HMDS

How HMDS Works

On water-free surfaces, HMDS chemically bonds its Si atom to the oxygen of oxidized surfaces, accompanied by the release of ammonia (NH3). The methyl groups of the HMDS fragment thereby form a hydrophobic surface and thus improve resist wetting and adhesion.

The figure to the right illustrates the mechanism of HMDS bonding (atom colours: C = black, N= blue, O = red, Si = grey, H =white, the arbitrary substratematerial = glaucous).

How to Apply HMDS

The correct application of HMDS is very important in order not to further deteriorate the resist adhesion:

In a so-called bubbler, waterfree nitrogen saturates at room temperature with HMDS vapour. The N2 + HMDS streams onto the heated (75 - 120°C), waterfree substrate thereby forming a thin layer of chemically bonded Si(CH3)3 groups responsible for the desired hydrophobic characteristics.

How NOT to Apply HMDS

In the case of spin-coating the HMDS, a thick (= more than a monolayer) HMDS film forms on the surface without displacing water and without chemically bonding.

After resist coating during the softbake, this excess of HMDS releases ammonia which diffuses into the resist and crosslinks the resin near the substrate. As a consequence, through-development sometimes becomes impossible. 

For the same reason, NEVER apply HMDS in a spin coater. HMDS vapour will diffuse into all resist films subsequently coated, and partially crosslink the resist film during softbake, which lowers the development rate and can deteriorate the resist profile and attainable resolution.

Sales volumes: 1L bottles
Shelf Life: Overview critical shelf lifes

Technical Data Sheet:

For further information please refer to the technical data sheet:
> HMDS (SPEC)

> Substrate Cleaning Adhesion Photoresist

Sales Volumes, Purity Grade and Shipping

Available Sales Units:

  • 1L bottles (1 PU = 12 x 1L or single bottles)

Available Purity Grade:

  • VLSI

Shelf Life:

Our typical lead time is 1-3 working days within Germany, lead times to other countries on request. On demand, in urgent cases our etchants can be shipped within 24 hours to a destination inside Germany.

Please send us your request.

e-mail: sales(at)microchemicals.com
phone: +49 (0)731 977 343 0
fax: +49 (0)731 977 343 29

Thank you very much for your interest!

Accompanied by NH3-release, HMDS bonds on surfaces bearing OH-groups.
HMDS is transported via a bubbler (left) from
the gaseous phase onto the heated substrate (right).
When applied from the liquid phase, HMDS releases NH3 during softbake which partially crosslinks the substrate-near resist.
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