Onium salt, chemically amplified resist composition, and patterning process

Abstract

To provide a new onium salt used for a chemically amplified resist composition having high sensitivity, excellent in resolution and capable of improving lithographic performances such as EL, LWR, CDU and DOF and suppressing collapse of a resist pattern in photolithography using high energy rays, a chemically amplified resist composition and a method for forming a pattern.SOLUTION: Onium salts comprising a cation represented by the following formula (1A) and an anion represented by the following formula (1B): SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an onium salt, a chemically amplified resist composition, and a pattern forming method. [Background technology]

[0002] As LSIs become more highly integrated and faster, pattern rules are becoming increasingly miniaturized. This is due to the increasing popularity of 5G high-speed communications and artificial intelligence (AI), which require high-performance devices to process these. The most advanced miniaturization technology is extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography with a wavelength of 13.5 nm, which is currently used to mass-produce 5 nm node devices. Furthermore, the use of EUV lithography is being considered for next-generation 3 nm node devices and the next-generation 2 nm node devices.

[0003] As miniaturization progresses, image blurring due to acid diffusion has become a problem. To ensure resolution in fine patterns with dimensions of 45 nm and smaller, it has been suggested that controlling acid diffusion is important, in addition to improving dissolution contrast, as has been proposed previously (Non-Patent Document 1). However, because chemically amplified resist compositions increase sensitivity and contrast through acid diffusion, attempts to minimize acid diffusion by lowering the post-exposure bake (PEB) temperature or shortening the time result in significant decreases in sensitivity and contrast.

[0004] The triangle trade-off relationship between sensitivity, resolution, and edge roughness (LWR) is shown. To improve resolution, it is necessary to suppress acid diffusion, but as the acid diffusion distance becomes shorter, sensitivity decreases.

[0005] It is effective to suppress acid diffusion by adding an acid generator that generates bulky acid. Therefore, it has been proposed to incorporate repeating units derived from onium salts having polymerizable unsaturated bonds into a polymer. In this case, the polymer also functions as an acid generator (polymer-bound acid generator). Patent Document 1 proposes sulfonium salts and iodonium salts having polymerizable unsaturated bonds that generate specific sulfonic acids. Patent Document 2 proposes sulfonium salts in which sulfonic acids are directly linked to the main chain.

[0006] The acid-labile groups used in (meth)acrylate polymers for ArF resist compositions undergo deprotection using an acid generator that generates a sulfonic acid substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position, but not with an acid generator that generates a sulfonic acid or carboxylic acid not substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position. When a sulfonium salt or iodonium salt that generates a sulfonic acid substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position is mixed with a sulfonium salt or iodonium salt that generates a sulfonic acid not substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position, the sulfonium salt or iodonium salt that generates a sulfonic acid not substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position undergoes ion exchange with the sulfonic acid not substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position. The sulfonic acid substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position generated by light reverts to the sulfonium salt or iodonium salt through ion exchange, and the sulfonium salt or iodonium salt of the sulfonic acid or carboxylic acid not substituted with a fluorine atom at the α-position functions as a quencher. A resist composition has been proposed that uses a sulfonium salt or iodonium salt that generates a carboxylic acid as a quencher (Patent Document 3).

[0007] Sulfonium salt-type quenchers that generate carboxylic acids have been proposed. For example, sulfonium salts of salicylic acid, β-hydroxycarboxylic acid (Patent Document 4), salicylic acid derivatives (Patent Documents 5 and 6), fluorosalicylic acid (Patent Document 7), hydroxynaphthoic acid (Patent Document 8), salicylic acid with an iodine-containing aromatic substituent (Patent Document 9), and salicylic acid with a cyclic acetal structure (Patent Document 10) have been proposed. In particular, salicylic acid is highly effective in suppressing acid diffusion due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the carboxyl group and the hydroxyl group.

[0008] It has been pointed out that aggregation of quenchers reduces the dimensional uniformity (CDU) of resist patterns. Preventing aggregation of quenchers in resist films and uniformizing their distribution is expected to improve the dimensional uniformity of patterns after development.

[0009] In response to the demand for further miniaturization, a problem that a swelling occurs in the developer during alkaline development, particularly in positive resists, resulting in pattern collapse during fine pattern formation, is posed. In order to meet such challenges in miniaturization, the development of new materials for resist compositions is important, and there is a need for the development of onium salt-type quenchers that have good sensitivity, adequately controlled acid diffusion, excellent solvent solubility, and are effective in suppressing pattern collapse. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-45311 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-178317 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-114431 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2018 / 159560 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-203984 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-91404 [Patent Document 7] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-91312 [Patent Document 8] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-120760 [Patent Document 9] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-77505 [Patent Document 10] International Publication No. 2023 / 189502 [Non-patent literature]

[0011] [Non-Patent Document 1] SPIE Vol. 6520 65203L-1 (2007) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] In response to recent demands for high-resolution resist patterns, resist compositions using conventional sulfonium salt-type acid generators and quenchers are unable to sufficiently suppress acid diffusion, resulting in problems such as deterioration of lithography performance, including contrast, exposure latitude (EL), LWR, CDU, and depth of focus (DOF). Furthermore, there is also the problem of pattern collapse due to swelling during fine pattern formation.

[0013] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a novel onium salt for use in a chemically amplified resist composition that exhibits high sensitivity and excellent resolution in photolithography using high-energy rays such as far ultraviolet rays, electron beams (EB), and EUV, and that is capable of improving lithography performance such as EL, LWR, CDU, and DOF, and also suppressing resist pattern collapse; a chemically amplified resist composition; and a pattern formation method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] As a result of extensive research into achieving the above-mentioned object, the present inventors have discovered that onium salts consisting of a sulfonium cation having a cyano group and an aromatic carboxylic acid anion containing at least one iodine atom on the aromatic ring have excellent solvent solubility, and that chemically amplified resist compositions using such onium salts as quenchers have high sensitivity and high contrast, and are excellent in lithography performance such as EL, LWR, CDU, and DOF, and are extremely effective in suppressing pattern collapse during fine pattern formation, which has led to the completion of the present invention.

[0015] That is, the present invention provides the following onium salt, chemically amplified resist composition, and pattern forming method. 1. An onium salt comprising a cation represented by the following formula (1A) and an anion represented by the following formula (1B): [ka] (In the formula, p is 1, 2, or 3. n1 is 0 or 1. n2 is 1 or 2. n3 is 0, 1, 2, or 3. However, when n1 is 0, 1≦n2+n3≦5, and when n1 is 1, 1≦n2+n3≦7. R 1 is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. When n3 is 2 or 3, each R 1 may be the same or different, and two R 1 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. R 2 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom or a heteroatom. When p is 1, two R 2 may be the same or different. +Two of the three substituents bonded to may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded. [ka] (In the formula, n11 is 0 or 1. n12 is 1, 2, 3, or 4. n13 is 0, 1, or 2. n14 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. However, when n11 is 0, 2≦n12+n13+n14≦5, and when n11 is 1, 2≦n12+n13+n14≦7. L A is a single bond, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond. R 3 L A When L is a single bond, it is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom; A When is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond, it is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a hetero atom (excluding acid labile groups), or an acid labile group. R 4 represents a halogen atom other than an iodine atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 2. The onium salt of 1, wherein the cation is represented by the following formula (1A-1): [ka] (In the formula, p, n1~n3, R 1 and Z - is the same as above. n4 is 0 or 1. n5 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. R 2ais a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. When n5 is 2, 3, 4, or 5, each R 2a may be the same or different, and two R 2a may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. 3. The onium salt of 1 or 2, wherein the anion is represented by the following formula (1B-1): [ka] (In the formula, n12~n14, L A , R 3 and R 4 is the same as above.) 4.L A is an oxygen atom or an ester bond. 5.L A is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond, and R 3 An onium salt according to any one of 1 to 4, wherein 6. The onium salt of any one of 1 to 5, wherein the acid labile group is represented by the following formula (AL-1) or (AL-2): [ka] (In the formula, p1 and p2 each independently represent 0 or 1. q1 and q2 each independently represent 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. R L1 , R L2 and R L3are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which some of the -CH2- groups in the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with -O- or -S-, and when the hydrocarbyl group contains an aromatic ring, some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the aromatic ring may be substituted with a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom. L1 and R L2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded, and some of the -CH2- in the ring may be substituted with -O- or -S-. R L4 and R L5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. L6 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and a portion of the -CH2- in the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with -O- or -S-. L5 and R L6 are bonded to each other and the carbon atoms to which they are bonded and L B may form a heterocyclic group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms together, and some of the -CH2- in the heterocyclic group may be substituted with -O- or -S-. L B is —O— or —S—. R La ~R Ld are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. * represents a bond to the adjacent oxygen atom or sulfur atom. 7. A quencher comprising any one of the onium salts of 1 to 6. 8.7 Chemically amplified resist composition containing a quencher. 9. The chemically amplified resist composition of 8, comprising a base polymer containing a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a1): [ka] (In the formula, R Ais a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. X 1 represents a single bond, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, *-C(=O)-OX 11 - or *-C(=O)-NH-X 11 -, and the phenylene group or naphthylene group may be substituted with a halogen atom or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain a fluorine atom. 11 is a saturated hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a naphthylene group, and the saturated hydrocarbylene group may contain a hydroxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a lactone ring. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. AL 1 is an acid labile group. 10. The chemically amplified resist composition of 9, wherein the base polymer contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a2): [ka] (In the formula, R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. X 2 is a single bond or *-C(=O)-O-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 11 is a halogen atom, a cyano group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 11 may be the same as or different from each other. AL 2 is an acid labile group. a is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4. 11. The chemically amplified resist composition of 9 or 10, wherein the base polymer contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a3): [ka] (In the formula, b1 is 0 or 1. When b1 is 0, b2 is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and when b1 is 1, b2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. X 3 is a single bond, *-C(=O)-O-, or *-C(=O)-NH-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 12 and R 13 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 12 and R 13 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. R 14 is a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or -N(R 14A )(R 14B ) is R 14A and R 14B are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. When b2 is 2 or more, multiple R 14 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms of the aromatic ring to which they are attached. X 4 is a single bond, an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, or a group obtained by combining these. X 5 and X 6are each independently an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, provided that X 4 and X 6 are attached to adjacent carbon atoms of an aromatic ring.) 12. The chemically amplified resist composition of any one of 9 to 11, wherein the base polymer contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (b1) or (b2): [ka] (In the formula, R A are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. Y 1 is a single bond or *-C(=O)-O-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 21 is a group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and containing at least one structure selected from a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group other than a phenolic hydroxy group, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, a carboxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, and a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-). R 22 is a halogen atom, a carboxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 22 may be the same as or different from each other. c1 is 1, 2, 3, or 4. c2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that 1≦c1+c2≦5. 13. The chemically amplified resist composition of any one of 9 to 12, wherein the base polymer comprises at least one selected from a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c1), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c2), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c3), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c4), and a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c5). [ka] (In the formula, d1 and d2 are each independently 0, 1, 2, or 3. e1 is 0 or 1. e2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. e3 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. However, when e1 is 0, 0≦e2+e3≦4, and when e1 is 1, 0≦e2+e3≦6. R A are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. Z 1 represents a single bond or an optionally substituted phenylene group. Z 2 is a single bond, **-C(=O)-OZ 21 -, **-C(=O)-NH-Z 21 -or **-OZ 21 -It is. Z 21 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a divalent group obtained by combining these, and may contain a halogen atom, a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. Z 3 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, an amide bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. Z 4 represents a single bond, an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a divalent group obtained by combining these, and may contain a halogen atom, a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. Z 5 each independently represents a single bond, an optionally substituted phenylene group, a naphthylene group, or *-C(=O)-OZ51 -It is. Z 51 is an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a naphthylene group, and the aliphatic hydrocarbylene group may contain a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a lactone ring. Z 6 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, an amide bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. Z 7 are each independently a single bond, ***-Z 71 -C(=O)-O-, ***-C(=O)-NH-Z 71 -or***-OZ 71 -It is. It is. Z 71 is a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. Z 8 are each independently a single bond, ****-Z 81 -C(=O)-O-, ****-C(=O)-NH-Z 81 -or ****-OZ 81 -It is. Z 81 is a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. Z 9 represents a single bond, a methylene group, an ethylene group, a phenylene group, a fluorinated phenylene group, a phenylene group substituted with a trifluoromethyl group, *-C(=O)-OZ 91 -, *-C(=O)-N(H)-Z 91 -or*-OZ 91 -It is. Z 91 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, a fluorinated phenylene group, or a phenylene group substituted with a trifluoromethyl group, and may contain a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. ** represents Z 1 *** represents a bond with Z 6 **** represents a bond with Z 7 Represents a bond with . L1 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, a carbonyl group, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. Rf 1 and Rf 2 are each independently a fluorine atom or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Rf 3 and Rf 4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Rf 5 and Rf 6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, provided that all Rf 5 and Rf 6 cannot simultaneously become a hydrogen atom. Rf 7 is a fluorine atom, a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a fluorinated alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a fluorinated alkylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. R 31 and R 32 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 31 and R 32 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are attached. R 33 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom other than a fluorine atom or a heteroatom. When e3 is 2, 3 or 4, each R 33 may be the same or different, and multiple R 33 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. M - is a non-nucleophilic counterion. A + is an onium cation. 14. The chemically amplified resist composition according to any one of 8 to 13, further comprising an organic solvent. 15. The chemically amplified resist composition of any one of 8 to 14, further comprising a photoacid generator that generates a strong acid. 16. The chemically amplified resist composition of any one of 8 to 15, further comprising a quencher other than the quencher of 7. 17. The chemically amplified resist composition of any one of 8 to 16, further comprising a surfactant. 18. A pattern forming method comprising the steps of forming a resist film on a substrate using any one of the chemically amplified resist compositions of 8 to 17, exposing the resist film to high-energy rays, and developing the exposed resist film using a developer. 19. The pattern formation method of 18, wherein the high-energy radiation is KrF excimer laser light, ArF excimer laser light, EB, or EUV having a wavelength of 3 to 15 nm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] When a pattern is formed using a chemically amplified resist composition containing the onium salt of the present invention as a quencher, it is possible to form a resist pattern that has high contrast and good sensitivity, and that is excellent in lithography performance such as EL, LWR, CDU, and DOF. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] [Onium salts] The onium salt of the present invention contains a cation represented by the following formula (1A): [ka]

[0018] In formula (1A), p is 1, 2 or 3.

