycloalkylsulfonium compounds.

  The aryl group of the arylsulfonium compound is preferably a phenyl group or a naphthyl group, and more preferably a phenyl group. The aryl group may be an aryl group having a heterocyclic structure having an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom or the like. Examples of the aryl group having a heterocyclic structure include a pyrrole residue (a group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from pyrrole) and a furan residue (a group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from furan). Groups), thiophene residues (groups formed by the loss of one hydrogen atom from thiophene), indole residues (groups formed by the loss of one hydrogen atom from indole), benzofuran residues ( A group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from benzofuran), a benzothiophene residue (a group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from benzothiophene), and the like. When the arylsulfonium compound has two or more aryl groups, the two or more aryl groups may be the same or different.

  The alkyl group or cycloalkyl group that the arylsulfonium compound has as necessary is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms and a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 15 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, Examples thereof include an ethyl group, a propyl group, an n-butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a t-butyl group, a cyclopropyl group, a cyclobutyl group, and a cyclohexyl group.

Aryl group, alkyl group of R ₂₀₁ to R _203, cycloalkyl group, an alkyl group (for example, 1 to 15 carbon atoms), a cycloalkyl group (for example, 3 to 15 carbon atoms), an aryl group (for example, 6 to 14 carbon atoms) , An alkoxy group (for example, having 1 to 15 carbon atoms), a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or a phenylthio group may be substituted. Preferred substituents are linear or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and linear, branched or cyclic alkoxy groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably carbon. An alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The substituent may be substituted with any one of the three R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ , or may be substituted with all three. When R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ are an aryl group, the substituent is preferably substituted at the p-position of the aryl group.

Next, the compound (ZI-2) will be described.
Compound (ZI-2) is a compound in which R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ in formula (ZI) each independently represents an organic group having no aromatic ring. Here, the aromatic ring includes an aromatic ring containing a hetero atom.
The organic group having no aromatic ring as R ₂₀₁ to R ₂₀₃ generally has 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ are each independently preferably an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an allyl group, or a vinyl group, more preferably a linear or branched 2-oxoalkyl group, 2-oxocycloalkyl group, alkoxy group. A carbonylmethyl group, particularly preferably a linear or branched 2-oxoalkyl group.

The alkyl group and cycloalkyl group of R ₂₀₁ to R _203, preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, pentyl group), carbon Examples thereof include cycloalkyl groups of several 3 to 10 (cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, norbornyl group). More preferred examples of the alkyl group include a 2-oxoalkyl group and an alkoxycarbonylmethyl group. More preferred examples of the cycloalkyl group include a 2-oxocycloalkyl group.

The 2-oxoalkyl group may be either linear or branched, and a group having> C = O at the 2-position of the above alkyl group is preferable.
The 2-oxocycloalkyl group is preferably a group having> C═O at the 2-position of the cycloalkyl group.

The alkoxy group in the alkoxycarbonylmethyl group is preferably an alkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms (methoxy group, ethoxy group, propoxy group, butoxy group, pentoxy group).
R _{201 to} R ₂₀₃ may be further substituted with a halogen atom, an alkoxy group (for example, having 1 to 5 carbon atoms), a hydroxyl group, a cyano group, or a nitro group.
The compound (ZI-3) is a compound represented by the following general formula (ZI-3), and is a compound having a phenacylsulfonium salt structure.

In general formula (ZI-3),
R _{1c to} R _5c each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom.
R _6c and R _7c each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group.
R _x and R _y each independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an allyl group or a vinyl group.

Any two or more of R _{1c to} R _5c , R _6c and R _7c , and R _x and R _y may be bonded to each other to form a ring structure, and this ring structure includes an oxygen atom and a sulfur atom. , An ester bond and an amide bond may be included. Examples of the group formed by combining any two or more of R _{1c to} R _5c , R _6c and R _7c , and R _x and R _y include a butylene group and a pentylene group.
Zc ⁻ represents a non-nucleophilic anion, and examples thereof include the same non-nucleophilic anion as Z ^{− in} formula (ZI).

The alkyl group as R _{1c to} R _7c may be either linear or branched, for example, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms ( Examples thereof include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a linear or branched propyl group, a linear or branched butyl group, and a linear or branched pentyl group. Examples of the cycloalkyl group include cyclohexane having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. An alkyl group (for example, a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group) can be mentioned.

The alkoxy group as R _{1c to} R _{5c may} be linear, branched or cyclic, for example, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably a linear or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. (For example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, linear or branched propoxy group, linear or branched butoxy group, linear or branched pentoxy group), C3-C8 cyclic alkoxy group (for example, cyclopentyloxy group, cyclohexyloxy group) ).

Preferably, any of R _{1c to} R _5c is a linear or branched alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, or a linear, branched or cyclic alkoxy group, and more preferably the sum of the carbon number of R _{1c to} R _5c. Is 2-15. Thereby, solvent solubility improves more and generation | occurrence | production of a particle is suppressed at the time of a preservation | save.

_Examples of the alkyl group and cycloalkyl group as R _x and R _y include the same alkyl group and cycloalkyl group as in R _{1c to} R _7c , such as a 2-oxoalkyl group, a 2-oxocycloalkyl group, an alkoxy group. A carbonylmethyl group is more preferred.
Examples of the 2-oxoalkyl group and 2-oxocycloalkyl group include a group having> C═O at the 2-position of the alkyl group or cycloalkyl group as R _{1c to} R _7c .

Examples of the alkoxy group in the alkoxycarbonylmethyl group include the same alkoxy groups as in R _{1c to} R _5c .
R _x and R _y are preferably an alkyl group or cycloalkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms, more preferably 6 or more, and still more preferably 8 or more alkyl groups or cycloalkyl groups.

In general formulas (ZII) and (ZIII),
R ₂₀₄ to R ₂₀₇ each independently represents an aryl group, an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group.
Phenyl group and a naphthyl group are preferred as the aryl group of R ₂₀₄ to R _207, more preferably a phenyl group. Aryl group R ₂₀₄ to R ₂₀₇ represents an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, may be an aryl group having a heterocyclic structure having a sulfur atom and the like. Examples of the aryl group having a heterocyclic structure include a pyrrole residue (a group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from pyrrole) and a furan residue (a group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from furan). Groups), thiophene residues (groups formed by the loss of one hydrogen atom from thiophene), indole residues (groups formed by the loss of one hydrogen atom from indole), benzofuran residues ( A group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from benzofuran), a benzothiophene residue (a group formed by losing one hydrogen atom from benzothiophene), and the like.

The alkyl group and cycloalkyl group in R ₂₀₄ to R _207, preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, pentyl group), carbon Examples thereof include cycloalkyl groups of several 3 to 10 (cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, norbornyl group).

Aryl group, alkyl group of R ₂₀₄ to R _207, cycloalkyl groups may have a substituent. Aryl group, alkyl group of R ₂₀₄ to R _207, the cycloalkyl group substituent which may be possessed by, for example, an alkyl group (for example, 1 to 15 carbon atoms), a cycloalkyl group (for example, 3 to 15 carbon atoms ), An aryl group (for example, having 6 to 15 carbon atoms), an alkoxy group (for example, having 1 to 15 carbon atoms), a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and a phenylthio group.

Z ⁻ represents a non-nucleophilic anion, and examples thereof include the same as the non-nucleophilic anion of Z ^{− in} formula (ZI).
Examples of the acid generator further include compounds represented by the following general formulas (ZIV), (ZV), and (ZVI).

In general formulas (ZIV) to (ZVI),
Ar ₃ and Ar ₄ each independently represents an aryl group.
R ₂₀₈ , R ₂₀₉ and R ₂₁₀ each independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group or an aryl group.
A represents an alkylene group, an alkenylene group or an arylene group.

Among the acid generators, compounds represented by the general formulas (ZI) to (ZIII) are more preferable.
Further, the acid generator is preferably a compound that generates an acid having one sulfonic acid group or imide group, more preferably a compound that generates monovalent perfluoroalkanesulfonic acid, or a monovalent fluorine atom or fluorine atom. A compound that generates an aromatic sulfonic acid substituted with a group containing fluorinated acid, or a compound that generates a monovalent fluorine atom or imide acid substituted with a group containing a fluorine atom, and even more preferably, It is a sulfonium salt of a substituted alkanesulfonic acid, a fluorine-substituted benzenesulfonic acid, a fluorine-substituted imide acid or a fluorine-substituted methide acid. The acid generator that can be used is particularly preferably a fluorinated substituted alkane sulfonic acid, a fluorinated substituted benzene sulfonic acid or a fluorinated substituted imido acid whose pKa of the generated acid is pKa = -1 or less, and the sensitivity is improved. .
Among acid generators, particularly preferred examples are given below.

An acid generator can be used individually by 1 type or in combination of 2 or more types.
The content of the acid generator in the positive resist composition is preferably 0.1 to 20% by mass, more preferably 1 to 15% by mass, and still more preferably, based on the total solid content of the positive resist composition. 3 to 10% by mass.

(C) Resin having an ether bond and a fluorine atom in the main chain The resin (C) of the present invention is a resin containing a repeating unit having an ether bond and a fluorine atom in the main chain.
In one embodiment, the repeating unit includes two divalent organic groups and two vinyl groups directly connected to an oxygen atom with the organic group interposed therebetween, which are formed by connecting via the oxygen atom. A compound having an ether bond, wherein the two vinyl groups and the organic group may be a repeating unit derived from a compound containing a fluorine atom.

  In another embodiment, the resin (C) of the present invention has two or more groups represented by the fluorine atom-containing compound having the two ether bonds and -XH (X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom). A resin obtained by addition polymerization of a compound.

A preferred embodiment of the fluorine atom-containing compound having two ether bonds is represented by the following general formula (I), and the resin (C) of the present invention is represented by the following general formula (i) derived from the compound. Repeating unit.

In general formulas (I) and (i), Rf ₁ represents a perfluoroalkylene group or a perfluorocycloalkylene group, and Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ each independently represents a fluorine atom, a perfluoroalkyl group, a perfluorocycloalkylene group, or a perfluoroalkoxy group. Rf ₁ , Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ may be bonded to each other to form a ring.

The perfluoroalkylene group represented by Rf ₁ is preferably a C 1-30 perfluoroalkylene group, which may be linear or branched, and may have an ether bond in the perfluoroalkylene group. . Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 1-20, More preferably, it is 2-10.

The perfluorocycloalkylene group represented by Rf ₁ is preferably a C 3-30 perfluorocycloalkylene group, which may be monocyclic or polycyclic, and has an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkylene group. Also good. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 3-20, More preferably, it is 5-10.

The perfluoroalkyl group represented by Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ is preferably a C 1-30 perfluoroalkyl group, which may be linear or branched, and has an ether bond in the perfluoroalkyl group. Also good. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 1-20, More preferably, it is 1-10.

The perfluorocycloalkyl group represented by Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ is preferably a C 3-30 perfluorocycloalkyl group, which may be monocyclic or polycyclic, and has an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkyl group. It may be. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 3-20, More preferably, it is 5-10.

The perfluoroalkoxy group represented by Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ is preferably a C 1-30 perfluoroalkoxy group, which may be linear, branched or cyclic, and in the perfluoroalkoxy group It may have an ether bond. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 1-20, More preferably, it is 1-10.

In the general formula (I), preferably when Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ are both a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkoxy group, and Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ are both a perfluoroalkoxy group, the compound represented by the following general formula (II) is More preferred. In that case, the resin (C) of the present invention has a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (ii) derived from the compound.

In general formulas (II) and (ii), Rf ₄ represents a tetravalent perfluoro linking group. The tetravalent perfluoro linking group represented by Rf ₄ is preferably a perfluoroalkylene group or a perfluorocycloalkylene group.
The perfluoroalkylene group represented by Rf ₄ is preferably a C 1-30 perfluoroalkylene group, which may be linear or branched, and may have an ether bond in the perfluoro linking group. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 4-20, More preferably, it is 5-10.

The perfluorocycloalkyl group represented by Rf ₄ is preferably a C 3-30 perfluorocycloalkyl group, which may be monocyclic or polycyclic, and may have an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkyl group. Good. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 3-20, More preferably, it is 5-10.
Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (I) or the general formula (II) are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Next, a compound having two or more —XH groups that can be used in addition polymerization with a fluorine atom-containing compound having the two ether bonds will be described.
The compound having two or more groups represented by —XH (X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom) is preferably a polyol having two or more hydroxyl groups in the molecule or two or more mercapto groups in the molecule. And represented by the following general formula (IV).

In the formula, X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and L represents an n-valent organic group.
More preferably, the compound having two or more —XH groups is represented by the following general formula (V), (VI) or (VII).

In the formula, Rf ₅ represents an n-valent perfluoroalkylene group or a perfluorocycloalkylene group, Ar ₁ represents an n-valent arylene group, and R ₆ represents an n-valent alkylene group, cycloalkylene group, arylene group or aralkylene group. Indicates. n shows the integer of 2-6.

The n-valent perfluoroalkylene group represented by Rf ₅ is preferably a C 1-30 perfluoroalkylene group, which may be linear or branched, and has an ether bond in the perfluoroalkylene group. Also good. The number of carbon atoms is preferably 1 to 20, more preferably 2 to 10.

The n-valent perfluorocycloalkylene group represented by Rf ₅ is preferably a C 3-30 perfluorocycloalkylene group, which may be monocyclic or polycyclic, and has an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkylene group. It may be. The number of carbon atoms is preferably 3-20, more preferably 5-10.

The n-valent arylene group represented by Ar ₁ is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 6-20, More preferably, it is 6-10.

Examples of the substituent for the arylene group include the following substituents. Halogen atom (for example, fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom), alkyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms (for example, methyl, ethyl), aryl group having 30 or less carbon atoms (for example, phenyl, naphthyl), cyano group A carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms (for example, methoxycarbonyl), an aryloxycarbonyl group having 30 or less carbon atoms (for example, phenoxycarbonyl), a carbamoyl group (for example, carbamoyl, N-phenylcarbamoyl, N, N -Dimethylcarbamoyl), alkylcarbonyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms (for example, acetyl), arylcarbonyl group having 30 or less carbon atoms (for example, benzoyl), nitro group, amino group (for example, amino, dimethylamino, anilino), carbon An acylamino group of several 20 or less (for example, , Acetamido, ethoxycarbonylamino), a sulfonamido group (e.g., methanesulfonamido), an imido group (e.g., succinimido, phthalimido), an imino group (e.g., benzylideneamino),
Hydroxy group, alkoxy group having 20 or less carbon atoms (for example, methoxy), aryloxy group having 30 or less carbon atoms (for example, phenoxy), acyloxy group having 20 or less carbon atoms (for example, acetoxy), alkylsulfonyl having 20 or less carbon atoms An oxy group (for example, methanesulfonyloxy), an arylsulfonyloxy group having 30 or less carbon atoms (for example, benzenesulfonyloxy), a sulfo group, a sulfamoyl group (for example, sulfamoyl, N-phenylsulfamoyl), an alkylthio group having 20 or less carbon atoms ( For example, methylthio), an arylthio group having 30 or less carbon atoms (for example, phenylthio), an alkylsulfonyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms (for example, methanesulfonyl), an arylsulfonyl group having 30 or less carbon atoms (for example, benzenesulfonyl), a heterocyclic group, and the like. These substituents may be further substituted, and when there are a plurality of substituents, they may be the same or different. Moreover, you may combine with substituents and may form a ring.
n is preferably 2 or 3, more preferably 2.

The divalent alkylene group, cycloalkylene group, arylene group or aralkylene group represented by R ₆ may contain a divalent linking group such as an ether bond, a thioether bond or a sulfonyl group.

The divalent alkylene group represented by R ₆ is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and may be linear or branched. The number of carbon atoms is preferably 1-20, more preferably 1-10.

The divalent cycloalkylene group represented by R ₆ is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, and may be monocyclic or polycyclic. The number of carbon atoms is preferably 3-20, more preferably 5-10.

The divalent arylene group represented by R ₆ is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms. Furthermore, as preferable carbon number, it is 6-20, More preferably, it is 6-10.

The divalent aralkylene group represented by R ₆ is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted aralkylene group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 7 to 10 carbon atoms. .

Examples of the substituent for the divalent alkylene group, cycloalkylene group, arylene group or aralkylene group represented by R ₆ include the same substituents as those for the arylene group represented by Ar ₁ .

Specific examples of the compound having two or more groups represented by -XH (X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom) are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  The resin (C) of the present invention has a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (i ′), and preferably has a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (ii ′). Those having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (iii ′) are more preferable.

The resin (C) is preferably subjected to addition polymerization of the fluorine atom-containing compound having the two ether bonds and a compound having two or more groups represented by -XH (X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom). It is obtained by the method.

In the formula, Rf ₁ , Rf ₂ , Rf ₃ and Rf ₄ are as defined above, and specific examples thereof are shown as specific examples of the compounds represented by the above general formulas (I) and (II). This is the same as the group corresponding to Rf ₁ , Rf ₂ , Rf ₃ and Rf ₄ of the compound. X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.

L represents a divalent linking group. In general formula (i ′), (ii ′) or (iii ′), when X is an oxygen atom, L is preferably a divalent organic group represented by general formula (v) or (vi). .

In the formula, Rf ₅ ′ represents a divalent perfluoroalkylene group or a perfluorocycloalkylene group.
The divalent perfluoroalkylene group represented by Rf ₅ ′ may be linear or branched, and may have an ether bond in the perfluoroalkylene group. A preferable carbon number is 1-30, and as a more preferable carbon number, it is 1-20, More preferably, it is 2-10.

The divalent perfluorocycloalkylene group represented by Rf ₅ may be monocyclic or polycyclic, and may have an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkylene group. A preferable carbon number is 3-30, and as a more preferable carbon number, it is 3-20, More preferably, it is 5-10.

Ar ₁ ′ is a divalent substituted or unsubstituted arylene group, preferably having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and more preferably 6 to 10 carbon atoms. is there.

