Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Chaoyong Li

Ramana Murthy Badam

Moitreyee Mukherjee-Roy

Siaw Suian Sabrina Su

Dao Hua Zhang

A semiconductor device, having a composite barrier layer, comprising the following. A substrate has a dielectric layer formed thereover and having an opening within the dielectric layer. The opening exposes a first portion of the substrate. A composite barrier layer lines the opening. The composite barrier layer comprises: a dielectric flash layer within the opening and lining the opening wherein the dielectric flash layer does not cover the first exposed portion of the substrate; an aluminum layer over the dielectric flash layer and over the first exposed portion of the substrate; and a barrier metal layer over the aluminum layer. Wherein the dielectric flash layer, the aluminum layer and the barrier metal layer comprise the composite barrier layer. A planarized metal plug is within the barrier metal layer lined opening.

Process of forming a composite diffusion barrier in copper/organic low-k damascene technology

A method of forming a composite barrier layer comprising the following steps. A substrate having a dielectric layer formed thereover is provided. An opening exposing a first portion of the substrate is formed within the dielectric layer. A dielectric flash layer is formed within the opening and over the first exposed portion of the substrate. The dielectric flash layer lines the opening. The bottommost horizontal portion of the dielectric flash layer is removed to expose a second portion of the substrate. An aluminum layer is formed over the etched dielectric flash layer and over the second exposed portion of the substrate. A barrier metal layer is formed over the aluminum layer. The etched dielectric flash layer, the aluminum layer and the barrier metal layer comprise the composite barrier layer. A planarized metal plug is formed within the barrier metal layer lined opening.

Copper seed layers for use in damascene structures are commonly deposited by CVD because of their superior step coverage. However, these films have poor adhesion to the barrier layer. This problem has been overcome by preceding the deposition of the CVD copper layer with a metal plasma treatment that lays down a very thin layer of copper while the structure receiving it is maintained at a temperature below about &#x2212;40 C. This is followed by a short exposure to a nitrogen bearing plasma. The results is a seed layer having excellent step coverage as well as very good adhesion to the underlying barrier layer.

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Chaoyong Li