[0019] In formula (1A), n1 is 0 or 1. When n1 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when n1 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring, but from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, it is preferable that n1 is 0, a benzene ring. n2 is 1 or 2. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, it is preferable that n2 is 1. n3 is 0, 1, 2, or 3. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, it is preferable that n3 is 0, 1, or 2. However, when n1 is 0, 1≦n2+n3≦5, and when n1 is 1, 1≦n2+n3≦7.

[0020] In formula (A), R 1is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the halogen atom include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom. The hydrocarbyl group and the hydrocarbyl moiety of the hydrocarbyloxy group and hydrocarbylthio group may be saturated or unsaturated and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, and icosyl groups; cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, 4-methylcyclopropyl, and the like. Examples of such groups include saturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as hexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl; alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as vinyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, butenyl, and hexenyl; unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as cyclohexenyl; aryl groups having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, such as phenyl and naphthyl; aralkyl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, such as benzyl, 1-phenylethyl, and 2-phenylethyl; and groups obtained by combining these groups. Of these, aryl groups are preferred.In addition, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH2- groups of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom, so that the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic acid anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, etc. When n3 is 2 or 3, each R. 1 may be the same or different. When n3 is 2 or 3, multiple R 1 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded. The ring is preferably a 5- to 8-membered ring.

[0021] In formula (1A), R 2 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom or a heteroatom. When p is 1, two R 2 may be the same as or different from each other.

[0022] R 2 Specific examples of the halogen atom represented by the formula (I) include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.

[0023] R 2The hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl; saturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, such as cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl; alkenyl groups having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, such as vinyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, butenyl, and hexenyl; unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, such as cyclohexenyl; aryl groups having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, such as phenyl, naphthyl, and thienyl; aralkyl groups having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, such as benzyl, 1-phenylethyl, and 2-phenylethyl; and groups obtained by combining these, with aryl groups being preferred. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom, and as a result, the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, etc.

[0024] Also, S + Two of the three substituents bonded to may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded. In this case, specific examples of the ring structure include those represented by the following formulas: [ka] (In the formula, the dashed lines represent bonds.)

[0025] The cation represented by formula (1A) is preferably one represented by the following formula (1A-1). [ka] (Wherein, p, n1 to n3 and R 1 is the same as above.

[0026] In formula (1A-1), n4 is 0 or 1. When n4 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when n4 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring; however, from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, n4 is preferably a benzene ring of 0. n5 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, n5 is preferably 0, 1, or 2.

[0027] In formula (1A-1), R 2a is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. The hydrocarbyl group and the hydrocarbyl moiety of the hydrocarbyloxy group and hydrocarbylthio group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R 1 When n5 is 2, 3, 4, or 5, each R 2a may be the same or different, and two R 2a may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached.

[0028] Specific examples of the cation represented by formula (1A) include, but are not limited to, the following: [ka]

[0029]

change

[0030]

change

[0031]

change

[0032]

change

[0033]

change

[0034]

change

[0035]

change

[0036]

change

[0037]

change

[0038]

change

[0039]

change

[0040] [ka]

[0041] [ka]

[0042] [ka]

[0043] [ka]

[0044] [ka]

[0045] [ka]

[0046] [ka]

[0047] [ka]

[0048] The onium salt of the present invention contains a carboxylate anion represented by the following formula (1B): [ka]

[0049] In formula (1B), n11 is 0 or 1. When n11 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when n11 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring; however, from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, n11 is preferably a benzene ring of 0. n12 is 1, 2, 3, or 4, but from the viewpoint of raw material procurement, it is preferably 1, 2, or 3, and from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, it is more preferably 1 or 2. n13 is 0, 1, or 2. n14 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. However, when n11 is 0, 2≦n12+n13+n14≦5, and when n11 is 1, 2≦n12+n13+n14≦7. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, n14 is preferably 0, 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 0, 1, or 2.

[0050] In formula (1B), L A is a single bond, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond, or a carbonate bond. 3 When is a hydrogen atom, L A is preferably an oxygen atom. 3 When is an acid labile group, R 3 is preferably an oxygen atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond, more preferably an oxygen atom or an ester bond.

[0051] In formula (1B), R 3 L AWhen is a single bond, it is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a tert-pentyl group, an n-pentyl group, an n-hexyl group, an n-octyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group, an n-nonyl group, an n-decyl group, an n-undecyl group, and an n-dodecyl group; a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cyclopentylmethyl group, a cyclopentylethyl group, a cyclopentylbutyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, a cyclohexylethyl group, a cyclohexylbutyl group, a norbornyl group, a norbornylmethyl group, an adamantyl group, an adamantylmethyl group, and a tricyclo[5.2.1.0] 2,6 ]decyl group, tetracyclo[6.2.1.1 3,6 .0 2,7

[0023] Examples of the hydrocarbyl group include saturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a dodecyl group; alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a vinyl group, allyl group, propenyl group, butenyl group, pentenyl group, and hexenyl group; alkynyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as an ethynyl group, propynyl group, butynyl group, pentynyl group, and hexynyl group; unsaturated cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a cyclopentenyl group and a cyclohexenyl group; aryl groups having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, and an indanyl group; aralkyl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group, a 1-phenylethyl group, and a 2-phenylethyl group; and groups obtained by combining these groups. The hydrocarbyl group may contain a heteroatom, specifically, a halogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or the like.

[0052] R 3 L AWhen is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond, it is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom (excluding acid labile groups), or an acid labile group. Examples of the hydrocarbyl group include those mentioned above, except for the acid labile group.

[0053] The acid labile group is preferably one represented by the following formula (AL-1) or (AL-2). [ka] (In the formula, * represents a bond to the adjacent oxygen atom or sulfur atom.)

[0054] In formulas (AL-1) and (AL-2), p1 and p2 each independently represent 0 or 1. q1 and q2 each independently represent 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. L A is an oxygen atom and forms a carbonate bond with the oxygen atom, p1 or p2 is 1, but in other cases, p1 or p2 is preferably 0. When p1 is 1, q1 is preferably 1 or 2, and when p1 is 0, q1 is 0. When p2 is 1, q2 is preferably 1 or 2, and when p2 is 0, q2 is 0.

[0055] In formula (AL-1), R L1 , R L2 and R L3 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which some of the -CH2- groups in the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with -O- or -S-, and if the hydrocarbyl group contains an aromatic ring, some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the aromatic ring may be substituted with a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom.

[0056] R L1 , R L2 and R L3The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-pentyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, and n-dodecyl; cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclopentylethyl, cyclopentylbutyl, cyclohexylmethyl, cyclohexylethyl, cyclohexylbutyl, norbornyl, norbornylmethyl, adamantyl, adamantylmethyl, and tricyclo[5.2.1.0]. 2,6 ]decyl group, tetracyclo[6.2.1.1 3,6 .0 2,7 cyclic saturated hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a dodecyl group; alkenyl groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a vinyl group, allyl group, propenyl group, butenyl group, pentenyl group, and hexenyl group; alkynyl groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, such as an ethynyl group, propynyl group, butynyl group, pentynyl group, and hexynyl group; cyclic unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a cyclopentenyl group and cyclohexenyl group; aryl groups having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, naphthyl group, and indanyl group; aralkyl groups having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group, 1-phenylethyl group, and 2-phenylethyl group; and groups obtained by combining these.

[0057] Also, R L1 and R L2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded, and a portion of the -CH2- in the ring may be substituted with -O- or -S-. Specific examples of the ring formed in this case include a cyclopropane ring, a cyclobutane ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclohexane ring, a cycloheptane ring, a cyclooctane ring, a norbornane ring, an adamantane ring, a tricyclo[5.2.1.0 2,6 ] decane ring, tetracyclo[6.2.1.1 3,6 .0 2,7]dodecane ring, etc. In addition, some of the -CH2- groups in the ring may be substituted with -O- or -S-.

[0058] In formula (AL-2), R L4 and R L5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. L4 and R L5 The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R L1 , R L2 and R L3 Among the examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula: the same ones having 1 to 10 carbon atoms can be mentioned.

[0059] In formula (AL-2), R L6 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and some of the -CH2- groups in the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with -O- or -S-. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, and icosyl groups; cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, norbornyl, norbornylmethyl, adamantyl, adamantylmethyl, and tricyclo[5.2.1.0] groups. 2,6 ]decyl group, tetracyclo[6.2.1.1 3,6 .0 2,7]Cyclic saturated hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a dodecyl group; alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a vinyl group, a propenyl group, a butenyl group, a pentenyl group, or a hexenyl group; alkynyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as an ethynyl group, a propynyl group, a butynyl group, a pentynyl group, or a hexynyl group; cyclic unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a cyclopentenyl group, a cyclohexenyl group, or a norbornenyl group; phenyl group, a methylphenyl group, an ethylphenyl group, an n-propylphenyl group, an isopropyl Examples include aryl groups having 6 to 20 carbon atoms such as a phenyl group, an n-butylphenyl group, an isobutylphenyl group, a sec-butylphenyl group, a tert-butylphenyl group, a naphthyl group, a methylnaphthyl group, an ethylnaphthyl group, an n-propylnaphthyl group, an isopropylnaphthyl group, an n-butylnaphthyl group, an isobutylnaphthyl group, a sec-butylnaphthyl group, and a tert-butylnaphthyl group; aralkyl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms such as a benzyl group and a phenethyl group; and groups obtained by combining these. L5 and R L6 are bonded to each other and the carbon atoms to which they are bonded and L B may form a heterocyclic group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms together, and some of the -CH2- in the heterocyclic group may be substituted with -O- or -S-.

[0060] In formula (AL-2), L B is —O— or —S—.

[0061] In formula (AL-1) and formula (AL-2), R La ~R Ld are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R 3 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) include, but are not limited to, the same as those exemplified above.

[0062] Specific examples of the acid labile group represented by formula (AL-1) include, but are not limited to, the following: In the following formula, * represents a bond to the adjacent oxygen atom or sulfur atom. [ka]

[0063] [ka]

[0064] [ka]

[0065] [ka]

[0066] [ka]

[0067] [ka]

[0068] [ka]

[0069] [ka]

[0070] [ka]

[0071] [ka]

[0072] [ka]

[0073] Specific examples of the acid labile group represented by formula (AL-2) include, but are not limited to, the following: In the following formula, * represents a bond to the adjacent oxygen atom or sulfur atom. [ka]

[0074] [ka]

[0075] In formula (1B), R 4 is a halogen atom other than iodine atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. Examples of halogen atoms other than iodine atoms include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, and a bromine atom, with a fluorine atom being preferred. The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R 3 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group include the same as those exemplified above as the hydrocarbyl group represented by the following formula: In addition, the hydrocarbyl group may contain a heteroatom, and specifically, may contain a halogen atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or the like.

[0076] Also, when n14 is 2, 3 or 4, multiple R 4may be bonded to each other to form a ring structure together with the carbon atoms on the aromatic ring to which they are bonded, and a portion of the -CH2- in the ring may be substituted with -O- or -S-. Specific examples of the ring formed in this case include a cyclopropane ring, a cyclobutane ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclohexane ring, a cycloheptane ring, a cyclooctane ring, a norbornane ring, an adamantane ring, a tricyclo[5.2.1.0 2,6 ] decane ring, tetracyclo[6.2.1.1 3,6 .0 2,7 ]dodecane ring, etc. In addition, some of the -CH2- groups in the ring may be substituted with -O- or -S-.

[0077] The carboxylate anion represented by formula (1B) is preferably one represented by the following formula (1B-1). [ka] (In the formula, n12~n14, L A , R 3 and R 4 is the same as above.)

[0078] Specific examples of the anion of the onium salt represented by formula (1B) include, but are not limited to, those shown below. [ka]

[0079] [ka]

[0080] [ka]

[0081] [ka]

[0082]

change

[0083]

change

[0084]

change

[0085]

change

[0086]

change

[0087]

change

[0088]

change

[0089]

change

[0090]

change

[0091]

change

[0092]

change

[0093]

change

[0094]

change

[0095]

change

[0096]

change

[0097]

change

[0098]

change

[0099]

change

[0100]

change

[0101]

change

[0102]

change

[0103]

change

[0104]

change

[0105]

change

[0106]

change

[0107]

change

[0108]

change

[0109]

change

[0110]

change

[0111]

change

[0112]

change

[0113]

change

[0114]

change

[0115]

change

[0116]

change

[0117]

change

[0118]

change

[0119]

change

[0120]

change

[0121]

change

[0122]

change

[0123]

change

[0124]

change

[0125]

change

[0126]

change

[0127]

change

[0128]

change

[0129]

change

[0130]

change

[0131]

change

[0132]

change

[0133]

change

[0134]

change

[0135]

change

[0136]

change

[0137]

change

[0138]

change

[0139]

change

[0140]

change

[0141]

change

[0142]

change

[0143]

change

[0144]

change

[0145]

change

[0146]

change

[0147]

change

[0148]

change

[0149]

change

[0150]

change

[0151]

change

[0152]

change

[0153]

change

[0154]

change

[0155]

change

[0156]

change

[0157]

change

[0158]

change

[0159]

change

[0160]

change

[0161]

change

[0162]

change

[0163]

change

[0164]

change

[0165]

change

[0166]

change

[0167]

change

[0168]

change

[0169]

change

[0170]

change

[0171]

change

[0172]

change

[0173]

change

[0174]

change

[0175]

change

[0176]

change

[0177]

change

[0178] Specific examples of the onium salt of the present invention include any combination of the above-mentioned anions and cations.

[0179] The onium salt of the present invention can be synthesized, for example, by a method similar to that for the onium salt described in JP-A-2020-91312, but is not limited thereto.

[0180] The structural feature of the onium salt of the present invention is that it comprises a sulfonium cation having a cyano group and an aromatic carboxylate anion having an iodine atom. The aromatic carboxylate anion containing an iodine atom exhibits extremely high EUV absorption by the iodine atom, particularly in EUV lithography at a wavelength of 13.5 nm, resulting in the generation of secondary electrons from the iodine atom during exposure. Furthermore, the sulfonium cation having a cyano group lowers the energy level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) in frontier orbital theory due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the cyano group, making it easier to accept the generated secondary electrons, thereby promoting the decomposition of the cation. These synergistic effects result in high sensitivity. Furthermore, the nitrogen atom of the cyano group contains a lone electron pair, which can interact with the proton of the generated acid and function as an acid diffusion inhibitor. The iodine atom also has a moderate dissolution-blocking ability, suppressing pattern collapse in unexposed areas, particularly in alkaline developers. Furthermore, when the anion contains an acid labile group, the generated acid promotes a deprotection reaction of the acid labile group, which is expected to improve contrast and sensitivity due to changes in solubility. In exposed areas of a positive resist, the higher the affinity for an alkaline developer, the lower the risk of development defects. Furthermore, since the onium salt of the present invention contains an aromatic carboxylic acid anion, it has relatively strong basicity and effectively traps the strong acid generated from the photoacid generator. Due to these synergistic effects, when the onium salt of the present invention is used, high dissolution contrast, excellent LWR of line patterns and CDU of hole patterns, and pattern formation that is resistant to pattern collapse is possible, making it suitable as a material for a positive resist composition.

