Patent · US Active

PECVD methods for producing ultra low-k dielectric films using UV treatment

US7906174B1 · kind B1 · utility

478Cited by
117References
23Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 2006
Grant dateMar 15, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 13, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/02348
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods of preparing low-k carbon-doped oxide (CDO) films having high mechanical strength are provided. The methods involve contacting the substrate with a CDO precursor to deposit the film typically using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. After the film is deposited, it is exposed to ultraviolet radiation in a manner that increases cross-linking and/or lowers the dielectric constant of the film. The resulting films have ultra-low dielectric constants, e.g., about 2.5, but also high mechanical strength, e.g., a modulus of at least about 7.5 GPa. In certain embodiments, a single hydrocarbon precursor is used, resulting in an improved process for obtaining ULK films that does not require dual (porogen and backbone) precursors.

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