IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,482,656
Granted Patent B2
US 12,482,656 · App. 18/177,546 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Coating compositions and methods to enhance SC-1 resistance

Inventors: Daniel Patrick Sweat (Rolla, MO); Jakub Koza (Rolla, MO); Jamie Storie (St. James, MO)
Assignee: Brewer Science, Inc.
H01L21/0276C08F265/04C09D163/04H01L21/02164H01L21/02186H01L21/3081H01L21/3086H01L21/31144H01L21/31111H01L21/31133
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,482,656
App. No.
18/177,546
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Adhesive additives are disclosed that enhance spin-on carbon (SOC) resistance to SC-1 wet etch. The additives can be formed by reacting a polymer or oligomer (such as an adhesion polymer or adhesion oligomer) with 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid (TABA). When added to standard SOC layers or used as a primer between an SOC layer and substrate, these additives enhance the adhesion of the SOC layer to TiN and other substrates and reduce undercut during SC-1 wet etch.

Claims (41)

1 . A method of forming a microelectronic structure, said method comprising:

optionally forming one or more intermediate layers on a substrate surface, there being an uppermost intermediate layer on said substrate surface, if one or more intermediate layers are present;

applying a composition to said uppermost intermediate layer, if present, or to said substrate surface, if no intermediate layers are present, said composition comprising a compound comprising a 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety; and

heating said composition to form a carbon-rich layer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

optionally forming one or more additional intermediate layers on said carbon-rich layer, there being an uppermost additional intermediate layer on said carbon-rich layer, if one or more additional intermediate layers are present;

applying an imaging layer to said uppermost additional intermediate layer, if one or more additional intermediate layers are present, or to said carbon-rich layer, if no additional intermediate layers are present;

patterning said imaging layer to form a pattern therein;

transferring said pattern to said one or more additional intermediate layers on said carbon-rich layer, if present, and to said carbon-rich layer; and

contacting said carbon-rich layer with SC-1.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said compound is chosen from one or both of:

a polymer functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety; or

an oligomer functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein one or both of said polymer or oligomer comprise monomers chosen from phenolic compounds, styrene, styrene-containing compounds, glycidyl-containing compounds, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, hydroxybutylacrylate, or combinations thereof.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said compound is chosen from an epoxy cresol novolac functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety, an epoxy phenol novolac functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety, or both.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises:

a polymer different from said compound;

an oligomer different from said compound; or

both a polymer and an oligomer different from said compound.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the following is true:

said polymer different from said compound is chosen from polystyrene, functionalized polystyrene derivatives, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, poly(ether ether ketone), polycarbonates, epoxies, novolacs, polyimides, or combinations thereof; or

said oligomer different from said compound comprises a diimide.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said carbon-rich layer has the property of being SC-1 resistant.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate surface comprises at least one intermediate layer, and said uppermost intermediate layer comprises a TiN layer or an SiO 2 layer.

10 . A method of forming a microelectronic structure, said method comprising:

optionally forming one or more intermediate layers on a substrate surface, there being an uppermost intermediate layer on said substrate surface, if one or more intermediate layers are present;

forming a primer layer on said uppermost intermediate layer, if present, or on said substrate surface, if no intermediate layers are present, said primer layer being formed from a composition comprising a compound comprising a 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety; and

forming a carbon-rich layer on said primer layer.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

optionally forming one or more additional intermediate layers on said carbon-rich layer, there being an uppermost additional intermediate layer on said carbon-rich layer, if one or more additional intermediate layers are present;

applying an imaging layer to said uppermost additional intermediate layer, if one or more additional intermediate layers are present, or to said carbon-rich layer, if no additional intermediate layers are present;

patterning said imaging layer to form a pattern therein;

transferring said pattern to said one or more intermediate layers on said carbon-rich layer, if present, and to said carbon-rich layer; and

contacting said carbon-rich layer with SC-1.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said compound is chosen from one or both of:

a polymer functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety; or

an oligomer functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein one or both of said polymer or oligomer comprises monomers chosen from phenolic compounds, styrene, styrene-containing compounds, glycidyl-containing compounds, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, hydroxybutylacrylate, or combinations thereof.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said compound is chosen from an epoxy cresol novolac functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety, an epoxy phenol novolac functionalized with said 3,4,5-triacetoxybenzoic acid moiety, or both.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said primer layer has the property of being SC-1 resistant.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said substrate surface comprises at least one intermediate layer, and said uppermost intermediate layer comprises a TiN layer or an SiO 2 layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: SWEAT, DANIEL PATRICK; KOZA, JAKUB; STORIE, JAMIE
To: BREWER SCIENCE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064098/0564 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63315794 · Mar 2, 2022
Related Publication 20230282478A1 · Sep 7, 2023
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