We have demonstrated that the mechanical strength of organic silica low-k films can be enhanced by introducing a reinforcement monomer in a matrix monomer under plasma excitation. The modulus improvement mechanism was investigated by analyzing the film structure. Pyrolysis gas chromatography /mass spectrometry (Py-GUMS) revealed incorporation of a reinforcement monomer in the matrix through co-polymerization reactions. Compositional analysis of the films showed that the extent of reinforcement is associated with co-polymerization ratio or the monomer content in the film. It is also indicated that the modulus enhancement depends on the content of 3-dimensional aromatic bridged structure, which is affected by the chemical structure of the reinforcement monomers.
The mechanical strength of an organic silica low dielectric constant film was enhanced by introducing a reinforcement monomer into a matrix monomer under plasma polymerization deposition. The modulus improvement mechanism was investigated by using pyrolysis gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Incorporation of a reinforcement monomer in the film matrix through copolymerization reactions was confirmed. Compositional analysis of the films showed that the extent of reinforcement was associated with the copolymerization ratio and the monomer content in the film. It is also found that the modulus enhancement depends on the content of three-dimensional aromatic bridged structure.
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