Embodiments disclosed herein include semiconductor devices with source/drain interconnects that include a barrier layer. In an embodiment the semiconductor device comprises a source region and a drain region. In an embodiment, a semiconductor channel is between the source region and the drain region, and a gate electrode is over the semiconductor channel. In an embodiment, the semiconductor device further comprises interconnects to the source region and the drain region. In an embodiment, the interconnects comprise a barrier layer, a metal layer, and a fill metal.