Patent ID: 6342454
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: H01L,H05K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for forming an integrated circuit, comprising:(a) depositing a metallic film on a substrate; (b) lithographically patterning the metallic film to provide a pattern of individual metallic circuit lines on the substrate; (c) preparing a solution of (i) a thermally labile porogen having a reactive site that enables covalent attachment to another molecular moiety, (ii) a thermally stable, low dielectric constant host polymer having a glass transition temperature Tg, and (iii) a coupling agent effective to covalently bind to both the reactive site of the porogen and the host polymer, and depositing the solution around the metallic lines on the substrate; (d) heating the solution to a temperature TC effective to couple the porogen to the host polymer via the coupling agent, whereby a polymeric matrix is formed in which the porogen is present as a discrete phase within a continuous phase formed by the host polymer; and (e) heating the polymeric matrix to a temperature TD effective to degrade the porogen without affecting the host polymer, thereby producing a dielectric material in the form of a porous structure, wherein TD is greater than TC but less than Tg.