Specific examples of Rf ₅ ′ and Ar ₁ ′ are the same as the group of the portion corresponding to Rf ₅ or Ar ₁ of the compound shown as a specific example of the compound represented by the general formula (V) or (VI). It is.

In the general formula (i ′), (ii ′), or (iii ′), when X is a sulfur atom, L is preferably a divalent organic group represented by the general formula (vii).

In the formula, R ₆ has the same meaning as that in formula (VII).

  There is no particular limitation on the proportion of the repeating unit represented by the general formula (i ′) in the resin (C) of the present invention, and the molecular weight of the polymer can be appropriately set, but in the general formula (i) in the fluoropolymer, The number of repeating units represented is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 5 to 1,000.

  Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular in the molecular weight of resin (C) of this invention, it is preferable that a number average molecular weight is 500-1,000,000 as polystyrene conversion value by GPC method, and it is 5,000-100,000. Is more preferable.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the terminal group of resin (C) of this invention. Examples of the terminal group include a normal terminal group, a fluorine atom, -XH (X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom) group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, = CF ₂ group, An acyl group, an amide group, a carboxyl group and the like are preferable.

Although the specific example of resin (C) is given to the following, this invention is not necessarily limited to these.

[Immersion exposure]
Exposure (immersion exposure) may be performed by filling a liquid (immersion medium) having a higher refractive index than air between the resist film and the lens during irradiation with actinic rays or radiation. Thereby, resolution can be improved. As the immersion medium to be used, any liquid can be used as long as it has a higher refractive index than air, but pure water is preferred.

  The immersion liquid used for the immersion exposure will be described below.

  The immersion liquid is preferably a liquid that is transparent to the exposure wavelength and has a refractive index temperature coefficient as small as possible so as to minimize distortion of the optical image projected onto the resist film. Is an ArF excimer laser (wavelength; 193 nm), it is preferable to use water from the viewpoints of availability and ease of handling in addition to the above-mentioned viewpoints.

  Further, a medium having a refractive index of 1.5 or more can be used in that the refractive index can be further improved. This medium may be an aqueous solution or an organic solvent.

  When water is used as the immersion liquid, the surface tension of the water is decreased and the surface activity is increased, so that the resist film on the wafer is not dissolved and the influence on the optical coating on the lower surface of the lens element can be ignored. An additive (liquid) may be added in a small proportion. The additive is preferably an aliphatic alcohol having a refractive index substantially equal to that of water, and specifically includes methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and the like. By adding an alcohol having a refractive index substantially equal to that of water, even if the alcohol component in water evaporates and the content concentration changes, an advantage that the change in the refractive index of the entire liquid can be made extremely small can be obtained. On the other hand, when an opaque material or impurities whose refractive index is significantly different from that of water are mixed with 193 nm light, the optical image projected on the resist film is distorted. . Further, pure water filtered through an ion exchange filter or the like may be used.

  The electrical resistance of water is desirably 18.3 MQcm or more, the TOC (organic substance concentration) is desirably 20 ppb or less, and deaeration treatment is desirably performed.

Moreover, it is possible to improve lithography performance by increasing the refractive index of the immersion liquid. From such a viewpoint, an additive for increasing the refractive index may be added to water, or heavy water (D ₂ O) may be used instead of water.

  When the resist film made of the positive resist composition of the present invention is exposed through an immersion medium, a hydrophobic resin (HR) can be further added as necessary. As a result, hydrophobic resin (HR) is unevenly distributed on the surface of the resist film, and when the immersion medium is water, the receding contact angle of the resist film surface with respect to the water when the resist film is formed is improved, and the immersion water tracking is improved. Can be made. As the hydrophobic resin (HR), any resin can be used as long as the receding contact angle of the surface can be improved by addition, but a resin having at least one of fluorine atom and silicon atom is preferable. The receding contact angle of the resist film is preferably 60 ° to 90 °, more preferably 70 ° or more. The addition amount can be adjusted and used as appropriate so that the receding contact angle of the resist film falls within the above range, but is preferably 0.1 to 10% by mass based on the total solid content of the positive resist composition, More preferably, it is 0.1-5 mass%. Hydrophobic resin (HR) is ubiquitous at the interface as described above, but unlike a surfactant, it does not necessarily have a hydrophilic group in the molecule, and polar / nonpolar substances are mixed uniformly. There is no need to contribute.

  The receding contact angle is the contact angle measured when the contact line at the droplet-substrate interface recedes, and is useful for simulating the ease of droplet movement under dynamic conditions. It is generally known. In simple terms, it can be defined as the contact angle when the droplet interface recedes when the droplet discharged from the needle tip is deposited on the substrate and then sucked into the needle again. It can be measured by using a contact angle measuring method generally called an expansion / contraction method.

  In the immersion exposure process, the immersion head needs to move on the wafer following the movement of the exposure head to scan the wafer at high speed to form the exposure pattern. In this case, the contact angle of the immersion liquid with respect to the resist film is important, and the resist is required to follow the high-speed scanning of the exposure head without remaining droplets.

The fluorine atom or silicon atom in the hydrophobic resin (HR) may be contained in the main chain of the resin or may be substituted on the side chain.
The hydrophobic resin (HR) is preferably a resin having an alkyl group having a fluorine atom, a cycloalkyl group having a fluorine atom, or an aryl group having a fluorine atom as a partial structure having a fluorine atom.

The alkyl group having a fluorine atom (preferably having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms) is a linear or branched alkyl group in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluorine atom, It may have a substituent.
The cycloalkyl group having a fluorine atom is a monocyclic or polycyclic cycloalkyl group in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluorine atom, and may further have another substituent.
Examples of the aryl group having a fluorine atom include those in which at least one hydrogen atom of an aryl group such as a phenyl group or a naphthyl group is substituted with a fluorine atom, and may further have another substituent.

Preferred examples of the alkyl group having a fluorine atom, the cycloalkyl group having a fluorine atom, or the aryl group having a fluorine atom include groups represented by the following general formulas (F2) to (F4). The present invention is not limited to this.

In general formulas (F2) to (F4),
R _{57 to} R ₆₈ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or an alkyl group. However, at least one of R _{57 to} R ₆₁ , R _{62 to} R ₆₄ and R _{65 to} R ₆₈ is a fluorine atom or an alkyl group in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluorine atom (preferably having a carbon number of 1 ~ 4). R _{57 to} R ₆₁ and R _{65 to} R ₆₇ are preferably all fluorine atoms. R ₆₂ , R ₆₃ and R ₆₈ are preferably an alkyl group (preferably having 1 to 4 carbon atoms) in which at least one hydrogen atom is substituted with a fluorine atom, and preferably a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Further preferred. R ₆₂ and R ₆₃ may be connected to each other to form a ring.

  Specific examples of the group represented by the general formula (F2) include a p-fluorophenyl group, a pentafluorophenyl group, and a 3,5-di (trifluoromethyl) phenyl group.

  Specific examples of the group represented by the general formula (F3) include trifluoromethyl group, pentafluoropropyl group, pentafluoroethyl group, heptafluorobutyl group, hexafluoroisopropyl group, heptafluoroisopropyl group, hexafluoro (2 -Methyl) isopropyl group, nonafluorobutyl group, octafluoroisobutyl group, nonafluorohexyl group, nonafluoro-t-butyl group, perfluoroisopentyl group, perfluorooctyl group, perfluoro (trimethyl) hexyl group, 2,2 1,3,3-tetrafluorocyclobutyl group, perfluorocyclohexyl group and the like. Hexafluoroisopropyl group, heptafluoroisopropyl group, hexafluoro (2-methyl) isopropyl group, octafluoroisobutyl group, nonafluoro-t-butyl group and perfluoroisopentyl group are preferable, and hexafluoroisopropyl group and heptafluoroisopropyl group are preferable. Further preferred.

Specific examples of the group represented by the general formula (F4) include, for example, —C (CF ₃ ) ₂ OH, —C (C ₂ F ₅ ) ₂ OH, —C (CF ₃ ) (CH ₃ ) OH, -CH (CF ₃₎ OH and the like, -C (CF _{3) 2} OH is preferred.

  Hereinafter, although the specific example of the repeating unit which has a fluorine atom is shown, this invention is not limited to this.

In specific examples, X ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, —CH ₃ , —F or —CF ₃ .

X ₂ represents —F or —CF ₃ .

  The hydrophobic resin (HR) is preferably a resin having an alkylsilyl structure (preferably a trialkylsilyl group) or a cyclic siloxane structure as a partial structure having a silicon atom.

Specific examples of the alkylsilyl structure or the cyclic siloxane structure include groups represented by the following general formulas (CS-1) to (CS-3).

In general formulas (CS-1) to (CS-3),
R _{12 to} R ₂₆ each independently represents a linear or branched alkyl group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms) or a cycloalkyl group (preferably having 3 to 20 carbon atoms).

