Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes: providing a structure having a first layer overlying a substrate, where the first layer includes a dielectric material having a plurality of pores; applying a filling material to an exposed surface of the first layer; heating the structure to a first temperature to enable the filling material to homogeneously fill the plurality of pores; after filling the plurality of pores, performing at least one process on the structure; and after performing the at least one process, removing the filling material from the plurality of pores by heating the structure to a second temperature to decompose the filling material.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes: providing a structure having a first layer overlying a substrate, where the first layer includes a dielectric material having a plurality of pores; applying a filling material to an exposed surface of the first layer; heating the structure to a first temperature to enable the filling material to homogeneously fill the plurality of pores; after filling the plurality of pores, performing at least one process on the structure; and after performing the at least one process, removing the filling material from the plurality of pores by heating the structure to a second temperature to decompose the filling material.

Abstract: Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Abstract: A method of forming low dielectric contrast structures by imprinting a silsesquioxane based polymerizable composition. The imprinting composition including: one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers each having one or more polymerizable groups, wherein each of the one or more polymerizable group is bound to a different silicon atom of the one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers; and one or more polymerizable diluents, the diluents constituting at least 50% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Abstract: A method of forming low dielectric contrast structures by imprinting a silsesquioxane based polymerizable composition. The imprinting composition including: one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers each having one or more polymerizable groups, wherein each of the one or more polymerizable group is bound to a different silicon atom of the one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers; and one or more polymerizable diluents, the diluents constituting at least 50% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes: providing a structure having a first layer overlying a substrate, where the first layer includes a dielectric material having a plurality of pores; applying a filling material to an exposed surface of the first layer; heating the structure to a first temperature to enable the filling material to homogeneously fill the plurality of pores; after filling the plurality of pores, performing at least one process on the structure; and after performing the at least one process, removing the filling material from the plurality of pores by heating the structure to a second temperature to decompose the filling material.

Abstract: Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising poly-oxycarbosilane and methods for using the compositions in step and flash imprint lithography. The imprinting compositions comprise a poly-oxycarbosilane polymer, a silanol, a reaction initiator and optionally a pore generator.

Abstract: A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for using compositions comprising poly-oxycarbosilane in step and flash imprint lithography. The imprinting compositions comprise a poly-oxycarbosilane polymer and a pore generator.

Abstract: A method and a composition. The composition includes at least one carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymer which crosslinks in the presence of an acid. The at least one carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymer is soluble in aqueous base. The method includes forming a coating on a substrate. The coating includes one or more carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymers. The carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymer is soluble in aqueous base. The coating is exposed to radiation, resulting in generating a latent pattern in the coating. The exposed coating is baked at a first temperature less than about 150° C. The baked coating is developed, resulting in forming a latent image from the latent pattern in the baked coating. The latent image is cured at a second temperature less than about 500° C.

Abstract: A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature.

Abstract: A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature.

Abstract: A nanoporous material exhibiting a lamellar structure is disclosed. The material comprises three or more substantially parallel sheets of an organosilicate material, separated by highly porous spacer regions. The distance between the centers of the sheets lies between 1 nm and 50 nm. The highly porous spacer regions may be substantially free of condensed material. For the manufacture of such materials, a process is disclosed in which matrix non-amphiphilic polymeric material and templating polymeric material are dispersed in a solvent, where the templating polymeric material includes a polymeric amphiphilic material. The solvent with the polymeric materials is distributed onto a substrate. Organization is induced in the templating polymeric material. The solvent is removed, leaving the polymeric materials in place. The matrix polymeric material is cured, forming a lamellar structure.

Abstract: A method and a composition. The composition includes at least one carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymer which crosslinks in the presence of an acid. The at least one carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymer is soluble in aqueous base. The method includes forming a coating on a substrate. The coating includes one or more carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymers. The carbosilane-substituted silsesquioxane polymer is soluble in aqueous base. The coating is exposed to radiation, resulting in generating a latent pattern in the coating. The exposed coating is baked at a first temperature less than about 150° C. The baked coating is developed, resulting in forming a latent image from the latent pattern in the baked coating. The latent image is cured at a second temperature less than about 500° C.

Abstract: A nanoporous material exhibiting a lamellar structure is disclosed. The material comprises three or more substantially parallel sheets of an organosilicate material, separated by highly porous spacer regions. The distance between the centers of the sheets lies between 1 nm and 50 nm. The highly porous spacer regions may be substantially free of condensed material. For the manufacture of such materials, a process is disclosed in which matrix non-amphiphilic polymeric material and templating polymeric material are dispersed in a solvent, where the templating polymeric material includes a polymeric amphiphilic material. The solvent with the polymeric materials is distributed onto a substrate. Organization is induced in the templating polymeric material. The solvent is removed, leaving the polymeric materials in place. The matrix polymeric material is cured, forming a lamellar structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a structure. The method including: forming a layer of a polymerizable composition including one or more polyhedral silsesquioxane oligomers each having one or more polymerizable groups, one or more polymerizable diluents, one or more photoacid generators and/or one or more photoinitiators; pressing a surface of a template having a relief pattern into the layer, the template, the layer filling voids in the relief pattern; polymerizing the layer to have thick and thin regions corresponding to the relief pattern; removing the template; removing the thin regions of the dielectric layer; and either curing the layer to create a porous dielectric layer followed by filling spaces between the thick regions of the porous dielectric layer with an electrically conductive material or filling spaces between the thick regions of the dielectric layer with an electrically conductive material followed by curing the dielectric layer to create a porous dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a structure. The method including: forming a precursor layer on a substarte, the precursor layer including a resin and, polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, and a solvent, each the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the milti-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscuble with the resin; heating the precursor layer to cross-link at least about 90% of the resin thereby converting the pre-baked precursor layer to a dielectric layer; forming trenches in the dielectric layer and filling the trenches with an electrical conductor; heating the dielectric layer to thermally decompose at least acout 99.5% of the polymeric nano-particles into decomposition products and to drive the decomposition products out of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature.