Resist composition

Abstract

The resist composition of the present invention, ensuring excellent pattern profile and excellent isolation performance for use in the pattern formation by the irradiation of actinic rays or radiation, particularly, electron beam, X ray or EUV light, which comprising (A) a compound having a specific partial structure and a counter ion, the compound generating an acid upon irradiation of actinic rays or radiation.

1 . A negative resist composition comprising: 
 (A) a compound generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation, the compound having: a partial structure represented by the following formula (1); and a counter ion;    (B) an alkali-soluble resin; and    (C) a crosslinking agent capable of undergoing an addition reaction with the alkali-soluble resin (B) under the action of an acid,    wherein the composition comprises the compound (A) in an amount of from 3.6 to 15 wt % based on the solids content of the composition:                          wherein X represents a sulfur atom or an iodine atom and the plurality of Xs may be the same or different,    R 1  and R 2  each independently represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent; when a plurality of R 1 s are present, the plurality of R 1 s may be the same or different; the plurality of R 2 s may be the same or different; and R 1  and R 2  may combine to form a ring,    A and B each independently represents a hydrocarbon structure connecting between X +  s, and at least two of X + s connected with B are in a conjugated system; and when a plurality of As are present, the plurality of As may be the same or different,    l represents 0 or 1, and, when X is a sulfur atom, l parenthesizing R 1  connected to X +  is 1 and when X is an iodine atom, l parenthesizing R 1  connected to X +  is 0,    m represents an integer of 0 to 10, and    n represents an integer of 1 to 5.    
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 1 , which further comprises (F) a nitrogen-containing basic compound.  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the counter ion in the compound (A) is one of an anion of an aliphatic sulfonic acid and an anion of an aromatic sulfonic acid.  
     
     
         8 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the anion of an aliphatic sulfonic acid and an anion of an aromatic sulfonic acid contain a fluorine atom as a substituent.  
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in the formula (1), B is a benzene ring, n is 1 and m is 0.  
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in the formula (1), the hydrocarbon structure of A is a hydrocarbon structure having: from 4 to 16 carbon atoms; a single bond consisting of (carbon-carbon) bond; and one of a double bond and a triple bond, and the hydrocarbon structure may have an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.  
     
     
         14 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in the formula (1), the hydrocarbon structure of B is a conjugated hydrocarbon structure having: from 4 to 16 carbon atoms; a single bond (carbon-carbon) bond; and one of a double bond and a triple bond, and the hydrocarbon structure may have an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.  
     
     
         15 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in the formula (1), the hydrocarbon structure of A is one of the followings:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         16 . The negative resist composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in the formula (1), the hydrocarbon structure of B is one of the followings:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         17 - 21 . (canceled)