L < ₃ > -L < ₅ > represents a single bond or a bivalent coupling group. As the divalent linking group, an alkylene group, a phenylene group, an ether group, a thioether group, a carbonyl group, an ester group, an amide group, a urethane group, or a urea group is used alone or in combination of two or more groups. A combination is mentioned.

  n represents an integer of 1 to 5.

Hereinafter, although the specific example of the repeating unit which has group represented by general formula (CS-1)-(CS-3) is given, this invention is not limited to this. In specific examples, X ₁ represents a hydrogen atom, —CH ₃ , —F or —CF ₃ .

  Furthermore, the hydrophobic resin (HR) may have at least one group selected from the following groups (x) to (z).

(X) an alkali-soluble group,
(Y) a group that decomposes by the action of an alkali developer and increases the solubility in the alkali developer;
(Z) A group that decomposes by the action of an acid.

(X) Alkali-soluble groups include phenolic hydroxyl groups, carboxylic acid groups, fluorinated alcohol groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfonamido groups, sulfonylimide groups, (alkylsulfonyl) (alkylcarbonyl) methylene groups, (alkylsulfonyl) ( Alkylcarbonyl) imide group, bis (alkylcarbonyl) methylene group, bis (alkylcarbonyl) imide group, bis (alkylsulfonyl) methylene group, bis (alkylsulfonyl) imide group, tris (alkylcarbonyl) methylene group, tris (alkylsulfonyl) ) And a methylene group.
Preferred alkali-soluble groups include fluorinated alcohol groups (preferably hexafluoroisopropanol), sulfonimide groups, and bis (carbonyl) methylene groups.

Examples of the repeating unit having an alkali-soluble group (x) include a repeating unit in which an alkali-soluble group is directly bonded to the main chain of the resin, such as a repeating unit of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, or a main group of the resin via a linking group. Examples include repeating units in which an alkali-soluble group is bonded to the chain. Furthermore, a polymerization initiator or a chain transfer agent having an alkali-soluble group can be used at the time of polymerization to be introduced at the end of the polymer chain. Is also preferable.
The content of the repeating unit having an alkali-soluble group (x) is preferably from 1 to 50 mol%, more preferably from 3 to 35 mol%, still more preferably from 5 to 20 mol%, based on all repeating units in the polymer.

Specific examples of the repeating unit having an alkali-soluble group (x) are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  (Y) Examples of the group that decomposes by the action of an alkali developer and increases the solubility in the alkali developer include a group having a lactone structure, an acid anhydride group, an acid imide group, and the like, and preferably a lactone A group having a structure.

  As the repeating unit having a group (y) that is decomposed by the action of an alkali developer and increases the solubility in the alkali developer, an alkali is added to the main chain of the resin, such as a repeating unit of an acrylate ester or a methacrylate ester. A polymerization initiator having a repeating unit to which a group (y) that decomposes by the action of the developer and increases the solubility in an alkali developer is bonded, or a group (y) that increases the solubility in an alkali developer And a chain transfer agent used at the time of polymerization are preferably introduced at the end of the polymer chain.

  The content of the repeating unit having a group (y) whose solubility in an alkali developer is increased is preferably 1 to 40 mol%, more preferably 3 to 30 mol%, still more preferably based on all repeating units in the polymer. 5 to 15 mol%.

  Specific examples of the repeating unit having a group (y) that increases the solubility in an alkali developer include the same repeating units as those having a lactone structure exemplified for the resin of the component (B).

  In the hydrophobic resin (HR), examples of the repeating unit having a group (z) that is decomposed by the action of an acid are the same as the repeating unit having an acid-decomposable group exemplified in the resin of the component (B). . In the hydrophobic resin (HR), the content of the repeating unit having a group (z) that is decomposed by the action of an acid is preferably 1 to 80 mol%, more preferably 10 to 10%, based on all repeating units in the polymer. 80 mol%, more preferably 20 to 60 mol%.

The hydrophobic resin (HR) may further have a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (III).

In general formula (III):
R ₄ represents a group having an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a cycloalkenyl group.
L ₆ represents a single bond or a divalent linking group.

In general formula (III), the alkyl group represented by R ₄ is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms.

The cycloalkyl group is preferably a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms.
The alkenyl group is preferably an alkenyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms.
The cycloalkenyl group is preferably a cycloalkenyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms.
The divalent linking group of L ₆ is preferably an alkylene group (preferably having 1 to 5 carbon atoms) or an oxy group.

  When the hydrophobic resin (HR) has a fluorine atom, the fluorine atom content is preferably 5 to 80% by mass, and 10 to 80% by mass with respect to the molecular weight of the hydrophobic resin (HR). Is more preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that the repeating unit containing a fluorine atom is 10-100 mass% in hydrophobic resin (HR), and it is more preferable that it is 30-100 mass%.

  When the hydrophobic resin (HR) has a silicon atom, the content of the silicon atom is preferably 2 to 50% by mass and preferably 2 to 30% by mass with respect to the molecular weight of the hydrophobic resin (HR). Is more preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that it is 10-100 mass% in hydrophobic resin (HR), and, as for the repeating unit containing a silicon atom, it is more preferable that it is 20-100 mass%.

  The weight average molecular weight of the hydrophobic resin (HR) in terms of standard polystyrene is preferably 1,000 to 100,000, more preferably 1,000 to 50,000, and even more preferably 2,000 to 15,000. is there.

  As for the hydrophobic resin (HR), it is preferable that the residual monomer and oligomer components are 0 to 10% by mass, more preferably, as in the resin of the component (B), there are few impurities such as metals. Is more preferably 0 to 5% by mass and 0 to 1% by mass. Thereby, a resist having no change over time such as foreign matter in liquid or sensitivity can be obtained. The molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn, also referred to as dispersity) is preferably in the range of 1 to 5, more preferably 1 to 3, and still more preferably from the viewpoints of resolution, resist shape, resist pattern sidewall, roughness, and the like. It is the range of 1-2.

  As the hydrophobic resin (HR), various commercially available products can be used, or they can be synthesized according to a conventional method (for example, radical polymerization). For example, as a general synthesis method, a monomer polymerization method in which a monomer species and an initiator are dissolved in a solvent and the polymerization is performed by heating, and a solution of the monomer species and the initiator is dropped into the heating solvent over 1 to 10 hours. The dropping polymerization method is added, and the dropping polymerization method is preferable. Examples of the reaction solvent include ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, diisopropyl ether, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone, ester solvents such as ethyl acetate, amide solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide, Furthermore, the solvent which melt | dissolves the composition of this invention like the below-mentioned propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, and cyclohexanone is mentioned. More preferably, the polymerization is performed using the same solvent as the solvent used in the positive resist composition of the present invention. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the particle at the time of a preservation | save can be suppressed.

  The polymerization reaction is preferably performed in an inert gas atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon. As a polymerization initiator, a commercially available radical initiator (azo initiator, peroxide, etc.) is used to initiate the polymerization. As the radical initiator, an azo initiator is preferable, and an azo initiator having an ester group, a cyano group, or a carboxyl group is preferable. Preferred examples of the initiator include azobisisobutyronitrile, azobisdimethylvaleronitrile, dimethyl 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionate) and the like. The concentration of the reaction is 5 to 50% by mass, preferably 30 to 50% by mass. The reaction temperature is usually 10 ° C to 150 ° C, preferably 30 ° C to 120 ° C, more preferably 60-100 ° C.

  After completion of the reaction, the mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature and purified. Purification can be accomplished by a liquid-liquid extraction method that removes residual monomers and oligomer components by combining water and an appropriate solvent, and a purification method in a solution state such as ultrafiltration that extracts and removes only those having a specific molecular weight or less. , Reprecipitation method that removes residual monomer by coagulating resin in poor solvent by dripping resin solution into poor solvent and purification in solid state such as washing filtered resin slurry with poor solvent A normal method such as a method can be applied. For example, the resin is precipitated as a solid by contacting a solvent (poor solvent) in which the resin is hardly soluble or insoluble in a volume amount of 10 times or less, preferably 10 to 5 times that of the reaction solution.

  The solvent (precipitation or reprecipitation solvent) used in the precipitation or reprecipitation operation from the polymer solution may be a poor solvent for the polymer, and may be a hydrocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbon, nitro, depending on the type of polymer. A compound, ether, ketone, ester, carbonate, alcohol, carboxylic acid, water, a mixed solvent containing these solvents, and the like can be appropriately selected for use. Among these, as a precipitation or reprecipitation solvent, a solvent containing at least an alcohol (particularly methanol or the like) or water is preferable.

  The amount of the precipitation or reprecipitation solvent used can be appropriately selected in consideration of efficiency, yield, and the like, but generally 100 to 10000 parts by mass, preferably 200 to 2000 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polymer solution, More preferably, it is 300-1000 mass parts.

  The temperature for precipitation or reprecipitation can be appropriately selected in consideration of efficiency and operability, but is usually about 0 to 50 ° C., preferably around room temperature (for example, about 20 to 35 ° C.). The precipitation or reprecipitation operation can be performed by a known method such as a batch method or a continuous method using a conventional mixing vessel such as a stirring tank.

