Material for forming resist protection films and method for resist pattern formation with the same

摘要

The formation of high-resolution resist patterns by liquid immersion lithography with various fluids is enabled by protecting a resist film from deterioration (such as bridging) during the immersion exposure in a fluid (such as water) and the fluid from deterioration and improving the stability of a resist film in the storage after exposure without increase in the number of treatment steps. A material for forming resist protection films which comprises an alkali-soluble polymer for forming a protective overcoat for a resist film, characterized in that the contact angle of the polymer to water is 90° or above. The polymer is preferably an acrylic polymer which comprises as the essential components constituent units derived from (meth) acrylic acid and constituent units derived from a specific acrylic ester.