Effects of annealing temperature on ultra-low dielectric constant SiO2 thin films derived from sol–gel spin-on-coating

2008 ◽  
Vol 403 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woei Chang Ee ◽  
Kuan Yew Cheong
2000 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian W. Boyd ◽  
Jun-Ying Zhang

AbstractIn this paper, UV-induced large area growth of high dielectric constant (Ta2O5, TiO2and PZT) and low dielectric constant (polyimide and porous silica) thin films by photo-CVD and sol-gel processing using excimer lamps, as well as the effect of low temperature LW annealing, are discussed. Ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV spectrophotometry, atomic force microscope (AFM), capacitance-voltage (C-V) and current-voltage (I-V) measurements have been employed to characterize oxide films grown and indicate them to be high quality layers. Leakage current densities as low as 9.0×10−8 Acm−2 and 1.95×10−7 Acm−2 at 0.5 MV/cm have been obtained for the as-grown Ta2O5 films formed by photo-induced sol-gel processing and photo-CVD. respectively - several orders of magnitude lower than for any other as-grown films prepared by any other technique. A subsequent low temperature (400°C) UV annealing step improves these to 2.0×10−9 Acm−2 and 6.4× 10−9 Acm−2, respectively. These values are essentially identical to those only previously formed for films annealed at temperatures between 600 and 1000°C. PZT thin films have also been deposited at low temperatures by photo-assisted decomposition of a PZT metal-organic sol-gel polymer using the 172 nm excimer lamp. Very low leakage current densities (10−7 A/cm2) can be achieved, which compared with layers grown by conventional thermal processing. Photo-induced deposition of low dielectric constant organic polymers for interlayer dielectrics has highlighted a significant role of photo effects on the curing of polyamic acid films. I-V measurements showed the leakage current density of the irradiated polymer films was over an order of magnitude smaller than has been obtained in the films prepared by thermal processing. Compared with conventional furnace processing, the photo-induced curing of the polyimide provided both reduced processing time and temperature, A new technique of low temperature photo-induced sol-gel process for the growth of low dielectric constant porous silicon dioxide thin films from TEOS sol-gel solutions with a 172 nm excimer lamp has also been successfully demonstrated. The dielectric constant values as low as 1.7 can be achieved at room temperature. The applications investigated so far clearly demonstrate that low cost high power excimer lamp systems can provide an interesting alternative to conventional UV lamps and excimer lasers for industrial large-scale low temperature materials processing.


2000 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian W. Boyd ◽  
Jun-Ying Zhang

ABSTRACTIn this paper, UV-induced large area growth of high dielectric constant (Ta2O5, TiO2and PZT) and low dielectric constant (polyimide and porous silica) thin films by photo-CVD and sol-gel processing using excimer lamps, as well as the effect of low temperature UV annealing, are discussed. Ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV spectrophotometry, atomic force microscope (AFM), capacitance-voltage (C-V) and current-voltage (I-V) measurements have been employed to characterize oxide films grown and indicate them to be high quality layers. Leakage current densities as low as 9.0×10−8 A·cm−2and 1.95×10−7 A·cm−2at 0.5 MV/cm have been obtained for the as-grown Ta2O5 films formed by photo-induced sol-gel processing and photo-CVD, respectively – several orders of magnitude lower than for any other as-grown films prepared by any other technique. A subsequent low temperature (400°C) UV annealing step improves these to 2.0×10−9A·cm−2and 6.4×10−9A·cm−2, respectively. These values are essentially identical to those only previously formed for films annealed at temperatures between 600 and 1000°C. PZT thin films have also been deposited at low temperatures by photo-assisted decomposition of a PZT metal-organic sol-gel polymer using the 172 nm excimer lamp. Very low leakage current densities (10−7A·cm2) can be achieved, which compared with layers grown by conventional thermal processing. Photo-induced deposition of low dielectric constant organic polymers for interlayer dielectrics has highlighted a significant role of photo effects on the curing of polyamic acid films. I-V measurements showed the leakage current density of the irradiated polymer films was over an order of magnitude smaller than has been obtained in the films prepared by thermal processing. Compared with conventional furnace processing, the photo-induced curing of the polyimide provided both reduced processing time and temperature. A new technique of low temperature photo-induced sol-gel process for the growth of low dielectric constant porous silicon dioxide thin films from TEOS sol-gel solutions with a 172 nm excimer lamp has also been successfully demonstrated. The dielectric constant values as low as 1.7 can be achieved at room temperature. The applications investigated so far clearly demonstrate that low cost high power excimer lamp systems can provide an interesting alternative to conventional UV lamps and excimer lasers for industrial large-scale low temperature materials processing


