Abstract:
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided in various exemplary embodiments. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first exposed surface including an elemental metal material and a second exposed surface including a barrier material. The elemental metal material has a first etch rate when exposed to a wet etchant and the barrier material has a second etch rate when exposed to the wet etchant. Further, the method includes modifying the first exposed surface to form a modified first exposed surface so as to reduce the first etch rate when exposed to the wet etchant and applying the wet etchant simultaneously to the modified first exposed surface and to the second exposed surface.
Abstract:
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes performing a first etching process to define a via opening in a layer of insulating material, performing at least one process operation to form a sacrificial liner layer on the sidewalls of the via opening, performing a second etching process to define a trench in the layer of insulating material, wherein the sacrificial liner layer is exposed to the second etching process, after performing the second etching process, performing a third etching process to remove the sacrificial liner layer and, after performing the third etching process, forming a conductive structure in at least the via opening and the trench.
Abstract:
Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating integrated circuits includes providing a semiconductor substrate disposed with a device therein and/or thereon. A contact structure including a barrier layer and a plug metal overlying the barrier layer is formed in electrical contact with the device. A hardmask is formed overlying the contact structure. The method includes performing an etch to form a via opening through the hardmask and to expose the barrier layer and the plug metal. Further, the method removes a remaining portion of the hardmask with a wet etchant, while the contact structure is configured to inhibit the wet etchant from etching the barrier layer. In the method, the via opening is filled with a conductive material to form an interconnect to the contact structure.
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:
A semiconductor device includes a recess defined in a dielectric layer, the recess having an upper sidewall portion extending to an upper corner of the recess and a lower sidewall portion below the upper sidewall portion. An interconnect structure is positioned in the recess. The interconnect structure includes a continuous liner layer having upper and lower layer portions positioned laterally adjacent to the upper and lower sidewall portions, respectively. The upper layer portion includes an alloy of a first transition metal and a second transition metal and the lower layer portion includes the second transition metal but not the first transition metal. The interconnect structure also includes a fill material substantially filling the recess, wherein the second transition metal has a higher wettability for the fill material than the alloy.
Abstract:
Integrated circuits, a process for recessing an embedded copper feature within a substrate, and a process for recessing an embedded copper interconnect within an interlayer dielectric substrate of an integrated circuit are provided. In an embodiment, a process for recessing an embedded copper feature, such as an embedded copper interconnect, within a substrate, such as an interlayer dielectric substrate, includes providing a substrate having an embedded copper feature disposed therein. The embedded copper feature has an exposed surface and the substrate has a substrate surface adjacent to the exposed surface of the embedded copper feature. The exposed surface of the embedded copper feature is nitrided to form a layer of copper nitride in the embedded copper feature. Copper nitride is selectively etched from the embedded copper feature to recess the embedded copper feature within the substrate.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to metal interconnect structures for super (skip) via integration and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first wiring layer with one or more wiring structures; a second wiring layer including an interconnect and wiring structure; and at least one upper wiring layer with one or more via interconnect and wiring structures located above the second wiring layer. The one or more via interconnect and wiring structures partially including a first metal material and remaining portions with a conductive material over the first metal material. A skip via passes through the second wiring layer and extends to the one or more wiring structures of the first wiring layer. The skip via partially includes the metal material and remaining portions of the skip via includes the conductive material over the first metal material.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to fully aligned via structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of minimum ground rule conductive structures formed in a dielectric material each of which comprises a recessed conductive material therein; at least one conductive structure formed in the dielectric material which is wider than the plurality of minimum ground rule conductive structures; an etch stop layer over a surface of the dielectric layer with openings to expose the conductive material of the least one conductive structure and the recessed conductive material of a selected minimum ground rule conductive structure; and an upper conductive material fully aligned with and in direct electrical contact with the at least one conductive structure and the selected minimum ground rule conductive structure, through the openings of the etch stop layer.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to skip via structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a first wiring layer with one or more wiring structures; a second wiring layer with one or more wiring structures, located above the first wiring layer; a skip via with metallization, which passes through upper wiring levels including the second wiring layer and which makes contact with the one or more wiring structures of the first wiring layer; and a via structure which comprises a protective material and contacts at least one of the one or more wiring structures at the upper wiring level.
Abstract:
Interconnect structures and methods for forming an interconnect structure. First and second metallization structures are formed in an intralayer dielectric layer. The intralayer dielectric layer is removed to form a cavity with an entrance between the first and second metallization structures. A dielectric layer is deposited on surfaces surrounding the cavity, over the first metallization structure, and over the second metallization structure. A sacrificial material is formed inside the cavity after the dielectric layer is deposited. A cap layer is deposited on the dielectric layer over the first metallization structure, the dielectric layer over the second metallization structure, and the sacrificial material inside the cavity to close the entrance to the cavity. After the cap layer is deposited, the sacrificial material is removed from the cavity. The dielectric layer and cap layer cooperate to encapsulate an air gap inside the cavity.