Effect of film composition on the performance of interdigitated electrode methods used for chemically amplified photoresist characterization: Methods for analyzing photoresist materials containing base quencher

Previously, a method which utilizes interdigitated electrode (IDE) sensors to collect capacitance versus exposure dose data for thin films containing a photoacid generator (PAG) and polymer and subsequently calculate the Dill C photoreaction rate constant for the photoacid generator has been presented. This paper discusses a method for extending such IDE methods to calculate the Dill C rate constant for a photoacid oenerator in a film containincy a polymer, photoacid generator, and base quencher. This three component formulation more closely resembles the composition of commercial chemically amplified photoresists. It is shown that by using a data normalization approach, the IDE data can be successfully analyzed to compute accurate Dill C values for a PAG in the presence of base quencher and to estimate the concentration of base quencher in the film. The technique also thus allows for measurement of the impact of the presence of base quencher on the photoreaction rate constant of the photoacid generator.