Patent ID: 7309529

Claim:
A structure formed by the steps of: (a) forming a doped layer over a substrate, the doped layer comprising (1) an organo-silicon compound and (2) either a first polymeric material or a first precursor composition that can be converted to the first polymeric material after the doped layer has been applied to the substrate, the doped layer having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface facing the substrate; (b) heating the doped layer and forming an organo-silicon-rich layer on the outer surface of the doped layer; (c) converting the organo-silicon-rich layer to a silicon oxide-containing layer consisting essentially of silicon oxide; and (d) forming an added layer over the silicon oxide-containing layer, the added layer comprising either a second polymeric material or a second precursor composition that can be converted to the second polymeric material after the added layer has been applied to the silicon oxide-containing layer; in which the first polymeric material is a polyimide; and the second polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyolefins, polyepoxides, polyurethanes, and polycarbonates.