Chain-Scission Polyethers for EUV Lithography

This paper describes the synthesis of acid-catalyzed chain-scission polymers and the lithographic results of these polymers in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) resist formulations. These platforms incorporate acid-catalyzed cleavable groups into the polymer backbone. Upon exposure to EUV light and bake, the polymer is transformed from high to low molecular weight segments in the exposed regions. Two polymers were made into resist formulations and tested at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. One of these resists appeared to have high-resolution capabilities with modulation down to 14 nm h/p lines.