Synthesis and characterization of methacrylate matrix resin bearing o-nitrobenzyl group

Abstract

The matrix polymer PTBCHNB bearing o-nitrobenzyl group was successfully synthesized by copolymerization of tertiary-butyl methacrylate (TBMA), cyclohexyl methacrylate (CHMA) and o-nitrobenzyl methacrylate (NBMA) via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization method. PTBCHNB was characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR, GPC and DSC. After UV irradiation, the o-nitrobenzyl groups of PTBCHNB were photocleaved and the resulting carboxyl groups were highly alkali soluble, and PTBCHNB was converted to PCHIBMA bearing carboxyl groups. So, the matrix polymer could be etched by mild alkali solution with no requirements of photoacid generators and other diverse additives. The photocleavable behaviors of PTBCHNB were determined by FTIR, 1H NMR and TGA analysis. The resist formulated with PTBCHNB and cast in THF solution showed square pattern of 10 μm×10 μm using a mercury-xenon lamp in a contact printing mode and tetramethyl-ammonium hydroxide aqueous solution as a developer.