BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an etching solution for etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate, in particular, an etching solution for selectively etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate having an electrode (bump) made of copper or copper alloy and nickel.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to improve the performance of electronic devices, their elements have been miniaturized or mounted with high density. However, particularly in semiconductor devices, the miniaturization technology is approaching its limits. Devices with a three-dimensional structure have been put to practical use by using conventional wire bonding, flip chip or bump as a technology of mounting elements with high density. However, there is a demand for further increase in the density. Therefore, TSV technology has been being developed, which is a technology of forming a thin via penetrating through silicon and filling such a via with a conductor such as copper to form an electrode (Non-Patent Document 1).

When the copper is used as an electrode in the TSV technology, it is the common practice to make a hole in a silicon substrate, form a barrier metal layer such as silicon oxide film or titanium film on the inner wall of the hole, and then form a copper seed layer by the metal organic chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition (FIG. 1). Then, a protecting film is formed using a resist resin on the copper seed layer except a portion on which an electrode is to be formed (FIG. 2). The portion where no protecting film is formed is filled with a metal such as copper to form a bump. However, since an exposure of copper deteriorates the connection reliability due to causing a surface oxidizing phenomenon, it is the common practice to stack a nickel layer and a solder layer made of an alloy of gold or tin and silver (FIG. 3). Then, the resist resin is removed to form the bump (FIG. 4).

The copper seed layer and the barrier metal layer are formed not only in the hole of the silicon substrate but also on the surface of the silicon substrate. Even after removal of the resist, they still remain. Therefore, they must be removed using an etching solution (FIG. 5).

As a method for wet etching of the copper seed layer, a method using an etching solution consisting of an acid and an oxidizing agent, for example, a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide is widely used (Patent Document 1). Also, a etching method using an etching solution containing copper chloride or ferric chloride is widely known (Patent Document 2). Further, a etching method using an etching solution composed of sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and a polyethylene glycol derivative serving as a surfactant is also widely known.

However, in the etching methods as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, when the copper seed layer formed on the electronic substrate is etched after bump formation, there is a problem of causing a deform of the bump for the reason that a nickel used for the bump formation is etched.

In the existing etching devices, the liquid level of a buffer tank containing a chemical solution is detected and controlled by a sensor and thus generated foam from the etching solution causes the sensor to malfunction. In addition, the etching solution is circulated using a pump and thus the generated foam causes air entrainment of the pump, leading to a problem in the delivery of the etching solution. Therefore, in the etching method as disclosed in Patent Document 3, foam is generated, which disturbs smooth work.

[Non-patent Document 1] â€œTSV Technology for Three-dimensional Packageâ€ (written by Seiichi Denda, published by Kogyo Chosakai Publishing Co., Ltd, 2009), pp. 12 to 16.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-286531
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-285720
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-120870

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an etching solution which generates less foam upon use and can etch copper or copper alloy with high selectivity in a step of etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel.

The present inventors studied to achieve the above-mentioned object and achieved the present invention. That is, the invention relates to an etching solution for copper or copper alloy to be used in a step of selectively etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel, wherein the solution comprises, as essential components thereof, (A) a linear alkanolamine, (B) a chelating agent having an acid group in the molecule thereof, and (C) hydrogen peroxide; and also relates to a method of manufacturing an electronic substrate, comprising a step of selectively etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel by using this etching solution.

The present invention makes it possible to etch copper or copper alloy with high selectivity in a step of etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing that a layer of a silicon oxide film, a titanium layer, and a copper seed layer are stacked on an inner wall of a hole made in a silicon substrate;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view after a protecting film is formed by applying a resist resin on the silicon substrate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view after metals, that is, nickel and gold are further stacked on the silicon substrate of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view after removal of the resist resin from the silicon substrate of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view after removal of the copper seed layer from the silicon substrate of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view after removal of a barrier metal (titanium) layer from the silicon substrate of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The etching solution for copper or copper alloy according to the invention generates less foam upon use; is used in a step of selectively etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel; and comprises, as essential components, (A) a linear alkanolamine, (B) a chelating agent having an acid group in the molecule thereof, and (C) hydrogen peroxide.

In the present invention, examples of the electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel include those used for semiconductor and flat panel display. Examples of copper include that formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD) or plating. Similarly, examples of the nickel include that formed by the above-described method.

