Thermal acid generators and photoresist pattern trimming compositions and methods

Abstract

Provided are ionic thermal acid generators of the following general formula (I): wherein: Arrepresents an optionally substituted carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic group; W independently represents a group chosen from carboxyl, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, C1-5 alkoxy and formyl; X is a cation; Y independently represents a linking group; Z independently represents a group chosen from hydroxyl, fluorinated alcohols, esters, optionally substituted alkyl, C5 or higher optionally substituted monocyclic, polycyclic, fused polycyclic cycloaliphatic, or aryl, which may optionally comprise a heteroatom, provided at least one occurrence of Z is a hydroxyl group; a is an integer of 0 or greater; b is an integer of 1 or greater; provided that a+b is at least 1 and not greater than the total number of available aromatic carbon atoms of the aromatic group. Also provided are photoresist pattern trimming compositions and methods of trimming a photoresist pattern using the trimming compositions. The thermal acid generators, compositions and methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.