[0181] The onium salt of the present invention can be suitably used as a quencher. In the present invention, a quencher refers to a material that traps a strong acid generated by a photoacid generator to prevent diffusion to unexposed areas and form a desired pattern. A photoacid generator is a compound that generates a strong acid upon irradiation with high-energy radiation, and a strong acid is a compound that has sufficient acidity to cause a deprotection reaction of an acid labile group. When the acid labile group in the aromatic carboxylic acid is a tertiary ester or tertiary ether, the acid is not acidic enough to cause a deprotection reaction. Therefore, as described below, it is effective to separately add a photoacid generator that generates a strong acid, such as a sulfonic acid, imide acid, or methide acid, fluorinated at the α-position, to cause a deprotection reaction of the acid labile group. The photoacid generator that generates a sulfonic acid, imide acid, or methide acid fluorinated at the α-position may be an additive type, or it may be a polymer-bound type that is bound to a base polymer.

[0182] When a mixture of an onium salt that generates an aromatic carboxylic acid and a photoacid generator that generates a super-strong perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid is irradiated with light, an aromatic carboxylic acid and a perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid are generated. Since not all of the photoacid generator is decomposed, some undecomposed photoacid generator remains nearby. When an onium salt that generates an aromatic carboxylic acid and a perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid coexist, the perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid first undergoes ion exchange with the onium salt that generates the aromatic carboxylic acid, generating a perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid onium salt and releasing the aromatic carboxylic acid. This is because perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salts, which have a higher acid strength, are more stable. On the other hand, ion exchange does not occur when a perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid onium salt is present with an aromatic carboxylic acid. Similar ion exchange occurs not only with perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid, but also with arenesulfonic acids, alkylsulfonic acids, imide acids, methide acids, and other acids that have higher acid strength than the aromatic carboxylic acid generated from the onium salt of the present invention.

[0183] [Chemically amplified resist composition] [(A) Quencher] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention contains, as an essential component, (A) a quencher comprising an onium salt represented by formula (1).

[0184] In the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention, the content of (A) quencher is preferably 0.1 to 40 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by mass, relative to 80 parts by mass of the base polymer described below. A content of (A) quencher within the above range is preferred because it provides good sensitivity and resolution and is unlikely to cause problems with foreign matter after development of the resist film or during stripping. The (A) quencher may be used alone or in combination of two or more types.

[0185] [(B) Base polymer] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention may contain a base polymer as component (B). The base polymer (B) preferably contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a1) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit a1): [ka]

[0186] In formula (a1), R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group.

[0187] In formula (a1), X 1 represents a single bond, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, *-C(=O)-OX 11 - or *-C(=O)-NH-X 11 -, and the phenylene group or naphthylene group may be substituted with a halogen atom or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain a fluorine atom. 11 is a saturated hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a naphthylene group, and the saturated hydrocarbylene group may contain a hydroxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a lactone ring. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain.

[0188] In formula (a1), AL 1 is an acid labile group. Specific examples of the acid labile group include those described in JP-A Nos. 2013-80033 and 2013-83821.

[0189] Typical examples of the acid labile group include those represented by the following formulae (AL-3) to (AL-5). [ka] (In the formula, the dashed lines represent bonds.)

[0190] In formulas (AL-3) and (AL-4), R L11 and R L12 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, which may contain a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a fluorine atom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. The hydrocarbyl group preferably has 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

[0191] In formula (AL-3), k is an integer of 0 to 10, and is preferably 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

[0192] In formula (AL-4), R L13 and R L14 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and may contain heteroatoms such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and fluorine atoms. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. The hydrocarbyl group preferably has 1 to 20 carbon atoms. In addition, R L12 , R L13 and R L14 Any two of these may be bonded to each other to form a ring having 3 to 20 carbon atoms together with the carbon atom or the carbon atom and oxygen atom to which they are bonded. As the ring, a ring having 4 to 16 carbon atoms is preferred, and an alicyclic ring is particularly preferred.

[0193] In formula (AL-5), R L15 , R L16 and R L17 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may contain a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a fluorine atom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. The hydrocarbyl group preferably has 1 to 20 carbon atoms. In addition, R L15 , R L16 and R L17 Any two of these may be bonded to each other together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded to form a ring having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. As the ring, a ring having 4 to 16 carbon atoms is preferred, and an alicyclic ring is particularly preferred.

[0194] Specific examples of the repeating unit a1 include, but are not limited to, the following: A and AL 1 is the same as above. [ka]

[0195] [ka]

[0196] [ka]

[0197] [ka]

[0198] [ka]

[0199] [ka]

[0200] [ka]

[0201] The base polymer may contain a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a2) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit a2). [ka]

[0202] In formula (a2), R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. 2 is a single bond or *-C(=O)-O-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 11 is a halogen atom, a cyano group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. AL 2 is an acid labile group. Specific examples of the acid labile group include AL 1 Examples of the acid labile group include the same as those exemplified above as the acid labile group represented by the formula: wherein a is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, and preferably 0 or 1.

[0203] Specific examples of the repeating unit a2 include, but are not limited to, the following: A and AL 2 is the same as above. [ka]

[0204] [ka]

[0205] [ka]

[0206] The base polymer may contain a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a3) ​​(hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit a3). [ka]

[0207] In formula (a3), b1 is 0 or 1. When b1 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when b1 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring, but from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, it is preferable that b1 is a benzene ring of 0. When b1 is 0, b2 is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and when b1 is 1, it is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, b2 is preferably 0, 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 0, 1, or 2.

[0208] In formula (a3), R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. A is preferably a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and more preferably a hydrogen atom.

[0209] In formula (a3), X 3 is a single bond, *-C(=O)-O-, or *-C(=O)-NH-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. Among these, a single bond or *-C(=O)-O- is preferred, and a single bond is more preferred.

[0210] In formula (a3), R 12 and R 13are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, and icosyl; cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, and 4-methyl Examples of the alkyl group include saturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a cyclohexyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, a norbornyl group, and an adamantyl group; alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a vinyl group, an allyl group, a propenyl group, a butenyl group, and a hexenyl group; unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a cyclohexenyl group; aryl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group and a naphthyl group; aralkyl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group, a 1-phenylethyl group, and a 2-phenylethyl group; and groups obtained by combining these groups. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom, and as a result, the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, or the like.

[0211] Also, R 12 and R 13may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded. Specific examples of the ring formed in this case include a cyclopropane ring, a cyclobutane ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclohexane ring, a norbornane ring, and an adamantane ring. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom, resulting in the ring containing a hydroxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, or the like.

[0212] In formula (a3), R 14 is a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or -N(R 14A )(R 14B ) is R 14A and R 14B are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The halogen atom is preferably a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an iodine atom, more preferably a fluorine atom or an iodine atom. The hydrocarbyl group and the hydrocarbyl moiety of the hydrocarbyloxy group, hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group and hydrocarbylthio group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R 12 and R 13Examples of the hydrocarbyl group include the same as those exemplified above. In addition, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH2- of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom, and as a result, the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic acid anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, or the like. When b2 is 2 or more, each R 14 may be the same as or different from each other.

[0213] Also, when b2 is 2 or more, multiple R 14 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms of the aromatic ring to which they are bonded. Specific examples of the ring formed in this case include a cyclopropane ring, a cyclobutane ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclohexane ring, a norbornane ring, and an adamantane ring. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom, resulting in the ring containing a hydroxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, or the like.

[0214] In formula (a3), X 4 is a single bond, an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, or a group obtained by combining these. Of these, a single bond, a carbonyl group, or a sulfonyl group is preferred from the viewpoint of raw material procurement, and a single bond or a carbonyl group is more preferred from the viewpoint of the polar group generated after the reaction.

[0215] In formula (a3), X 5 and X 6 are each independently an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, provided that X 4 and X 6 are attached to adjacent carbon atoms of the aromatic ring. 5 and X 6 may be the same or different from each other, but from the viewpoint of reactivity, X 5 and X 6 and are preferably both oxygen atoms.

[0216] Specific examples of the repeating unit a3 include, but are not limited to, the following: A is the same as above, and Me is a methyl group. The bonding positions of the various substituents on the aromatic ring may be interchanged. [ka]

[0217] [ka]

[0218] [ka]

[0219] [ka]

[0220] [ka]

[0221] [ka]

[0222]

change

[0223]

change

[0224]

change

[0225]

change

[0226]

change

[0227]

change

[0228]

change

[0229]

change

[0230]

change

[0231]

change

[0232]

change

[0233]

change

[0234]

change

[0235]

change

[0236]

change

[0237]

change

[0238]

change

[0239]

change

[0240]

change

[0241]

change

[0242]

change

[0243]

change

[0244]

change

[0245]

change

[0246]

change

[0247]

change

[0248]

change

[0249]

change

[0250]

change

[0251]

change

[0252]

change

[0253]

change

[0254]

change

[0255]

change

[0256]

change

[0257]

change

[0258]

change

[0259]

change

[0260]

change

[0261]

change

[0262]

change

[0263]

change

[0264]

change

[0265] [ka]

[0266] The base polymer preferably contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (b1) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit b1) or a repeating unit represented by the following formula (b2) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit b2). [ka]

[0267] In formulas (b1) and (b2), R A are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. 1 is a single bond or *-C(=O)-O-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 21 R is a group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and containing at least one structure selected from a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group other than a phenolic hydroxy group, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, a carboxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, and a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-). 22 is a halogen atom, a carboxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. When c2 is 2, 3, or 4, each R 22 may be the same or different. c1 is 1, 2, 3, or 4. c2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that 1≦c1+c2≦5.

[0268] Specific examples of the repeating unit b1 include, but are not limited to, the following: A is the same as above. [ka]

[0269] [ka]

[0270] [ka]

[0271] [ka]

[0272] [ka]

[0273] [ka]

[0274] [ka]

[0275] [ka]

[0276] [ka]

[0277] [ka]

[0278] [ka]

[0279] [ka]

[0280] [ka]

[0281] [ka]

[0282] [ka]

[0283] [ka]

[0284] Specific examples of the repeating unit b2 include, but are not limited to, those shown below. A is the same as above. [ka]

[0285] [ka]

[0286] [ka]

[0287] [ka]

[0288] [ka]

[0289] As the repeating unit b1 or b2, those having a lactone ring as a polar group are particularly preferred for ArF lithography, and those having a phenol moiety are preferred for KrF lithography, EB lithography and EUV lithography.

[0290] The base polymer may contain at least one selected from a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c1) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit c1), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c2) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit c2), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c3) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit c3), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c4) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit c4), and a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c5) (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit c5). [ka]

[0291] In formulas (c1) to (c5), R A are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. 1 Z is a single bond or an optionally substituted phenylene group. 2 is a single bond, **-C(=O)-OZ 21 -, **-C(=O)-NH-Z 21 -or **-OZ 21 -It is. Z 21 Z is an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a divalent group obtained by combining these, and may contain a halogen atom, a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. 3is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, an amide bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. 4 represents a single bond, an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a divalent group obtained by combining these, and may contain a halogen atom, a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. Z 5 each independently represents a single bond, an optionally substituted phenylene group, a naphthylene group, or *-C(=O)-OZ 51 -It is. Z 51 is an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a naphthylene group, and the aliphatic hydrocarbylene group may contain a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a lactone ring. 6 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, an amide bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. 7 are each independently a single bond, ***-Z 71 -C(=O)-O-, ***-C(=O)-NH-Z 71 -or***-OZ 71 -It is. It is. Z 71 is a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 8 are each independently a single bond, ****-Z 81 -C(=O)-O-, ****-C(=O)-NH-Z 81 -or ****-OZ 81 -It is. Z 81 is a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 9 represents a single bond, a methylene group, an ethylene group, a phenylene group, a fluorinated phenylene group, a phenylene group substituted with a trifluoromethyl group, *-C(=O)-OZ 91 -, *-C(=O)-N(H)-Z 91 -or*-OZ 91 -It is. Z 91is an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, a fluorinated phenylene group, or a phenylene group substituted with a trifluoromethyl group, and may contain a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. ** represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. Z 1 *** represents a bond with Z 6 **** represents a bond with Z 7 Represents a bond with .

[0292] Z 21 , Z 51 and Z 91 The aliphatic hydrocarbylene group represented by the formula (I) may be linear, branched or cyclic, and specific examples thereof include a methanediyl group, an ethane-1,1-diyl group, an ethane-1,2-diyl group, a propane-1,1-diyl group, a propane-1,2-diyl group, a propane-1,3-diyl group, a propane-2,2-diyl group, a butane-1,1-diyl group, a butane-1,2-diyl group, a butane-1,3-diyl group, a butane- Examples of the alkyl group include alkanediyl groups such as a 2,3-diyl group, a butane-1,4-diyl group, a 1,1-dimethylethane-1,2-diyl group, a pentane-1,5-diyl group, a 2-methylbutane-1,2-diyl group, and a hexane-1,6-diyl group; cycloalkanediyl groups such as a cyclopropanediyl group, a cyclobutanediyl group, a cyclopentanediyl group, and a cyclohexanediyl group; and groups obtained by combining these groups.

[0293] Z 71 and Z 81 The hydrocarbylene group optionally containing a heteroatom, represented by the formula (I), may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include, but are not limited to, those shown below. [ka] (In the formula, the dashed lines represent bonds.)

[0294] In formula (c1), R 31 and R 32are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl; saturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl; alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as vinyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, butenyl, and hexenyl; unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as cyclohexenyl; aryl groups having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, such as phenyl, naphthyl, and thienyl; aralkyl groups having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, such as benzyl, 1-phenylethyl, and 2-phenylethyl; and groups obtained by combining these, with aryl groups being preferred. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom, and as a result, the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, etc.

