Probing capped and uncapped mesoporous low-dielectric constant films using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

We have measured uncapped mesoporous low-dielectric-constant films using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), a nondestructive technique, which yields both pore-size distributions and the threshold for pore interconnectivity. Pairs of fully cured capped and uncapped identical films, initially containing 5%–50% porogen additions, exhibited similar signatures in PALS, establishing a technique in which film capping is unnecessary. We also found that it was possible to distinguish between closed and percolated pores, without film capping, by comparing lifetime spectra of a film taken using different detector configurations. Interconnected pores were observed in cured samples, which had greater than 20% porogen additions.