Treatment of low dielectric constant films using a batch processing system

1. A method of treating a dielectric film on a plurality of substrates, comprising:

disposing said plurality of substrates in a substrate holder of a batch processing system, said dielectric film having a dielectric constant value less than the dielectric constant of SiO 2 ;

disposing said substrate holder on a turntable configured to rotate during an exposure of at least one surface of said dielectric film on said plurality of substrates to a treating compound, said plurality of substrates being arranged in a tier arrangement on the substrate holder, the treating compound including a C x H y containing compound where x and y represent integers greater than or equal to unity;

heating said plurality of substrates;

exciting the treating compound to dissociate the treating compound in a plasma;

removing moisture from the at least one surface of the dielectric film by exposing the at least one surface of said dielectric film on said plurality of substrates to the treating compound,

wherein the at least one surface of the plurality of substrates is exposed to the treating compound supplied to the processing system by independently controlling multiple gas injection devices to inject the treating compound at different vertical regions of the processing system along the tier arrangement of substrates on the substrate holder.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said removing of moisture by exposing said plurality of substrates to said treating compound comprises exposing at least one surface of said dielectric film on said plurality of substrates to a treating compound comprising an alkyl silane, an alkoxysilane, an alkyl siloxane, an alkoxysiloxane, an aryl silane, an acyl silane, a cyclo siloxane, a polysilsesquioxane (PSS), an aryl siloxane, an acyl siloxane, or a halo siloxane, or any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an alkyl silane comprising:

hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS),

tetramethyldisilazane (TMDS),

trimethylsilyldimethylamine (TMSDMA),

trimethylsilyldiethylamine (TMSDEA),

N-trimethylsilyl-imidazole (TMSI),

methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMOS),

vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMOS),

trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS),

dimethylsilyldimethylamine (DMSDMA),

dimethylsilyldiethylamine (DMSDEA),

bis(dimethylamino)methyl silane (B[DMA]MS),

bis(dimethylamino)dimethyl silane (B[DMA]DS),

dimethylaminopentamethyldisilane (DMAPMDS),

dimethylaminodimethyldisilane (DMADMDS),

disila-aza-cyclopentane (TDACP),

disila-oza-cyclopentane (TDOCP),

triethylchlorosilane (TECS),

tetramethoxysilane (TMOS),

dimethyldimethoxysilane (DMDMOS),

tetraethoxysilane (TEOS),

methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS),

dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDEOS),

vinyltriethoxysilane (VTEOS),

trimethylmethoxysilane (TMMS),

trimethylethoxysilane (TMES),

trimethylsilanol (TMS-OH),

bis(trimethoxysilyl)hexane,

bis(trimethoxysilyl)octane,

bis(trimethylsilylmethyl)dimethoxysilane,

bistrimethoxysilylethane,

cyclohexylmethyldimethoxysilane,

cyclohexyltrimethoxysilane,

dicyclopentyldimethoxysilane,

diisobutyldimethoxysilane,

diisopropyldimethoxysilane,

dimethyldimethoxysilane,

hexadecyltrimethoxysilane,

octyldimethylmethoxysilane,

trimethoxysilane,

trimethylmethoxysilane, or

tris(dimethylsiloxy)ethoxysilane, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an alkyl siloxane comprising:

(3-glycidoxypropyl)pentamethyldisiloxane,

1,1,1,3,3,5,5-heptamethyltrisiloxane,

1,1,1,5,5,5-hexamethyltrisiloxane,

1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7-octamethyltetrasiloxane,

1,1,3,3,5,5-hexamethyltrisiloxane,

1,1,3,3-tetracyclopentyldichlorodisiloxane,

1,1,3,3-tetraethoxy-1,3-dimethyldisiloxane,

1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyl-1,3-dichlorodisiloxane,

1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxane,

1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-diethoxydisiloxane,

1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(2-aminoethylaminomethyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(chloromethyl)-1,1,3,3-tetrakis(trimethylsiloxy)disiloxane,