[0295] Also, R 31 and R 32 However, they may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded. In this case, specific examples of the ring include those represented by the following formulas. [ka] (In the formula, the dashed line represents Z 4 )

[0296] Specific examples of the cation of the repeating unit c1 include, but are not limited to, the following: A is the same as above. [ka]

[0297] [ka]

[0298] [ka]

[0299] [ka]

[0300] [ka]

[0301] [ka]

[0302] [ka]

[0303] [ka]

[0304] [ka]

[0305] [ka]

[0306] In formula (c1), M - is a non-nucleophilic counter ion. Examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion include halide ions, sulfonate anions, imidate anions, and methide anions. Specific examples of the halide ions include chloride ions and bromide ions. Specific examples of the sulfonate anions (sulfonate ions) include fluoroalkylsulfonate ions such as triflate ions, 1,1,1-trifluoroethanesulfonate ions, and nonafluorobutanesulfonate ions; arylsulfonate ions such as tosylate ions, benzenesulfonate ions, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate ions, and 1,2,3,4,5-pentafluorobenzenesulfonate ions; and alkylsulfonate ions such as mesylate ions and butanesulfonate ions. Specific examples of the imidate anions (imide ions) include bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ions, bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide ions, and bis(perfluorobutylsulfonyl)imide ions. Specific examples of the methide acid anion (methide ion) include tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide ion, tris(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)methide ion, and the like.

[0307] Other examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion include anions represented by any of the following formulae (c1-1) to (c1-4). [ka]

[0308] In formula (c1-1), R fa is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a fluorine atom or a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R in formula (c1-1-1) described below. fa1Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) include the same as those exemplified above.

[0309] The anion represented by formula (c1-1) is preferably one represented by the following formula (c1-1-1): [ka]

[0310] In formula (c1-1-1), Q 1 and Q 2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, but in order to improve solvent solubility, it is preferable that at least one of them is a trifluoromethyl group. m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, but is particularly preferably 1. R fa1 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 35 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The heteroatom is preferably an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, a halogen atom, or the like, and more preferably an oxygen atom. From the viewpoint of obtaining high resolution in the formation of a fine pattern, the hydrocarbyl group is particularly preferably one having 6 to 30 carbon atoms.

[0311] In formula (c1-1-1), R fa1The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 35 carbon atoms and represented by the formula (I) may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 35 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a neopentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group, a nonyl group, an undecyl group, a tridecyl group, a pentadecyl group, a heptadecyl group, and an icosyl group; a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a 1-adamantyl group, a 2-adamantyl group, a 1-adamantylmethyl group, a norbornyl group, a norbornyl group, and an alkyl group having 1 to 35 carbon atoms. Examples of such alkyl groups include saturated cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 35 carbon atoms, such as a 2-cyclohexylmethyl group, a tricyclodecyl group, a tetracyclododecyl group, a tetracyclododecylmethyl group, and a dicyclohexylmethyl group; unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups having 2 to 35 carbon atoms, such as a 2-propenyl group and a 3-cyclohexenyl group; aryl groups having 6 to 35 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a 1-naphthyl group, a 2-naphthyl group, and a 9-fluorenyl group; aralkyl groups having 7 to 35 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group and a diphenylmethyl group; and groups obtained by combining these groups.

[0312] Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom, and as a result, the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, etc. Specific examples of hydrocarbyl groups containing hetero atoms include tetrahydrofuryl, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methylthiomethyl, acetamidomethyl, trifluoroethyl, (2-methoxyethoxy)methyl, acetoxymethyl, 2-carboxy-1-cyclohexyl, 2-oxopropyl, 4-oxo-1-adamantyl, and 3-oxocyclohexyl groups.

[0313] In formula (c1-1-1), L a1 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond, but from the viewpoint of synthesis, an ether bond or an ester bond is preferred, and an ester bond is more preferred.

[0314] Specific examples of the anion represented by formula (c1-1) include, but are not limited to, the following: 1 is the same as above, and Ac is an acetyl group. [ka]

[0315] [ka]

[0316] [ka]

[0317] [ka]

[0318] [ka]

[0319] [ka]

[0320] [ka]

[0321] [ka]

[0322] [ka]

[0323] [ka]

[0324] In formula (c1-2), R fb1 and R fb2 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a fluorine atom or a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R in formula (c1-1-1): fa1 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by R include the same as those exemplified above. fb1 and R fb2 is preferably a fluorine atom or a linear fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. fb1 and R fb2 are bonded to each other and form the bonded group (-CF2-SO2-N - -SO2-CF2-) together to form a ring, in which case R fb1 and R fb2 The group obtained by bonding together is preferably a fluorinated ethylene group or a fluorinated propylene group.

[0325] In formula (c1-3), R fc1 , R fc2 and R fc3 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a fluorine atom or a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R in formula (c1-1-1): fa1 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by R include the same as those exemplified above. fc1 , R fc2 and Rfc3 is preferably a fluorine atom or a linear fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. fc1 and R fc2 are bonded to each other and form the bonded group (-CF2-SO2-C - -SO2-CF2-) together to form a ring, in which case R fc1 and R fc2 The group obtained by bonding together is preferably a fluorinated ethylene group or a fluorinated propylene group.

[0326] In formula (c1-4), R fd is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R in formula (c1-1-1): fa1 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) include the same as those exemplified above.

[0327] Specific examples of the anion represented by formula (c1-4) include, but are not limited to, the following: [ka]

[0328] [ka]

[0329] Further examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion include anions having an aromatic ring substituted with an iodine atom or a bromine atom. Specific examples of such anions include those represented by the following formula (c1-5): [ka]

[0330] In formula (c1-5), x1 is 1, 2, or 3. y1 is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. z1 is 0, 1, 2, or 3, provided that 1≦y1+z1≦5. y1 is preferably 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 2 or 3. z1 is preferably 0, 1, or 2.

[0331] In formula (c1-5), X BI represents an iodine atom or a bromine atom, and when x1 and / or y1 are 2 or more, they may be the same or different.

[0332] In formula (c1-5), L 11 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a saturated hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may contain an ether bond or an ester bond. The saturated hydrocarbylene group may be linear, branched, or cyclic.

[0333] In formula (c1-5), L 12 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms when x1 is 1, and represents an (x1+1)-valent linking group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms when x1 is 2 or 3, and the linking group may contain an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom.

[0334] In formula (c1-5), R fe is a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an amino group, or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, a hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms or a hydrocarbylsulfonyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a hydroxy group, an amino group or an ether bond, or feA )(R feB ), -N(R feC )-C(=O)-R feD or -N(R feC )-C(=O)-OR feD R feA and RfeB are each independently a hydrogen atom or a saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. feC is a hydrogen atom or a saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and may contain a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a saturated hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a saturated hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or a saturated hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms. feD is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7 to 15 carbon atoms, and may contain a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a saturated hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a saturated hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or a saturated hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms. The aliphatic hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. The hydrocarbyl group, hydrocarbyloxy group, hydrocarbylcarbonyl group, hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group, hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group, and hydrocarbylsulfonyloxy group may be linear, branched, or cyclic. When x1 and / or z1 is 2 or more, each R fe may be the same or different from each other.

[0335] Of these, R fe Examples of the hydroxyl group include -N(R feC )-C(=O)-R feD , -N(R feC )-C(=O)-OR feD fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, methyl group, methoxy group, etc. are preferred.

[0336] In formula (c1-5), Rf 11 ~Rf 14 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a trifluoromethyl group, and at least one of them is a fluorine atom or a trifluoromethyl group. 11 and Rf 12 may combine to form a carbonyl group. 13 and Rf 14are preferably both fluorine atoms.

[0337] Specific examples of the anion represented by formula (c1-5) include, but are not limited to, the following: BI is the same as above. [ka]

[0338] [ka]

[0339] [ka]

[0340] [ka]

[0341] [ka]

[0342] [ka]

[0343] [ka]

[0344] [ka]

[0345] [ka]

[0346]

change

[0347]

change

[0348]

change

[0349]

change

[0350]

change

[0351]

change

[0352]

change

[0353]

change

[0354]

change

[0355]

change

[0356]

change

[0357] [ka]

[0358] [ka]

[0359] [ka]

[0360] Examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion include a fluorobenzenesulfonate anion bonded to an aromatic group containing an iodine atom, as described in Japanese Patent No. 6648726, an anion having a mechanism for decomposing with an acid, as described in International Publication No. 2021 / 200056 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-70692, an anion having a cyclic ether group, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-180525 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-35935, and an anion described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-92159.

[0361] Further examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion include anions of bulky benzenesulfonic acid derivatives that do not contain fluorine atoms, as described in JP 2006-276759 A, JP 2015-117200 A, JP 2016-65016 A, and JP 2019-202974 A, and benzenesulfonic acid anions and alkylsulfonic acid anions that do not contain fluorine atoms bonded to aromatic groups containing iodine atoms, as described in Japanese Patent No. 6645464 A.

[0362] Further examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion include anions of bissulfonic acid described in JP 2015-206932 A, anions of sulfonamides or sulfonimides having a sulfonic acid on one side and a different sulfonic acid on the other side described in WO 2020 / 158366 A, and anions of sulfonic acid on one side and carboxylic acid on the other described in JP 2015-24989 A.

[0363] In formulae (c2) and (c3), d1 and d2 each independently represent 0, 1, 2 or 3, with 1 being preferred.

[0364] In formula (c4), e1 is 0 or 1. e2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. e3 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. However, when e1 is 0, 0≦e2+e3≦4, and when e1 is 1, 0≦e2+e3≦6.

[0365] In formulas (c2), (c3) and (c4), L 1 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, a carbonyl group, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond, or a carbamate bond. Among these, from the viewpoint of synthesis, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a carbonyl group is preferred, and an ester bond or a carbonyl group is more preferred.

[0366] In formula (c2), Rf 1 and Rf 2 are each independently a fluorine atom or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. 1 and Rf 2 In order to increase the acid strength of the generated acid, it is preferable that Rf be a fluorine atom. 3 and Rf 4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Of these, Rf 3 and Rf 4 At least one of these is preferably a trifluoromethyl group.

[0367] In formula (c3), Rf 5 and Rf 6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, provided that all Rf 5 and Rf 6 cannot be hydrogen atoms at the same time. 5and Rf 6 At least one of these is preferably a trifluoromethyl group.

[0368] In formula (c4), Rf 7 Rf is a fluorine atom, a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a fluorinated alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a fluorinated alkylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. 7 is preferably a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a difluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a difluoromethoxy group, a trifluoromethylthio group, or a difluoromethylthio group, and more preferably a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, or a trifluoromethoxy group. 7 may be the same as or different from each other.

[0369] In formula (c4), R 33 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may contain a halogen atom other than a fluorine atom, or a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R 1 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) include, but are not limited to, the same as those exemplified above. When e3 is 2, 3, or 4, each R 33 may be the same as or different from each other.

[0370] Also, when e3 is 2, 3 or 4, multiple R 33may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded. Specific examples of the ring formed in this case include a cyclopropane ring, a cyclobutane ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclohexane ring, a norbornane ring, and an adamantane ring. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom, resulting in the ring containing a hydroxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, or the like.

[0371] Specific examples of the anion of the repeating unit c2 include, but are not limited to, the following: A is the same as above, and Me is a methyl group. [ka]

[0372] [ka]

[0373] [ka]

[0374] [ka]

[0375] [ka]

[0376] [ka]

[0377] [ka]

[0378] [ka]

[0379] [ka]

[0380] [ka]

[0381] [ka]

[0382] [ka]

[0383] [ka]

[0384] Specific examples of the anion of the repeating unit c3 include, but are not limited to, the following: A is the same as above. [ka]

[0385] [ka]

[0386] [ka]

[0387] [ka]

[0388] [ka]

[0389] [ka]

[0390] [ka]

[0391] [ka]

[0392] [ka]

[0393] [ka]

[0394] [ka]

[0395] Specific examples of the anion of the repeating unit c4 include, but are not limited to, those shown below. A is the same as above. [ka]

[0396]

change

[0397]

change

[0398]

change

[0399]

change

[0400]

change

[0401]

change

[0402]

change

[0403]

change

[0404]

change

[0405]

change

[0406] [ka]

[0407] [ka]

[0408] [ka]

[0409] [ka]

[0410] [ka]

[0411] [ka]

[0412] Specific examples of the anion of the repeating unit c5 include, but are not limited to, the following: A is the same as above. [ka]

[0413] In formulas (c2) to (c5), A +is an onium cation. Examples of the onium cation include sulfonium cation, iodonium cation, ammonium cation, etc., but sulfonium cation and iodonium cation are preferred. Specific examples of the sulfonium cation include those exemplified as specific examples of the sulfonium cation in formula (A), those described in paragraphs

[0102] to

[0125] of JP-A No. 2024-3744, those described in paragraphs

[0044] to

[0049] of WO 2024 / 128017, and those described in paragraphs

[0035] to

[0046] of Japanese Patent Publication No. 7491173, but are not limited thereto.

[0414] Furthermore, the sulfonium cation is preferably a sulfonium cation represented by the following formula (sulfo-1): [ka]

[0415] In formula (sulfo-1), f1 is 0 or 1. When f1 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when f1 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring, although from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, it is preferably a benzene ring with f1 being 0. f2 is 0 or 1. When f2 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when f2 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring, although from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, it is preferably a benzene ring with f1 being 0. f3 is 0 or 1. When f3 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when f3 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring, although from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, it is preferably a benzene ring with f3 being 0.

[0416] In formula (sulfo-1), f4 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. As the number of iodine atoms in the cation structure increases, absorption, particularly of EUV, increases. However, solvent solubility decreases, raising concerns about precipitation in the resist composition. Therefore, f4 is preferably 0, 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 0, 1, or 2.

[0417] In formula (sulfo-1), f5 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, f5 is preferably 0, 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 0, 1, or 2. f6 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, f6 is preferably 0, 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 0, 1, or 2. f7 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, f7 is preferably 0, 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 0, 1, or 2.

[0418] In formula (sulfo-1), f8 is 0, 1, or 2. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, f8 is preferably 0 or 1. f9 is 0, 1, or 2. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, f9 is preferably 0 or 1. f10 is 0, 1, or 2. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, f10 is preferably 0 or 1.

[0419] In formula (sulfo-1), f11 is 0 or 1. When f11 is 0, it is a benzene ring, and when f11 is 1, it is a naphthalene ring, but from the viewpoint of solvent solubility, it is preferable that f11 is 0 and is a benzene ring.

[0420] In formula (sulfo-1), f12 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. As the number of iodine atoms in the cation structure increases, absorption, particularly of EUV, increases. However, solvent solubility decreases, raising concerns about precipitation in the resist composition. Therefore, f12 is preferably 0, 1, 2, or 3, and more preferably 0, 1, or 2.

[0421] In the formula (sulfo-1), f13 is 0, 1, or 2. From the viewpoint of raw material procurement, f13 is preferably 0 or 1. f14 is 0, 1, or 2. From the viewpoint of synthesis, f14 is preferably 0 or 1.

