IP Library Granted Patent US 7,767,636
Granted Patent B2
US 7,767,636 · App. 10/584,827 · Granted Aug 3, 2010

Nanoelectronic and microelectronic cleaning compositions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,767,636
App. No.
10/584,827
Granted
Aug 3, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Nanoelectronic and microelectronic cleaning corn positions for cleaning nanoelectronic and microelectronic substrates under supercritical fluid state conditions, and particularly cleaning compositions useful with and having improved compatibility with nanoelectronic and microelectronic substrates characterized by silicon dioxide, sensitive low-n or high-K dielectrics and copper, tungsten, tantalum, nickel, gold, cobalt, palladium, platinum, chromium, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, hafnium, titanium, molybdenum, tin and other metallization, as well as substrates of A1 or Al(Cu) metallizations and advanced interconnect technologies, are provided by nanoelectronic and microelectronic cleaning compositions.

Claims (136)

1. A cleaning composition suitable for cleaning nanoelectronic and microelectronic substrates under supercritical fluid conditions, said composition comprising (1) a supercritical main fluid reaching a supercritical fluid state at a temperature of 250° C. or less and a pressure of 600 bars or less (592.2 atm, 8702.3 psi), and (2) as a secondary fluid, a modifier formulation selected from the group consisting of following formulations:

a) a formulation comprising:

an oxidizing agent;

a polar organic solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfones, sulfolenes, and selenones;

an alkaline base of the formula R 4 N + OH − wherein each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of 1 to 22 carbon atoms:

water; and

q chelating or metal complexing agent selected from the group consisting of trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid (CyDTA), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), stannates, pyrophosphates, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate, ethylenediamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMP), diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), and triethylenetetramine hexa(methylene phosphonic acid);

and optionally one or more of the following components:

an acid;

a corrosion-inhibiting co-solvent;

an oxidizer stabilizing agent;

a corrosion-inhibiting agent;

a metal corrosion inhibitor;

a fluoride compound; and

a surfactant;

b) a silicate free formulation comprising:

a polar organic solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfones, sulfolenes and selenones; and

a strong alkaline base of the formula R 4 N + OH − wherein each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of 1 to 22 carbon atoms;

water; and

q chelating or metal complexinq agent selected from the group consisting of trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid (CyDTA), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), stannates, pyrophosphates, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate, ethylenediamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMP), diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), and triethylenetetramine hexa(methylene phosphonic acid);

and optionally one or more of the following components:

an acid;

a corrosion-inhibiting co-solvent;

an oxidizer stabilizing agent;

a corrosion-inhibiting agent;

a metal corrosion inhibitor;

a fluoride compound; and

a surfactant;

c) a formulation comprising:

one or more non-ammonium producing strong base of the formula [(R) 4 N +] p [X − g ], where each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms; and X=OH or a suitable salt anion, and p and q are equal and are integer of from 1 to 3;

one or more corrosion inhibiting solvent compounds, said corrosion inhibiting solvent compound having at least two sites capable of complexing with metals and selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N, N-dimethylethanolamine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholine, 2-(methylamino)ethanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-amino-2-propanol, 2-(2-aminoethoxy)-ethanol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) acetamide, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) succinimide and 3-(diethylamino)-1,2-propanediol;

and optionally one or more of the following components:

water or other organic co-solvent;

a steric hindered amine or alkanolamine;

an organic or inorganic acid;

an other metal corrosion inhibitor compounds;

a surfactant;

a metal ion free silicate compound;

a metal chelating agent; and

a fluoride compound;

d) a formulation comprising:

one or more non-ammonium producing, non-HF producing fluoride salt of the formula (R) 4 N + F 31 , where each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms;

sulfolane, dimethyl sulfoxide and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2- pyrrolidinone as organic solvents;

and optionally one or more of the following components:

a metal corrosion inhibiting solvent;

a steric hindered amine or alkanolamine;

an organic or inorganic acid; from about 0 to 40% by weight of an other metal corrosion inhibitor compound;

a surfactant;

a metal ion free silicate compound; and from about 0 to 5% by weight of a metal chelating agent; and

e) a formulation comprising:

one or more non-ammonium producing strong base of the formula [(R) 4 N + ] p [X − g ], where each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to 22; carbon atoms; and X=OH or a suitable salt anion, and p and g are equal and are integer of from 1 to 3;

one or more steric hindered amide, solvents selected from the group consisting of acetamide, dimethyl formamide (DMF), N,N′-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc), benzamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), 1,5-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-piperidone, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, and 1,5-dimethyl 2-piperidone;

one or more ther organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), sulfolane (SFL), and dimethyl piperidone;

and optionally one or more of the following components:

a steric hindered amine or alkanolamine;

an organic or inorganic acid;

of an other metal corrosion inhibitor compounds;

a surfactant;

a metal ion free silicate compound;

a metal chelating agent; and

a fluoride compound.

