Abstract: Waveguides are disclosed (and other devices and materials including but not limited to hybrid organic-inorganic coatings, passivation materials, glob top materials, underfill materials, materials for IC and other applications, microlenses and any of a wide variety of optical devices) that benefit by being formed of a novel hybrid organic-inorganic material. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for making a waveguide includes: forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate; forming a core layer after the lower cladding layer; and forming an upper cladding layer after the core layer; wherein the lower cladding layer, core layer and/or upper cladding layer comprises a hybrid organic-inorganic material—that has many desirable properties relating to stability, hydrophobicity, roughness, optical absorbance, polarization dependent loss, among others.

Abstract: Thin films are disclosed that are suitable as dielectrics in IC's and for other similar applications. In particular, the invention concerns thin films comprising compositions obtainable by hydrolysis of two or more silicon compounds, which yield an at least partially cross-linked siloxane structure. The invention also concerns a method for producing such films by preparing siloxane compositions by hydrolysis of suitable reactants, by applying the hydrolyzed compositions on a substrate in the form of a thin layer and by curing the layer to form a film. In one example, a thin film comprising a composition is obtained by hydrolyzing a monomeric silicon compound having at least one hydrocarbyl radical, containing an unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond, and at least one hydrolyzable group attached to the silicon atom of the compound with another monomeric silicon compound having at least one aryl group and at least one hydrolyzable group attached to the silicon atom of the compound to form a siloxane material.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated circuit is disclosed as comprising depositing alternating regions of electrically conductive and dielectric materials on a substrate, wherein an area of dielectric material is formed by: a silane precursor having a fully or partially fluorinated first organic group comprising an unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond, the fully or partially fluorinated organic group bound to silicon in the silane precursor; forming from the silane precursor a hybrid organic-inorganic material having a molecular weight of at least 500 on a substrate; and increasing the molecular weight of the hybrid material by exposure to heat, electromagnetic radiation or electron beam so as to break the unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond and cross link via the fully or partially fluorinated organic group.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated circuit is disclosed as comprising depositing alternating regions of electrically conductive and dielectric materials on a substrate, wherein an area of dielectric material is formed by: a silane precursor having a fully or partially fluorinated first organic group comprising an unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond, the fully or partially fluorinated organic group bound to silicon in the silane precursor; forming from the silane precursor a hybrid organic-inorganic material having a molecular weight of at least 500 on a substrate; and increasing the molecular weight of the hybrid material by exposure to heat, electromagnetic radiation or electron beam so as to break the unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond and cross link via the fully or partially fluorinated organic group.

Abstract: Waveguides are disclosed (and other devices and materials including but not limited to hydrophobic coatings, passivation materials, glob top materials, underfill materials, dielectric materials for IC and other applications, microlenses and any of a wide variety of optical devices) that benefit by a high hydrophobicity and high stability and, among other things. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for making a waveguide comprises: forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate; forming a core layer after the lower cladding layer; and forming an upper cladding layer after the core layer; wherein the lower cladding layer, core layer and/or upper cladding layer is hydrophobic and results, if exposed to water, in a water contact angle of 90 degrees or more.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising a substrate and discrete areas of electrically insulating and electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically insulating material is a hybrid organic-inorganic material that has a density of 1.45 g/cm3 or more and a dielectric constant of 3.0 or less. The integrated circuit can be made by a method comprising: providing a substrate; forming discrete areas of electrically insulating and electrically conductive material on the substrate; wherein the electrically insulating material is deposited on the substrate followed by heating at a temperature of 350° C. or less; and wherein the electrically insulating material is a hybrid organic-inorganic material that has a density of 1.45 g/cm3 or more after densification. Also disclosed is a method for making an integrated circuit comprising performing a dual damascene method with an electrically conductive material and a dielectric, the dielectric being a directly photopatterned hybrid organic-inorganic material.

