Patent · US Expired

Enhanced surface modification of low K carbon-doped oxide

US6417098B1 · kind B1 · utility

19Cited by
10References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 1999
Grant dateJul 9, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 9, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76807
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for modifying the hydrophobicity of the surface of a carbon-doped oxide film is disclosed. Carbon-doped oxide films have exhibited a high hydrophobic nature which inhibits effective cleaning of its surface by conventional techniques. The present invention uses a surface treatment comprising a solution of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide in water to alter the hydrophobicity of the carbon-doped oxide. After treatment by the sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide solution, the surface of the carbon-doped oxide becomes hydrophilic. Moreover, the modification of the carbon-doped oxide only occurs at the surface. Therefore, the low k dielectric characteristics of the carbon-doped oxide are retained.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.