The present invention relates to
resist compositions comprising a
polymer component, a
photoacid generator component (PAG), a photoactive
diazonaphthoquinone component (PAC), a base component, a
solvent component, and optionally, a heterocyclic
thiol component. The
polymer component is a Novolak derivative, comprising Novolak repeat units with free phenolic hydroxy moieties, and Novolak repeat units comprising phenolic hydroxy moieties protected with an acid cleavable
acetal moiety. The
acetal moiety is elected from a mono functional
alkyl acetal moiety protecting a
repeat unit comprising a Novolak phenolic hydroxy moiety, an acetal, comprising a moiety functionalized with a PAC moiety, protecting a
repeat unit comprising a Novolak phenolic hydroxy moiety; a di-functional acetal comprising moiety, linking and protecting two repeat units comprising Novolak phenolic hydroxy moieties, forming a linking point in said
polymer component between two different polymer chains in said polymer component, and a mixture of any of these three types of acid cleavable acetal moieties. The PAC component is selected from said acetal, comprising a moiety functionalized with a PAC moiety, protecting a
repeat unit comprising a Novolak phenolic hydroxy moiety, a free PAC component, and a mixture of these two types of PAC components. The present invention also relates to the methods of using the present compositions in either in thick or thin film
photoresist device manufacturing methodologies.