Patent ID: 7153783

Claim:
A method of producing a silica dielectric film comprising (a) preparing a composition comprising a silicon containing pre-polymer, a metal-ion-free catalyst, and optionally water; (b) coating a substrate with the composition to form a film, (c) crosslinking the composition with at least one of i), ii) and iii): i) heating the composition at a temperature of from about 350° C. to about 650° C., ii) exposing the composition to sufficient ultraviolet radiation, iii) exposing the composition to sufficient electron beam radiation, effective to produce a substantially crack-free, and substantially void-free silica dielectric film having a density of from about 1.0 g/milliliter to about 2.3 g/milliliter, a SiC:SiO bond ratio of about 0.015 or more, a dielectric constant of about 4.0 or less, a breakdown voltage of about 2 MV/cm or more, and a wet etch resistance in a 100:1 by volume mixture of water and hydrogen fluoride of about 30 Å/minute or less.