  The precipitated or re-precipitated polymer is usually subjected to conventional solid-liquid separation such as filtration and centrifugation, and dried before use. Filtration is performed using a solvent-resistant filter medium, preferably under pressure. Drying is performed at a temperature of about 30 to 100 ° C., preferably about 30 to 50 ° C. under normal pressure or reduced pressure (preferably under reduced pressure).

  The resin may be once deposited and separated, and then dissolved again in a solvent, and the resin may be brought into contact with a hardly soluble or insoluble solvent. That is, after completion of the radical polymerization reaction, a solvent in which the polymer is hardly soluble or insoluble is brought into contact, the resin is precipitated (step a), the resin is separated from the solution (step b), and dissolved again in the solvent. (Step c), and then contact the resin solution A with a solvent in which the resin is hardly soluble or insoluble in a volume amount less than 10 times that of the resin solution A (preferably 5 times or less volume). This may be a method including precipitating a resin solid (step d) and separating the precipitated resin (step e).

Specific examples of the hydrophobic resin (HR) are shown below. Table 1 below shows the molar ratio of repeating units in each resin (corresponding to each repeating unit in order from the left), the weight average molecular weight, and the degree of dispersion.

  Since the resist film is not directly brought into contact with the immersion liquid between the resist film of the positive resist composition of the present invention and the immersion liquid, it is also referred to as an “immersion liquid hardly soluble film” (hereinafter referred to as “top coat”). ) May be provided. The necessary functions for the top coat are suitability for application to the upper layer of the resist, radiation, especially transparency to 193 nm, and poor immersion liquid solubility. It is preferable that the top coat is not mixed with the resist and can be uniformly applied to the resist upper layer.

  From the viewpoint of 193 nm transparency, the top coat is preferably a polymer that does not contain abundant aromatics. Specifically, the polymer contains a hydrocarbon polymer, an acrylate polymer, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl ether, and silicon. Examples thereof include a polymer and a fluorine-containing polymer. The aforementioned hydrophobic resin (HR) is also suitable as a top coat. From the viewpoint of contaminating the optical lens when impurities are eluted from the top coat into the immersion liquid, it is preferable that the residual monomer component of the polymer contained in the top coat is small.

  When peeling the top coat, a developer may be used, or a separate release agent may be used. As the release agent, a solvent having a small penetration into the resist film is preferable. It is preferable that the peeling process can be performed with an alkali developer in that the peeling process can be performed simultaneously with the resist film development process. From the viewpoint of peeling with an alkaline developer, the topcoat is preferably acidic, but may be neutral or alkaline from the viewpoint of non-intermixability with the resist film.

  The resolution is improved when there is no difference in refractive index between the top coat and the immersion liquid. In the case of using water as the immersion liquid in an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm), the top coat for ArF immersion exposure is preferably close to the refractive index of the immersion liquid. From the viewpoint of making the refractive index close to the immersion liquid, it is preferable to have fluorine atoms in the topcoat. A thin film is more preferable from the viewpoint of transparency and refractive index.

  The top coat is preferably not mixed with the resist film and further not mixed with the immersion liquid. From this point of view, when the immersion liquid is water, the solvent used for the top coat is preferably a water-insoluble medium that is hardly soluble in the solvent used for the positive resist composition. Furthermore, when the immersion liquid is an organic solvent, the topcoat may be water-soluble or water-insoluble.

Solvents Solvents that can be used when preparing the positive resist composition by dissolving the above components include, for example, alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether carboxylate, alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether, lactate alkyl ester, alkoxypropionic acid. List organic solvents such as alkyl, cyclic lactone (preferably having 4 to 10 carbon atoms), monoketone compounds (preferably having 4 to 10 carbon atoms) which may contain a ring, alkylene carbonate, alkyl alkoxyacetate and alkyl pyruvate. Can do.

  Examples of the alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether carboxylate include propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monopropyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether propionate, propylene glycol monoethyl Preferred examples include ether propionate, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate.

  Preferred examples of the alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether include propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether.

Preferred examples of the alkyl lactate include methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, propyl lactate and butyl lactate.
Preferable examples of the alkyl alkoxypropionate include ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, methyl 3-ethoxypropionate, and ethyl 3-methoxypropionate.
Examples of the cyclic lactone include β-propiolactone, β-butyrolactone, γ-butyrolactone, α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone, β-methyl-γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, γ-caprolactone, and γ-octano. Preferred are iclactone and α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone.

  Examples of the monoketone compound which may contain a ring include 2-butanone, 3-methylbutanone, pinacolone, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 2 -Methyl-3-pentanone, 4,4-dimethyl-2-pentanone, 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, 5-methyl-3-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, 4-heptanone, 2-methyl-3-heptanone, 5-methyl-3-heptanone, 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanone, 2-octanone, 3-octanone, 2-nonanone, 3-nonanone, 5-nonanone, 2-decanone, 3-decanone, 4-decanone, 5-hexen-2-one, -Penten-2-one, cyclopentanone, 2-methylcyclopentanone, 3-methylcyclopentanone, 2,2-dimethylcyclopentanone, 2,4,4-trimethylcyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, 3-methyl Cyclohexanone, 4-methylcyclohexanone, 4-ethylcyclohexanone, 2,2-dimethylcyclohexanone, 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanone, 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexanone, cycloheptanone, 2-methylcycloheptanone, 3-methylcyclo A preferred example is heptanone.

Preferred examples of the alkylene carbonate include propylene carbonate, vinylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, and butylene carbonate.
Examples of the alkyl alkoxyacetate include 2-methoxyethyl acetate, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, 2- (2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acetate, 3-methoxy-3-methylbutyl acetate, and 1-methoxy-acetate. 2-propyl is preferred.
Preferred examples of the alkyl pyruvate include methyl pyruvate, ethyl pyruvate, and propyl pyruvate.

As a solvent which can be preferably used, a solvent having a boiling point of 130 ° C. or higher under normal temperature and normal pressure can be mentioned. Specifically, cyclopentanone, γ-butyrolactone, cyclohexanone, ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, ethyl pyruvate, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, acetic acid -2- (2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl and propylene carbonate are mentioned.
In the present invention, the above solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In this invention, you may use the mixed solvent which mixed the solvent which contains a hydroxyl group in a structure, and the solvent which does not contain a hydroxyl group as an organic solvent.
Examples of the solvent containing a hydroxyl group include ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethyl lactate, and the like. Particularly preferred are propylene glycol monomethyl ether and ethyl lactate.

  Examples of the solvent not containing a hydroxyl group include propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, ethyl ethoxypropionate, 2-heptanone, γ-butyrolactone, cyclohexanone, butyl acetate, N-methylpyrrolidone, N, N-dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and the like. Among these, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, ethyl ethoxypropionate, 2-heptanone, γ-butyrolactone, cyclohexanone, and butyl acetate are particularly preferred, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, ethyl ethoxypropionate. 2-heptanone is most preferred.

  The mixing ratio (mass) of the solvent containing a hydroxyl group and the solvent not containing a hydroxyl group is 1/99 to 99/1, preferably 10/90 to 90/10, more preferably 20/80 to 60/40. . A mixed solvent containing 50% by mass or more of a solvent not containing a hydroxyl group is particularly preferred from the viewpoint of coating uniformity.

The solvent is preferably a mixed solvent of two or more containing propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate.
Basic Compound The positive resist composition of the present invention preferably contains a basic compound in order to reduce the change in performance over time from exposure to heating.
Preferred examples of the basic compound include compounds having structures represented by the following formulas (A) to (E).

In general formulas (A) and (E),
R ²⁰⁰ , R ²⁰¹ and R ²⁰² may be the same or different, and are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms), a cycloalkyl group (preferably having 3 to 20 carbon atoms) or an aryl group (having a carbon number). 6-20), wherein R ²⁰¹ and R ²⁰² may combine with each other to form a ring. R ²⁰³ , R ²⁰⁴ , R ²⁰⁵ and R ²⁰⁶ may be the same or different and each represents an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

About the said alkyl group, as an alkyl group which has a substituent, a C1-C20 aminoalkyl group, a C1-C20 hydroxyalkyl group, or a C1-C20 cyanoalkyl group is preferable.
The alkyl groups in the general formulas (A) and (E) are more preferably unsubstituted.

  Preferred compounds include guanidine, aminopyrrolidine, pyrazole, pyrazoline, piperazine, aminomorpholine, aminoalkylmorpholine, piperidine and the like, and more preferred compounds include imidazole structure, diazabicyclo structure, onium hydroxide structure, onium carboxylate Examples thereof include a compound having a structure, a trialkylamine structure, an aniline structure or a pyridine structure, an alkylamine derivative having a hydroxyl group and / or an ether bond, and an aniline derivative having a hydroxyl group and / or an ether bond.

