The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 05, 2021
Filed:
Mar. 05, 2018
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Chih-Chao Yang, Glenmont, NY (US);
Theo Standaert, Clifton Park, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Back-end-of-the line (BEOL) interconnect structures are provided in which an alternative metal such as, for example, a noble metal, is present in a combined via/line opening that is formed in an interconnect dielectric material layer. A surface diffusion dominated reflow anneal is used to reduce the thickness of a noble metal layer outside the combined via/line opening thus reducing or eliminating the burden of polishing the noble metal layer. In some embodiments and after performing the anneal, a lesser noble metal layer can be formed atop the noble metal layer prior to polishing. The use of the lesser noble metal layer may further reduce the burden of polishing the noble metal layer.