Patent ID: 8277675
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for removing a damaged material from a low-k dielectric film layer of a substrate, comprising: providing a control chemistry, the control chemistry configured to selectively remove the damaged material from the low-k dielectric film layer, the damaged material being in regions where features were formed through the low-k dielectric film layer, wherein the control chemistry includes an acid diluted to about 1 part of acid to about 100 parts of de-ionized water; applying the control chemistry to the low-k dielectric film layer using a proximity head, the proximity head includes a head surface that is placed proximate to a low-k dielectric film layer of the substrate, the proximity head further having a plurality of inputs for applying the control chemistry as a fluid meniscus between the low-k dielectric film layer of the substrate and the head surface of the proximity head, and a plurality of outputs for removing the control chemistry; and moving the fluid meniscus over the substrate so as to uniformly expose the regions of the damaged material of the low-k dielectric film layer for a brief period of time, the fluid meniscus covering less than an entire area of the substrate such that the damaged material is substantially removed from the exposed regions to define low-k characteristics in place of the damaged material, wherein the fluid meniscus being moved defines the brief period of time for exposing the control chemistry ranging between about 0.5 seconds to about 10 seconds and wherein the control chemistry is applied with a flow rate of between about 0.2 standard liters per minute to about 2.0 standard liters per minute and is directed from the head surface of the proximity head toward the surface of the substrate.