The invention encompasses methods of forming insulating materials proximate
conductive elements. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of
forming an insulating material proximate a substrate comprising: a)
chemical vapor depositing a first material proximate a substrate; b)
forming cavities within the first material; and c) after forming cavities
within the first material, transforming at least some of the first
material into an insulative second material. In another aspect, the
invention includes a method of forming an insulating material proximate a
substrate comprising: a) forming porous polysilicon proximate a substrate;
and b) transforming at least some of the porous polysilicon into porous
silicon dioxide. In yet another aspect, the invention includes a method of
forming an insulating material between components of an integrated circuit
comprising: a) chemical vapor depositing polysilicon between two
components; b) electrochemical anodization of the polysilicon to convert
the polysilicon into a porous mass having a first volume, the first volume
comprising a polysilicon volume and a cavity volume, the cavity volume
comprising greater than or equal to about 75% of said first volume; and c)
oxidizing the porous polysilicon mass to transform the polysilicon into
porous silicon dioxide having a second volume, the second volume
comprising a silicon dioxide volume and a cavity volume, the cavity volume
comprising less than or equal to about 50% of said second volume.