Patent · US Active

Multi-station sequential curing of dielectric films

US8454750B1 · kind B1 · utility

29Cited by
192References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 20, 2007
Grant dateJun 4, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 28, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/02282
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention addresses provides improved methods of preparing a low-k dielectric material on a substrate. The methods involve multiple operation ultraviolet curing processes in which UV intensity, wafer substrate temperature and other conditions may be independently modulated in each operation. In certain embodiments, a film containing a structure former and a porogen is exposed to UV radiation in a first operation to facilitate removal of the porogen and create a porous dielectric film. In a second operation, the film is exposed to UV radiation to increase cross-linking within the porous film. In certain embodiments, the curing takes place in a multi-station UV chamber wherein UV intensity and substrate temperature may be independently controlled at each station.

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