Properties of Interlayer Low Dielectric Polyimide during Aluminum Etching with Electron Cyclotron Resonance Etcher System

The properties of polyimide for interlayer dielectric applications are investigated during plasma etching of aluminum on it. Chlorine-based plasma generally used for aluminum etching results in an increase in the (dielectric constant of polyimide, while $SF_6$ plasma exhibits a high polyimide etch rate and a reducing effect of the dielectric constant. The leakage current of polyimide is significantly suppressed after plasma exposure. An optimal combination of Al etch with $Cl_6$ plasma and polyimide etch with $SF_6$ plasma is expected to be a good tool for realizing multilevel metallization structures.