Organic Film Composition for Gap Filling and Planarization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for forming organic films in semiconductor manufacturing face challenges in achieving both advanced embedding and planarization properties, particularly in three-dimensional structures, while avoiding film formation failures and high costs associated with chemical mechanical polishing.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising an aromatic ring-containing resin, a polymer with a β-diketone structure in the repeating unit, and a solvent is used to form an organic film, which enhances fluidity and thermal flow, ensuring excellent embedding and planarization properties without thermal decomposition or solvent solubility issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If thermal decomposable polyacetal is added to improve planarization, then film fluidity is enhanced, but thermal decomposition induces shrinkage causing film formation failure and deterioration of embedding property

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveplanarizationVSAvoidfilm formation success
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameter by using a polymer with β-diketone structure instead of thermal decomposable polyacetal. This structural modification allows the material to maintain film fluidity for planarization while avoiding thermal decomposition and shrinkage, thus resolving the contradiction between planarization capability and film formation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a polymer with β-diketone structure that provides temporary fluidity during the coating process for planarization, then maintains stability during subsequent thermal processing. The material serves its planarization function and then remains stable, effectively replacing the thermal decomposable polyacetal that failed due to shrinkage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional polyethylene and polyethylene glycol are used to improve film formation, then processing is simplified, but solvent solubility and compatibility with main resin are poor causing film formation failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidfilm formation success
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material system by combining the polymer with β-diketone structure with aromatic ring-containing resins. This composite approach improves solvent solubility and compatibility with main resins while maintaining processing simplicity, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and film formation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Shape

If CMP process is used to achieve planarization, then flat surface is obtained, but process cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflatnessVSAvoidprocess cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical CMP process with a chemical/material-based solution. By incorporating the polymer with β-diketone structure into the organic film composition, the material self-planarizes through controlled fluidity during coating, eliminating the need for expensive CMP machinery and processes while achieving the same flatness result.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If aromatic ring-containing resin is used to improve etching resistance, then processing resistance is enhanced, but fluidity is reduced compromising embedding capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveetching resistanceVSAvoidembedding property
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two materials with complementary properties: aromatic ring-containing resin provides etching resistance while the polymer with β-diketone structure provides fluidity for embedding. The combination creates a synergistic effect where both properties are maintained simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between etching resistance and embedding capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition forms a highly planarized organic film with excellent etching and heat resistance, suitable for multi-layer resist processes in semiconductor manufacturing, enabling precise pattern transfer with high accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

The fluidity is enhanced by heat, thus, when baked at a high temperature, the polymer flows more and can further improve the flatness of uneven surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

When the composition contains an aromatic ring-containing resin such as (A), etching resistance and processing resistance are good

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical resistance:

Implementation Method 3

the β-diketone structure and L 1 are difficult to cause thermal decomposition, and the sublimation of low molecular weight molecules by thermal decomposition can be suppressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stability:

Data Source

PatentEP4685562A1Composition for forming organic film, method for forming organic film, and patterning process
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP4685562A1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(F)
  • EP4685562A1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP4685562A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a composition for forming an organic film which has both embedding and planarization properties, and a method for forming an organic film and a patterning process using the composition. A composition for forming an organic film, containing: (A) an aromatic ring-containing resin; (B) a polymer containing a repeating unit containing a β-diketone structure represented by the following formula (1): wherein L1 is a saturated or unsaturated linear or branched divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, RA and RB each are a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted linear alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted branched or cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms and containing one or more double or triple bonds, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a thiol group, a hydroxy group, an amino group, a carboxy group, or a halogen group; and (C) a solvent.