A radiation sensitive composition including a siloxane polymer exhibiting phenoplast crosslinking reactivity as a base resin, which is excellent in resolution and can be used as a radiation sensitive composition capable of allowing a pattern having a desired-shape to be formed with sufficient precision. A radiation sensitive composition including as a silane, a hydrolyzable silane, a hydrolysis product thereof, or a hydrolysis-condensation product thereof; and a photoacid generator, in which the hydrolyzable silane includes hydrolyzable silanes of Formula (1)
R.sup.1.sub.aR.sup.2.sub.bSi(R.sup.3).sub.4-(a+b)  Formula (1)
wherein R.sup.1 is an organic group of Formula (1-2) ##STR00001##
and is bonded to a silicon atom through a Si—C bond or a Si—O bond, and R.sup.3 is a hydrolyzable group; and Formula (2)
R.sup.7.sub.cR.sup.8.sub.dSi(R.sup.9).sub.4-(c+d)  Formula (2)
wherein R.sup.7 is an organic group of Formula (2-1) ##STR00002##
and is bonded to a silicon atom through a Si—C bond or a Si—O bond, and R.sup.9 is a hydrolyzable group.

A method and corresponding spin coater is provided for forming a layer of uniform thickness on a semiconductor wafer having a central region and an outer edge. The method includes: depositing a flowable coating material on the semiconductor wafer at the central region, the layer being formed from the coating material; rotating the semiconductor wafer about an axis such that a centrifugal force urges the coating material to spread from the central region toward the outer edge of the semiconductor wafer; and creating a pressure differential in one or more regions proximate to the outer edge of the semiconductor wafer. The pressure differential may be created by a wall with pins holes, the wall at least partially encircling the outer edge of the semiconductor wafer.

A liquid treatment apparatus includes: a substrate holder for holding a substrate; a discharge nozzle for discharging a treatment liquid onto the substrate; a liquid supply pipe for supplying the treatment liquid from a treatment liquid storage source to the discharge nozzle; a gas pipe that encompasses the liquid supply pipe and through which an inert gas for adjusting the temperature of the treatment liquid flows in a space between the gas pipe and the liquid supply pipe; a processing container in which the substrate holder, the discharge nozzle, the liquid supply pipe, and the gas pipe are provided; and an atmosphere gas supply part for supplying an atmosphere gas into the processing container. The gas pipe is provided so that an extension portion between an upstream end inside the processing container and an encompassing portion is folded back inside the processing container in a plan view.

A temperature controlling apparatus includes a platen, a first and a second conduits, and a first and a second outlet thermal sensors. The first conduit includes a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first heater. A first fluid enters the first inlet and exits the first outlet, the first heater heats the first fluid to a first heating temperature, and the first fluid is dispensed on the platen. The second conduit includes a second inlet, a second outlet, and a second heater. A second fluid enters the second inlet and exits the second outlet, the second heater heats the second fluid to a second heating temperature, and the second fluid is dispensed on the platen. The first and the second outlet thermal sensors are respectively disposed at the first and the second outlets to sense temperatures of the first and the second fluid.

A multi-spray RRC process with dynamic control to improve final yield and further reduce resist cost is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method, includes: dispensing a first layer of solvent on a semiconductor substrate while spinning at a first speed for a first time period; dispensing the solvent on the semiconductor substrate while spinning at a second speed for a second time period so as to transform the first layer to a second layer of the solvent; dispensing the solvent on the semiconductor substrate While spinning at a third speed for a third time period so as to transform the second layer to a third layer of the solvent; dispensing the solvent on the semiconductor substrate while spinning at a fourth speed for a fourth time period so as to transform the third layer to a fourth layer of the solvent; and dispensing a first layer of photoresist on the fourth layer of the solvent while spinning at a fifth speed for a fifth period of time.

A hard mask-forming composition which forms a hard mask used in lithography, including: a resin containing an aromatic ring and a polar group; and a compound containing at least one of an oxazine ring fused to an aromatic ring, and a fluorene ring.

A solution dispense system for a semiconductor manufacturing process includes a longer circulation loop in order to minimize the idle section from resist pump to dispense nozzle. A t-valve and control valve are disposed close to the nozzle in order to decrease the idle section and reduce material consumption.

A photoresist composition, including an acid-sensitive polymer and photoacid generator compound having Formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein, EWG, Y, R, and M.sup.+ are the same as described in the specification.

A negative resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having at least two acid-eliminatable hydroxyl or alkoxy groups in the molecule is effective for forming a resist pattern having a high resolution and minimal LER while minimizing defects.

Disclosed are a compound represented by formula (I), a resin including a structural unit derived from the compound, and a resist composition: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group which may have a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; A.sup.1 represents a single bond or *-A.sup.2-CO—O—; A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 represent an alkanediyl group; W represents a divalent monocyclic saturated alicyclic hydrocarbon group; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may have a fluorine atom, etc., R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, —CH.sub.2— in the group may be replaced by —O—, —S—, etc., R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, or R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be bonded each other to form a ring which may have a fluorine atom or an alkyl group.