International Business Machines Corporation

Leon Ashley

Hormazdyar M Dalal

Hazara Singh Rathore

Du Binh Nguyen

Richard G Smith

Copper interconnections with enhanced electromigration resistance and reduced defect sensitivity and method of forming same

A method of providing sub-half-micron copper interconnections with improved electromigration and corrosion resistance. The method includes double damascene using electroplated copper, where the seed layer is converted to an intermetallic layer. A layer of copper intermetallics with hafnium, lanthanum, zirconium or tin, is provided to improve the electromigration resistance and to reduce defect sensitivity. A method is also provided to form a cap atop copper lines, to improve corrosion resistance, which fully covers the surface. Structure and methods are also described to improve the electromigration and corrosion resistance by incorporating carbon atoms in copper interstitial positions.

Method of forming copper interconnections with enhanced electromigration resistance and reduced defect sensitivity

A method of providing sub-half-micron copper interconnections with improved electromigration and corrosion resistance. The method includes double damascene using electroplated copper, where the seed layer is converted to an intermetallic layer. A layer of copper intermetallics with halfnium, lanthanum, zirconium or tin, is provided to improve the electromigration resistance and to reduce defect sensitivity. A method is also provided to form a cap atop copper lines, to improve corrosion resistance, which fully covers the surface. Structure and methods are also described to improve the electromigration and corrosion resistance by incorporating carbon atoms in copper intersititial positions.

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Danbury, CT, United States of America

Leon Ashley