2. A cleaning composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprise from about 5%, to about 20% by weight of the secondary fluid modifier formulation component (2) based on the weight of the supercritical main fluid component (1).

3. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the supercritical main fluid comprises carbon dioxide.

4. A cleaning composition according to claim 3 wherein the secondary fluid modifier formulation comprises a formulation of sulfolane, water, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, trans-1, 2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide.

5. A cleaning composition according to claim 3 wherein the secondary fluid modifier formulation comprises a formulation of sulfolane, water, ethylene glycol, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide.

6. A cleaning composition according to claim 3 wherein the secondary fluid modifier formulation comprises a formulation of sulfolane, water, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, ethylenediamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid, ethylene glycol, and hydrogen peroxide.

7. A process for cleaning a nanoelectronic or microelectronic substrate of photoresist or residue, the process comprising contacting the substrate for a time and at supercritical fluid conditions with a cleaning composition sufficient to clean the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises (1) a supercritical main fluid reaching a supercritical fluid state at a temperature of 250° C. or less and a pressure of 600 bars or less (592.2 atm, 8702.3 psi), and (2) as a secondary fluid, a modifier formulation wherein the second fluid modifier comprises a formulation selected from the group consisting of the following formulations:

a) a formulation comprising:

an oxidizing agent;

a polar organic solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfones, sulfolenes, and selenones;

an alkaline base of the formula R 4 N + OH − wherein each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of 1 to 22 carbon atoms:

water; and

q chelating or metal complexing agent selected from the group consisting of trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid (CyDTA), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), stannates, pyrophosphates, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate, ethylenediamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMP), diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), and triethylenetetramine hexa(methylene phosphonic acid).

and optionally one or more of the following components:

an acid;

a corrosion-inhibiting co-solvent;

an oxidizer stabilizing agent;

a corrosion-inhibiting agent;

a metal corrosion inhibitor;

a fluoride compound; and

a surfactant;

b) a silicate free formulation comprising:

a polar organic solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfones, sulfolenes and selenones; and

a strong alkaline base of the formula R 4 N + OH − wherein each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of 1 to 22 carbon atoms;

water; and

q chelating or metal complexing agent selected from the group consisting of trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid (CvDTA), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), stannates, pyrophosphates, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate, ethylenediamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMP), diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), and triethylenetetramine hexa(methylene phosphonic acid);

and optionally one or more of the following components:

an acid;

a corrosion-inhibiting co-solvent;

an oxidizer stabilizing agent;

a corrosion-inhibiting agent;

a metal corrosion inhibitor;

a fluoride compound; and

a surfactant;

c) a formulation comprising:

one or more non-ammonium producing strong base of the formula [(R) 4 N +] p [X − g ], where each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms; and X=OH or a suitable salt anion, and p and q are equal and are integer of from 1 to 3;

one or more corrosion inhibiting solvent compounds, said corrosion inhibiting solvent compound having at least two sites capable of complexing with metals and selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene qlycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N,N -dimethylethanolamine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholine, 2-(methylamino)ethanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-amino-2-propanol, 2-(2-aminoethoxy)-ethanol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) acetamide, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) succinimide and 3-(diethylamino)-1,2-propanediol;

and optionally one or more of the following components:

water or other organic co-solvent;

a steric hindered amine or alkanolamine;

an organic or inorganic acid;

an other metal corrosion inhibitor compounds;

a surfactant;

a metal ion free silicate compound;

a metal chelating agent; and

a fluoride compound;

d) a formulation comprising:

one or more non-ammonium producing, non-HF producing fluoride salt of the formula (R) 4 N + F 31 , where each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms;

sulfolane, dimethyl sulfoxide and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2- pyrrolidinone as organic solvents;

