CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION WITH N UCLEOPH I LIC STABLE CARBENE-CONTAINING PRECURSORS
[0001 ] This application claims priority under 35 U. S. C. § l I 9(e) of prior U. S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/582,872 filed June 25, 2004, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
Field of The Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed to novel precursors for use in chemical vapor deposition. More particularly, the present invention is directed to chemical vapor deposition precursors which incorporate nucleophilic stable carbene ligands.
Background
[0003] Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) precursors that are both volatile and easily handled are needed for numerous applications. The development of new materials by CVD is limited by a lack of suitable precursors for applications based on metal-, metal-oxide-, metal-nitride, and metal-oxynitride films (including flat panel displays, organic light-emitting diodes, low emissivity and solar control coatings, photovoltaic cells, and a variety of transparent-, opto-, and high temperature electronic applications). Many precursors for these applications, while of suitable volatility, are either highly pyrophoric (e.g. Et2Zn, Mc3AI) or highly toxic (e.g. Ni (CO)4, W(CO)6).
[0004] The reactivity of potential precursors may be tempered through coordination of simple σ-donors (such as amines and phosphines) to group 13 and 14 species, or through the use of chelating (and partially- or fully-fluorinated) ligands, such as in (hexafluoiOacetylacetonate)Cu(vinyltrimethylsilane) for Cu- deposition. These approaches, however, often also result in significant reductions in precursor volatility. The present invention is directed to novel, easily handled, yet volatile main-group and transition-metal chemical vapor deposition precursors.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] The present invention is directed toward novel precursors, incorporating nucleophilic stable carbene (NSC) ligands, for chemical vapor deposition of metal-, metal-oxide, metal-nitride and metal-oxynitride films. Any of a variety of two- electron donating NSC ligands may be coordinated to main-group and transition- metal fragments, resulting in (for example) (NSC)M-alkyl, -aryl, -hydride, -alkoxide, -amidinate.-diketonate. and -diketiminate species. The ability to combine easily functional ized NSCs with metal fragments containing ancillary ligands with a range of steric and electronic environments allows control over the molecular architecture of the precursor, and the resultant ability to modify and control precursor physical characteristics (e.g. volatility, stability).
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0006] The present invention is directed to novel main-group and transition-metal chemical vapor deposition precursors which incorporate nucleophilic stable carbene (NSC) ligands formed from NSCs of Formula 1 :
K ,C J Formula I
X2
wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different and may be -NR1 R2, -OR1, -SR1, -PR1 R2, -BR1 R2, -SiR1 R2R3, -aryl. or -hctcroaryl, and where R1 , R2, and R3 are each individually a C 1 -C20 group selected from alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, and any of these substituted with one or more of fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, and phosphorus. X 1 and X2 may be connected by a direct bond or a C I -C20 spacer group which may contain one or more heteroatoms. Either or both X 1 and X2 may have one or more substituents (Y) that coordinate to the metal center. Either or both X 1 and X2 may contain chiral substituents. Either or both X 1 and X2 may contain linear, branched, or cyclic substituents. Ln is an ancillary ligand array which may contain one or more metals, and which may include one or more hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, silyl, heteroaryl, halide, silyl. carbonyl, ester, acetate, amine, phosphine, ether, alkene,
alkyne, alkoxide. amide, phosphide, nitride or other groups. The precursors of the present invention may also be employed as precursors for dopants used in metal oxide films.
[0007] The NSC ligands can coordinate with a metal (M) center as shown below:
Wherein M is a transition- or main-group metal, Ln is an ancillary ligand array which may contain one or more metals, and which may include one or more hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, silyl, heteroaryi. halide, silyl, carbonyl, ester, acetate, amine, phosphine, ether, alkene, alkyne, alkoxide, amide, phosphide, nitride or other groups, and where X1 and X2 are the same or different and are selected from -NR1 R2, -OR1, -SR1, -PR1 R2, - BR1 R2, -SiR1 R2R3, -aryl, or -heteroaryi, and where R1, R2, and R3 are each individually a C 1 -C20 group selected from alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, and any of R 1 , R", and RJ may be substituted with one or more of fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, and phosphorus, where X 1 and X2 may be connected by a direct bond or a C l - C20 spacer group which may contain one or more heteroatoms, where either or both X1 and X2 may have one or more substituents, Y 1 and Y2, that coordinate to M, Y1 and Y2 may be independently OR5, NR5R6, PR5R6, O, NR5, PR5, CR5=CR6R7, CR5R6, SiR3R6, where R\ R6, and R7 are each individually a C 1 -C20 group selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, and any of R\ R6, and R7 may be substituted with one or more of fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, or phosphorus, where either or both X1 and X2 may contain chiral substituents, and where either or both X1 and X2 may contain linear, branched, or cyclic substituents, where R4 is hydrogen, - alkyl, -aryl, -aralkyl, -alkaryl, or -alkoxide, and z is an integer greater than or equal to 0, and when z is greater than I each R4 may be the same or different, and where a is an integer equal to or greater than 2, , and where a is greater than or equal to 2 the CX 1X2 fragments may be either the same or different, and where the precursor may be either neutral or cation ic.