  Examples of the compound having an imidazole structure include imidazole, 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole, benzimidazole, and 2-phenylbenzimidazole. Examples of the compound having a diazabicyclo structure include 1,4-diazabicyclo [2,2,2] octane, 1,5-diazabicyclo [4,3,0] non-5-ene, and 1,8-diazabicyclo [5,4,0. ] Undecar 7-ene etc. are mentioned. Examples of the compound having an onium hydroxide structure include tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, triarylsulfonium hydroxide, phenacylsulfonium hydroxide, sulfonium hydroxide having a 2-oxoalkyl group, specifically, triphenylsulfonium hydroxide, tris ( t-butylphenyl) sulfonium hydroxide, bis (t-butylphenyl) iodonium hydroxide, phenacylthiophenium hydroxide, 2-oxopropylthiophenium hydroxide, and the like. As the compound having an onium carboxylate structure, an anion portion of the compound having an onium hydroxide structure is converted to a carboxylate, and examples thereof include acetate, adamantane-1-carboxylate, and perfluoroalkylcarboxylate. Examples of the compound having a trialkylamine structure include tri (n-butyl) amine and tri (n-octyl) amine. Examples of the aniline compound include 2,6-diisopropylaniline, N, N-dimethylaniline, N, N-dibutylaniline, N, N-dihexylaniline and the like. Examples of the alkylamine derivative having a hydroxyl group and / or an ether bond include ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-phenyldiethanolamine, and tris (methoxyethoxyethyl) amine. Examples of aniline derivatives having a hydroxyl group and / or an ether bond include N, N-bis (hydroxyethyl) aniline.

  Preferred examples of the basic compound further include an amine compound having a phenoxy group, an ammonium salt compound having a phenoxy group, an amine compound having a sulfonic acid ester group, and an ammonium salt compound having a sulfonic acid ester group.

As the amine compound, a primary, secondary or tertiary amine compound can be used, and an amine compound in which at least one alkyl group is bonded to a nitrogen atom is preferable. The amine compound is more preferably a tertiary amine compound. As long as at least one alkyl group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms) is bonded to a nitrogen atom, the amine compound has an cycloalkyl group (preferably having 3 to 20 carbon atoms) or an aryl group (preferably having 3 to 20 carbon atoms). Preferably C6-C12) may be bonded to a nitrogen atom. The amine compound preferably has an oxygen atom in the alkyl chain and an oxyalkylene group is formed. The number of oxyalkylene groups is one or more in the molecule, preferably 3 to 9, and more preferably 4 to 6. Among the oxyalkylene groups, an oxyethylene group (—CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) or an oxypropylene group (—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ O— or —CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) is preferable, and more preferably oxy Ethylene group.

As the ammonium salt compound, a primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary ammonium salt compound can be used, and an ammonium salt compound in which at least one alkyl group is bonded to a nitrogen atom is preferable. As long as at least one alkyl group (preferably having 1 to 20 carbon atoms) is bonded to a nitrogen atom, the ammonium salt compound has a cycloalkyl group (preferably having 3 to 20 carbon atoms) or an aryl group in addition to the alkyl group. (Preferably having 6 to 12 carbon atoms) may be bonded to a nitrogen atom. The ammonium salt compound preferably has an oxygen atom in the alkyl chain and an oxyalkylene group is formed. The number of oxyalkylene groups is one or more in the molecule, preferably 3 to 9, and more preferably 4 to 6. Among the oxyalkylene groups, an oxyethylene group (—CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) or an oxypropylene group (—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ O— or —CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) is preferable, and more preferably oxy Ethylene group.

  Examples of the anion of the ammonium salt compound include halogen atoms, sulfonates, borates, and phosphates. Among them, halogen atoms and sulfonates are preferable. As the halogen atom, chloride, bromide, and iodide are particularly preferable. As the sulfonate, an organic sulfonate having 1 to 20 carbon atoms is particularly preferable. Examples of the organic sulfonate include alkyl sulfonates having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and aryl sulfonates. The alkyl group of the alkyl sulfonate may have a substituent, and examples of the substituent include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, alkoxy groups, acyl groups, and aryl groups. Specific examples of the alkyl sulfonate include methane sulfonate, ethane sulfonate, butane sulfonate, hexane sulfonate, octane sulfonate, benzyl sulfonate, trifluoromethane sulfonate, pentafluoroethane sulfonate, and nonafluorobutane sulfonate. Examples of the aryl group of the aryl sulfonate include a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, and an anthracene ring. The benzene ring, naphthalene ring and anthracene ring may have a substituent, and the substituent is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms. Specific examples of the linear or branched alkyl group and cycloalkyl group include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, t-butyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl and the like. Examples of the other substituent include an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, cyano, nitro, an acyl group, and an acyloxy group.

  The amine compound having a phenoxy group and the ammonium salt compound having a phenoxy group are those having a phenoxy group at the terminal opposite to the nitrogen atom of the alkyl group of the amine compound or ammonium salt compound. The phenoxy group may have a substituent. Examples of the substituent of the phenoxy group include an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylic acid ester group, a sulfonic acid ester group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, an acyloxy group, and an aryloxy group. Etc. The substitution position of the substituent may be any of the 2-6 positions. The number of substituents may be any in the range of 1 to 5.

It is preferable to have at least one oxyalkylene group between the phenoxy group and the nitrogen atom. The number of oxyalkylene groups is one or more in the molecule, preferably 3 to 9, and more preferably 4 to 6. Among the oxyalkylene groups, an oxyethylene group (—CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) or an oxypropylene group (—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ O— or —CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) is preferable, and more preferably oxy Ethylene group.

  In the amine compound having a sulfonic acid ester group and the ammonium salt compound having a sulfonic acid ester group, the sulfonic acid ester group may be any of alkyl sulfonic acid ester, cycloalkyl group sulfonic acid ester, and aryl sulfonic acid ester. In the case of an alkyl sulfonate ester, the alkyl group has 1 to 20 carbon atoms, in the case of a cycloalkyl sulfonate ester, the cycloalkyl group has 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and in the case of an aryl sulfonate ester, the aryl group has 6 carbon atoms. ~ 12 are preferred. Alkyl sulfonic acid ester, cycloalkyl sulfonic acid ester, and aryl sulfonic acid ester may have a substituent. Examples of the substituent include a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylic acid ester group, and a sulfonic acid. An ester group is preferred.

It is preferable to have at least one oxyalkylene group between the sulfonate group and the nitrogen atom. The number of oxyalkylene groups is one or more in the molecule, preferably 3 to 9, and more preferably 4 to 6. Among the oxyalkylene groups, an oxyethylene group (—CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) or an oxypropylene group (—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ O— or —CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O—) is preferable, and more preferably oxy Ethylene group.
These basic compounds are used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The usage-amount of a basic compound is 0.001-10 mass% normally on the basis of solid content of a positive resist composition, Preferably it is 0.01-5 mass%.

  The use ratio of the acid generator and the basic compound in the composition is preferably acid generator / basic compound (molar ratio) = 2.5 to 300. In other words, the molar ratio is preferably 2.5 or more from the viewpoint of sensitivity and resolution, and is preferably 300 or less from the viewpoint of suppressing the reduction in resolution due to the thickening of the resist pattern over time until post-exposure heat treatment. The acid generator / basic compound (molar ratio) is more preferably 5.0 to 200, still more preferably 7.0 to 150.

Surfactant The positive resist composition of the present invention preferably further contains a surfactant, and a fluorine-based and / or silicon-based surfactant (fluorine-based surfactant, silicon-based surfactant, fluorine atom and It is more preferable to contain any one or two or more of surfactants having both silicon atoms.

  When the positive resist composition of the present invention contains the above-described surfactant, a resist pattern with good adhesion and low development defects can be obtained with good sensitivity and resolution when using an exposure light source of 250 nm or less, particularly 220 nm or less. It becomes possible.

  Examples of the fluorine-based and / or silicon-based surfactant include, for example, JP-A No. 62-36663, JP-A No. 61-226746, JP-A No. 61-226745, JP-A No. 62-170950, JP 63-34540 A, JP 7-230165 A, JP 8-62834 A, JP 9-54432 A, JP 9-5988 A, JP 2002-277862 A, US Patent Nos. 5,405,720, 5,360,692, 5,529,881, 5,296,330, 5,436,098, 5,576,143, 5,294,511, 5,824,451 Surfactant can be mentioned, The following commercially available surfactant can also be used as it is.

  Examples of commercially available surfactants that can be used include EFTOP EF301 and EF303 (manufactured by Shin-Akita Kasei Co., Ltd.), Florard FC430, 431 and 4430 (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), MegaFuck F171, F173, F176 and F189. , F113, F110, F177, F120, R08 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.), Surflon S-382, SC101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 (manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.), Troisol S-366 (Manufactured by Troy Chemical Co., Ltd.), GF-300, GF-150 (manufactured by Toa Gosei Chemical Co., Ltd.), Surflon S-393 (manufactured by Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.), F-top EF121, EF122A, EF122B, RF122C, EF125M , EF135M, EF351, 352, EF801, EF802, EF 01 (manufactured by Gemco), PF636, PF656, PF6320, PF6520 (manufactured by OMNOVA), FTX-204G, 208G, 218G, 230G, 204D, 208D, 212D, 218D, 222D (manufactured by Neos) 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 the silicon 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 link) or poly (block link of oxyethylene and oxypropylene) 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 ₃ F ₇ group and (poly (oxy) And a copolymer of (ethylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate) and (poly (oxypropylene)) acrylate (or methacrylate).

