Photoresist compositions and methods for shrinking a photoresist critical dimension

A method for reducing a photoresist critical dimension, the method comprising:

• depositing a photoresist film on a substrate, said photoresist film comprising a polymer, photoreactive component, and thermal base generator that releases a base at or above an activating temperature;
• patterning said photoresist film to form a first patterned film possessing a first critical dimension;
• depositing a crosslinkable film over said first patterned film, wherein said crosslinkable film has the characteristic of undergoing a crosslinking reaction in the presence of said base;
• heat-activating said first patterned film, either before depositing said crosslinkable film or after depositing said crosslinkable film on said first patterned film, at or above said activating temperature, wherein release of said base from said first patterned film causes crosslinkable film in contact with and in proximity to said first patterned film to undergo a crosslinking reaction to form a crosslinked layer on said first patterned film;
• and
• developing said crosslinkable film to remove non-crosslinked soluble portions therein to form a second patterned film in which said crosslinked layer coats and preserves contours of said first patterned film, wherein said second patterned film possesses a critical dimension that is smaller than said first critical dimension.