[0422] However, when f1 is 0, 0≦f6+f9≦4, and when f1 is 1, 0≦f6+f9≦6. When f2 is 0, 0≦f7+f10≦4, and when f2 is 1, 0≦f7+f10≦6. When f3 is 0, 1≦f4+f5+f8+f14≦4, and when f3 is 1, 1≦f4+f5+f8+f14≦6. When f11 is 0, 0≦f12+f13≦4, and when f11 is 1, 0≦f12+f13≦6. Also, f4+f12≧1.

[0423] In formula (sulfo-1), R F1 ~R F3 are each independently a fluorine atom, a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Among these, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a trifluorothiomethoxy group is preferred. When f5 is 2, 3, or 4, each R F1 may be the same or different from each other, and when f6 is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, each R F2 may be the same or different from each other, and when f7 is 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, each R F3 may be the same or different from each other.

[0424] In formula (sulfo-1), R ct1 ~R ct4 is a halogen atom other than iodine and fluorine atoms, a nitro group, a cyano group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group and the hydrocarbyl moiety of the hydrocarbyloxy group and hydrocarbylthio group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R 1In addition, some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbyl moiety of the hydrocarbyl group, hydrocarbyloxy group, and hydrocarbylthio group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, nitrogen atom, or halogen atom, and some of the -CH2- in the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, or nitrogen atom, so that the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, cyano group, fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom, carbonyl group, ether bond, ester bond, sulfonate ester bond, carbonate bond, lactone ring, sultone ring, carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), haloalkyl group, etc.

[0425] Also, when f8 is 2, two R ct1 may be the same or different, and two R ct1 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and when f9 is 2, two R ct2 may be the same or different, and two R ct2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded, and when f10 is 2, two R ct3 may be the same or different, and two R ct3 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and when f13 is 2, two R ct4 may be the same or different, and two R ct4may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded. Specific examples of the ring formed in this case include a cyclopropane ring, a cyclobutane ring, a cyclopentane ring, a cyclohexane ring, a norbornane ring, and an adamantane ring. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups in the ring may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom, resulting in the ring containing a hydroxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, or the like.

[0426] In addition, S in the sulfonium cation represented by the formula (sulfo-1) + The aromatic rings directly bonded to S + In this case, specific examples of the ring structure include those represented by the following formulas: [ka] (In the formula, the dashed lines represent bonds.)

[0427] In the formula (sulfo-1), L C and L D are each independently a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, an amide bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonate amide bond, a carbonate bond, or a carbamate bond. C is preferably a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond or a sulfonate ester bond, and more preferably an ester bond or a sulfonate ester bond. D is preferably a single bond, an ether bond or an ester bond, and more preferably a single bond.

[0428] In the formula (sulfo-1), XL is a single bond or a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbylene group may be linear, branched, or cyclic, and specific examples thereof include an alkanediyl group, a cyclic saturated hydrocarbylene group, and an arylene group. Specific examples of the heteroatom include an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, and a sulfur atom.

[0429] X L Specific examples of the hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms and optionally containing a hetero atom, represented by the formula (I), include, but are not limited to, those shown below. In the following formula, * represents L C and L D It is a combination of. [ka]

[0430] [ka]

[0431] [ka]

[0432] [ka]

[0433] Of these, X L -0~X L -22, X L -29~X L -34 and X L -47~X L -58 is preferred.

[0434] The sulfonium cation represented by the formula (sulfo-1) is preferably one represented by the following formula (sulfo-1-1). [ka] (In the formula, f4~f10, f12~f14, R F1 ~R F3 , R ct1 ~R ct4 , L C , L D and X L is the same as above.)

[0435] The sulfonium cation represented by the formula (sulfo-1-1) is preferably one represented by the following formula (sulfo-1-2). [ka] (In the formula, f4~f10, R F1 ~R F3 and R ct1 ~R ct3 is the same as above.)

[0436] Specific examples of the sulfonium cation represented by formula (sulfo-1) include, but are not limited to, those shown below: In the following formula, Me is a methyl group. [ka]

[0437] [ka]

[0438] [ka]

[0439] [ka]

[0440] [ka]

[0441]

change

[0442]

change

[0443]

change

[0444]

change

[0445]

change

[0446]

change

[0447]

change

[0448]

change

[0449]

change

[0450]

change

[0451]

change

[0452]

change

[0453]

change

[0454]

change

[0455]

change

[0456]

change

[0457]

change

[0458]

change

[0459]

change

[0460]

change

[0461]

change

[0462] [ka]

[0463] [ka]

[0464] Specific examples of the iodonium cation include, but are not limited to, those described in paragraph

[0181] of JP-A No. 2024-259.

[0465] Specific examples of the ammonium cation include those represented by the following formula (am-1). [ka] In formula (am-1), R ct5 ~R ct8 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. ct5 and R ct6 However, they may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded. Specific examples of the hydrocarbyl group include R 1 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) include the same as those exemplified above.

[0466] Specific examples of the ammonium cation represented by formula (am-1) include, but are not limited to, those shown below. [ka]

[0467] Specific structures of the repeating units c1 to c5 include any combination of the above-mentioned anions and cations.

[0468] Of the repeating units c1 to c5, the repeating units c2 to c5 are preferred from the viewpoint of controlling acid diffusion, the repeating units c2, c4 and c5 are more preferred from the viewpoint of the acid strength of the generated acid, and the repeating unit c2 is even more preferred from the viewpoint of solvent solubility.

[0469] The base polymer may contain a repeating unit having a structure in which a hydroxy group is protected by an acid labile group (hereinafter also referred to as repeating unit d). The repeating unit d is not particularly limited as long as it has one or more structures in which a hydroxy group is protected and the protecting group is decomposed by the action of an acid to generate a hydroxy group, but is preferably one represented by the following formula (d1): [ka]

[0470] In formula (d1), R A is the same as above. R 41 R is a (g+1)-valent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 42 is an acid labile group; g is 1, 2, 3 or 4.

[0471] In formula (d1), R 42 The acid labile group represented by R may be any group that can be deprotected by the action of an acid to generate a hydroxy group. 42 Although the structure is not particularly limited, an acetal structure, a ketal structure, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an alkoxymethyl group represented by the following formula (d2), and the like are preferred, and an alkoxymethyl group represented by the following formula (d2) is particularly preferred. [ka] (In the formula, * represents a bond. R 43 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms.

[0472] R 42Specific examples of the acid labile group represented by the formula (d2), the alkoxymethyl group represented by the formula (d3), and the repeating unit d are the same as those exemplified in the description of the repeating unit d described in JP-A-2020-111564.

[0473] The base polymer may contain a repeating unit e derived from indene, benzofuran, benzothiophene, acenaphthylene, chromone, coumarin, norbornadiene, or a derivative thereof. Specific examples of monomers that provide the repeating unit e include, but are not limited to, the following: [ka]

[0474] The base polymer may include repeat units f derived from indane, vinylpyridine, or vinylcarbazole.

[0475] In the polymer of the present invention, the content ratios of the repeating units a1, a2, a3, b1, b2, c1, c2, c3, c4, d, e, and f are preferably 0≦a1≦0.8, 0≦a2≦0.8, 0≦a3≦0.6, 0≦b1≦0.8, 0≦b2≦0.5, 0≦c1≦0.4, 0≦c2≦0.4, 0≦c3≦0.4, 0≦c4≦0.4, 0 ≦d≦0.3, 0≦e≦0.3, and 0≦f≦0.3, more preferably 0≦a1≦0.7, 0≦a2≦0.7, 0≦a3≦0.5, 0≦b1≦0.7, 0≦b2≦0.4, 0≦c1≦0.3, 0≦c2≦0.3, 0≦c3≦0.3, 0≦c4≦0.3, 0≦d≦0.2, 0≦e≦0.2, and 0≦f≦0.2, with the proviso that a1+a2+a3+b1+b2+c1+c2+c3+c4+d+e+f≦1.0.

[0476] The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer is preferably 1,000 to 500,000, more preferably 3,000 to 100,000. When Mw is within this range, sufficient etching resistance is obtained, and there is no risk of a decrease in resolution due to an inability to ensure a difference in dissolution rate before and after exposure. In the present invention, Mw is a value measured in terms of polystyrene by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using THF or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent.

[0477] Furthermore, since the influence of Mw / Mn on the molecular weight distribution of the polymer tends to become greater as the pattern rule becomes finer, in order to obtain a resist composition that is suitable for use with fine pattern dimensions, it is preferable that Mw / Mn be a narrow dispersity of 1.0 to 2.0. If it is within this range, there will be little low-molecular-weight or high-molecular-weight polymer, and there will be no risk of foreign matter being observed on the pattern or deterioration of the pattern shape after exposure.

[0478] To synthesize the polymer, for example, a monomer that provides the repeating unit described above may be polymerized by heating in an organic solvent with the addition of a radical polymerization initiator.

[0479] Specific examples of organic solvents used during polymerization include toluene, benzene, THF, diethyl ether, dioxane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), and γ-butyrolactone (GBL). Specific examples of the polymerization initiator include 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl-2,2-azobis(2-methylpropionate), 1,1'-azobis(1-acetoxy-1-phenylethane), benzoyl peroxide, and lauroyl peroxide. The amount of these initiators added is preferably 0.01 to 25 mol% based on the total amount of monomers to be polymerized. The reaction temperature is preferably 50 to 150°C, and more preferably 60 to 100°C. The reaction time is preferably 2 to 24 hours, and more preferably 2 to 12 hours from the viewpoint of production efficiency.

[0480] The polymerization initiator may be added to the monomer solution and then fed to the reaction vessel. Alternatively, an initiator solution may be prepared separately from the monomer solution and then fed to the reaction vessel independently. From the perspective of quality control, it is preferable to prepare the monomer solution and the initiator solution independently and then add them dropwise, since radicals generated from the initiator during the waiting time may cause the polymerization reaction to proceed, resulting in the formation of ultra-high molecular weight polymers. The acid labile group may be used as is after being introduced into the monomer, or may be protected or partially protected after polymerization. Furthermore, known chain transfer agents such as dodecyl mercaptan and 2-mercaptoethanol may be used in combination to adjust the molecular weight. In this case, the amount of the chain transfer agent added is preferably 0.01 to 20 mol % of the total amount of monomers to be polymerized.

[0481] In the case of a monomer containing a hydroxy group, the hydroxy group may be substituted with an acetal group, such as an ethoxyethoxy group, which is easily deprotected by an acid, during polymerization, and then deprotected with a weak acid and water after polymerization. Alternatively, the hydroxy group may be substituted with an acetyl group, a formyl group, a pivaloyl group, or the like, and then subjected to alkaline hydrolysis after polymerization.

[0482] When copolymerizing hydroxystyrene or hydroxyvinylnaphthalene, hydroxystyrene or hydroxyvinylnaphthalene and other monomers may be polymerized by heating in an organic solvent with the addition of a radical polymerization initiator. Alternatively, acetoxystyrene or acetoxyvinylnaphthalene may be used, and after polymerization, the acetoxy group may be deprotected by alkaline hydrolysis to form polyhydroxystyrene or hydroxypolyvinylnaphthalene.

[0483] The base that can be used in alkaline hydrolysis includes aqueous ammonia, triethylamine, etc. The reaction temperature is preferably −20 to 100° C., more preferably 0 to 60° C. The reaction time is preferably 0.2 to 100 hours, more preferably 0.5 to 20 hours.

[0484] The amount of each monomer in the monomer solution may be appropriately set so as to achieve the preferred content ratio of the repeating units described above.

[0485] The polymer obtained by the above-described production method may be a reaction solution obtained by a polymerization reaction as a final product, or a powder obtained through a purification step such as a reprecipitation method in which a polymerization solution is added to a poor solvent to obtain a powder, and the resulting powder may be handled as a final product. However, from the viewpoint of work efficiency and quality stability, it is preferable to handle a polymer solution obtained by dissolving the powder obtained through the purification step in a solvent as a final product.

[0486] Specific examples of the solvent used in this case include ketones such as cyclohexanone and methyl-2-n-pentyl ketone, as described in paragraphs

[0144] to

[0145] of JP-A No. 2008-111103; alcohols such as 3-methoxybutanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and 1-ethoxy-2-propanol; propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME), ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. esters such as PGMEA, propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, ethyl pyruvate, butyl acetate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, tert-butyl acetate, tert-butyl propionate, and propylene glycol mono tert-butyl ether acetate; lactones such as GBL; alcohols such as diacetone alcohol (DAA); high-boiling alcohol solvents such as diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, 1,4-butanediol, and 1,3-butanediol; and mixed solvents thereof.

[0487] The concentration of the polymer in the polymer solution is preferably 0.01 to 30% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 20% by mass.

[0488] The reaction solution and polymer solution are preferably filtered through a filter, which is effective in stabilizing quality by removing foreign matter and gels that may cause defects.

[0489] Examples of filter materials used in the filter filtration include fluorocarbon, cellulose, nylon, polyester, and hydrocarbon-based materials. However, in the filtration process of resist compositions, filters made of fluorocarbons, such as Teflon (registered trademark), hydrocarbons such as polyethylene and polypropylene, or nylon are preferred. The pore size of the filter can be selected appropriately depending on the target cleanliness, but is preferably 100 nm or less, more preferably 20 nm or less. These filters may be used alone or in combination. The filtration method may involve passing the solution through the filter only once, but it is more preferable to circulate the solution and filter it multiple times. The filtration process can be performed in any order and any number of times in the polymer production process. However, it is preferable to filter the reaction solution after the polymerization reaction, the polymer solution, or both.

[0490] The (B) base polymer may be used singly or in combination of two or more different polymers with different composition ratios, Mw, and / or Mw / Mn. The (B) base polymer may also contain, in addition to the above-mentioned polymer, a hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymer, and the polymers described in JP-A-2003-66612 can be used.

[0491] [(C) Organic solvent] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention may contain an organic solvent as component (C). There are no particular limitations on the organic solvent (C) as long as it is capable of dissolving the components described above and below. Specific examples of such organic solvents include ketones such as cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, and methyl-2-n-pentyl ketone; alcohols such as 3-methoxybutanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and 1-ethoxy-2-propanol; ketoalcohols such as DAA; ethers such as PGME, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether; esters such as PGMEA, propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, ethyl pyruvate, butyl acetate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, tert-butyl acetate, tert-butyl propionate, and propylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether acetate; lactones such as GBL; and mixed solvents thereof.

[0492] Among these organic solvents, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, PGMEA, cyclohexanone, GBL, DAA, and mixed solvents thereof are preferred, as they have particularly excellent solubility for the base polymer of component (B).

