Abstract: A method is described for method for patterning a metal layer interfaced with a transparent conductive film, in which the method comprises contacting a structure through a patterned mask with an etching solution comprising Fe+3 ions, wherein the structure comprises the metal layer comprising copper, nickel, aluminum or alloys thereof covering at least partially a transparent conductive film with conductive elements comprising silver, to expose a portion of the transparent conductive film. Etching solutions and the etched structures are also described.
Abstract: Reduction/oxidation reagents have been found to be effective to chemically cure a sparse metal nanowire film into a fused metal nanostructured network through evidently a ripening type process. The resulting fused network can provide desirable low sheet resistances while maintaining good optical transparency. The transparent conductive films can be effectively applied as a single conductive ink or through sequential forming of a metal nanowire film with the subsequent addition of a fusing agent. The fused metal nanowire films can be effectively patterned, and the patterned films can be useful in devices, such as touch sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 2, 2025
Assignee:
EKC Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Ajay Virkar, Xiqiang Yang, Ying-Syi Li, Dennis McKean, Melburne C. LeMieux
Abstract: Composite materials with noble metal coated silver nanowires loaded into polymer are described. The composite materials may have resistivities of no more than about 100 Ohm-cm, or from about 100 Ohm-cm to about 1×1011 Ohm-cm depending on the amount of noble metal coated silver nanowires loaded into the polymer. The noble metal coated silver nanowires may be platinum coated silver nanowires. Metal particulates such as silver flakes or silver particles may be added to the composite materials in order to obtain desired properties. Composite precursor compositions and methods for preparing the composite materials are described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 5, 2023
Date of Patent:
August 19, 2025
Assignee:
EKC Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Ajay Virkar, Xiqiang Yang, Nazim Uddin, Peikang Liu
Abstract: Nanoscale colorants are introduced to adjust the hue of transparent conductive films, such as to provide a whiter film. The transparent conductive films can have sparse metal conductive layers, which can be formed using silver nanowires. Color of the film can be evaluated using standard color parameters. In particular, values of color parameter b* can be reduced with the nanoscale colorants without unacceptably changing other parameters, such as haze, a* and transparency.
Abstract: Methods for processing deposited metal nanowire inks with metal ions are used to form fused metal nanostructured networks. The metal nanowire inks include a hydrophilic polymer binder, such as a cellulose based binder. The metal nanowire inks can be deposited onto a substrate surface and dried to drive the fusing process. Transparent conductive films can be formed with desirable properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 23, 2023
Date of Patent:
February 18, 2025
Assignee:
EKC Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Ying-Syi Li, Xiqiang Yang, Yu Kambe, Xiaofeng Chen, Hua Gu, Steven Michael Lam, Melanie Maniko Inouye, Arthur Yung-Chi Cheng, Alex Da Zhang Tan, Christopher S. Scully, Ajay Virkar
Abstract: An aqueous removal composition having a pH in the range of from 2 to 14 and method for selectively removing an etching mask consisting essentially of TiN, TaN, TiNxOy, TiW, W, or alloy of Ti or W relative to low-k materials from a semiconductor substrate comprising said low-k materials having a TiN, TaN, TiNxOy, TiW, W, or alloy of Ti or W etching mask thereon wherein the removal composition comprises at least one oxidizing agent and a carboxylate compound.
Abstract: An aqueous cleaning composition and method for post-CMP cleaning of a semiconductor device which contains a copper interconnect wherein the cleaning composition contains (A) N,N,N?-trimethyl-N?-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine; and (B) at least one corrosion inhibitor selected from the group consisting essentially of uric acid, xanthine, theophyline, paraxanthine, theobromine, caffeine, guanine, hypoxanthine, adenine, and combinations thereof.
Abstract: An improved method for making a photoresist stripping solution for a metal-containing semi-conductor substrate where the stripping solution comprises a blend of at least one organic sulfonic acid with a halogen-free hydrocarbon solvent wherein concentrations of trace amounts of residual sulfuric acid and sulfur trioxide in the blend are reduced to very low levels.
Abstract: Al post-etch residue removal composition doped with an alkanoic acid of the formula R—COOH, where R can be a linear or branched alkyl group in the form of CnH2n+1, where n is from 4 to 19, simultaneously passivates exposed Al surfaces while removing post-etch residues.
Abstract: A semiconductor processing composition and method for removing photoresist, polymeric materials, etching residues and copper oxide from a substrate comprising copper, low-k dielectric material and TiN, TiNxOy or W wherein the composition includes water, at least one halide anion selected from Cl? or Br?, and, where the metal hard mask comprises only TiN or TiNxOy, optionally at least one hydroxide source.
Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous compositions comprising amidoxime compounds and methods for cleaning plasma etch residue from semiconductor substrates including such dilute aqueous solutions. The compositions of the invention may optionally contain one or more other acid compounds, one or more basic compounds, and a fluoride-containing compound and additional components such as organic solvents, chelating agents, amines, and surfactants. The invention also relates to a method of removing residue from a substrate during integrated circuit fabrication.
Abstract: A composition that includes 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol, at least one of a chelating agent and a corrosion inhibitor, and water. The composition is capable of removing organic, organometallic and metal oxide residues from semiconductor substrates. The invention also relates to a method of removing etching residue from a semiconductor substrate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 23, 2011
Assignee:
EKC Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Wai Mun Lee, Cass X Shang, Atsushi Otake, Akira Kuroda, Takanori Matsumoto, Hisashi Takeda
Abstract: The invention relates to processes for producing and using amidoxime compounds with low trace metal impurities. The invention further relates to compositions comprising amidoxime compounds with low trace metal impurities, such compositions useful for cleaning or removing residues from semiconductor substrates and/or equipment.
Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for cleaning integrated circuit substrates. The compositions are in the form of an aqueous solution and include a quaternary ammonium hydroxide compound and a chelating compound. The chelating compound includes either boric acid or at least one N-substituted aminocarboxylate selected from the group consisting of N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine(bicine), N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl glycine (tricine) and mixtures thereof, and can optionally include glycine, Iminodiacetic acid (IDA), Nitrilo trizacetic acid (NTA), Ethylenediammine Tetraacetic acid (EDTA), or mixtures thereof.
Abstract: A variety of compositions that are particularly applicable for removing one or more of resist, etching residue, planarization residue, and copper oxide from a substrate comprising copper and a low-k dielectric material are described. The resist, residues, and copper oxide are removed by contacting the substrate surface with the composition, typically for a period of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and at a temperature between 25° and 45° C. The composition includes a fluoride-providing component; at least 1% by weight of a water miscible organic solvent; an organic acid; and at least 81% by weight water. Typically the composition further includes up to about 0.4% of one or more chelators.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 24, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 18, 2010
Assignee:
EKC Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Tomoko Suzuki, Toshitaka Hiraga, Yasuo Katsuya, Chris Reid
Abstract: A new remover chemistry based on a choline compound, such as choline hydroxide, is provided in order to address problems related to removal of residues, modified photoresists, photoresists, and polymers such as organic anti-reflective coatings and gap-fill and sacrificial polymers from surfaces involved in dual damascene structures without damaging the dielectrics and substrates involved therein. An etch stop inorganic layer at the bottom of a dual damascene structure may or may not be used to cover the underlying interconnect of copper. If not used, a process step of removing that protective layer can be avoided through a timed etch of the via in trench-first dual damascene processes.
Abstract: Improved compositions and processes for removing photoresists, polymers, post etch residues, and post oxygen ashing residues from interconnect, wafer level packaging, and printed circuit board substrates are disclosed. One process comprises contacting such substrates with mixtures containing an effective amount of organic ammonium compound(s); from about 2 to about 20 weight percent of oxammonium compound(s); optionally organic solvent(s); and water.
Abstract: A residue remover for removing polymeric material and etch residue includes 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol and optionally another two-carbon atom linkage alkanolamine compound, gallic acid or catechol, water, a polar organic solvent, and hydroxylamine. A process for removing photoresist or other residue from a substrate, such as an integrated circuit semiconductor wafer including titanium metallurgy, includes the steps of contacting the substrate with the above composition for a time and at a temperature sufficient to remove the photoresist or other residue from the substrate. Use of 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol in the composition and process provides superior residue removal without attacking titanium or other metallurgy on the substrate. The composition preferably has a flash point greater than about 130° C.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 24, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2009
Assignee:
EKC Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Wai Mun Lee, Katy Ip, Xuan-Dung Dinh, David John Maloney
Abstract: A novel cleaning composition used for post-etch resist residue removal is disclosed. In contrast to the conventional cleaning solutions based on fluoride chemistries, the present invention can significantly reduce the oxide loss resulting from the exfoliation, while still providing an excellent cleaning efficiency.
Abstract: A composition for the stripping of photoresist and the cleaning of residues from substrates, and for silicon oxide etch, comprising from about 0.01 percent by weight to about 10 percent by weight of one or more fluoride compounds, from about 10 percent by weight to about 95% by weight of a sulfoxide or sulfone solvent, and from about 20 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight water. The composition may contain corrosion inhibitors, chelating agents, co-solvents, basic amine compounds, surfactants, acids and bases.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 17, 2004
Date of Patent:
November 25, 2008
Assignee:
EKC Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert J. Small, Bakul P. Patel, Wai Mun Lee, Douglas Holmes, Jerome Daviot, Chris Reid