1,3-bis(chloropropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(glycidoxypropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(hydroxybutyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(hydroxypropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy)-1,3-dimethyldisiloxane,

1,3-diallyleterakis(trimethylsiloxy)disiloxane,

1,3-diallyltetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-dichlorotetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-diethyltetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-diethynyltetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-dimethyltetramethoxydisiloxane,

1,3-dioctyltetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-divinyl-1,3-dimethyl-1,3-dichlorodisfloxane,

1,3-divinyltetraethoxydisiloxane,

1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane,

1,5-dichlorohexamethyltrisiloxane,

1,5-divinylhexamethyltrisiloxane,

1,7-dichlorooctamethyltetrasiloxane,

1-allyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane,

2-[methoxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyl]heptamethyltrisiloxane,

3,5-bis(chloromethyl)octamethyltetrasiloxane,

3-[hydroxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyl]heptamethyltrisiloxane,

3-aminopropylpentamethyldisfloxane,

3-chloromethylheptamethyltrisiloxane,

3-octylheptamethyltrisiloxane,

bis(3-chloroisobutyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

bis(chloromethyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

bis(cyanopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

bis(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)tetramethyldisiloxane, bis(trifluoropropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

bis[(biscycloheptenyl)ethyl]tetramethyldisiloxane,

bis-2-[3,4-(epoxycylcohexyl)ethyl]tetramethyldisiloxane,

chloromethylpentamethyldisiloxane,

decamethylcyclopentasiloxane,

decamethyltetrasiloxane,

divinyletrakis(trimethylsiloxy)disiloxane,

dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane,

dodecamethylpentasiloxane,

hexaethyldisiloxane,

hexamethyldisiloxane,

hexavinyldisiloxane,

octamethyltrisiloxane,

pentamethyldisiloxane, or

tetradecamethylhexasiloxane, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an aryl silane comprising:

benzyltriethoxysilane,

di(p-tolyl)dimethoxysilane,

diphenyldiethoxysilane,

diphenyldihydroxysilane,

diphenyldimethoxysilane,

diphenylmethylethoxysilane,

p-bis(trimethoxysilylmethyl)benzene,

phenyldimethylethoxysilane,

t-butyldiphenylmethoxysilane,

triphenylethoxysilane,

triphenylsilanol,

vinyldiphenylethoxysilane,

dibenzyloxydiacetoxysilane,

phenylacetoxytrimethylsilane,

phenyldimethylacetoxysilane, or

phenyltriacetoxysilane, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an acyl silane comprising:

bistrimethylsilyl urea (BTSU),

bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA),

bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoromethylacetamide (BSTFA),

triacetylvinylsilane (TAVS),

N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA),

N-methyl-N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MBDSTFA),

N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-heptafluorobutyramide (MSHFBA),

acetoxytrimethylsilane (TMAS),

3-trifluoroacetoxypropyltrimethoxysilane,

acetoxyethyldimethylchlorosilane,

acetoxyethylmethyldichlorosilane,

acetoxyethyltriclorosilane,

acetoxyethyltriethoxysilane,

acetoxyethyltrimethoxysilane,

acetoxymethyldimethylacetoxysilane,

acetoxymethyltriethoxysilane,

acetoxymethyltrimethoxysilane,

acetoxymethyltrimethylsilane,

acetoxypropylmethyldichlorosilane,

dimethyldi acetoxysilane,

di-t-butyldiacetoxysilane,

ethyltriacetoxysilane,

methyltriacetoxysilane,

tetraacetoxysilane,

tetrakis(trifluoroacetoxy)silane,

triethylacetoxysilane,

vinylmethyldiacetoxysilane,

vinyltriacetoxysilane,

dibenzyloxydiacetoxysilane,

phenylacetoxytrimethylsilane,

phenyldimethylacetoxysilane, or

phenyltriacetoxysilane, or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an cyclo siloxane comprising:

1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane,

heptamethylcyclotetrasiloxane,

hexaethylcyclotrisiloxane,

hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane,

octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane,

pentamethylcyclopentasiloxane,

pentavinylpentamethylcyclopentasiloxane,

tetraethylcyclotetrasiloxane,

hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane,

octaphenyl cyclotetrasiloxane,

(acetoxyethyl)heptamethylcylcotetrasiloxane, or

tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)tetramethylcylcotetrasiloxane, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an aryl siloxane comprising:

1,1,3,3-tetraphenyldimethyldisiloxane,

1,1,3,5,5-pentaphenyl-1,3,5-trimethyltrisiloxane,

1,1,5,5-tetraphenyl-1,3,3,5-tetramethyltrisiloxane,

1,3-dichloro-1,3-diphenyl-1,3-dimethyldisiloxane,

1,3-dichlorotetraphenyldisiloxane,

1,3-diphenyl-1,1,3,3-tetrakis(dimethylsiloxy)disiloxane,

1,3-diphenyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-divinyl-1,3-diphenyl-1,3-dimethyldisiloxane,

1,4-bis(trimethoxysilylethyl)benzene,

1,5-bis(glycidoxypropyl)-3-phenyl-1,1,3,5,5-pentamethyltrisiloxane,

1,5-divinyl-3,3-diphenyl-1,1,5,5-tetramethyltrisiloxane,

1,5-divinyl-3-phenylpentamethyltrisiloxane,

3,5-diphenyloctamethyltetrasiloxane,

3-phenyl-1,1,3,5,5-pentamethyltrisiloxane,

3-phenylheptamethyltrisiloxane,

bis(m-allylphenyldimethylsilyloctyl)-tetramethyldisiloxane,

bis(pentafluorophenyldimethoxysilane,

divinyltetraphenyldisiloxane,

hexaphenyldisiloxane,

hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane,

1,3-bis[acrylomethyl)phenethyl]tetramethyldisiloxane,

octaphenylcyclotetrasiloxane,

(acetoxyethyl)heptamethylcylcotetrasiloxane, or

tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)tetramethylcylcotetrasiloxane, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an acyl siloxane comprising:

1,1,1,3,3-pentamethyl-3-acetoxydisiloxane,

1,3-bis(3-carboxypropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

1,3-bis(3-methacryloxypropyl)tetrakis(trimethylsiloxy)disiloxane,

1,3-bis(3-methacryloxypropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane,

11-acetoxyundecyltrichlorosilane,

2-[acetoxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyl]heptamethyltrisiloxane,

methacryloxypropylpentamethyldisiloxane, or

1,3-bis[acrylomethyl)phenethyl]tetramethyldisiloxane, or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises an halo siloxane comprising:

hexachlorodisiloxane, or

octachlorotrisiloxane, or any combination thereof.

11. The processing system of claim 2 , wherein said treating compound comprises a polysilsesquioxane (PSS) comprising:

octamethyl silsesquioxane,

decamethyl silsesquioxane,

octavinyl silsesquioxane,

decavinyl silsesquioxane,

octamethoxy silsesquioxane,

decamethoxy silsesquioxane, or

chloropropylisobutyl-PSS, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said removing of moisture by exposing said dielectric film comprises exposing a dielectric film having a dielectric constant ranging from 1.6 to 2.7.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said removing of moisture by exposing said dielectric film comprises exposing a porous dielectric film.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said removing of moisture by exposing said dielectric film comprises exposing at least one of a single-phase material, and a dual-phase material.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said removing of moisture by exposing comprises exposing the dielectric film to the treating compound in vapor phase.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substrates are heated with multiple independent heating units arranged at equal distances around the substrate holder to control spatial variations in temperature.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said removing of moisture by exposing said dielectric film comprises exposing a non-porous dielectric film.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein exciting the treating compound comprises exciting the treating compound in a remote plasma source.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein exciting the treating compound comprises exciting the treating compound in situ.