Abstract: Thin films are disclosed that are suitable as dielectrics in IC's and for other similar applications. In particular, the invention concerns thin films comprising compositions obtainable by hydrolysis of two or more silicon compounds, which yield an at least partially cross-linked siloxane structure. The invention also concerns a method for producing such films by preparing siloxane compositions by hydrolysis of suitable reactants, by applying the hydrolyzed compositions on a substrate in the form of a thin layer and by curing the layer to form a film. In one example, a thin film comprising a composition is obtained by hydrolyzing a monomeric silicon compound having at least one hydrocarbyl radical, containing an unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond, and at least one hydrolyzable group attached to the silicon atom of the compound with another monomeric silicon compound having at least one aryl group and at least one hydrolyzable group attached to the silicon atom of the compound to form a siloxane material.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated circuit is disclosed as comprising depositing alternating regions of electrically conductive and dielectric materials on a substrate, wherein an area of dielectric material is formed by: a silane precursor having a fully or partially fluorinated first organic group comprising an unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond, the fully or partially fluorinated organic group bound to silicon in the silane precursor; forming from the silane precursor a hybrid organic-inorganic material having a molecular weight of at least 500 on a substrate; and increasing the molecular weight of the hybrid material by exposure to heat, electromagnetic radiation or electron beam so as to break the unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond and cross link via the fully or partially fluorinated organic group.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising a substrate and discrete areas of electrically insulating and electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically insulating material is a hybrid organic-inorganic material that has a density of 1.45 g/cm3 or more and a dielectric constant of 3.0 or less. The integrated circuit can be made by a method comprising: providing a substrate; forming discrete areas of electrically insulating and electrically conductive material on the substrate; wherein the electrically insulating material is deposited on the substrate followed by heating at a temperature of 350° C. or less; and wherein the electrically insulating material is a hybrid organic-inorganic material that has a density of 1.45 g/cm3 or more after densification.

Abstract: Waveguides and other devices and materials (including but not limited to waveguides, microlenses, and other optical device components), both planer and freespace devices benefit by having a high transparency or low optical loss profile at particular wavelengths. A method for making a waveguide comprises forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate; forming a core layer after the lower cladding layer, and forming an upper cladding layer after the core layer; wherein the lower cladding layer, core layer and/or upper cladding layer comprises a material having an optical loss of 0.1 dB/cm or less at 1550 nm, 1310 nm, C Band and/or L Band. The material having low optical loss also has other desirable properties in the areas of ease and temperature of deposition, hydrophobicity, direct patternability (photosensitivity), stress, aspect ratio if patterned, and surface and sidewall roughness (if patterned), among other characteristics.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated circuit is disclosed comprising depositing alternating regions of electrically conductive material and hybrid organic inorganic dielectric material on a substrate, wherein an area of dielectric material is formed by hydrolyzing a plurality of precursors to form a hybrid organic inorganic material comprised of a silicon oxide backbone and having an organic substituent bound to the backbone, and depositing the hybrid organic inorganic material on a substrate, removing the hybrid organic-inorganic material in selected areas, and depositing an electrically conductive material in the selected areas, wherein one of the precursors is a compound of the general formula R1R2R3SiR4, wherein R1, R2, R3 are each bound to the Si and are independently an aryl group, a cross linkable group, or an alkyl group having from 1-14 carbons, and wherein R4 is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an —OH group or a halogen.

Abstract: Waveguides are disclosed (and other devices and materials including but not limited to hybrid organic-inorganic coatings, passivation materials, glob top materials, underfill materials, materials for IC and other applications, microlenses and any of a wide variety of optical devices) that benefit by being formed of a novel hybrid organic-inorganic material. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for making a waveguide includes: forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate; forming a core layer after the lower cladding layer; and forming an upper cladding layer after the core layer; wherein the lower cladding layer, core layer and/or upper cladding layer comprises a hybrid organic-inorganic material—that has many desirable properties relating to stability, hydrophobicity, roughness, optical absorbance, polarization dependent loss, among others.

Abstract: Waveguides are disclosed (and other devices and materials including but not limited to hydrophobic coatings, passivation materials, glob top materials, underfill materials, dielectric materials for IC and other applications, microlenses and any of a wide variety of optical devices) that benefit by a high hydrophobicity and high stability and, among other things. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for making a waveguide comprises: forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate; forming a core layer after the lower cladding layer; and forming an upper cladding layer after the core layer; wherein the lower cladding layer, core layer and/or upper cladding layer is hydrophobic and results, if exposed to water, in a water contact angle of 90 degrees or more.

Abstract: Thin films are disclosed that are suitable as dielectrics in IC's and for other similar applications. In particular, the invention concerns thin films comprising compositions obtainable by hydrolysis of two or more silicon compounds, which yield an at least partially cross-linked siloxane structure. The invention also concerns a method for producing such films by preparing siloxane compositions by hydrolysis of suitable reactants, by applying the hydrolyzed compositions on a substrate in the form of a thin layer and by curing the layer to form a film. In one example, a thin film comprising a composition is obtained by hydrolyzing a monomeric silicon compound having at least one hydrocarbyl radical, containing an unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond, and at least one hydrolyzable group attached to the silicon atom of the compound with another monomeric silicon compound having at least one aryl group and at least one hydrolyzable group attached to the silicon atom of the compound to form a siloxane material.