Preparation and characteristics of porous silica films by a modified base-catalyzed sol-gel process containing PVA: II. Film preparation

Porous SiO₂ films were successfully deposited on silicon substrates by a modified base-catalyzed Sol-Gel process (MBCP) containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The process conditions, such as the gelation time, the synthesis temperature, the stabilizing agent of the precursor solution and the spin coating speed, the heat-treatment, the annealing temperature of the film on the microstructure and porosity of porous SiO₂ films were systematically investigated by SEM, XRD and ellipsometry techniques. This study provides a novel preparation technique for the porous SiO₂ film. Using this process, the resultant film can reach a thickness of 3.6 μm for one layer, a porosity of 25-50%, a low thermal conductivity of 0.11 W/m·K. This film will be used as a low dielectric layer, an thermal-insulating layer and a low refractive index layer.