Abstract:
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a trench/via in a layer of insulating material, forming a barrier layer in the trench/via, forming a copper-based seed layer on the barrier layer, converting at least a portion of the copper-based seed layer into a copper-based nitride layer, depositing a bulk copper-based material on the copper-based nitride layer so as to overfill the trench/via and performing at least one chemical mechanical polishing process to remove excess materials positioned outside of the trench/via to thereby define a copper-based conductive structure. A device disclosed herein includes a layer of insulating material, a copper-based conductive structure positioned in a trench/via within the layer of insulating material and a copper-based silicon or germanium nitride layer positioned between the copper-based conductive structure and the layer of insulating material.
Abstract:
An approach for forming a semiconductor device is provided. In general, the device is formed by providing a metal layer, a cap layer over the metal layer, and an ultra low k layer over the cap layer. A via is then formed through the ultra low k layer and the cap layer. Once the via is formed, a barrier layer (e.g., cobalt (Co), tantalum (Ta), cobalt-tungsten-phosphide (CoWP), or other metal capable of acting as a copper (CU) diffusion barrier) is selectively applied to a bottom surface of the via. A liner layer (e.g., manganese (MN) or aluminum (AL)) is then applied to a set of sidewalls of the via. The via may then be filled with a subsequent metal layer (with or without a seed layer), and the device may the then be further processed (e.g., annealed).
Abstract:
An approach for forming a semiconductor device is provided. In general, the device is formed by providing a metal layer, a cap layer over the metal layer, and an ultra low k layer over the cap layer. A via is then formed through the ultra low k layer and the cap layer. Once the via is formed, a barrier layer (e.g., cobalt (Co), tantalum (Ta), cobalt-tungsten-phosphide (CoWP), or other metal capable of acting as a copper (CU) diffusion barrier) is selectively applied to a bottom surface of the via. A liner layer (e.g., manganese (MN) or aluminum (AL)) is then applied to a set of sidewalls of the via. The via may then be filled with a subsequent metal layer (with or without a seed layer), and the device may the then be further processed (e.g., annealed).
Abstract:
Integrated circuits that include a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) for a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) and methods for fabricating such integrated circuits are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a lower electrode on a metal interconnect. The metal interconnect is disposed above a semiconductor substrate and is aligned with a normal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate. The lower electrode includes a conductive metal plug. A MTJ stack is formed on the lower electrode aligned with the normal axis.
Abstract:
A process is provided for methods of reducing contamination of the self-forming barrier of an ultra-low k layer during semiconductor fabrication. In one aspect, a method includes: providing a cured ultra-low k film which contains at least one trench, and the pores of the film are filled with a pore-stuffing material; removing exposed pore-stuffing material at the surface of the trench to form exposed pores; and forming a self-forming barrier layer on the surface of the trench.