Patent ID: 8148235

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising: forming a plurality of conductive lines over a workpiece; disposing a first insulating material over the workpiece, the first insulating material being disposed between the plurality of conductive lines; disposing a second insulating material over the first insulating material, wherein disposing the second insulating material comprises disposing a material that is impermeable, the second insulating material being disposed between the plurality of conductive lines and comprising a sacrificial portion; treating the second insulating material to remove the sacrificial portion of the second insulating material, wherein treating the second insulating material comprises an O2 plasma treatment or an O2 plasma thermal treatment, and wherein treating the second insulating material to remove the sacrificial portion comprises forming pores or apertures in the second insulating material, causing the second insulating material to become permeable; and removing at least a portion of the first insulating material, forming air gaps between the plurality of conductive lines.