Patent ID: 8696930
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An etchant for removing a porous low-k dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, the low-k dielectric layer containing a plurality of pores, the etchant comprising: a hydrofluoric acid-based solvent, wherein the hydrofluoric acid-based solvent comprises one of halo-hydrocarbon, halo-aromatic compounds or hydro-aromatic compounds; a dilating additive for dilating the pores in the porous low-k dielectric layer, wherein the dilating additive comprises a glycol ether; and a passivating additive that forms a passivation layer at the interface between the low-k dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate, wherein the passivating additive comprises one of PEG poly(ethylene glycol), EG (Ethylene Glycol), 1,4-dioxane, or Glycerin.