[0493] In the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention, the content of (C) organic solvent is preferably 200 to 5000 parts by mass, more preferably 400 to 3500 parts by mass, relative to 80 parts by mass of (B) base polymer. (C) The organic solvent may be used alone or in combination of two or more types.

[0494] [(D) Photoacid generator] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention may contain a photoacid generator as component (D). The photoacid generator is not particularly limited, as long as it is a compound that generates an acid having a stronger acid strength than the sulfonic acid generated by the quencher of component (A) upon exposure to high-energy rays.

[0495] Suitable photoacid generators include those represented by the following formula (2) or (3). [ka]

[0496] In formula (2), R 101 ~R 105 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 101 , R 102 and R 103 Any two of these may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded. Specific examples of the hydrocarbyl group include R 1 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) include the same as those exemplified above.

[0497] Specific examples of the cation of the sulfonium salt represented by formula (2) include, but are not limited to, those exemplified as specific examples of the sulfonium cation in formula (1A), those described in paragraphs

[0102] to

[0125] of JP 2024-3744 A, those described in paragraphs

[0044] to

[0049] of WO 2024 / 128017 A, and those described in paragraphs

[0035] to

[0046] of Japanese Patent Publication No. 7491173 A, and those exemplified as specific examples of the sulfonium cation in formula (d3). Specific examples of the cation of the iodonium salt represented by formula (3) include, but are not limited to, those described in paragraph

[0181] of JP 2024-259 A.

[0498] In formulas (2) and (3), Xa - is an anion of a strong acid. Specific examples of the anion of the strong acid include those represented by any of formulas (c1-1) to (c1-5).

[0499] Furthermore, the photoacid generator of the component (D) is preferably one represented by the following formula (4). [ka]

[0500] In formula (4), R 201 and R 202 R are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 203 is a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 201 , R 202 and R 203 Any two of may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are attached.

[0501] R 201 and R 202 The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, a tert-pentyl group, an n-pentyl group, an n-hexyl group, an n-octyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group, an n-nonyl group, and an n-decyl group; a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cyclopentylmethyl group, a cyclopentylethyl group, a cyclopentylbutyl group, a cyclohexylmethyl group, a cyclohexylethyl group, a cyclohexylbutyl group, a norbornyl group, an oxanorbornyl group, and a tricyclo[5.2.1.0] 2,6cyclic saturated hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, such as a decyl group and an adamantyl group; aryl groups having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a methylphenyl group, an ethylphenyl group, an n-propylphenyl group, an isopropylphenyl group, an n-butylphenyl group, an isobutylphenyl group, a sec-butylphenyl group, a tert-butylphenyl group, a naphthyl group, a methylnaphthyl group, an ethylnaphthyl group, an n-propylnaphthyl group, an isopropylnaphthyl group, an n-butylnaphthyl group, an isobutylnaphthyl group, a sec-butylnaphthyl group, a tert-butylnaphthyl group and an anthracenyl group; and groups obtained by combining these groups. Furthermore, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups of the hydrocarbyl group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a nitrogen atom, and as a result, the hydrocarbyl group may contain a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, or the like.

[0502] R 203The hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkanediyl groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, such as methanediyl group, ethane-1,1-diyl group, ethane-1,2-diyl group, propane-1,3-diyl group, butane-1,4-diyl group, pentane-1,5-diyl group, hexane-1,6-diyl group, heptane-1,7-diyl group, octane-1,8-diyl group, nonane-1,9-diyl group, decane-1,10-diyl group, undecane-1,11-diyl group, dodecane-1,12-diyl group, tridecane-1,13-diyl group, tetradecane-1,14-diyl group, pentadecane-1,15-diyl group, hexadecane-1,16-diyl group, and heptadecane-1,17-diyl group; Examples of the alkylene groups include cyclic saturated hydrocarbylene groups having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, such as a cyclohexanediyl group, a norbornanediyl group, a cyclohexanediyl group, a norbornanediyl group, and an adamantanediyl group; and arylene groups, such as a phenylene group, a methylphenylene group, an ethylphenylene group, an n-propylphenylene group, an isopropylphenylene group, an n-butylphenylene group, an isobutylphenylene group, a sec-butylphenylene group, a tert-butylphenylene group, a naphthylene group, a methylnaphthylene group, an ethylnaphthylene group, an n-propylnaphthylene group, an isopropylnaphthylene group, an n-butylnaphthylene group, an isobutylnaphthylene group, a sec-butylnaphthylene group, and a tert-butylnaphthylene group. In addition, some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbylene group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, or a halogen atom, and some of the -CH- groups of the hydrocarbylene group may be substituted with a group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom, resulting in the hydrocarbylene group containing a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a carbonyl group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, a carboxylic anhydride (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), a haloalkyl group, etc. As the heteroatom, an oxygen atom is preferred.

[0503] In formula (4), L 21is a single bond, an ether bond, or a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbylene group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R 203 Examples of the hydrocarbylene group represented by the formula (I) include the same as those exemplified above.

[0504] In formula (4), X a , X b , X c and X d are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a trifluoromethyl group, provided that X a , X b , X c and X d At least one of the groups is a fluorine atom or a trifluoromethyl group.

[0505] The photoacid generator represented by formula (4) is preferably one represented by the following formula (4'). [ka]

[0506] In formula (4'), L 21 is the same as above. X e is a hydrogen atom or a trifluoromethyl group, preferably a trifluoromethyl group. 301 , R 302 and R 303 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. The hydrocarbyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include R in formula (c1-1-1): fa1 Examples of the hydrocarbyl group include the same as those exemplified above. x2 and y2 each independently represent 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; z2 represents 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

[0507] Specific examples of the photoacid generator represented by formula (4) include the same compounds as those exemplified as the photoacid generator represented by formula (2) in JP-A-2017-26980.

[0508] Among the photoacid generators, those containing anions represented by formula (c1-1-1) or (c1-4) are particularly preferred because of their small acid diffusion and excellent solubility in solvents. Also, those represented by formula (4') are particularly preferred because of their extremely small acid diffusion.

[0509] When the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention contains a (D) photoacid generator, the content thereof is preferably 0.1 to 40 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 20 parts by mass, per 80 parts by mass of the (B) base polymer. When the amount of (D) photoacid generator added is within the above range, the resolution is good and there is no risk of problems with foreign matter occurring after development of the resist film or during stripping, which is preferable. The (D) photoacid generators may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0510] [(E) Other quenchers] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention may also contain a quencher other than the component (A) as the component (E) (hereinafter also referred to as "other quencher").

[0511] Specific examples of other quenchers of the component (E) include onium salts represented by the following formula (5) or (6). [ka]

[0512] In formula (5), R q1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, but excludes those in which the hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atom at the α-position of the sulfo group is substituted with a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group. q2 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom.

[0513] R q1 Specific examples of the hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) include alkyl groups having 1 to 40 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, tert-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, and n-decyl; cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclopentylethyl, cyclopentylbutyl, cyclohexylmethyl, cyclohexylethyl, cyclohexylbutyl, norbornyl, and tricyclo[5.2.1.0]. 2,6 cyclic saturated hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 40 carbon atoms, such as a decyl group or an adamantyl group; and aryl groups having 6 to 40 carbon atoms, such as a phenyl group, a naphthyl group or an anthracenyl group. Some or all of the hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbyl groups may be substituted with groups containing heteroatoms such as oxygen atoms, sulfur atoms, nitrogen atoms or halogen atoms, and some of the -CH2- groups in the hydrocarbyl groups may be substituted with groups containing heteroatoms such as oxygen atoms, sulfur atoms or nitrogen atoms, so that the hydrocarbyl groups may contain hydroxy groups, fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, iodine atoms, cyano groups, carbonyl groups, ether bonds, ester bonds, sulfonate ester bonds, carbonate bonds, lactone rings, sultone rings, carboxylic anhydrides (-C(=O)-OC(=O)-), haloalkyl groups, etc.

[0514] R q2 Specific examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by R q1 In addition to the substituents exemplified as specific examples, examples include fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl groups such as trifluoromethyl group and trifluoroethyl group, and fluorinated aryl groups such as pentafluorophenyl group and 4-trifluoromethylphenyl group.

[0515] Specific examples of the anion of the onium salt represented by formula (5) include, but are not limited to, those shown below. [ka]

[0516] [ka]

[0517] [ka]

[0518] [ka]

[0519] Specific examples of the anion of the onium salt represented by formula (6) include, but are not limited to, those shown below. [ka]

[0520] [ka]

[0521] [ka]

[0522] In equations (5) and (6), Mq +is an onium cation. Examples of the onium cation include sulfonium cation, iodonium cation, ammonium cation, etc. Specific examples of the sulfonium cation include those exemplified as specific examples of the sulfonium cation in formula (A), those described in paragraphs

[0102] to

[0125] of JP 2024-3744 A, those described in paragraphs

[0044] to

[0049] of WO 2024 / 128017 A, and those described in paragraphs

[0035] to

[0046] of Japanese Patent Publication No. 7491173 A, and those exemplified as specific examples of the sulfonium cation in formula (d3), but are not limited thereto. Specific examples of iodonium cations include those described in paragraph

[0181] of JP 2024-259 A, but are not limited thereto. Specific examples of the ammonium cation include those exemplified as specific examples of the ammonium cation represented by formula (am-1), etc.

[0523] Specific examples of the onium salts represented by formulas (5) and (6) include any combination of the anions and cations described above. These onium salts can be easily prepared by ion exchange reactions using known organic chemistry methods. For information on ion exchange reactions, see, for example, JP 2007-145797 A.

[0524] The onium salts represented by formulas (5) and (6) function as quenchers in the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention. This is because the counter anions of the onium salts are the conjugate bases of weak acids. The term "weak acid" as used herein refers to an acidity that is insufficient to deprotect the acid labile groups of the acid labile group-containing units used in the base polymer. The onium salts represented by formulas (5) and (6) function as quenchers when used in combination with an onium salt-type photoacid generator having a conjugate base of a strong acid, such as sulfonic acid, as a counter anion. Specifically, when an onium salt that generates a strong acid, such as sulfonic acid, is mixed with an onium salt that generates a weak acid, such as carboxylic acid, the strong acid generated from the photoacid generator upon irradiation with high-energy radiation collides with an onium salt containing an unreacted weak acid anion, releasing the weak acid through salt exchange and generating an onium salt containing a strong acid anion. During this process, the strong acid is exchanged for a weak acid with lower catalytic activity, apparently deactivating the acid and controlling acid diffusion.

[0525] Other quenchers for component (E) that can be used include onium salts having a sulfonium cation and a phenoxide anion moiety in the same molecule, as described in Japanese Patent No. 6,848,776; onium salts having a sulfonium cation and a carboxylate anion moiety in the same molecule, as described in Japanese Patent No. 6,583,136 and JP-A-2020-200311; and onium salts having an iodonium cation and a carboxylate anion moiety in the same molecule, as described in Japanese Patent No. 6,274,755.

[0526] Here, when the photoacid generator that generates a strong acid is an onium salt, the strong acid generated by irradiation with high-energy rays can be exchanged for a weak acid as described above, but on the other hand, it is thought that the weak acid generated by irradiation with high-energy rays collides with the unreacted onium salt that generates the strong acid, making it difficult to carry out salt exchange. This is due to the phenomenon that the onium cation is more likely to form an ion pair with the anion of the strong acid.

[0527] When the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention contains an onium salt represented by formula (5) or (6) as another quencher of component (E), the content thereof is preferably 0.1 to 20 parts by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by mass, relative to 80 parts by mass of the base polymer (B). It is preferable that the content of the onium salt quencher is within the above range, since this provides good resolution and does not significantly reduce sensitivity. The onium salt represented by formula (5) or (6) may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0528] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention may contain a nitrogen-containing compound as another quencher of component (E). Specific examples of the nitrogen-containing compound include primary, secondary, or tertiary amine compounds described in paragraphs

[0146] to

[0164] of JP 2008-111103 A, particularly amine compounds having a hydroxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a lactone ring, a cyano group, or a sulfonate ester bond. Further examples include compounds in which a primary or secondary amine is protected with a carbamate group, such as the compounds described in JP 3790649 A.

[0529] Alternatively, a sulfonate sulfonium salt having a nitrogen-containing substituent may be used as the nitrogen-containing compound. Such a compound functions as a quencher in the unexposed area and loses its quenching ability in the exposed area by neutralizing with the acid generated by the compound itself, functioning as a so-called photodegradable base. The use of a photodegradable base can further enhance the contrast between the exposed and unexposed areas. For example, JP-A Nos. 2009-109595 and 2012-46501 can be used as references for the photodegradable base.

[0530] When the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention contains a nitrogen-containing compound as another quencher of the component (E), the content thereof is preferably 0.001 to 12 parts by mass, more preferably 0.01 to 8 parts by mass, relative to 80 parts by mass of the base polymer (B).The nitrogen-containing compound may be used alone or in combination of two or more types.

[0531] [(F) Surfactant] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention may further comprise a surfactant as component (F). The surfactant for component (F) is preferably a surfactant that is insoluble or slightly soluble in water but soluble in an alkaline developer, or a surfactant that is insoluble or slightly soluble in both water and an alkaline developer. Examples of such surfactants include those described in JP-A-2010-215608 and JP-A-2011-16746.

[0532] Among the surfactants described in the above publications, preferred surfactants that are insoluble or slightly soluble in water and alkaline developers include FC-4430 (manufactured by 3M), Surflon (registered trademark) S-381 (manufactured by AGC Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.), Olfine (registered trademark) E1004 (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), KH-20, KH-30 (manufactured by AGC Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.), and oxetane ring-opening polymers represented by the following formula (surf-1): [ka]

[0533] Here, R, Rf, A, B, C, m, and n apply only to formula (surf-1), regardless of the above descriptions. R is a divalent to tetravalent aliphatic group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms. Examples of the divalent aliphatic group include an ethylene group, a 1,4-butylene group, a 1,2-propylene group, a 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene group, and a 1,5-pentylene group, and examples of the trivalent or tetravalent aliphatic group include the following: [ka] (In the formula, the dashed lines represent bonds and are partial structures derived from glycerol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, and pentaerythritol, respectively.)

[0534] Among these, a 1,4-butylene group, a 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene group, and the like are preferred.

[0535] Rf is a trifluoromethyl group or a pentafluoroethyl group, preferably a trifluoromethyl group. m is an integer of 0 to 3, n is an integer of 1 to 4, and the sum of n and m is the valence of R, which is an integer of 2 to 4. A is 1. B is an integer of 2 to 25, preferably an integer of 4 to 20. C is an integer of 0 to 10, preferably 0 or 1. The order of the structural units in formula (surf-1) is not specified, and they may be bonded in blocks or randomly. The production of surfactants based on partially fluorinated oxetane ring-opening polymers is described in detail in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,483, etc.

