Method of formation of an air gap within a semiconductor dielectric by solvent desorption
US5759913A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/76828
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dielectric material is provided having air gaps which form during dielectric deposition between interconnects. The dielectric is deposited in interconnect-spaced geometries which have certain aspect ratios and which are exposed at the bottom of the geometries to a hygroscopic dielectric. During deposition, the dielectric is forced along the sidewall of the spaced interconnects as a result of moisture ougasing from the hygroscopic dielectric. Over a period of time, a keyhole occurs with pile up accumulation (or cusping) at the corners of the spaced interconnects. By decreasing the deposition temperature in a subsequent step, outgasing is minimized, and deposition over the keyhole and upon the hygroscopic dielectric takes place. Keyhole coverage results in an air gap which is surrounded on all sides by the fill dielectric. Air gap between interconnects helps reduce permittivity of the overall dielectric structure, resulting in a lessening of the interconnect line-to-line capacitance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.