IP Library Granted Patent US 7,521,406
Granted Patent B2
US 7,521,406 · App. 10/982,330 · Granted Apr 21, 2009

Microelectronic cleaning composition containing halogen oxygen acids, salts and derivatives thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,521,406
App. No.
10/982,330
Granted
Apr 21, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Microelectronic cleaning compositions for cleaning microelectronic substrates, and particularly cleaning compositions useful with and having improved compatibility with microelectronic substrates characterized by silicon dioxide, sensitive low-κ or high-κ 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 Al or Al(Cu) metallizations and advanced interconnect technologies, are provided by microelectronic cleaning compositions comprising halogen acids, salts and derivatives thereof.

Claims (80)

1. A composition for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the cleaning composition comprising:

(a) an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of an alkyl hypochlorite and a tetraalkylammonium hypochlorite, and

(b) a solvent for component (a),

(c) a stabilizer for available hydrogen from the oxidizer, the stabilizer being selected from the group consisting of triazoles, thiazoles, tetrazoles and imidazoles; and, optionally one or more of the following components:

(d) an non ammonium-producing alkaline base,

(e) an acid,

(f) a metal chelating or complexing agent,

(g) a cleaning performance enhancing additive,

(h) a metal corrosion inhibitor,

(i) a non ammonium-producing fluoride, and

(j) a surfactant;

with the proviso that when the oxidizer component (a) is an alkyl hypochlorite, the component (b) solvent is not an amide, sulfone, sulfolene, selenone or a saturated alcohol solvent.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the oxidizer component (a) is tetramethylammonium hypochlorite.

3. A composition according to claim 2 wherein the component (b) solvent comprises water, and the composition also comprises a tetramethylammonium hydroxide as component (d).

4. A composition according to claim 3 additionally comprising a component (j) surfactant.

5. A composition according to claim 3 comprising benzotriazole as component (c).

6. A composition according to claim 2 wherein the component (b) solvent comprises sulfolane, and the composition also comprises tetramethylammonium fluoride as component (i).

7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the composition comprises benzotriazole as component (c).

8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the component (b) solvent comprises water, and the composition also comprises tetramethylammonium fluoride as component (i).

9. A composition according to claim 8 wherein the composition comprises benzotriazole as component (c).

10. A composition for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate and stabilized as to the amount of available halogen, the cleaning composition comprising:

(a) an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of a halogen oxygen acid, a salt of said acid, or derivative thereof wherein the derivative is selected from the group consisting of halogenated isocyanates, chlorine dioxide, chlorine monoxide, and hypochlorite-phosphite complexes, and

(b) a solvent for component (a),

(c) a stabilizing effective amount of a stabilizer for available hydrogen from the oxidizer, the stabilizer being selected from the group consisting of triazoles, thiazoles, tetrazoles and imidazoles in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the composition and having been incorporated with the oxidizer component during synthesis of the oxidizer;

and, optionally one or more of the following components:

(d) an non ammonium-producing alkaline base,

(e) an acid,

(f) a metal chelating or complexing agent,

(g) a cleaning performance enhancing additive,

(h) a metal corrosion inhibitor,

(i) a non ammonium-producing fluoride, and

(j) a surfactant;

with the provisos that when the oxidizer component (a) is an alkyl hypochlorite, the component (b) solvent is not an amide, sulfone, sulfolene, selenone or a saturated alcohol solvent, and when the oxidizer component (a) is hypochlorous acid the cleaning composition also must contain the non-ammonium-producing alkaline base.

11. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the composition comprises a halogen oxy acid or salt or derivative thereof in an amount, based on the total weight of the composition, of from about 0.001% to about 30% and provides from about 0.001% to about 30% available halogen.

12. A composition according to claim 10 the oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of a halogen oxy-acid, salt or derivative thereof wherein the derivative is a hypochlorite-phosphite complex and wherein the stabilizer (c) is present in an amount up to about 0.5% by weight.

13. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the stabilizer is benzotriazole.

14. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the oxidizer component (a) is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl chlorite, an alkyl hypochlorite, a tetraalkylammonium chlorite, a tetraalkylammonium hypochlorite, a substituted trialkylammonium chlorite and a substituted trialkylammonium hypochlorite, and wherein said oxidizer provides from about 0.001 to about 30% available halogen.

15. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the oxidizer component (a) is selected from the group consisting of hypochlorous acid, chloric acid, alkali and alkaline earth salts of said acids, alkyl hypochlorites and tetraalkylammonium hypochlorites.

16. A composition of claim 10 wherein the oxidizer component (a) is selected from the group consisting of sodium hypochlorite.

17. A composition according to claim 16 wherein the solvent is water.

18. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the oxidizer component (a) comprise HClO 3 .

19. A composition according to claim 18 wherein the component (b) solvent comprises water, and the composition comprises a component (j) surfactant.

20. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 10 .

21. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 11 .

22. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 12 .

23. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 13 .

24. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 14 .

25. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 15 .

26. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 16 .

27. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 17 .

28. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 18 .

29. The process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 19 .

30. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 1 .

31. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 2 .

32. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 3 .

33. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 4 .

34. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 5 .

35. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 6 .

36. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 7 .

37. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 8 .

38. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 9 .

39. A composition stabilized as to the amount of available halogen comprising:

(a) an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of an organic salt of a halogen oxygen acid selected from the group consisting of alkyl chlorites alkyl hypochlorites, tetraalkylammonium chlorites, tetraalkylammonium hypochlorites, substituted tetraalkylammonium chlorites, and substituted tetraalkylammonium hypochlorites; and

(b) a stabilizing effective amount of a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of triazoles, thiazoles, tetrazoles and imidazoles in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the composition and having been incorporated with the organic salt of the halogen oxygen acid during synthesis of the organic salt of the halogen oxygen acid.

40. The composition of claim 39 wherein the stabilizer is a triazole.

41. The composition of claim 40 wherein the stabilizer is benzotriazole.

42. The composition of claim 39 wherein the oxidizer component (a) is selected from the group consisting of alkyl hypochlorites and tetralkylammonium hypochlorites.

43. The composition of claim 39 wherein the oxidizer component (a) is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl hypochlorite and tetramethylammonium hypochlorite.

44. The composition of claim 41 wherein the oxidizer component (a) is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl hypochlorite and tetramethylammonium hypochlorite.

45. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 39 .

46. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 40 .

47. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 41 .

48. process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 42 .

49. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 43 .

50. A process for cleaning photoresist or residue from a microelectronic substrate, the process comprising contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the photoresist or residue from the substrate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a composition of claim 44 .

51. A process according to claim 30 wherein the composition comprises an organic salt of a halogen oxy acid in an amount, based on the total weight of the composition, of from about 0.001% to about 30% and provides from about 0.001% to about 30% available halogen.

52. A process according to claim 51 wherein the composition comprises benzotriazole as component (c).

53. A process according to claim 51 wherein-the stabilizer (c) is present in an amount up to about 0.5% by weight.

54. A process according to claim 53 wherein the composition comprises benzotriazole as component (c).

55. A process according to any one of claims 30 , 31 or 32 - 54 wherein the microelectronic substrate being cleaned is characterized by the presence of at least one of a copper, tantalum, tungsten, nickel, gold, cobalt, palladium, platinum, chromium, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, hafnium, titanium, molybdenum, and tin metallization, and sensitive low-κ or high-κ dielectrics.

Assignments (21)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2007
From: HSU, CHIEN-PIN SHERMAN
To: MALLINCKRODT BAKER, INC.
Reel/Frame 020185/0482 →