1999 ◽  
Vol 594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengcheng Lu ◽  
C. Jeffrey Brinker

AbstractLow dielectric constant silica films are made using a surfactant templated sol-gel process (K∼2.5) or an ambient temperature and pressure aerogel process (K∼1.5). This paper will present the in-situ measurement and analysis of stress development during the making of these films, from the onset of drying till the end of heating. The drying stress is measured by a cantilever beam technique; the thermal stress is measured by monitoring the wafer curvature using a laser deflection method. During the course of drying, the surfactant templated films experience a low drying stress due to the influence of the surfactant on surface tension and extent of siloxane condensation. The aerogel films first develop a biaxial tensile stress due to solidification and initial drying. At the final stage of drying where the drying stress vanishes, dilation of the film recreates the porosity of the wet gel state, reducing the residual stress to zero. For the surfactant templated films, very small residual tensile stress remains after the heat treatment is finished (∼30MPa). Aerogel film has almost no measurable stress developed in the calcination process. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis during drying and heating, and TGA/DTA are all used to help understand the stress development.


1996 ◽  
Vol 443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil H. Hendricks

AbstractFor over two years, intensive efforts at SEMATECH and elsewhere have focused on identifying low dielectric constant (low ε) materials which possess all of the required properties and processing characteristics needed for integration into standard IC fabrication lines. To date, no material candidate has been shown to satisfy this impressive list of requirements. For some candidates, drawbacks related to material properties such as poor thermal stability or electrical performance have been identified; in other cases, problems in process integration, for example difficulties in patterning have stalled progress.In this paper, most of the current leading candidates for the low ε IC IMC application are identified and discussed. An attempt is made to correlate structure/property relationships in these materials with their relative attributes and deficiencies as they relate to the IMD application. Key differences in chemistry and property/processing characteristics are contrasted for low c silicon-oxygen polymers and for purely organic polymers. Novel dielectrics such as porous organic and inorganic thin films are also discussed in terms of their properties and associated process integration challenges. Since the needs for global planarization and low c IMD are occurring within roughly the same generation of minimum feature size (˜ 0.25 μm), the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of low dielectric constant thin films and/or of SiO2 layers deposited above them is briefly discussed. Both subtractive metalization and damascene processes are included, and the required low dielectric constant film properties and processing characteristics are contrasted for each process. Finally, the author's views on future trends in low dielectric constant materials development are presented, with an emphasis on identifying the types of chemical structures which may prove viable for this most demanding of all polymer film applications.


2000 ◽  
Vol 612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Soo Han ◽  
Byeong-Soo Bae

AbstractFluorinated amorphous carbon (a-C:F) thin films were deposited by inductively coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) with increasing CF4:CH4 gas flow rate ratio, and then annealed with increasing annealing temperature (100, 200, 300, and 400.). We have found the reduction mechanism of the dielectric constant and the thermally stable condition for the a-C:F films. On the basis of the results, the optimal condition to satisfy both the low dielectric constant and the thermal stability is followed as; the a-C:F films have to have the compatible F content to make a compromise between the two properties; the C-Fx bonding configuration has to exist as a form of C-F2 & C-F3 instead of C-F; The films should be somewhat cross-linked structure.


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