[0008] NSCs ( I ) aie robust, neutral, two-electron donating ligands that are ideally suited lor coordination to transition- and main-group metal centers. Precursors incorporating these NSCs are of the general formula (X')(X2)C-M-Ln. where X 1 and X2 arc defined accoi ding to Formula 1 , where M is a transition-metal or a main-group metal, and where Ln is one or more non-NSC ligands bound to the metal center, and where Ln may or may not contain one or more additional metal centers. One or more such carbcne ligands ( 1 ) can be coordinated to a metal M to form bis(carbene)metal or higher (carbcne) molecules
[0009] Stable NSCs, such as imidazol-2-ylidenes (2), diaminocarbenes (3 and 5), l ,2,4-triazol-3-yhdenes (4), perimidinecarbencs (6), bipyridiniumcarbenes (7), (amino)(phosphιno)carbenes (8), (amino)(alkoxy)carbenes (9), (amino)(aryl) carbenes (10), and (amino)(thio)caι benes (1 1) may be coordinated to metal centers such as (for example) aluminum, gallium, indium, tin, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, nickel, molybdenum, silver, and titanium, zinc, tungsten, and tantalum, generating compositions suitable lor use as chemical vapor deposition precursors. Such stable NSCs are exempli fied by the structures:
r
where Ar is a substituted or unsubstitutcd aryl or hctroaryl.
[0010] In addition, stable NSCs include (NSC)-[M1-R where R = -alkyl, -aryl, - hydride, and -alkoxidc complexes (12), where [M] represents a metal center with or without additional ancillary ligands, resulting from the reaction:
X1 X1
,C : + [M]R ^C-[M]R (12)
X2 X2
\ \ M1R
,C : + [M]X ,C-[M]X - (12) χ2 χ2 - M1X
These NSC-mctal complexes may be synthesized by addition of NSCs to metal alkyl, -aryl, -hydride, or -πlkoxide species, or by the combination of the addition ol' NSCs to metal halides followed by reaction with lithium-, sodium-, potassium-, or magnesium alkyl, -aryl, -hydride, or -alkoxide reagents.
[001 1 ] Additional stable NSCs in accordance with the present invention include (NSC)M(amidinate) complexes (13) such as formed by the following reactions:
[RaNC(Ra)NR1u][MgX] or
X1 Ln [R8NC(R9)NR10][Li]
,C: + [M]X ,C-[M]X •»- (13) or (14) or (15) or (16)
Xz -MgX2 or LiX
X ' X ' I R -N=C=N-R 10
,c: [M]Rε ,C-[M]R9 (13) or (14) or (15) or (16)
X1 + Ln-[M]X + M'OR'
,C-H (13) or (14) or (15) or (16)
+ [R8NC(R9)NR10][MgX] - M1CI or [R8NC(R9)NR10][Li] - R1OH
- MgX2 or LiX
Wherein, Rs, Ry, and R H) may be the same or different and are each individually a C l - C20 group selected from alky!, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl or a silyl group and any of Rs, R9. and Rl () may be substituted with one or more of fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, sil icon, and phosphorus, where Ln and Ln- may be the same or different and are ancil lary ligand arrays which may contain one or more metals, and which may include one or more hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, silyl, heteroaryl, halide, silyl, carbonyl, ester, acetate, amine, phosphine, ether, alkene, alkyne. alkoxide, amide, phosphide, nitride or other groups, and where a is an integer greater or equal to 2, and where the precursor is either neutral or cationic. These NSCs may be formed by addition of NSCs to preformed metalloamidinates, by addition of amidinato- alkali metal or alkaline earth metal reagents to (NSC)M-halide complexes, by addition of carbodiimides
(R8N=C=NR 10) or amidincs (R8NHC(R9)=NR10) to (NSC)M-(alkyl) complexes, or by treatment of melal-halides with azolium salts [X1X2CH][Cl], metal-alkoxides, and amidinato | R8NC(R9)NR l (lp -magnesium or -lithium reagents.
[0012] Similarly, stable NSCs in accordance with the present invention can include (NSC)M[RSC(X^)CHC(X4)R9J where X3 and X4 may be the same or different and are selected from O or N R " , where R" may be a C I -C20 group selected from alky I, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl and may be substituted with one or more of fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen, sul fur, silicon, or phosphorus, and which may be formed by addition of NSCs to prclormed M[R8C(X3)CHC(X4)R9], by addition of [R8C(X3)CHC(X4)R9]" anions to (NSC)M-halides. or by treatment of neutral | R8CH(X3)CHC(X4)R9] with either (NSC)M-alkyls or with a combination of metal-halides, azolium salts [X1 X2CH][Cl I, metal-alkoxidcs, and neutral | R8CH(X3)CHC(X4)R9J via reactions:
[R τ8°/C-»/(X v3J)CHC(X4)RM
,C: + [M]X . ,C-[M Y]X (17) or (18) or (19) or (20)
X - X"
X s I π R8CH(X3)CHC(X4)R9
,C : [M Y]R - ,C-[M]R »~ (17) or (18) or (19) or (20)
2 - RH
+ L,y[M]X + M'OR'
.C-H [Cl] (17) or (18) or (19) or (20) + R8CH(X3)CHC(X4)R9 - M1CI
- R1OH
- MgX2
[0013] The transition-metal and main-group elements Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Ti, Mo, W, Ta, Al, Ga, Sn. and Mg may be successfully ligated by NSCs for the purpose of generating novel chemical vapor deposition precursors. These (NSC)-metal- containing species may be used to deposit doped or undoped films of metals, metal- oxides, metal-nitrides, or mctal-oxynitrides.
[0014] These (NSC)-metal species may be used to deposit films of metals, metal- oxides, mctal-nilridcs or mctal-oxynitrides by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition via conventional chemical vapor deposition techniques including, but not limited to. pyrolyl ic atmospheric pressure CVD, low-pressure CVD, plasma assisted CVD, solution spray CVD, and powder spray CVD.
[0015] Modifications to the NSC substituents and to the ancillary ligands coordinated to the metal (facilitating control of molecular weight and incorporation of fluorinated substituents) allows optimization of precursor properties such as volatility and stability.
[0016] While the present invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it is apparent that numerous other forms and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The appended claims and this invention generally should be construed to cover all such obvious forms and modifications, which arc within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.