Silicon-containing antireflective coatings including non-polymeric silsesquioxanes

Embodiments include a silicon-containing antireflective material including a silicon-containing base polymer, a non-polymeric silsesquioxane material, and a photoacid generator. The silicon-containing base polymer may contain chromophore moieties, transparent moieties, and reactive sites on an SiOx background, where x ranges from approximately 1 to approximately 2. Exemplary non-polymeric silsesquioxane materials include polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes having acid labile side groups linked to hydrophilic groups Exemplary acid labile side groups may include tertiary alkyl carbonates, tertiary alkyl esters, tertiary alkyl ethers, acetals and ketals, Exemplary hydrophilic groups may include phenols, alcohols, carboxylic acids, amides, and sulfonamides. Embodiments further include lithographic structures including an organic anti-reflective layer, the above-described silicon-containing anti-reflective layer above the organic anti-reflective layer, and a photoresist layer above the above-described silicon-containing anti-reflective layer. Embodiments further include a method of forming a lithographic structure utilizing the above-described silicon-containing anti-reflective layer.