Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multilevel interconnect structure including air gaps and a method of fabricating the structure. SOLUTION: The multilevel interconnect structure including air gaps includes an assembly of interspersed line levels and via levels, in which the via level includes one or more conductive vias embedded in a dielectric layer and the dielectric layer in the via level is a solid arranged under and above the line structures of adjacent levels with perforations formed between the line structures. The line level includes conductive lines and dielectrics inclusive of air gaps. A solid dielectric bridge layer, which includes conductive contacts and is formed by filling in a perforated dielectric layer, is disposed above the assembly of the line levels and via levels interspersed with each other. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A method for forming a porous dielectric material layer in an electronic structure and the structure formed are disclosed. In the method, a porous dielectric layer in a semiconductor device can be formed by first forming a non-porous dielectric layer, then partially curing, patterning by reactive ion etching, and final curing the non-porous dielectric layer at a higher temperature than the partial curing temperature to transform the non-porous dielectric material into a porous dielectric material, thus forming a dielectric material that has a low dielectric constant, i.e. smaller than 2.6. The non-porous dielectric material may be formed by embedding a thermally stable dielectric material such as methyl silsesquioxane, hydrogen silsesquioxane, benzocyclobutene or aromatic thermoset polymers with a second phase polymeric material therein such that, at the higher curing temperature, the second phase polymeric material substantially volatilizes to leave voids behind forming a void-filled dielectric material.