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Processing and Characterization of Silica Xerogel Films for Low-K Dielectric Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Anurag Jain ,
Svetlana Rogojevic ,
Satya V. Nitta ,
Venumadhav Pisupatti ,
William N. Gill ,
Peter C. Wayner Jr. ,
Joel L. Plawsky ,
T. E. F. M. Standaert  and
G. S. Oehrlein
Anurag Jain
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180
Svetlana Rogojevic
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180
Satya V. Nitta
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180
Venumadhav Pisupatti
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180
William N. Gill
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180
Peter C. Wayner Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180
Joel L. Plawsky
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY 12180
T. E. F. M. Standaert
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222
G. S. Oehrlein
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222
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Abstract

Surface modified silica xerogel films of high porosity (60 - 90 %) and uniform thickness (0.4–2 μm) were fabricated at ambient pressure on silicon and silicon dioxide. The rheological properties that govern film uniformity were determined. A relation between the final dried film thickness and spin speed was developed. The porosity and thickness of the films could be controlled independently. The same porosity could be obtained over a wide range of aging time and temperature combinations. Fracture toughness was measured using the edge-lift-off technique. The best values were comparable to concrete. Surface modification was affected by treating the film with trimethylcholorosilane (TMCS) and other modifiers. Moisture adsorption was studied at 100% RH using a quartz crystal microbalance technique. Depending upon the degree and kind of surface treatment, films absorbed as much as 32% or as little as 2% of their weight in water. Dielectric constants (K), losses and breakdown strengths were comparable to values for calcined, bulk aerogels. Thin (≤ 500 Å) films of Copper (Cu) and Tantalum (Ta) were deposited on xerogel films and subjected to thermal annealing. No diffusion was observed within the limits of RBS. High-density plasma etching showed that the films etch an order of magnitude faster than conventional SiO2 films.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 565: Symposium O – Low-Dielectric Constant Materials V , 1999 , 29
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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