Examples of the linear alkanolamine (A) serving as a first essential component of the etching solution for copper or copper alloy include aliphatic alkanolamines containing a hydroxyl group and one or more nitrogen atoms and free from an alicycle or heterocycle. Specific examples include (A1) a linear alkanolmonoamine represented by the following formula (1) and (A2) a linear alkanolpolyamine (A2) represented by the following formula (2).

[Image Omitted]

wherein, each of R¹to R³is independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may be partially substituted with a hydroxyl group, with the proviso that at least one of R¹to R³is an alkyl group substituted with a hydroxyl group,

[Image Omitted]

wherein, each of R⁴to R⁸is independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may be partially substituted with a hydroxyl group, with the proviso that at least one of R⁴to R⁸is an alkyl group substituted with a hydroxyl group; each of Y¹and Y²is independently an alkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n is for 0 or an integer from 1 to 4.

In the linear alkanolmonoamine (A1) represented by the formula (1), each of R¹to R³is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkyl group partially substituted with a hydroxyl group and may be the same or different. At least one of R¹to R³should be an alkyl group substituted with a hydroxyl group.

Examples of the alkyl group include linear or branched ones having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms. Specific examples include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an isobutyl group, a sec-butyl group, a tert-butyl group, an n-pentyl group, an isopentyl group, and a tert-pentyl group.

Examples of the alkyl group partially substituted with a hydroxyl group include linear or branched ones having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

Examples of the alkyl group partially substituted with a hydroxyl group include a hydroxymethyl group, a 1-hydroxyethyl group, a 2-hydroxyethyl group, a 1-hydroxypropyl group, a 2-hydroxypropyl group, a 3-hydroxypropyl group, a 1-hydroxyisopropyl group, a 2-hydroxyisopropyl group, a dihydroxymethyl group, a 1,1-dihydroxyethyl group, a 1,2-dihydroxyethyl group, a 2,3-dihydroxypropyl group, and a 1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl group.

In the lenear alkanolpolyamine (A2) represented by the formula (2), each of R⁴to R⁸is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkyl group partially substituted with a hydroxyl group and may be the same or different, with the proviso that at least one of R⁴to R⁸should be an alkyl group substituted with a hydroxyl group.

The alkyl group and the alkyl group partially substituted with a hydroxyl group are similar to the above-described alkyl group and alkyl group partially substituted with a hydroxyl group represented by R¹to R³, respectively.

Examples of the alkylene group represented by Y¹or Y²in the formula (2) include linear or branched alkylene groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Specific examples include a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, a tetramethylene group, a butylene group, a 2,2-dimethylpropylene group, and a 2-ethylpropylene group. The number of carbon atoms of the alkylene group represented by Y¹or Y²is preferably from 1 to 4, more preferably from 1 to 3, particularly preferably 2 from the standpoint of suppressing foaming of the etching solution.

In the formula (2), n is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4, preferably 0, 1, or 2. The n [â€”Y¹â€”N(â€”R⁸)â€”] may be the same or different.

The linear alkanolamine (A) represented by the formula (1) or (2) preferably has the HLB of from 12 to 45 from the standpoint of suppressing foaming of the etching solution.

The â€œHLBâ€ as used herein indicates a value showing a hydrophile-lipophile balance, and is known as a value calculated, for example, based on the Oda method described on page 212, â€œKAIMEN KASSEIZAI NYUMONâ€ (published in 2007 by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., written by Takehiko FUJIMOTO). It is not a value calculated based on the Griffin method.

The HLB value can be calculated from an inorganic value/an organic value ratio of an organic compound.

HLBâ‰ˆ10Ã—(inorganic/organic)

The organic value and the inorganic value from which the HLB value is derived can be calculated using values in the table described on page 213 of the above-mentioned â€œKAIMEN KASSEIZAI NYUMONâ€ .

Examples of the lenear alkanolmonoamine (A1) include monoethanolamine, 2-(methylamino)ethanol, 2-(ethylamino)ethanol, 2-(isopropylamino)ethanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol, 2-(diethylamino)ethanol, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, 1-amino-2-propanol, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, and 3-(diethylamino)-1-propanol.

