Seed layers for metallic interconnects and products
First Claim
1. A method for depositing two or more PVD seed layers for metallic interconnects over a substrate, the substrate includes a patterned insulating layer which comprises at least one opening surrounded by a field, said at least one opening has sidewalls, bottom, and top corners, and the method comprising:
- depositing a continuous PVD seed layer in a single step over the sidewalls and bottom of the at least one opening, using a first set of deposition parameters; and
thendepositing another PVD seed layer directly on the continuous PVD seed layer using a second set of deposition parameters, wherein;
(i) the second set of deposition parameters includes at least one deposition parameter whose value is different in the first and second sets of deposition parameters;
(ii) said at least one deposition parameter is selected from a group of deposition parameters consisting of substrate bias voltage, duration of deposition, background pressure, plasma power density, sputtering gas pressure, sputtering gas flow rate, cathodic voltage, and cathodic power;
(iii) the continuous seed layer has a thickness in a range from about 20 Å
to not more than 250 Å
over the field;
(iv) the combined seed layers leave sufficient room for electroplating inside the at least one opening and (v) at least one of the seed layers comprises a material selected from a group consisting of Cu, Ag, and alloys comprising at least one of these metals.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for depositing multiple seed layers for metallic interconnects over a substrate, the substrate includes a patterned insulating layer which comprises an opening surrounded by a field, said opening has sidewalls and top corners, and the method including: depositing a continuous seed layer over the sidewalls, using a first set of deposition parameters; and depositing another seed layer over the substrate, including inside the opening and over a portion of said field, using a second set of deposition parameters, wherein: the second set of deposition parameters includes one deposition parameter which is different from any parameters in the first set, or whose value is different in the first and second sets; the continuous seed layer has a thickness in a range from about 20 Å to not more than 250 Å over the field; and the combined seed layers leave sufficient room for electroplating inside the opening.
84 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for depositing two or more PVD seed layers for metallic interconnects over a substrate, the substrate includes a patterned insulating layer which comprises at least one opening surrounded by a field, said at least one opening has sidewalls, bottom, and top corners, and the method comprising:
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depositing a continuous PVD seed layer in a single step over the sidewalls and bottom of the at least one opening, using a first set of deposition parameters; and
thendepositing another PVD seed layer directly on the continuous PVD seed layer using a second set of deposition parameters, wherein;
(i) the second set of deposition parameters includes at least one deposition parameter whose value is different in the first and second sets of deposition parameters;
(ii) said at least one deposition parameter is selected from a group of deposition parameters consisting of substrate bias voltage, duration of deposition, background pressure, plasma power density, sputtering gas pressure, sputtering gas flow rate, cathodic voltage, and cathodic power;
(iii) the continuous seed layer has a thickness in a range from about 20 Å
to not more than 250 Å
over the field;
(iv) the combined seed layers leave sufficient room for electroplating inside the at least one opening and (v) at least one of the seed layers comprises a material selected from a group consisting of Cu, Ag, and alloys comprising at least one of these metals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for depositing two or more PVD seed layers for metallic interconnects over a substrate, the substrate includes a patterned insulating layer which comprises at least one opening surrounded by a field, said at least one opening has sidewalls, bottom, and top corners, and the method comprising:
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depositing a first PVD seed layer over the substrate using a first set of deposition parameters; and
thendepositing a second PVD seed layer in a single step directly on the first PVD seed layer using a second set of deposition parameters, wherein;
(i) the second PVD seed layer is continuous over the sidewalls and bottom of the at least one opening;
(ii) the second set of deposition parameters includes at least one deposition parameter whose value is different in the first and second sets of deposition parameters;
(iii) said at least one deposition parameter is selected from a group of deposition parameters consisting of substrate bias voltage, duration of deposition, background pressure, plasma power density, sputtering gas pressure, sputtering gas flow rate, cathodic voltage, and cathodic power;
(iv) the continuous seed layer has a thickness in a range from about 20 Å
to not more than 250 Å
over the field;
(v) the combined seed layers leave sufficient room for electroplating inside the at least one opening; and
(vi) at least one of the seed lavers comprises a material selected from a group consisting of Cu, Ag, and alloys comprising at least one of these metals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for depositing two or more PVD seed layers for metallic interconnects over a substrate, the substrate includes a patterned insulating layer which comprises at least one opening surrounded by a field, said at least one opening has sidewalls, bottom, and top corners, and the method comprising:
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depositing in the same chamber both conformal and non-conformal PVD seed layers utilizing;
(a) two distinct single steps, wherein the deposition parameters during the first single step are suitable for the deposition of a substantially conformal PVD seed layer, and the deposition parameters during the second single step are suitable for the deposition of a substantially non-conformal PVD seed layer, wherein at least one deposition parameter has different values during the deposition of the distinct single steps;
or (b) wherein at least one of the deposition parameter is varied (or ramped) continuously or gradually, thereby changing the nature of the PVD seed layer from substantially conformal to substantially non-conformal, or vice versa;
or (c) a combination of at least one distinct single step of depositing a substantially conformal PVD seed layer and at least one gradual variation (or ramping) of at least one deposition parameter towards a substantially non-conformal PVD seed layer, or vice versa;
wherein;(i) said at least one deposition parameter is selected from a group of deposition parameters consisting of substrate bias voltage, duration of deposition, background pressure, plasma power density, sputtering gas pressure, sputtering gas flow rate, cathodic voltage, and cathodic power;
(ii) said substantially conformal PVD seed layer has a thickness in a range from about 20 Å
to not more than 250 Å
over the field;
(iii) the combined seed layers leave sufficient room for electroplating inside the at least one opening; and
(iv) at least one of the seed layers comprises a material selected from a group consisting of Cu, Ag, and alloys comprising at least one of these metals. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification