Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Inorganic-polymer-derived dielectric films

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6869996

A method is described of coating a substrate with a thin film of a polymer of predetermined porosity, comprising: depositing the thin film on the substrate from a dilute non-gelled solution comprising at least one hydrolyzable metal alkoxide of a polyermic network-forming cation, water, an alcohol or other solvent compatible with the hydrolysis and the polymerization of the metal alkoxide, and an acid or a base. The concentration of the alkoxide in the solution is about 1 to 12 equivalent weight %; and prior to the depositing the film, controlling the structure of the polymer for a given composition of the solution exclusive of the acid or base component and the water component, (a) by adjusting each of the water content, the pH, and the temperature to obtain the desired concentration of alkoxide, and then adjusting the time of standing of the solution prior to lowering the temperature of the solution, and (b) lowering the temperature of the solution after the time of standing to about 15 degrees C or lower to trap the solution in a state in which, after the depositing step, a coating of the desired porosity will be obtained; and curing the deposited film by removing a sufficient quantity of solvent to cause gelation, and heating the film at a temperature compatible with the substrate and effective for crosslinking and densifying the film, whereby there is obtained on the substrate a thin film of a polymer of predetermined porosity and corresponding pore size.

Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
Patent Number(s):
US 4652467
OSTI ID:
6869996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English