[0536] Surfactants that are insoluble or slightly soluble in water but soluble in alkaline developers have the function of reducing water penetration and leaching by orienting themselves on the surface of the resist film when a resist protective film is not used in ArF immersion lithography. Therefore, they are useful for suppressing the elution of water-soluble components from the resist film and reducing damage to the exposure equipment. They are also useful because they become soluble during alkaline aqueous development after exposure or post-exposure bake (PEB), making them less likely to become contaminants that cause defects. Such surfactants are insoluble or slightly soluble in water but soluble in alkaline developers. They are polymeric surfactants, also known as hydrophobic resins, and are particularly preferred because they have high water repellency and improve water slippage.

[0537] Specific examples of such polymer surfactants include those containing at least one repeating unit selected from those represented by any of the following formulae (6A) to (6E). [ka]

[0538] In formulas (6A) to (6E), R B is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. 1 is -CH2-, -CH2CH2-, -O- or two -H groups separated from each other. s1are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. s2 R is a single bond or a linear or branched hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. s3 R are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group or a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, or an acid labile group. s3 When R is a hydrocarbyl group or a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group, an ether bond or a carbonyl group may be present between the carbon-carbon bonds. s4 is a hydrocarbon group or a fluorinated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and a valence of (u+1). u is 1, 2, or 3. R s5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or -C(=O)-OR sa R is a group represented by sa is a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. s6 is a hydrocarbyl group or a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and an ether bond or a carbonyl group may be present between the carbon-carbon bonds.

[0539] R s1 The hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) is preferably a saturated hydrocarbyl group, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, and n-decyl; and cyclic saturated hydrocarbyl groups having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, adamantyl, and norbornyl. Of these, those having 1 to 6 carbon atoms are preferred.

[0540] R s2 The hydrocarbylene group represented by the formula (I) is preferably a saturated hydrocarbylene group, which may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, a butylene group, and a pentylene group.

[0541] R s3 or R s6 The hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include saturated hydrocarbyl groups and aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbyl groups such as alkenyl groups and alkynyl groups, with saturated hydrocarbyl groups being preferred. Specific examples of the saturated hydrocarbyl group include R s1 In addition to the examples of the hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (R), examples include an undecyl group, a dodecyl group, a tridecyl group, a tetradecyl group, and a pentadecyl group. s3 or R s6 Examples of the fluorinated hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) include groups in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon atoms of the aforementioned hydrocarbyl group have been substituted with fluorine atoms. As mentioned above, an ether bond or a carbonyl group may be present between these carbon-carbon bonds.

[0542] R s3 Specific examples of the acid labile group represented by the formula (AL-3) to (AL-5) include the groups represented by the formulas (AL-3) to (AL-5) above, trialkylsilyl groups in which each alkyl group has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and oxo group-containing alkyl groups having 4 to 20 carbon atoms.

[0543] R s4 The (u+1)-valent hydrocarbon group or fluorinated hydrocarbon group represented by the formula (I) may be linear, branched, or cyclic, and specific examples thereof include groups obtained by further eliminating u hydrogen atoms from the aforementioned hydrocarbyl group or fluorinated hydrocarbyl group.

[0544] R saThe fluorinated hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula (I) is preferably saturated and may be linear, branched or cyclic. Specific examples thereof include those in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl groups have been substituted with fluorine atoms, and specific examples thereof include a trifluoromethyl group, a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl group, a 3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propyl group, a 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-propyl group, a 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl group, a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl group, a 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluoroheptyl group, a 2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl group, a 2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl group, a 2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl group, and a 2-(perfluorodecyl)ethyl group.

[0545] Specific examples of the repeating unit represented by any one of formulas (6A) to (6E) include, but are not limited to, the following: B is the same as above. [ka]

[0546] [ka]

[0547] [ka]

[0548] [ka]

[0549] [ka]

[0550] [ka]

[0551] The polymer surfactant may further contain other repeating units in addition to the repeating units represented by formulae (6A) to (6E). Specific examples of other repeating units include repeating units obtained from methacrylic acid, α-trifluoromethylacrylic acid derivatives, etc. In the polymer surfactant, the content of the repeating units represented by formulae (6A) to (6E) in all repeating units is preferably 20 mol % or more, more preferably 60 mol % or more, and even more preferably 100 mol %.

[0552] The Mw of the polymer surfactant is preferably from 1,000 to 500,000, and more preferably from 3,000 to 100,000. The Mw / Mn is preferably from 1.0 to 2.0, and more preferably from 1.0 to 1.6.

[0553] The polymer surfactant can be synthesized by heating a monomer containing an unsaturated bond that provides the repeating units represented by formulas (6A) to (6E) and, if necessary, other repeating units, in an organic solvent with the addition of a radical initiator to polymerize the monomer. Specific examples of organic solvents used in polymerization include toluene, benzene, THF, diethyl ether, and dioxane. Specific examples of polymerization initiators include AIBN, 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl 2,2-azobis(2-methylpropionate), benzoyl peroxide, and lauroyl peroxide. The reaction temperature is preferably 50 to 100°C. The reaction time is preferably 4 to 24 hours. The acid labile group introduced into the monomer may be used as is, or may be protected or partially protected after polymerization.

[0554] When synthesizing the polymeric surfactant, a known chain transfer agent such as dodecyl mercaptan or 2-mercaptoethanol may be used to adjust the molecular weight. In this case, the amount of the chain transfer agent added is preferably 0.01 to 10 mol % based on the total number of moles of the monomers to be polymerized.

[0555] When the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention contains a surfactant (F), the content thereof is preferably 0.1 to 50 parts by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass, per 80 parts by mass of the base polymer (B). When the surfactant (F) content is 0.1 part by mass or more, the receding contact angle between the resist film surface and water is sufficiently improved, while when the surfactant content is 50 parts by mass or less, the dissolution rate of the resist film surface in the developer is low, and the height of the formed fine pattern is sufficiently maintained. The surfactant (F) may be used alone or in combination of two or more types.

[0556] [(G) Other ingredients] The chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention may contain, as other components (G), a compound that decomposes in the presence of acid to generate acid (acid amplifying compound), an organic acid derivative, a fluorine-substituted alcohol, or a compound with a Mw of 3,000 or less whose solubility in a developer changes upon the action of acid (dissolution inhibitor). Examples of the acid amplifying compound include the compounds described in JP-A-2009-269953 or JP-A-2010-215608. When the acid amplifying compound is contained, its content is preferably 0 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0 to 3 parts by weight, relative to 80 parts by weight of the (B) base polymer. If the content is too high, it may be difficult to control acid diffusion, resulting in degradation of resolution and pattern shape. Examples of the organic acid derivative, fluorine-substituted alcohol, and dissolution inhibitor include the compounds described in JP-A-2009-269953 or JP-A-2010-215608.

[0557] [Pattern formation method] The pattern forming method of the present invention includes the steps of forming a resist film on a substrate using the aforementioned chemically amplified resist composition, exposing the resist film to high-energy rays, and developing the exposed resist film using a developer.

[0558] The substrate may be, for example, a substrate for integrated circuit manufacturing (Si, SiO2, SiN, SiON, TiN, WSi, BPSG, SOG, organic anti-reflective coating, etc.) or a substrate for mask circuit manufacturing (Cr, CrO, CrON, MoSi2, SiO2, etc.).

[0559] The resist film can be formed, for example, by applying the chemically amplified resist composition onto a substrate by a method such as spin coating so that the film thickness is preferably 0.05 to 2 μm, and then pre-baking the composition on a hot plate preferably at 60 to 150°C for 1 to 10 minutes, more preferably at 80 to 140°C for 1 to 5 minutes.

[0560] Examples of high-energy rays used to expose the resist film include KrF excimer laser light, ArF excimer laser light, EB, EUV, etc. When KrF excimer laser light, ArF excimer laser light, or EUV is used for exposure, a mask for forming a desired pattern is used, and the exposure dose is preferably 1 to 200 mJ / cm. 2 , more preferably 10 to 100 mJ / cm 2 When EB is used, the exposure dose is preferably 1 to 300 μC / cm 2 , either directly or through a mask for forming a desired pattern. 2 , more preferably 10 to 200 μC / cm 2 Irradiate so that

[0561] In addition to the usual exposure method, the immersion method can also be used, in which a liquid with a refractive index of 1.0 or higher is placed between the resist film and the projection lens. In this case, a water-insoluble protective film can also be used.

[0562] The water-insoluble protective film is used to prevent elution from the resist film and increase the water sliding property of the film surface. It can be broadly divided into two types. One is an organic solvent-removable type that requires stripping before alkaline aqueous development using an organic solvent that does not dissolve the resist film. The other is an alkaline aqueous solution-soluble type that is soluble in alkaline developer and removes the protective film along with removing the soluble portion of the resist film. The latter is particularly based on a polymer containing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol residues that is insoluble in water but soluble in alkaline developer, and is preferably dissolved in an alcohol solvent with 4 or more carbon atoms, an ether solvent with 8 to 12 carbon atoms, or a mixed solvent thereof. Materials can also be prepared by dissolving the water-insoluble, alkaline developer-soluble surfactant described above in an alcohol solvent with 4 or more carbon atoms, an ether solvent with 8 to 12 carbon atoms, or a mixed solvent thereof.

[0563] After the exposure, PEB may be performed by heating on a hot plate, for example, preferably at 60 to 150° C. for 1 to 5 minutes, more preferably at 80 to 140° C. for 1 to 3 minutes.

[0564] The development is carried out using a developer, for example, an alkaline aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) or the like, preferably at 0.1 to 5 mass %, more preferably 2 to 3 mass %, for preferably 0.1 to 3 minutes, more preferably 0.5 to 2 minutes, by a conventional method such as dipping, puddling, or spraying, whereby the exposed areas are dissolved and the desired pattern is formed on the substrate.

[0565] After forming the resist film, the resist film may be rinsed with pure water to extract the acid generator and the like from the film surface or to wash away particles, or the resist film may be rinsed after exposure to remove water remaining on the film.

[0566] Furthermore, the pattern may be formed by a double patterning method, such as a trench method in which a first exposure and etching process is performed to process an underlayer with a 1:3 trench pattern, and then a second exposure process is performed with a shifted position to form a 1:3 trench pattern, thereby forming a 1:1 pattern, or a line method in which a first underlayer with a 1:3 isolated leave pattern is processed by a first exposure and etching process, and then a second exposure process is performed with a shifted position to process a second underlayer with a 1:3 isolated leave pattern formed below the first underlayer, thereby forming a 1:1 pattern with half the pitch.

[0567] In the pattern forming method of the present invention, a negative tone development method may be used in which an organic solvent is used as a developer instead of the alkaline aqueous solution to dissolve the unexposed areas.

[0568] The organic solvent development may be carried out using, as a developer, 2-octanone, 2-nonanone, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, 4-heptanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, diisobutyl ketone, methylcyclohexanone, acetophenone, methylacetophenone, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, pentyl acetate, butenyl acetate, isopentyl acetate, propyl formate, butyl formate, isobutyl formate, pentyl formate, isopentyl formate, methyl valerate, methyl pentenoate, methyl crotonate, ethyl crotonate, propyl cyclohexanone ... Examples of organic solvents that can be used include methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, propyl lactate, butyl lactate, isobutyl lactate, pentyl lactate, isopentyl lactate, methyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, ethyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, phenyl acetate, benzyl acetate, methyl phenylacetate, ethyl phenylacetate, benzyl formate, phenylethyl formate, methyl 3-phenylpropionate, benzyl propionate, and 2-phenylethyl acetate. These organic solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. [Example]

[0569] The present invention will be specifically explained below by showing synthesis examples, examples, and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. The apparatuses used are as follows. MALDI TOF-MS: JEOL S3000

[0570] [1] Synthesis of onium salts [Example 1-1] Synthesis of onium salt PDQ-1 [ka]

[0571] (1) Synthesis of onium salt PDQ-1 Under a nitrogen atmosphere, raw material SM-1 (4.0 g), sodium bicarbonate (1.0 g), and water (20 g) were mixed in a reaction vessel and stirred at an internal temperature of 45°C for 1 hour. The reaction solution was then cooled to room temperature, and raw material SM-2 (15.0 g, equivalent to 0.012 mol) and methyl isobutyl ketone (30 g) were added, followed by stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes. After stirring, the organic layer was separated, washed with water, and then concentrated under reduced pressure. The concentrated solution was purified by silica gel chromatography to obtain 5.9 g of the target onium salt PDQ-1 as an oil (yield 86%).

[0572] The results of TOF-MS of PDQ-1 are shown below. MALDI TOF-MS: POSITIVE M + 288(C 19 H 14 NS + equivalent) NEGATIVE M - 403(C8H5I2O3 - equivalent)

[0573] [Examples 1-2 to 1-7] Synthesis of onium salts PDQ-2 to PDQ-7 Using the corresponding raw materials and known organic chemical reactions, onium salts PDQ-2 to PDQ-7 represented by the following formulas were synthesized. [ka]

[0574] [Synthesis Example] Synthesis of base polymers (polymers P-1 to P-5) Each monomer was combined and copolymerized in MEK, a solvent, and then poured into hexane. The precipitated solid was washed with hexane, isolated, and dried to obtain the base polymers (polymers P-1 to P-5) with the following compositions. The resulting base polymers were 1 Mw and Mw / Mn were confirmed by H-NMR and GPC (solvent: DMF, standard: polystyrene). [ka]

[0575] [3] Preparation of chemically amplified resist composition [Examples 2-1 to 2-30, Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-20] Quenchers of the present invention (PDQ-1 to PDQ-7), comparative quenchers (PDQ-A to PDQ-D), photoacid generators (PAG-X, PAG-Y), base polymers (P-1 to P-5), and other quenchers (AQ-1, AQ-2) were dissolved in a solvent containing 0.01% by mass of surfactant A (Omnova) in the compositions shown in Tables 1 and 2 below to prepare solutions. The solutions were then filtered through a 0.2 μm Teflon (registered trademark) filter to prepare chemically amplified resist compositions (R-1 to R-30 and CR-1 to CR-20).

