Patent ID: 6849305

Claim:
A method for producing a patterned dielectric film on a substrate comprising: depositing on the substrate a precursor film comprising a solvent and a metal precursor complex of the formula where n is an integer from 1 to 4, the R 1 s are independently H, OH, or a group comprising between 1 and 14 carbon atoms, p is an integer from 0 to 4, the R 2 s are independently H, OH, a group comprising between 1 and 14 carbon atoms, a group comprising between one and eight nitrogen atoms, or a halogen, and M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Zr, Ta, Ba, Sr, and Hf; exposing at least a portion of the precursor film to at least one energy source selected from electromagnetic radiation, heat, an ion beam, and an electron beam in an amount sufficient to cause ligands to break from the precursor complex molecules such that the exposed portion of the precursor film is not soluble in a solvent, and wherein the film loses carbon as a result of the exposure; removing unexposed precursor film; and heating the film to between about 150° C. and about 350° C. for a time sufficient to remove substantially all the carbon in the film, thereby forming an amorphous dielectric film comprising metal oxides, metal hydroxides, or a combination thereof.