Manipulation of the asymmetric swelling fronts of photoresist polyelectrolyte gradient thin films

Published

September 22, 2008

Author(s)

Vivek M. Prabhu, Ashwin Rao, Shuhui Kang, Eric K. Lin, Sushil K. Satija

Abstract

The depth profile of swelling polyelectrolyte layers is characterized by a static substrate layer and an asymmetric profile with position and shape parameters that describe the near substrate and solution-side of the interfacial region. The characteristic width in the solution-side region exceeds the dimensions of the individual chains, therefore is comprised of weakly associated polymers. Contrary to that observed for polyelectrolyte gels and brushes stabilized by cross links or by covalent bonds to the substrate, respectively, these swelling layers exhibit a more complex response to monovalent and divalent salts. Salt causes an initial contraction of the solution-side interface; layer expansion and polymer dissolution follows at higher salt concentration. The swelling layers measured by neutron reflectivity with mass change verified by quartz crystal microbalance exhibit non-equilibrium responses to the salt concentration, as observed through this interplay between swelling and dissolution. Further, the asymmetric profiles approach, but do not reach symmetric shapes as expected by mean field equilibrium interfaces. These measurements, motivated by technological needs of photoresist materials, highlight the significance of hydrophobic interactions in determining the structure of associating polymer molecules at the lithographic feature edge.

Citation

Journal of Physical Chemistry B

Volume

112

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

photoresist, thin film, neutron reflectivity, swelling, line-edge roughness, reaction-diffusion

Citation

Prabhu, V. , Rao, A. , Kang, S. , Lin, E. and Satija, S. (2008), Manipulation of the asymmetric swelling fronts of photoresist polyelectrolyte gradient thin films, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=854125 (Accessed April 23, 2024)