Examples of the lenear alkanolpolyamine (A2) include 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol, 2-[methyl[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino]ethanol, 2,2â€²-(ethylenebisimino)bisethanol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-Nâ€²-(2-aminoethyl)ethylenediamine, N-(3-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine, 2,2â€²-(2-aminoethylimino)diethanol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-Nâ€²-(2-aminoethyl)ethylenediamine, 2-[bis(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol, 1-[2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethyl]amino-2-propanol, 3,3â€²,3â€³,3â€²â€³-[3-hydroxypropyliminobis(ethylenenitrilo)]tetrakis(1-propanol), N,N,Nâ€²,Nâ€²-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, N,N,Nâ€²,Nâ€²,Nâ€³-pentakis(2-hydroxypropyl)diethylenetriamine, N,N,Nâ€²,Nâ€²-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylenediamine, N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)diethylenetriamine, N1,N4-bis(hydroxyethyl)diethylenetriamine, N,N,Nâ€²,Nâ€²,Nâ€³-pentakis(2-hydroxypropyl)diethylenetriamine, N1-(2-hydroxypropyl)triethylenetetramine, N4-(2-hydroxypropyl)triethylenetetramine, and N-(2-hydroxypropyl)triethylenetetramine.

The etching agent of the invention may be used after diluted with water if necessary, but the content of the linear alkanolamine (A) is preferably from 0.05 to 6 wt %, more preferably from 0.1 to 3 wt %, especially preferably from 0.2 to 1.5 wt % based on the total weight of the etching solution upon use, from the standpoint of the ratio of the etching rate of nickel/copper or copper alloy.

The chelating agent (B) having an acid group in the molecule thereof and serving as a second essential component of the invention is effective for increasing an etching rate of copper or copper alloy.

The chelating agent (B) of the invention having an acid group in the molecule thereof has two or more functional groups for having a chelating effect. So long as one or more of the functional groups is an acid group, the other functional group may be an alcoholic hydroxyl group, a phenolic hydroxyl group, a nitrile group, a thiol group, an amino group, or the like.

Examples of the acid group in the chelating agent (B) used in the invention include a carboxyl group, a phosphoric acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a phosphoric acid group, a sulfuric acid group, a nitric acid group, and a boric acid group.

The chelating agent (B) may be contained in a salt form in the etching solution.

Examples of the chelating agent (B) of the invention or salt thereof include organic acids containing two or more carboxyl groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B1); organic acids containing two or more phosphonic acid groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B2); organic acids containing two or more sulfonic acid groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B3); and organic acids containing one or more carboxyl groups and one or more phosphonic acid groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B4).

As the chelating agent having an acid group in the molecule thereof (B) may be a chelating agent containing only one of a carboxyl group, a phosphonic acid group, and a sulfonic acid group as the acid group (B5), insofar as it contains, in the molecule thereof, a hydroxyl group showing a chelating effect.

Examples of the organic acid containing two or more carboxyl groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B1) include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (salts), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (salts), triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid (salts), hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (salts), dihydroxyethylethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (salts), nitriloacetic acid (salts), hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (salts), Î²-alaninediacetic acid (salts), aspartic diacetic acid (salts), methylglycinediacetic acid (salts), iminodisuccinic acid (salts), serinediacetic acid (salts), hydroxyiminodisuccinic acid (salts), tartaric acid (salts), citric acid (salts), pyromellitic acid (salts), benzopolycarboxylic acid (salts), and cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid (salts).

Examples of the organic acid containing two or more phosphonic acid groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B2) include methyldiphosphonic acid (salts), aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (salts), ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), hexamethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), propylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), triethylenetetraminehexa(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), triaminotriethylaminehexa(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), trans-1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), glycoletherdiaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts), and tetraethylenepentaminehepta(methylenephosphonic acid) (salts).

Examples of the organic acid containing two or more sulfonic acid groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B3) include methanedisulfonic acid (salts), ethanedisulfonic acid (salts), phenoldisulfonic acid (salts), naphthalenedisulfonic acid (salts), and piperazine-1,4-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (salts).

Examples of the organic acid containing one or more carboxyl groups and one or more phosphonic acid groups as the acid group or salts thereof (B4) include phosphonoacetic acid (salts), 2-hydroxy-2-phosphonoacetic acid (salts), carboxyphosphonic acid (salts), 3-phosphonopropionic acid (salts), and 4-(3-phosphonopropyl)-2-piperazinecarboxylic acid (salts).

