Integrated barrier and seed layer for copper interconnect technology
First Claim
1. A method for fabricating an integrated barrier and seed layer comprising:
- providing a dielectric layer having a plurality of recessed vias and trenches;
depositing a metal nitride over a surface of each of the vias and trenches to form a barrier layer; and
depositing a ruthenium or a ruthenium alloy over the barrier layer to form a seed layer.
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Abstract
An integrated barrier and seed layer that is useful for creating conductive pathways in semiconductor devices. The barrier portion of the integrated layer prevents diffusion of the conductive material into the underlying dielectric substrate while the seed portion provides an appropriate foundation upon which to deposit the conductive material. The barrier portion of the integrated layer is formed of a metal nitride, while the seed portion is formed of ruthenium or a ruthenium alloy. The metal nitride forms an effective barrier layer while the ruthenium or ruthenium alloy forms an effective seed layer for a metal such as copper. In some embodiments, the integrated layer is formed in a way so that its composition changes gradually from one region to the next.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for fabricating an integrated barrier and seed layer comprising:
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providing a dielectric layer having a plurality of recessed vias and trenches;
depositing a metal nitride over a surface of each of the vias and trenches to form a barrier layer; and
depositing a ruthenium or a ruthenium alloy over the barrier layer to form a seed layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A semiconductor device comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate that contains integrated circuits;
a dielectric layer formed above the semiconductor substrate, the dielectric layer having a plurality of recessed vias and trenches;
an integrated barrier and seed layer that covers a surface of each of the vias and trenches, the integrated barrier and seed layer having a barrier region that is formed adjacent to the surface of the dielectric layer and a seed region that is formed above the barrier region, the barrier region being formed of a metal nitride and the seed region being formed of ruthenium or a ruthenium alloy. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A semiconductor device comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate that contains integrated circuits;
a dielectric layer formed above the semiconductor substrate, the dielectric layer having a plurality of recessed vias and trenches; and
an integrated barrier and seed layer that covers a surface of each of the vias and trenches, the integrated barrier and seed layer having a barrier region that is formed adjacent to the surface of the dielectric layer and a seed region that is formed above the barrier region, the barrier region being formed of a ruthenium-tantalum-nitride and the seed region being formed of a ruthenium-tantalum alloy. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A semiconductor device comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate that contains integrated circuits;
a dielectric layer formed above the semiconductor substrate, the dielectric layer having a plurality of recessed vias and trenches; and
an integrated barrier and seed layer that covers a surface of each of the vias and trenches, the integrated barrier and seed layer having a barrier region that is formed adjacent to the surface of the dielectric layer, a transition region formed above the barrier region, and a seed region formed above the transition region, the barrier region being formed of a tantalum-nitride, the transition region formed of a ruthenium-tantalum-nitride, and the seed region being formed of substantially pure ruthenium. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A method for fabricating an integrated barrier and seed layer comprising:
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providing a dielectric layer having a plurality of recessed vias and trenches;
forming an integrated barrier and seed layer over at least each of the vias and trenches by, first, depositing a metal nitride to form a barrier region, and second, depositing a ruthenium or a ruthenium alloy over the barrier region to form a seed region, wherein the first and second depositing operations are performed in a single deposition chamber. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification