Removal of dielectric oxides
First Claim
1. A method for removing exposed oxide from an article wherein said article contains at least one feature selected from the group consisting of (i) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure contacting said oxide, and (ii) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure having an exposed surface, which method comprises contacting said article with a liquid composition containing about 0.5 to about 15 molar of a fluoride-containing compound and an organic solvent wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, N-methyI pyrrolidone, gamma butyrolactone, methylene chloride benzyl alcohol, N-formyl morpholine, N-formyl piperidine, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanon, methyl benzoate, diglyme, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, methyl and ethyl esters of acid selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid, to thereby selectively remove at least a portion of said exposed oxide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Oxides such as those commonly used in interlevel dielectrics may be removed employing a liquid composition containing a fluoride-containing compound and an organic solvent. Preferred compositions are substantially nonaqueous and include an anhydride. Improved methods for selective removal of oxides, especially for removal of silicon oxides where pre-exposed (or conductive metal - containing) features are present, where metal (conductive metal - contaimg) features are to be exposed by the desired oxide removal, or where the silcon oxide otherwise contacts metal (or conductive metal - containing) features are provided.
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Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A method for removing exposed oxide from an article wherein said article contains at least one feature selected from the group consisting of (i) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure contacting said oxide, and (ii) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure having an exposed surface, which method comprises contacting said article with a liquid composition containing about 0.5 to about 15 molar of a fluoride-containing compound and an organic solvent wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, N-methyI pyrrolidone, gamma butyrolactone, methylene chloride benzyl alcohol, N-formyl morpholine, N-formyl piperidine, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanon, methyl benzoate, diglyme, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, methyl and ethyl esters of acid selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid, to thereby selectively remove at least a portion of said exposed oxide.
- 21. A method for removing exposed oxide from an article wherein said article contains at least one feature selected from the group consisting of (i) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure contacting said oxide, and (ii) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure having an exposed surface, which method comprises contacting said article with a liquid composition containing about 0.5 to about 15 molar of a fluoride-containing compound and an organic solvent, and wherein said composition also contains a tertiary amine, to thereby selectively remove at least a portion of said exposed oxide.
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26. A method for removing exposed oxide from an article wherein said article contains at least one feature seslected from the group consisting of (i) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure contacting said oxide, and (ii) a metal or conductive metal-containing structure having an exposed surface, which method comprises contacting said article with a liquid composition containing about 0.5 to about 15 molar of a fluoride-containing compound and an organic solvent,
wherein an anhydride is added to said liquid composition before said contacting step, and wherein said composition contains free water prior to the addition of said anhydride and the amount of said anhydride added provides at least 10 mole % more anhydride groups than moles of free water present prior to the anhydride addition, to thereby selectively remove at least a portion of said exposed oxide.
Specification