An embodiment includes a metal interconnect structure, comprising: a dielectric layer on a substrate; an opening in the dielectric layer, wherein the opening has opening sidewalls and exposes a conductive region of at least one of the substrate and an additional interconnect structure; a first atomic layer deposition (ALD) layer on the conductive region and the opening sidewalls; a second ALD layer on a portion of the first ALD layer, and a third ALD layer within the opening and on the first ALD layer. Other embodiments are described herein.