An overlay correcting method capable of optimizing correction of an overlay within a scanner correction limit of a scanner of a scanner system, and a photolithography method, a semiconductor device manufacturing method and the scanner system which are based on the overlay correcting method are provided. The overlay correcting method includes collecting overlay data by measuring an overlay of a pattern; calculating correction parameters of the overlay by performing regularized regression using the overlay data, the regularized regression being based on a correction limit of the scanner such that the correction parameters fall within the correction limit of the scanner; and providing the correction parameters to the scanner.

A silicon-containing composition includes a polysiloxane compound and solvent. The polysiloxane compound includes a fluorine atom and a group including an ester bond. The polysiloxane compound preferably includes a first structural unit represented by formula (1), and a second structural unit represented by formula (2). X represents a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and comprising a fluorine atom; R.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; Y represents a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and comprising an ester bond; and R.sup.2 represents a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

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Provided is a reflective mask blank with which it is possible to further reduce the shadowing effect of a reflective mask, and also possible to form a fine and highly accurate phase-shift pattern. A reflective mask blank having, in the following order on a substrate, a multilayer reflective film and a phase-shift film that shifts the phase of EUV light, said reflective mask blank characterized in that the phase-shift film has a thin film comprising a metal-containing material that contains: ruthenium (Ru); and at least one element from among chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), (Co), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), germanium (Ge), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), tellurium (Te), hafnium (Hf), tungsten (W), and rhenium (Re).

An organically modified metal oxide nanoparticle includes a core, a first modification group, and a second modification group. The core includes a plurality of metal atoms and a plurality of oxygen atoms bonded to the plurality of metal atoms. The first modification group is a saturated carboxylic acid/carboxylate ligand coordinated to the core. The second modification group is coordinated to the core, and is an inorganic anion having a smaller size than the first modification group and/or a saturated carboxylic acid/carboxylate ligand having a smaller molecular weight than the first modification group.

A photosensitive resin composition comprising (A) a silicone resin comprising recurring units having formula (a1) and recurring units having formula (b1), (B) a filler, and (C) a photoacid generator is coated onto a substrate to form a photosensitive resin coating which can be processed into a fine pattern in thick film form, has improved film properties like crack resistance, and is reliable as protective film. ##STR00001##

Alternating copolymers having hydrocarbon-substituted terminal units and repeat units each containing two different monomer units with extreme ultraviolet (EUV)-absorbing elements are disclosed. Alternating copolymers having organic terminal units and repeat units each containing a monomer unit with an EUV-absorbing element and an organic monomer unit are also disclosed. A process of forming a polymer resist, which includes providing an alternating copolymer having repeat units with at least one EUV-absorbing monomer unit and replacing end groups of the alternating copolymer with unreactive terminal units, is disclosed as well.

A light-enhanced wafer processing system disclosed herein which includes a rotatable chuck configured to support and selectively rotate at least one wafer, at least one dispenser body configured to selectively flow at least one photolytic material onto a surface of the wafer, and at least one optical radiation source may be configured to provide optical radiation to at least a portion of the wafer having photolytic material applied thereto, wherein the optical radiation is configured to result in the formation of optically-induced radicals having enhanced reactivity with at least one material applied to the wafer.

A composition includes two or more near infrared absorbing compounds having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 650 to 1000 nm and having a solubility of 0.1 mass % or lower in water at 23° C., in which the two or more near infrared absorbing compounds include a first near infrared absorbing compound having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 650 to 1000 nm, and a second near infrared absorbing compound having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 650 to 1000 nm which is shorter than the absorption maximum of the first near infrared absorbing compound, and a difference between the absorption maximum of the first near infrared absorbing compound and the absorption maximum of the second near infrared absorbing compound is 1 to 150 nm.

Provided is a film for application to a 3D sample, the film including a photoresist layer that has alignment or direction marks thereon. After the fine pattern of the photoresist layer or coat is exposed, the photoresist layer is applied to a desired position of the 3D sample by aligning the alignment or direction marks of the film with alignment or direction marks on the 3D sample. This allows for transfer of an appropriate fine pattern. Part or all of the thickness or area of the photoresist layer is developed to form projections or depressions in the photoresist layer before the film is applied to the 3D sample.

The present disclosure is directed to organotin cluster compounds having formula (I) and their use as photoresists in extreme ultraviolet lithography processes.

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