Methods and apparatuses for minimizing line edge/width roughness in lines formed by photolithography are provided. In one example, a method of processing a substrate includes applying a photoresist layer comprising a photoacid generator to on a multi-layer disposed on a substrate, wherein the multi-layer comprises an underlayer formed from an organic material, inorganic material, or a mixture of organic and inorganic materials, exposing a first portion of the photoresist layer unprotected by a photomask to a radiation light in a lithographic exposure process, and applying an electric field or a magnetic field to alter movement of photoacid generated from the photoacid generator substantially in a vertical direction.

A method of generating a layout pattern includes disposing a photoresist layer of a resist material on a substrate and disposing a top layer over of the photoresist layer. The top layer is transparent for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation and the top layer is opaque for deep ultraviolet (DUV) radiation. The method further includes irradiating the photoresist layer with radiation generated from an EUV radiation source. The radiation passes through the top layer to expose the photoresist layer.

A method of generating a layout pattern includes disposing a photoresist layer of a resist material on a substrate and disposing a top layer over of the photoresist layer. The top layer is transparent for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation and the top layer is opaque for deep ultraviolet (DUV) radiation. The method further includes irradiating the photoresist layer with radiation generated from an EUV radiation source. The radiation passes through the top layer to expose the photoresist layer.

A resist composition including: a base material component (A), a compound (B1) represented by Formula (b1-1), and a fluorine additive component (F) which contains a fluororesin component (F1) having a constitutional unit (f1) represented by Formula (f-1) and a constitutional unit (f2) represented by Formula (f-2); in Formula (b1-1), V.sup.b01 represents a fluorinated alkylene group, R.sup.b02 represents a fluorine atom or a hydrogen atom, a total number of fluorine atoms as V.sup.b01 and R.sup.b02 is 2 or 3; in Formula (f-1), Rf.sup.1 represents a monovalent organic group having a fluorine atom; in Formula (f-2), Rf.sup.2 represents a group represented by Formula (f2-r-1), which is a group containing a polycyclic aliphatic cyclic group. ##STR00001##

A method of forming a pattern in a photoresist layer includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate, and reducing moisture or oxygen absorption characteristics of the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to form a latent pattern, and the latent pattern is developed by applying a developer to the selectively exposed photoresist layer to form a pattern.

A fluorocarboxylic acid-containing polymer comprising recurring units having formula (A1), but not acid labile group-containing recurring units is provided. A resist composition comprising the same offers a high sensitivity and is unsusceptible to nano-bridging or pattern collapse independent of whether it is of positive or negative tone. ##STR00001##

A fluorocarboxylic acid-containing polymer comprising recurring units having formula (A1), but not acid labile group-containing recurring units is provided. A resist composition comprising the same offers a high sensitivity and is unsusceptible to nano-bridging or pattern collapse independent of whether it is of positive or negative tone. ##STR00001##

A method for producing a composition for forming a non-photosensitive upper layer film that is disposed on a workpiece and a photosensitive resist film, the production method includes cleaning a production device for a composition X.sub.A for forming a non-photosensitive upper layer film with a cleaning liquid to clean the production device until a concentration of a resin included in the cleaning liquid reaches 10 ppm by mass or less, discharging the cleaning liquid from the production device, and producing the composition X.sub.A for forming a non-photosensitive upper layer film using the production device. The cleaning, the discharging, and the producing are performed in this order.

A method for producing a composition for forming a non-photosensitive upper layer film that is disposed on a workpiece and a photosensitive resist film, the production method includes cleaning a production device for a composition X.sub.A for forming a non-photosensitive upper layer film with a cleaning liquid to clean the production device until a concentration of a resin included in the cleaning liquid reaches 10 ppm by mass or less, discharging the cleaning liquid from the production device, and producing the composition X.sub.A for forming a non-photosensitive upper layer film using the production device. The cleaning, the discharging, and the producing are performed in this order.

Provided is a substrate hydrophilizing agent that improves the wettability of a substrate surface with respect to a photoresist. A substrate hydrophilizing agent of the present invention is an agent for hydrophilizing a surface of a substrate on which a pattern is formed through photolithography, and contains at least the following Component (A) and Component (B). Component (A): a water-soluble oligomer having a weight average molecular weight from 100 to less than 10000. Component (B): water. The water-soluble oligomer of Component (A) is preferably a compound represented by the following Formula (a-1):
R.sup.a1O—(C.sub.3H.sub.6O.sub.2).sub.n—H  (a-1)
(where R.sup.a1 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group which may have a hydroxyl group, or an acyl group; and n is an integer from 2 to 60.)