Method, materials and process for native oxide removal and regrowth of dielectric oxides for better biosensor performance

• Main Authors: Melnik, Yuriy, Neikirk, Colin Costano, Chatterjee, Sukti, Scudder, Lance A, Arnepalli, Ranga Rao, Narwankar, Pravin K, Seth, Suresh Chand
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.03.2023
• Subjects: CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; METALLURGY; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION

Methods of removing native oxide layers and depositing dielectric layers having a controlled number of active sites on MEMS devices for biological applications are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes removing a native oxide layer from a surface of the substrate by exposing the substrate to one or more ligands in vapor phase to volatize the native oxide layer and then thermally desorbing or otherwise etching the volatized native oxide layer. In another aspect, a method includes depositing a dielectric layer selected to provide a controlled number of active sites on the surface of the substrate. In yet another aspect, a method includes both removing a native oxide layer from a surface of the substrate by exposing the substrate to one or more ligands and depositing a dielectric layer selected to provide a controlled number of active sites on the surface of the substrate.