Examples of the chelating agent containing a hydroxyl group and, as an acid group, only one of a carboxyl group, a phosphonic acid group and a sulfonic acid group (B5) include lactic acid (salts), salicylic acid (salts), gallic acid (salts), 2-hydroxyethylphosphonic acid (salts), and 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid (salts).

Among the chelating agents (B) of the invention, the above-mentioned (B1), (B2), and (B3) are preferred, with (B2) being more preferred, from the standpoint of the etching rate of copper or copper alloy.

The chelating agents (B) having an acid group in the molecule thereof may be used alone or in combination.

The content of the chelating agent (B) having an acid group in the molecule thereof is preferably from 0.1 to 50 wt %, more preferably from 0.5 to 30 wt %, particularly preferably from 1 to 20 wt % based on the total weight of the etching solution upon use from the standpoint of the etching rate of copper or copper alloy.

Hydrogen peroxide (C) which is the third essential component of the invention is effective for increasing the etching rate. An aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide may be used as hydrogen peroxide (C).

The content of hydrogen peroxide (C) is, in terms of purity content, preferably from 0.05 to 20 wt %, more preferably from 0.1 to 10 wt. %, particularly preferably from 0.2 to 5 wt % based on the total weight of the etching solution upon use from the standpoint of an etching rate.

The weight ratio (B)/(A) of the chelating agent (B) having an acid group in the molecule thereof to the linear alkanolamine (A) in the invention is generally from 1 to 100, preferably from 2 to 50, more preferably from 5 to 30 from the standpoint of the ratio of the etching rate of nickel to copper or copper alloy and an suppression of foaming.

The weight ratio of the chelating agent (B) having an acid group in the molecule thereof to the hydrogen peroxide (C), that is, (B)/(C), in the invention is generally from 1 to 30, preferably from 2 to 20, more preferably from 3 to 10 from the standpoint of the etching rate of copper or copper alloy.

In the etching solution of the invention, it is preferred to use a mixture of the components (A), (B), and (C) and if necessary a solvent. Examples of the solvent include water, alcohols, glycol ethers, ethers, esters, ketones, carbonates, and amides.

As the solvent of the etching solution, water is preferred from the standpoint of an easy-handling.

The etching solution of the invention may contain an anticorrosive such as a triazole, an imidazole, a thiol compound, or a sugar alcohol if necessary in order to protect a wiring metal.

The etching solution of the invention may contain an antioxidant if necessary in order to protect a wiring metal.

Examples of the antioxidant include phenols such as catechin, tocopherol, catechol, methyl catechol, ethyl catechol, tert-butyl catechol, gallic acid, methyl gallate, and propyl gallate, 3-hydroxyflavone, and ascorbic acid.

The etching solution of the invention may contain a basic compound or an acidic compound for the purpose of pH control.

Examples of the basic compound to be added for the above-described purpose include ammonia, amines, tetraalkylammonium hydroxides, and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. Examples of the amines include aliphatic amines, alkylenediamines, polyalkylenepolyamines, aromatic amines, alicyclic amines, and guanidine.

Examples of the acidic compound to be added for the above-described purpose include inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and hydrofluoric acid, and organic acids such as acetic acid.

For the purpose of stabilizing the etching rate, it is effective to add an inorganic acid or salt thereof. Such an inorganic acid is preferably sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, or hydrofluoric acid.

The etching solution of the invention may contain an antifoaming agent if necessary in order to protect a wiring metal.

Examples of the antifoaming agent include silicone antifoaming agents, long-chain alcohol antifoaming agents, fatty acid ester antifoaming agents, and metallic soap antifoaming agents. Ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers may also be used as the antifoaming agent.

Electronic substrates can be produced via a step of selectively etching copper or copper alloy in electronic substrates having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel using the etching solution of the invention.

Examples of the method of etching copper or copper alloy in the invention include immersion wet-etching and single-wafer etching.

The etching solution of the invention is generally used under temperature conditions of from 10Â° C. to 100Â° C., preferably from 20Â° C. to 80Â° C. Temperatures of 10Â° C. or greater are preferred from the standpoint of the etching rate, while a temperature not greater than 100Â° C. is preferred from the standpoint of causing no scatter in the etching rate.