In the present invention, other surfactants other than fluorine-based and / or silicon-based surfactants can also be used. Specifically, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, polyoxyethylene nonylphenol ether, etc. Sorbitans such as polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ethers, polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene block copolymers, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan tristearate Fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopa Mite - DOO, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, may be mentioned polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate nonionic surfactants of polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters such as such.
These surfactants may be used alone or in several combinations.

  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).

Carboxylic acid onium salt The positive resist composition in the present invention may contain a carboxylic acid onium salt. Examples of the carboxylic acid onium salt include a carboxylic acid sulfonium salt, a carboxylic acid iodonium salt, and a carboxylic acid ammonium salt. In particular, as the carboxylic acid onium salt, an iodonium salt and a sulfonium salt are preferable. Furthermore, it is preferable that the carboxylate residue of the carboxylic acid onium salt of the present invention does not contain an aromatic group or a carbon-carbon double bond. As a particularly preferable anion moiety, a linear, branched, monocyclic or polycyclic alkylcarboxylic acid anion having 1 to 30 carbon atoms is preferable. More preferably, an anion of a carboxylic acid in which some or all of these alkyl groups are fluorine-substituted is preferable. The alkyl chain may contain an oxygen atom. This ensures transparency with respect to light of 220 nm or less, improves sensitivity and resolution, and improves density dependency and exposure margin.

  Fluoro-substituted carboxylic acid anions include fluoroacetic acid, difluoroacetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, pentafluoropropionic acid, heptafluorobutyric acid, nonafluoropentanoic acid, perfluorododecanoic acid, perfluorotridecanoic acid, perfluorocyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 2 , 2-bistrifluoromethylpropionic acid anion and the like.

  These carboxylic acid onium salts can be synthesized by reacting sulfonium hydroxide, iodonium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide and carboxylic acid with silver oxide in a suitable solvent.

  The content of the carboxylic acid onium salt in the composition is generally 0.1 to 20% by mass, preferably 0.5 to 10% by mass, more preferably 1 to 7% by mass, based on the total solid content of the composition. %.

Dissolution-inhibiting compound having a molecular weight of 3000 or less that decomposes by the action of an acid to increase the solubility in an alkali developer. Dissolution-inhibiting compound having a molecular weight of 3000 or less that decomposes by the action of an acid to increase the solubility in an alkali developer. (Hereinafter also referred to as “dissolution-inhibiting compound”), since it does not lower the permeability of 220 nm or less, like cholic acid derivatives containing acid-decomposable groups described in Proceeding of SPIE, 2724,355 (1996). An alicyclic or aliphatic compound containing an acid-decomposable group is preferred. Examples of the acid-decomposable group and alicyclic structure are the same as those described for the component (A) resin.

  When the positive resist composition of the present invention is exposed with a KrF excimer laser or irradiated with an electron beam, it preferably contains a structure in which the phenolic hydroxyl group of the phenol compound is substituted with an acid-decomposable group. As a phenol compound, what contains 1-9 phenol frame | skeleton is preferable, More preferably, it contains 2-6 pieces.

The molecular weight of the dissolution inhibiting compound in the present invention is 3000 or less, preferably 300 to 3000, and more preferably 500 to 2500.
The addition amount of the dissolution inhibiting compound is preferably 3 to 50% by mass, more preferably 5 to 40% by mass, based on the solid content of the positive resist composition.
Specific examples of the dissolution inhibiting compound are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Other Additives In the positive resist composition of the present invention, if necessary, a dye, a plasticizer, a photosensitizer, a light absorber, and a compound that promotes solubility in a developer (for example, a molecular weight of 1000 or less) A phenol compound, an alicyclic compound having a carboxyl group, or an aliphatic compound).

  Such phenolic compounds having a molecular weight of 1000 or less can be obtained by referring to, for example, the methods described in JP-A-4-1222938, JP-A-2-28531, US Pat. No. 4,916,210, European Patent 219294, etc. It can be easily synthesized by those skilled in the art.

  Specific examples of alicyclic or aliphatic compounds having a carboxyl group include carboxylic acid derivatives having a steroid structure such as cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid, adamantane carboxylic acid derivatives, adamantane dicarboxylic acid, cyclohexane carboxylic acid, cyclohexane Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, dicarboxylic acids.

Pattern Forming Method The positive resist composition of the present invention is preferably used at a film thickness of 30 to 250 nm, more preferably at a film thickness of 30 to 200 nm, from the viewpoint of improving resolution. Such a film thickness can be obtained by setting the solid content concentration in the positive resist composition to an appropriate range to give an appropriate viscosity and improving the coating property and film forming property.

  The total solid content concentration in the positive resist composition is generally 1 to 10% by mass, more preferably 1 to 8.0% by mass, and still more preferably 1.0 to 6.0% by mass.

  The positive resist composition of the present invention is used by dissolving the above components in a predetermined organic solvent, preferably the mixed solvent, filtering the solution, and then applying the solution on a predetermined support as follows. The pore size of the filter used for filter filtration is preferably 0.1 μm or less, more preferably 0.05 μm or less, and still more preferably 0.03 μm or less made of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, or nylon.

For example, a positive resist composition is coated on a substrate (eg, silicon / silicon dioxide coating) used for manufacturing a precision integrated circuit element by an appropriate coating method such as a spinner or a coater, and dried to form a resist film. Form.
The resist film is irradiated with actinic rays or radiation through a predetermined mask, preferably baked (heated), developed and rinsed. Thereby, a good pattern can be obtained.

Examples of the actinic ray or radiation include infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, far ultraviolet light, X-ray, electron beam, etc., preferably 250 nm or less, more preferably 220 nm or less, particularly preferably 1 to 1. Far ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm, specifically, KrF excimer laser (248 nm), ArF excimer laser (193 nm), F ₂ excimer laser (157 nm), X-ray, electron beam, etc. ArF excimer laser, F ₂ Excimer laser, EUV (13 nm), and electron beam are preferable.

Before forming the resist film, an antireflection film may be coated on the substrate in advance.
As the antireflection film, any of an inorganic film type such as titanium, titanium dioxide, titanium nitride, chromium oxide, carbon, and amorphous silicon, and an organic film type made of a light absorber and a polymer material can be used. In addition, as the organic antireflection film, commercially available organic antireflection films such as DUV30 series, DUV-40 series manufactured by Brewer Science, AR-2, AR-3, AR-5 manufactured by Shipley, etc. may be used. it can.

In the development step, an alkaline developer is used as follows. Examples of the alkali developer for the positive resist composition include inorganic hydroxides 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, alcohol amines such as dimethylethanolamine and triethanolamine, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide Alkaline aqueous solutions of cyclic amines such as quaternary ammonium salts such as pyrrole and pihelidine can be used.
Furthermore, alcohols and surfactants can be added in appropriate amounts to the alkaline developer.

The alkali concentration of the alkali developer is usually from 0.1 to 20% by mass.
The pH of the alkali developer is usually from 10.0 to 15.0.
Furthermore, alcohols and surfactants can be added in appropriate amounts to the alkaline aqueous solution.
As the rinsing liquid, pure water can be used, and an appropriate amount of a surfactant can be added.
Further, after the development process or the rinsing process, a process of removing the developer or the rinsing liquid adhering to the pattern with a supercritical fluid can be performed.

<Synthesis of Resin (A)>
[Synthesis of Resin (1)]
Under a nitrogen stream, 8.6 g of cyclohexanone was placed in a three-necked flask and heated to 80 ° C. To this, 9.8 g of 2-adamantyl isopropyl methacrylate, 4.4 g of dihydroxyadamantyl methacrylate, 8.9 g of norbornane lactone methacrylate, and 8 mol% of a polymerization initiator V-601 (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries) were dissolved in 79 g of cyclohexanone. The solution was added dropwise over 6 hours. After completion of dropping, the reaction was further carried out at 80 ° C. for 2 hours. The reaction solution was allowed to cool and then added dropwise to a mixed solution of hexane 800 ml / ethyl acetate 200 ml over 20 minutes, and the precipitated powder was collected by filtration and dried to obtain 19 g of Resin (1). The weight average molecular weight of the obtained resin was 8800 in terms of standard polystyrene, and the dispersity (Mw / Mn) was 1.9.
[Synthesis of Resins (2) to (27)]
Resins (2) to (27) were synthesized by the same method as for resin (1).

The structure of the acid-decomposable resin (A) used in the examples is shown below. Table 2 below shows the molar ratio of repeating units in each resin (corresponding in order from the left in the structural formula), weight average molecular weight (Mw), and dispersity (Mw / Mn).

