Patent ID: 7416990

Claim:
A method for patterning a low dielectric (Low-K) insulating layer of a semiconductor device comprising: forming a Low-K insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate; irradiating the Low-K insulating layer with a beam of light having an energy which corresponds to a dissociation energy of an O—H bond for several milliseconds in order to remove hydroxyl group from a surface of the Low-K insulating layer, to make the Low-K insulating layer hydrophobic and to improve adhesion between the Low-K insulating layer and a photoresist; forming a photoresist pattern on the Low-K insulating layer; and ashing the photoresist pattern; wherein the Low-K insulating layer is formed of any one of a group consisting of phosphorous silicate glass PSG layer, a boron phosphorous silicate glass BPSG layer, an undoped silicate glass USG layer, a fluorine doped silicate glass FSG layer, a high density plasma HDP layer, a plasma enhanced-tetra ethyl ortho silicate PE-TEOS layer, and a spin on glass SOG layer.