EXAMPLES

The invention will hereinafter be described in further detail by Examples and Comparative Examples, which does not limit the present invention. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, % means wt % and â€œpartâ€ or â€œpartsâ€ mean â€œpart or parts by weightâ€ .

Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6

The linear alkanolamine (A), the chelating agent (B having an acid group in the molecule thereof, the hydrogen peroxide (C), and water listed in Table 1 were mixed in a vessel made of polypropylene to obtain etching solutions of the invention and etching solutions for comparison.

TABLE 1ExamplesComparative Examples1234567123456AmountLinearTriethanolamine (A-1)1.00.20.50.51.01.01.01.0(parts alkanol-2-[(2-Aminoethyl)1.00.5byamine (A)amino]ethanol (A-2)weight)1,2-Bis[di(hydroxyethyl)0.50.5amino]ethane (A-3)Lauryl alcohol EO (9 mol) 1.0adduct (Aâ€²-1)ChelatingCitric acid (B-1)10.010.010.010.0agent (B)60% Aq. solution of 1-hy-16.76.76.76.7having droxy-ethylidene-1,1-an aciddiphosphonic acid (B-2)group1,2-Ethanedisulfonic 10.0acid dehydrate (B-3)Nitrilotrismethylenephos- 4.0phonic acid (B-4)Ethylenediamine (Bâ€²-1)10.0Hydrogen35% Aqueous 8.62.98.61.52.92.90.68.68.68.68.68.6peroxide (C)hydrogen peroxide (C-1)Sulfuric acid0.110.0Water80.479.480.994.289.989.991.789.090.481.480.480.480.4Weight ratio (B)/(A)10.016.720.020.013.413.46.7â€”â€”â€”â€”â€”â€”Weight ratio (B)/(C)3.310.03.38.04.04.020.0â€”â€”â€”â€”â€”â€”Perform-Antifoaming propertyâ—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹Xâ—‹â—‹anceEtching time of copper (min)13110553>60>6011>601evaluationEtching amount of nickelâ—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹Xâ—‹â—‹XNickel/copper etching rate ratioâ—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹â—‹XXXâ—‹XX

Incidentally, symbols in the above table mean the following compounds.

(A-1): Triethanolamine

(A-2): 2-[(2-Aminoethyl)amino]ethanol
(A-3): 1,2-Bis[di(hydroxyethyl)amino]ethane (â€œSANNIX NE-240â€ from Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.)
(Aâ€²-1): Lauryl alcohol EO (9 mol) adduct
(B-1): Citric acid
(B-2): Aqueous solution containing 60% 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid
(B-3): 1,2-Ethanedisulfonic acid dihydrate
(B-4): Nitrilotrismethylenephosphonic acid

(Bâ€²-1): Ethylenediamine

(C-1): Aqueous containing 35% hydrogen peroxide

In order to evaluate the performances of the etching solutions, an antifoaming property, etching time of copper, and etching performance of nickel (ratio of nickel/copper etching rate) were evaluated using the following methods, respectively.

The antifoaming property can be measured according to the Ross Miles test [JIS K3362 (1998)]. By a test using an apparatus specified in this JIS and an etching solution prepared using ultrapure water as a test solution, the height (mm) of foam immediately after the whole test solution was caused to flow out was measured visually and the antifoaming property was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria.

âˆ˜: less than 50 mm
x: 50 mm or greater

The etching time of copper was evaluated as the time (minute) until the luster of the copper seed layer is disappeared by using the following operation method.

(1) A test piece was prepared by processing a silicon substrate to obtain a wafer (thickness of copper seed layer: 1 Î¼m) as shown in FIG. 4, which is then cut it into a 15-mm square.

When the cross-section of the test piece cut into 1-cm square was observed using a scanning electron microscope (â€œS-4800â€ from Hitachi Hi-Technologies Corporation), the bump had a width of about 30 Î¼m and a height of about 8 Î¼m. The copper seed layer had a thickness of 1 Î¼m.

(2) The etching solution was poured in a vessel made of polypropylene. The test piece prepared above was immersed in the vessel, followed by stirring with a magnetic stirrer.

(3) The surface of the test piece was visually observed while immersing it in the etching solution under stirring; and the time until the luster of copper on the entire surface of the copper seed layer was disappeared (i.e. until the entire surface of the titanium layer could be observed; FIG. 5(3)) was measured.