[0576] [Table 1]

[0577] [Table 2]

[0578] In Tables 1 and 2, the solvents, photoacid generators PAG-X and PAG-Y, comparative quenchers PDQ-A to PDQ-D, other quenchers AQ-1 and AQ-2, and surfactant A are as follows. Solvent: PGMEA (propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate) EL (Ethyl lactate) DAA (diacetone alcohol)

[0579] Photoacid generator: PAG-X, PAG-Y [ka]

[0580] Comparison quenchers: PDQ-A to PDQ-D [ka]

[0581] Other quenchers: AQ-1, AQ-2 [ka]

[0582] Surfactant A: 3-methyl-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxymethyl)oxetane-tetrahydrofuran-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol copolymer (Omnova) [ka] a:(b+b'):(c+c')=1:4-7:0.01-1 (molar ratio) Mw=1500

[0583] [4] EUV Lithography Evaluation (1) [Examples 3-1 to 3-30, Comparative Examples 2-1 to 2-20] Each chemically amplified resist composition (R-1 to R-30, CR-1 to CR-20) was spin-coated onto a Si substrate on which a 20 nm thick silicon-containing spin-on hard mask SHB-A940 (43% silicon by mass) manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. had been formed, and the substrate was pre-baked at 100°C for 60 seconds using a hot plate to produce a 50 nm thick resist film. The resist film was exposed to an LS pattern with an on-wafer dimension of 18 nm and a pitch of 36 nm using an ASML EUV scanner NXE3400 (NA 0.33, σ 0.9 / 0.6, dipole illumination) while varying the exposure dose and focus (exposure dose pitch: 1 mJ / cm). 2 After exposure, PEB was performed for 60 seconds at the temperatures shown in Tables 4 and 5. Thereafter, puddle development was performed with a 2.38 mass % TMAH aqueous solution for 30 seconds, followed by rinsing with a surfactant-containing rinse material and spin drying to obtain a positive pattern. The obtained LS patterns were observed using a critical dimension SEM (CG6300) manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, and the sensitivity, EL, LWR, depth of focus (DOF), and tilt limit were evaluated according to the following methods. The obtained LS patterns were also evaluated for development defects. The results are shown in Tables 3 and 4.

[0584] [Sensitivity evaluation] The optimum exposure dose E for obtaining an LS pattern with a line width of 18 nm and a pitch of 36 nm op (mJ / cm 2 ) was calculated and used as the sensitivity. The smaller this value, the higher the sensitivity.

[0585] [EL Evaluation] EL (unit: %) was calculated from the exposure amount formed within a range of ±10% (16.2 to 19.8 nm) of the 18 nm space width in the LS pattern using the following formula: The larger this value, the better the performance. EL(%)=(|E1-E2| / E op ) x 100 E1: Optimal exposure dose for LS pattern with line width of 16.2 nm and pitch of 36 nm E2: Optimal exposure dose for LS pattern with line width of 19.8 nm and pitch of 36 nm E op : Optimal exposure dose to produce LS pattern with line width of 18nm and pitch of 36nm

[0586] [LWR rating] E op The dimensions of the LS pattern obtained by irradiation at 10 points in the longitudinal direction of the line were measured, and the LWR was calculated as three times the standard deviation (σ) (3σ). The smaller this value, the less roughness and the more uniform the line width pattern obtained.

[0587] [DOF evaluation] For the evaluation of the depth of focus, the focus range formed within a range of ±10% (16.2 to 19.8 nm) of the 18 nm dimension of the LS pattern was determined. The larger this value, the wider the depth of focus.

[0588] [Line pattern collapse limit evaluation] The line dimension of the LS pattern at each exposure dose at the optimum focus was measured at 10 points in the longitudinal direction. The thinnest line dimension obtained without collapse was defined as the collapse limit dimension. The smaller this value, the better the collapse limit.

[0589] [Development defect evaluation] The LS pattern with a line width of 18 nm and a pitch of 36 nm formed with the optimum exposure dose was inspected using a defect inspection system KLA2360 (product name) manufactured by KLA Tencor Corporation. The pixel size of the defect inspection system was set to 0.16 μm and the threshold value was set to 20. The number of defects (number / cm) extracted from the difference caused by overlaying the comparison image on a pixel-by-pixel basis was then counted. 2 ) and count the number of defects per unit area (pcs / cm 2 After that, a defect review was performed to classify and extract development defects from all defects, and the number of development defects per unit area (number / cm 2 ) was calculated. Values ​​less than 0.5 were rated A, values ​​between 0.5 and 1.0 were rated B, values ​​between 1.0 and 5.0 were rated C, and values ​​greater than 5.0 were rated D. The smaller the value, the better the performance.

[0590] [Table 3]

[0591] [Table 4]

[0592] The results shown in Tables 3 and 4 demonstrate that the chemically amplified resist composition containing the photoacid generator of the present invention has good sensitivity and excellent EL, LWR, and DOF. It was also confirmed that the collapse limit value was small, demonstrating resistance to pattern collapse even in fine pattern formation. Furthermore, it was confirmed that development defects were also suppressed. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention is suitable as a material for EUV lithography.

[0593] [5] EUV Lithography Evaluation (2) [Examples 4-1 to 4-30, Comparative Examples 3-1 to 3-20] Each chemically amplified resist composition (R-1 to R-30, CR-1 to CR-20) was spin-coated onto a silicon substrate coated with a 20 nm thick silicon-containing spin-on hard mask (SHB-A940, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) containing 43% silicon by weight. The resulting resist film was then pre-baked at 105°C for 60 seconds using a hotplate to produce a 50 nm thick resist film. The resist film was then exposed to light using an ASML EUV scanner (NXE3400, NA 0.33, σ 0.9 / 0.6, quadruple-pole illumination, 46 nm pitch on the wafer, and a hole pattern mask with a +20% bias). The resist film was then subjected to PEB for 60 seconds using a hotplate at the temperatures listed in Tables 5 and 6, followed by development for 30 seconds in a 2.38% by weight aqueous TMAH solution to produce a 23 nm hole pattern. Using a critical dimension SEM (CG6300) manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, the exposure dose when a hole dimension of 23 nm was formed was measured and used as the sensitivity. The dimensions of 50 holes were also measured, and the standard deviation (σ) calculated from the results was tripled (3σ) to give the coefficient of dimension variation (CDU). The results are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

[0594] [Table 5]

[0595] [Table 6]

[0596] The results shown in Tables 5 and 6 confirm that the chemically amplified resist composition of the present invention has good sensitivity and excellent CDU.

Claims

1. An onium salt comprising a cation represented by the following formula (1A) and an anion represented by the following formula (1B): 【Chemistry 1】 (In the formula, p is 1, 2, or 3. n1 is 0 or 1. n2 is 1 or 2. n3 is 0, 1, 2, or 3. However, when n1 is 0, 1≦n2+n3≦5, and when n1 is 1, 1≦n2+n3≦7. R 1 is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 1 may be the same or different, and two R 1 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. R 2 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom or a heteroatom. When p is 1, two R 2 may be the same or different. + Two of the three substituents bonded to may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are bonded. 【Chemistry 2】 (In the formula, n11 is 0 or 1. n12 is 1, 2, 3, or 4. n13 is 0, 1, or 2. n14 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. However, when n11 is 0, 2≦n12+n13+n14≦5, and when n11 is 1, 2≦n12+n13+n14≦7. L A is a single bond, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond. R 3 Is, L A When L is a single bond, it is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom; A When is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond, it is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a hetero atom (excluding acid labile groups), or an acid labile group. R 4 represents a halogen atom other than an iodine atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom.

2. 2. The onium salt according to claim 1, wherein the cation is represented by the following formula (1A-1): 【Transformation 3】 (In the formula, p, n1 to n3, R 1 and Z - is the same as above. n4 is 0 or 1. n5 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. R 2a is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. When n5 is 2, 3, 4, or 5, each R 2a may be the same or different, and two R 2a may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached.)

3. 2. The onium salt according to claim 1, wherein the anion is represented by the following formula (1B-1): 【Chemistry 4】 (In the formula, n12 to n14, L A , R 3 and R 4 is the same as above.)

4. L A The onium salt according to claim 1, wherein is an oxygen atom or an ester bond.

5. L A is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an ester bond or a carbonate bond, and R 3 2. The onium salt of claim 1, wherein is an acid labile group.

6. 2. The onium salt according to claim 1, wherein the acid labile group is represented by the following formula (AL-1) or (AL-2): 【Transformation 5】 (In the formula, p1 and p2 each independently represent 0 or 1. q1 and q2 each independently represent 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. R L1 , R L2 and R L3 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and the —CH 2 A part of - may be substituted with -O- or -S-, and when the hydrocarbyl group contains an aromatic ring, a part or all of the hydrogen atoms of the aromatic ring may be substituted with a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom. L1 and R L2 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and the —CH 2 A portion of - may be substituted with -O- or -S-. R L4 and R L5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. L6 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and the —CH 2 A part of - may be substituted with -O- or -S-. L5 and R L6 are bonded to each other and the carbon atom to which they are bonded and L B may form a heterocyclic group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms together with the —CH 2 A portion of - may be substituted with -O- or -S-. L B is —O— or —S—. R La ~R Ld are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. * represents a bond to the adjacent oxygen atom or sulfur atom.)

7. A quencher comprising the onium salt according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A chemically amplified resist composition comprising the quencher of claim 7.

9. 9. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 8, which comprises a base polymer containing a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a1): 【Transformation 6】 (In the formula, R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. X 1 represents a single bond, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, *-C(=O)-O-X 11 - or *-C(=O)-NH-X 11 -, and the phenylene group or naphthylene group may be substituted with a halogen atom or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may contain a fluorine atom. 11 is a saturated hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a naphthylene group, and the saturated hydrocarbylene group may contain a hydroxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a lactone ring. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. AL 1 is an acid labile group.

10. 10. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 9, wherein the base polymer contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a2): 【Transformation 7】 (In the formula, R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. X 2 is a single bond or *-C(=O)-O-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 11 is a halogen atom, a cyano group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 11 may be the same as or different from each other. AL 2 is an acid labile group. a is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4.

11. 10. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 9, wherein the base polymer contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (a3): 【Transformation 8】 (In the formula, b1 is 0 or 1. When b1 is 0, b2 is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and when b1 is 1, b2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. R A is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. X 3 is a single bond, *-C(=O)-O-, or *-C(=O)-NH-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 12 and R 13 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 12 and R 13 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. R 14 is a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylthio group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or —N(R 14A )(R 14B ) is. R 14A and R 14B are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. When b2 is 2 or more, a plurality of R 14 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms of the aromatic ring to which they are attached. X 4 represents a single bond, an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, or a group obtained by combining these groups. X 5 and X 6 are each independently an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom. 4 and X 6 are attached to adjacent carbon atoms of an aromatic ring.)

12. 10. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 9, wherein the base polymer contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (b1) or (b2): 【Chemistry 9】 (In the formula, R A are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. Y 1 is a single bond or *-C(=O)-O-. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. R 21 is a group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and containing at least one structure selected from a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group other than a phenolic hydroxy group, a cyano group, a carbonyl group, a carboxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a carbonate bond, a lactone ring, a sultone ring, and a carboxylic acid anhydride (-C(=O)-O-C(=O)-). R 22 is a halogen atom, a carboxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbyloxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, a hydrocarbylcarbonyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 22 may be the same as or different from each other. c1 is 1, 2, 3, or 4. c2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that 1≦c1+c2≦5.

13. 10. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 9, wherein the base polymer comprises at least one selected from a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c1), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c2), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c3), a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c4), and a repeating unit represented by the following formula (c5): 【Chemistry 10】 (In the formula, d1 and d2 are each independently 0, 1, 2, or 3. e1 is 0 or 1. e2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. e3 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. However, when e1 is 0, 0≦e2+e3≦4, and when e1 is 1, 0≦e2+e3≦6. R A are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. Z 1 represents a single bond or an optionally substituted phenylene group. Z 2 is a single bond, **-C(=O)-O-Z 21 -, **-C(=O)-NH-Z 21 - or **-O-Z 21 - is. Z 21 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a divalent group obtained by combining these, and may contain a halogen atom, a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. Z 3 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, an amide bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. Z 4 represents a single bond, an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a divalent group obtained by combining these, and may contain a halogen atom, a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. Z 5 each independently represents a single bond, an optionally substituted phenylene group, a naphthylene group, or *-C(=O)-O-Z 51 - is. Z 51 is an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, or a naphthylene group, and the aliphatic hydrocarbylene group may contain a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an ether bond, an ester bond, or a lactone ring. Z 6 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, an amide bond, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. Z 7 each independently represents a single bond, ***-Z 71 -C(=O)-O-, ***-C(=O)-NH-Z 71 -or***-O-Z 71 -It is. It is. Z 71 is a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. Z 8 are each independently a single bond, ****-Z 81 -C(=O)-O-, ****-C(=O)-NH-Z 81 - or ****-O-Z 81 - is. Z 81 is a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. Z 9 represents a single bond, a methylene group, an ethylene group, a phenylene group, a fluorinated phenylene group, a phenylene group substituted with a trifluoromethyl group, *-C(=O)-O-Z 91 -, *-C(=O)-N(H)-Z 91 - or *-O-Z 91 - is. Z 91 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, a fluorinated phenylene group, or a phenylene group substituted with a trifluoromethyl group, and may contain a carbonyl group, an ester bond, an ether bond, or a hydroxy group. * represents a bond to a carbon atom in the main chain. ** represents Z 1 *** represents a bond with Z 6 **** represents a bond with Z. 7 Represents a bond with . L 1 is a single bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, a carbonyl group, a sulfonate ester bond, a sulfonamide bond, a carbonate bond or a carbamate bond. Rf 1 and Rf 2 are each independently a fluorine atom or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Rf 3 and Rf 4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Rf 5 and Rf 6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated saturated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. 5 and Rf 6 cannot simultaneously become a hydrogen atom. Rf 7 is a fluorine atom, a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a fluorinated alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a fluorinated alkylthio group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. R 31 and R 32 are each independently a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a heteroatom. 31 and R 32 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom to which they are attached. R 33 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which may contain a halogen atom other than a fluorine atom or a heteroatom. When e3 is 2, 3 or 4, each R 33 may be the same or different, and multiple R 33 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. M - is a non-nucleophilic counterion. A + is an onium cation.

14. 9. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 8, further comprising an organic solvent.

15. 9. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 8, further comprising a photoacid generator that generates a strong acid.

16. 9. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 8, further comprising a quencher other than the quencher according to claim 7.

17. 9. The chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 8, further comprising a surfactant.

18. A pattern forming method comprising the steps of: forming a resist film on a substrate using the chemically amplified resist composition according to claim 8; exposing the resist film to high-energy rays; and developing the exposed resist film using a developer.

19. 19. The pattern forming method according to claim 18, wherein the high-energy beam is a KrF excimer laser beam, an ArF excimer laser beam, an electron beam, or extreme ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 3 to 15 nm.

Images