Pattern forming method

Abstract

A pattern forming method which uses a positive resist composition comprises: (A) a fluorine-free resin capable of increasing its solubility in an alkaline developer under action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; (C) a fluorine-containing resin having at least one group selected from the group consisting of (X) an alkali-soluble group, (XI) a group capable of decomposing under action of an alkali developer and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer and (XII) a group capable of decomposing under action of an acid and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer; and (D) a solvent, the method comprising: (i) a step of applying the positive resist composition to a substrate to form a resist coating; (ii) a step of exposing the resist coating to light via an immersion liquid; (iii) a step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating; (iv) a step of heating the resist coating; and (v) a step of developing the resist coating.

Description

Claims

1. A pattern forming method which uses a positive resist composition comprising: (A) a fluorine-free resin capable of increasing its solubility in an alkaline developer under action of an acid;(B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation;(C) a fluorine-containing resin having at least one group selected from the group consisting of (X) an alkali-soluble group, (XI) a group capable of decomposing under action of an alkali developer and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer and (XII) a group capable of decomposing under action of an acid and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer; and(D) a solvent,the method comprising:(i) a step of applying the positive resist composition to a substrate to form a resist coating;(ii) a step of exposing the resist coating to light via an immersion liquid;(iii) a step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating;(iv) a step of heating the resist coating; and(v) a step of developing the resist coating.

2. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein the resin (A) has a mononuclear or polynuclear alicyclic hydrocarbon structure.

3. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein the resist coating is exposed to light of a wavelength of 193 nm.

4. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of cleaning the resist coating surface prior to (ii) the step of exposing the resist coating to light via an immersion liquid.

5. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein (iii) the step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating is a step of removing the immersion liquid by feeding a water-miscible organic solvent onto the resist coating.

6. The pattern forming method according to claim 5, wherein the water-miscible organic solvent is isopropyl alcohol.

7. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein the resin (C) has a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000.

8. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein the resin (C) is added in an amount of 0.1 to 5 mass % based on the total solids in the positive resist composition.

9. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein (iii) the step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating comprises forming a liquid film (puddle) of the immersion liquid and then removing the liquid film so as not to left any liquid drops.

10. The pattern forming method according to claim 9, wherein the step of removing the liquid film is a step of removing the liquid film while rotating the substrate at 500 rpm or above.

11. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein the resin (A) comprises a repeating unit having a polycyclic hydrocarbon group substituted by a hydroxyl group or a cyano group.

12. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein the resin (C) is an alkali-soluble resin having the alkali-soluble group (X), and the alkali-soluble group (X) is represented by —C(CF3)(CF3)(OH).

13. The pattern forming method according to claim 1, wherein the resin (A) comprises:a repeating unit represented by formula (A1);a repeating unit represented by formula (A2); anda repeating unit represented by formula (A3),