and optionally one or more of the following components:

a metal corrosion inhibiting solvent;

a steric hindered amine or alkanolamine;

an organic or inorganic acid;

from about 0 to 40% by weight of an other metal corrosion inhibitor compound;

a surfactant;

a metal ion free silicate compound; and from about 0 to 5% by weight of a metal chelating agent; and

e) a formulation comprising:

one or more non-ammonium producing strong base of the formula [(R) 4 N +] p [X − g ], where each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms; and X=OH or a suitable salt anion, and p and q are equal and are integer of from 1 to 3;

one or more steric hindered amide solvents selected from the group consisting of acetamide, dimethyl formamide (DMF), N,N′-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc), benzamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), 1,5-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-piperidone, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, and 1,5-dimethyl 2-piperidone;

one or more other organic co-solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), sulfolane (SFL), and dimethyl piperidone;

and optionally one or more of the following components:

a steric hindered amine or alkanolamine;

an organic or inorganic acid;

of an other metal corrosion inhibitor compounds;

a surfactant.;

a metal ion free silicate compound;

a metal chelating agent; and

a fluoride compound.

8. A process for cleaning a nanoelectronic or microelectronic substrate of photoresist or residue according to claim 7 , wherein the composition comprise from about 5%, to about 20% by weight of the secondary fluid modifier formulation component (2) based on the weight of the supercritical main fluid component (1).

9. A process for cleaning a nanoelectronic or microelectronic substrate of photoresist or residue according to claim 7 , wherein the supercritical main fluid comprises carbon dioxide.

10. A process for cleaning a nanoelectronic or microelectronic substrate of photoresist or residue according to claim 9 , wherein the secondary fluid modifier formulation comprises a formulation of sulfolane, water, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide.

11. A process for cleaning a nanoelectronic or microelectronic substrate of photoresist or residue according to claim 9 , wherein the secondary fluid modifier formulation comprises a formulation of sulfolane, water, ethylene glycol, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide.

12. A process for cleaning a nanoelectronic or microelectronic substrate of photoresist or residue according to claim 9 , wherein the secondary fluid modifier formulation comprises a formulation of sulfolane, water, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, ethylenediamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid, ethylene glycol, and hydrogen peroxide.

13. A cleaning composition according to claim 3 comprising:

tetramethylammonium fluoride, sulfolane, dimethyl sulfoxide and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.

14. A process for cleaning a nanoelectronic or microelectronic substrate of photoresist or residue according to claim 9 , wherein the secondary fluid modifier formulation comprises a formulation of tetramethylammonium fluoride, sulfolane, dimethyl sulfoxide and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2- pyrrolidinone.

Assignments (20)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 16, 2020
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC; NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC; RELIABLE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL, LLC; THERAPAK, LLC
Reel/Frame 054440/0877 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Nov 6, 2020
From: AVANTOR FLUID HANDLING, LLC; AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC; NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; RELIABLE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL, LLC; THERAPAK, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054343/0414 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC; NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC; RELIABLE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL, LLC; THERAPAK, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044528/0960 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC; NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC; RELIABLE BIOPHARMACEUTICAL, LLC; THERAPAK, LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044811/0400 →
RELEASE (REEL 041966 / FRAME 0247) Recorded Nov 27, 2017
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: NUSIL TECHNOLOGY, LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC; AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC (FORMERLY AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 044810/0154 →
RELEASE (REEL 041966 / FRAME 0211) Recorded Nov 27, 2017
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: NUSIL TECHNOLOGY, LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY, LLC; AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC (FORMERLY AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 044810/0207 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.); NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 041966/0313 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2017
From: NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC; AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.)
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 041966/0211 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2017
From: NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC; AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.)
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 041966/0247 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 2, 2017
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 041442/0976 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 3, 2016
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC
Reel/Frame 039924/0311 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: NUSIL TECHNOLOGY LLC; APPLIED SILICONE COMPANY LLC; AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.)
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 040192/0613 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 039915/0035 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2016
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE, AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 038976/0610 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE, AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038975/0807 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2016
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE, AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 038976/0478 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE, AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039111/0908 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 24, 2011
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 026499/0256 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 1, 2010
From: MALLINCKRODT BAKER, INC.
To: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025227/0551 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 8, 2010
From: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLAND BRANCH
Reel/Frame 025114/0208 →