Laser curing of spin-on dielectric thin films
US6121130A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/02282
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A process for curing low-k spin-on dielectric layers based on alkyl silsesquioxane polymers by laser scanning is described wherein curing is achieved by both photothermal and photochemical mechanisms. The layers are deposited by spin deposition, dried and cured by raster scanning with a pulsed laser at energies between 0.1 and 1 Joules/cm.sup.2. Because the laser causes heating of the layer, a nitrogen jet is applied in the wake of the scanning laser beam to rapidly cool the layer and to inhibit oxidation and moisture absorption. The laser induced heating also assists in the discharge of moisture and by-products of the polymerization process. The laser operates at wavelengths between 200 and 400 nm. Insulative layers such as silicon oxide are sufficiently transparent at these so that oxide segments overlying the polymer layer do not inhibit the curing process. Implementation of the laser scanning feature is readily incorporated into an existing spin-on deposition and curing tool.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.