<Synthesis of Resin (C)>
[Synthesis of Resin C-I]
Perfluorodiene (III) (1.12 g, GC purity 95%), fluorine-containing diol (IV-26) (1.34 g), tetrabutylammonium bromide (0.18 g), acetonitrile (1 ml), α, α, α -A solution of trifluoromethylbenzene (10 ml) and potassium hydroxide (0.32 g) in water (10 ml) was stirred at 50 ° C for 41 hours. Liquid separation was carried out after cooling to room temperature. The organic layer was washed with water and saturated brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The concentrated residue (2.1 g) was dissolved in acetone (2 ml), reprecipitated with chloroform (300 ml) and dried to obtain 0.5 g of white crystals.

  As a result of GPC measurement, the number average molecular weight of this polymer was 11,500, and the weight average molecular weight was 15,800 (all in terms of styrene).

[Synthesis of Resins C-II to C-VI]
Resins C-II to C-VI were synthesized in the same manner as Resin CI.
[Resin C-II]

  As a result of GPC measurement, the polymer had a number average molecular weight of 15,000 and a weight average molecular weight of 37,200 (all in terms of styrene).

[Resin C-III]

  As a result of GPC measurement, the number average molecular weight of this polymer was 14,800 (in terms of styrene).

[Resin C-IV]

  This polymer had an average number of repeating units of about 60 from NMR.

[Resin C-V]

  As a result of GPC measurement, the number average molecular weight of this polymer was 22,900, and the weight average molecular weight was 52,800 (all in terms of styrene).

[Resin C-VI]

  As a result of GPC measurement, the polymer had a number average molecular weight of 12,600 and a weight average molecular weight of 20,500 (all in terms of styrene).

<Resist preparation>
The components shown in Table 2 below were dissolved in a solvent to prepare a solution having a solid content concentration of 5% by mass for each, and this was filtered through a polyethylene filter having a pore size of 0.1 μm to prepare a positive resist composition. The prepared positive resist composition was evaluated by the following method, and the results are shown in Table 2.

<Image performance test>
[Exposure conditions: ArF immersion exposure]
An organic antireflection film ARC29A (manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was applied onto a silicon wafer and baked at 205 ° C. for 60 seconds to form an antireflection film having a thickness of 98 nm. A positive resist composition prepared thereon was applied, and baked at 130 ° C. for 60 seconds to form a resist film having a thickness of 120 nm. The obtained wafer was exposed through a 6% halftone mask having a 75 nm 1: 1 line and space pattern using an ArF excimer laser immersion scanner (XT1250i, NA0.85, manufactured by ASML). Ultra pure water was used as the immersion liquid. Thereafter, heating was performed at 130 ° C. for 60 seconds, followed by development with an aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution (2.38 mass%) for 30 seconds, rinsing with pure water, and spin drying to obtain a resist pattern.

[Pattern collapse]
Pattern collapse occurs when the exposure amount that reproduces a 75 nm line and space pattern is the optimum exposure amount, and the dense pattern of line and space 1: 1 and the isolated pattern of line and space 1:10 are exposed at the optimum exposure amount. The line width at which the pattern was resolved without falling down in a fine mask size was defined as the limit pattern falling line width. A smaller value indicates that a finer pattern is resolved without falling, and pattern falling is less likely to occur.
[Line edge roughness (LER)]
For the range of 5 μm edge in the longitudinal direction of the line pattern, measure the distance from the reference line where the edge should be at 50 points with a length measuring SEM (S-8840, manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.), calculate the standard deviation, and calculate 3σ did. A value of less than 5.0 was evaluated as ◯, a value of 5.0 to 7.0 was evaluated as Δ, and a value exceeding 7.0 was evaluated as ×. A smaller value indicates better performance.

[Scum]
The development residue (scum) in a resist pattern with a line width of 75 nm was observed using a scanning electron microscope (S-4800, manufactured by Hitachi). X, and the middle was marked with ○.

[Water followability]
The prepared positive resist composition was applied onto a silicon wafer and baked at 130 ° C. for 60 seconds to form a 160 nm thick resist film. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, pure water 2 was filled between the wafer 1 coated with the obtained positive resist composition and the quartz glass substrate 3. In this state, the quartz glass substrate 3 was moved (scanned) in parallel to the surface of the resist-coated substrate 1, and the state of the pure water 2 following it was visually observed. The scanning speed of the quartz glass substrate 3 is gradually increased, and the pure water 2 cannot follow the scanning speed of the quartz glass substrate 3 to obtain the limit scanning speed (mm / second) at which water droplets start to remain on the retreat side. Follow-up was evaluated. As this limit scan speed is larger, water can follow a higher scan speed, and the water followability on the resist film is better.

[Development defect evaluation]
Using a defect inspection device KLA2360 (trade name) manufactured by KLA-Tencor Corporation, the pixel size of the defect inspection device is set to 0.16 μm, the threshold value is set to 20, and measurement is performed in a random mode. And the number of development defects per unit area was calculated. A value of less than 0.5 was marked as a double circle, a value of 0.5 or more and less than 0.7 as ◯, a value of 0.7 or more and less than 1.0 as Δ, and a value exceeding 1.0 as x. A smaller value indicates better performance.

  The symbols in Table 3 and Table 4 are as follows.

  The acid generator corresponds to that exemplified above.

N-1: N, N-dibutylaniline N-2: N, N-dihexylaniline N-3: 2,6-diisopropylaniline N-4: tri-n-octylamine N-5: N, N-dihydroxyethyl Aniline N-6: 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole N-7: Tris (methoxyethoxyethyl) amine N-8: 2-phenylbenzimidazole N-9: 2- [2- {2- (2,2 -Dimethoxy-phenoxyethoxy) ethyl} -bis- (2-methoxyethyl)]-amine W-1: Megafac F176 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc., fluorine-based)
W-2: Megafuck R08 (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd., fluorine and silicon)
W-3: Polysiloxane polymer KP-341 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., silicon-based)
W-4: Troisol S-366 (manufactured by Troy Chemical Co., Ltd.)
W-5: PF656 (manufactured by OMNOVA, fluorine-based)
W-6: PF6320 (manufactured by OMNOVA, fluorine-based)
SL-1: Cyclohexanone SL-2: Propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate SL-3: Ethyl lactate SL-4: Propylene glycol monomethyl ether SL-5: γ-butyrolactone SL-6: Propylene carbonate From the results shown in Tables 3 and 4 The resist pattern formed using the photosensitive resist composition of the present invention is compared with the resist pattern formed using the conventional photosensitive resist composition, and pattern collapse, LER, scum, development defect, and immersion exposure It was found that the water has excellent performance in any of the water following characteristics.

The schematic diagram for demonstrating the evaluation method of water followability.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wafer 2 ... Pure water 3 ... Quartz glass substrate 4 ... Resist film

Claims (11)

(A) a resin whose solubility in an alkaline developer is increased by the action of an acid;
(B) a compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation,
(C) An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition containing a resin having an ether bond and a fluorine atom in the main chain.   Resin (C) has two ether bonds formed by connecting a divalent organic group and two vinyl groups directly connected to an oxygen atom through the organic group via the oxygen atom. 2. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive unit according to claim 1, comprising a repeating unit derived from a compound having two repeating units derived from a compound in which the two vinyl groups and the organic group contain a fluorine atom. Resin composition. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the resin (C) has a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (i).

In the formula, Rf ₁ represents a perfluoroalkylene group, a group having an ether bond in the perfluoroalkylene group, a perfluorocycloalkylene group, or a group having an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkylene group. Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ are each independently a fluorine atom, a perfluoroalkyl group, a group having an ether bond in a perfluoroalkylene group, a perfluorocycloalkylene group, a group having an ether bond in a perfluorocycloalkylene group, a perfluoroalkoxy group or a perfluoro A group having an ether bond in an alkoxy group is shown. Rf ₁ , Rf ₂ and Rf ₃ may be bonded to form a ring. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to claim 3, wherein the repeating unit represented by the general formula (i) is a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (ii).

In the formula, Rf ₄ represents a tetravalent perfluoro linking group. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to claim 4, wherein the repeating unit represented by the general formula (ii) is a repeating unit represented by the following formula (iii).

The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the resin (C) further has a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (iv).

In the formula, X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and L represents a divalent organic group. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to claim 6, wherein L is a divalent organic group represented by the following general formula (v), (vi), or (vii): .

In the formula, Rf ₅ ′ represents a divalent perfluoroalkylene group, a group having an ether bond in the perfluoroalkylene group, a perfluorocycloalkylene group, or a group having an ether bond in the perfluorocycloalkylene group. Ar ₁ ′ represents a divalent arylene group and may have a substituent. R ₆ represents a divalent alkylene group, an arylene group or an aralkylene group, and the alkylene group, arylene group or aralkylene group may have an ether bond, a thioether bond or a sulfonyl group, and may have a substituent. Also good.   The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the resin (A) contains a repeating unit containing a lactone structure.   The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the resin (A) has a monocyclic or polycyclic acid labile group.   The actinic ray sensitive or radiation sensitive resin composition in any one of Claims 1-9 whose content rate of resin (C) is 0.1-10 mass% on the basis of resin (A).   A pattern forming method comprising the steps of forming a resist film with the actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition according to claim 1, immersion exposure, and development.

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