In the etching solution used for the above purpose, the time until the copper luster is disappeared is preferably within 10 minutes.

In the case where the test piece from which luster did not disappear by immersion for 60 minutes, immersion was stopped at 60 minutes and it was indicated in Table 1 as â€œ>60â€ .

The amount of etching nickel, and the ratio of nickel/copper etching rate were measured and evaluated using the following operation method.

(1) A test piece was prepared by processing a silicon substrate to obtain a wafer (thickness of copper seed layer: 1 Î¼m) as shown in FIG. 4, which was then cut into a 15-mm square.

(2) The etching solution was poured in a vessel made of polypropylene. The test piece prepared above was immersed in the vessel for 1 minute, followed by stirring with a magnetic stirrer. Then, the test piece was taken out.

(3) By using a scanning electron microscope (â€œS-4800â€ from Hitachi Hi-Technologies Corporation), the picture of the side surface of the test piece was taken in order to confirm the degree and the width of a corrosion of the nickel layer in the test piece before immersion and after immersion, respectively. From the photographic images, the width A₁(Î¼m) of the nickel layer (7 of FIG. 4) in the test piece before immersion and the width A₂(Î¼M) of the nickel layer (7 of FIG. 5) in the test piece after immersion were measured.

(4) As the amount of etching nickel, a change (difference) Î”A_Niof the width of the nickel layer in the test piece before and after immersion was calculated according to the following equation (1).

[Equation 1]

Î”A_Ni(Î¼m)=(width A₁of nickel layer in test piece before immersion)âˆ’(width A₂of nickel layer in test piece after immersion)â€ƒâ€ƒ(1)

Evaluation is made based on the following evaluation criteria:

â—¯: less than 1 Î¼m

x: 1 Î¼m or greater

(5) The ratio of nickel/copper etching rate was calculated by incorporating two values which are read and the etching time of copper into the following equation (2).

$\begin{matrix} [Equation î¢ž î¢ž 2] \\ Nickel î¢ž / î¢ž copper î¢ž î¢ž etching î¢ž î¢ž rate î¢ž î¢ž ratio = \frac{Î” î¢ž î¢ž A_{Ni} Ã— T_{Cu}}{T_{Ni} Ã— A_{Cu}} = Î” î¢ž î¢ž A_{Ni} Ã— T_{Cu} & (2) \end{matrix}$

T_Cu: Etching time of copper (min)
T_Ni: Etching time of nickel, which is one minute in the present evaluation method
A_Cu: Thickness of the copper seed layer and 1 Î¼m in the present evaluation method

For the ratio of nickel/copper etching rate which is calculated according to the equation (2), the evaluation was made based on the following evaluation criteria.

â—¯: less than 0.5
x: 0.5 or greater

As is apparent from Table 1, in Examples 1 to 7, there was no problem in foaming and the etching rate of the copper seed layer was high, but the etching of the nickel portion was not observed, showing that the copper seed layer was etched with high selectivity.

Neither the copper seed layer nor nickel was etched in Comparative Example 1 containing no aqueous hydrogen peroxide and Comparative Example 2 having an acid group in the molecule thereof and containing no chelating agent.

In Comparative Example 2 containing no linear alkanolamine, the etching rate of the copper seed layer was high, but nickel was etched, and thus the copper seed layer could not be etched with high selectivity. In Comparative Example 4 in which a lauryl alcohol EO (9 mol) adduct (Aâ€²-1) was used instead of the linear alkanolamine (A), the copper seed layer was etched with high selectivity, but much foaming was generated.

In the Comparative Example 5 using the chelating agent (Bâ€²-1) having no acid group in the molecule thereof, the copper seed layer was etched at a low rate.

In the Comparative Example 6 containing sulfuric acid instead of the chelating agent, nickel was etched.

When used for products containing both of copper or copper alloy and nickel, the etching solution for copper or copper alloy according to the invention generates less foam upon use and can etch copper or copper alloy with high selectivity so that it is useful as a chemical used in manufacturing steps of electronic substrates such as printed wiring board, flat panel display, MEMS, and semiconductor device.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

Numbers 1 to 9 in FIGS. 1 to 6 show the following members.

1: Silicon substrate
2: Silicon oxide film
3: Titanium layer
4: Copper seed layer
5: Resist resin
6: Copper plated layer
7: Nickel plated layer
8: Gold plated layer
9: Bump