63results about How to "Improve electromigration" patented technology

A method for integrating metal-containing cap layers into copper (Cu) metallization of semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a patterned substrate containing metal surfaces and dielectric layer surfaces, and modifying the dielectric layer surfaces by exposure to a reactant gas containing a hydrophobic functional group, where the modifying substitutes a hydrophilic functional group in the dielectric layer surfaces with a hydrophobic functional group. The method further includes depositing metal-containing cap layers selectively on the metal surfaces by exposing the modified dielectric layer surfaces and the metal surfaces to a deposition gas containing metal-containing precursor vapor.

A method for integrating low-temperature selective Ru metal deposition into manufacturing of semiconductor devices to improve electromigration and stress migration in bulk Cu metal. The method includes providing a patterned substrate containing a recessed feature in a dielectric layer, where the recessed feature is at least substantially filled with planarized bulk Cu metal, heat-treating the bulk Cu metal and the dielectric layer in the presence of H2, N2, or NH3, or a combination thereof, and selectively depositing a Ru metal film on the heat-treated planarized bulk Cu metal.

A method for forming a semiconductor device with improved electromigration (EM) and stress migration (SM) properties. The method includes providing a planarized patterned substrate containing a copper (Cu) metal surface and a low-k dielectric layer surface, selectively depositing a metal cap layer on the Cu metal surface, and modifying the metal cap layer by exposing the metal cap layer to a process gas containing ammonia (NH3) gas without plasma excitation. The method further includes forming a dielectric barrier film on the modified metal cap layer and on the dielectric layer surface, and exposing the dielectric barrier film to a gaseous oxidizing environment, where the dielectric barrier film and the modified metal cap layer prevent oxidation of the Cu metal surface when the dielectric barrier film is exposed to the gaseous oxidizing environment.

Disclosed is a procedure to coat the free surface of Cu damascene lines by a 1-5 nm thick element prior to deposition of the inter-level dielectric or dielectric diffusion barrier layer. The coating provides protection against oxidation, increases the adhesion strength between the Cu and dielectric, and reduces interface diffusion of Cu. In addition, the thin cap layer further increases electromigration Cu lifetime and reduces the stress induced voiding. The selective elements can be directly deposited onto the Cu embedded within the under layer dielectric without causing an electric short circuit between the Cu lines. These chosen elements are based on their high negative reduction potentials with oxygen and water, and a low solubility in and formation of compounds with Cu.

In an error analysis step, analysis of an antenna effect error, a timing constraint violation and the like is performed for layout data in which redundant via conversion has been performed. Then, whether or not an error exists is judged and, among redundant vias located on a signal line in which a design constraint violation has occurred, how many vias have to be converted to single vias, respectively, to avoid the design constraint violation is calculated. In a via conversion step, a redundant via which has caused an error is converted to a single via, based on a result of the calculation. Thus, a design constraint violation regarding an error such as an antenna effect error and a timing constraint violation caused by a redundant via obtained by converting a single via for improving yield hardly occurs.

A method for integrating metal-containing cap layers into copper (Cu) metallization of semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a patterned substrate containing Cu metal surfaces and dielectric layer surfaces, forming a patterned mask layer on the patterned substrate, where the patterned mask layer contains openings that expose the Cu metal surfaces. The method further includes depositing a metal-containing layer on the Cu metal surfaces, depositing an additional metal-containing layer on the patterned mask layer, and removing the patterned mask layer and the additional metal-containing layer from the patterned substrate to selectively form metal-containing cap layers on the Cu metal surfaces.

The electromigration and stress migration of Cu interconnects is significantly reduced by forming a composite capping layer comprising a layer of β-Ta on the upper surface of the inlaid Cu, a layer of tantalum nitride on the β-Ta layer and a layer of α-Ta on the tantalum nitride layer. Embodiments include forming a recess in an upper surface of Cu inlaid in a dielectric layer, depositing a layer of β-Ta at a thickness of 25 Å to 40 Å, depositing a layer of tantalum nitride at a thickness of 20 Å to 100 Å and then depositing a layer of α-Ta at a thickness of 200 Å to 500 Å. Embodiments further include forming an overlying dielectric layer, forming an opening therein, e.g., a via opening or a dual damascene opening, lining the opening with α-Ta, and filling the opening with Cu in electrical contact with the underlying inlaid Cu.

A method is provided for integrating ruthenium (Ru) metal deposition into manufacturing of semiconductor devices to improve electromigration and stress migration in copper (Cu) metal. Embodiments of the invention include treating patterned substrates containing metal layers and low-k dielectric materials with NHx (x≦3) radicals and H radicals to improve selective formation of ruthenium (Ru) metal cap layers on the metal layers relative to the low-k dielectric materials.

By introducing a metallic species into an exposed surface area of a copper region, the electromigration behavior of this surface area may be significantly enhanced. The incorporation of the metallic species may be accomplished in a highly selective manner so as to not unduly affect dielectric material positioned adjacent to the metal region, thereby essentially avoiding undue increase of leakage currents.

The present invention relates to an integrated-circuit device that has at least one Copper-containing feature in a dielectric layer, and a diffusion-barrier layer stack arranged between the feature and the dielectric layer. The integrated-circuit device of the invention has a diffusion-barrier layer stack, which comprises, in a direction from the Copper-containing feature to the dielectric layer, a CuSiN layer and a SiN layer. This layer combination provides an efficient barrier for suppressing Copper diffusion from the feature into the dielectric layer. Furthermore, a CuSiN / SiN layer sequence provides an improved adhesion between the layers of the diffusion-barrier layer stack and the dielectric layer, and thus improves the electromigration performance of the integrated-circuit device during operation. Therefore, the reliability of device operation and the lifetime of the integrate-circuit device are improved in comparison with prior-art devices. The invention further relates to a method for fabricating such an integrated-circuit device.

A method of creating metal caps on copper lines within an inter-line dielectric (ILD) deposits a thin (e.g., 5 nm) metal blanket film (e.g., Ta / TaN) on top the copper lines and dielectric, after the wafer has been planarized. Further a thin dielectric cap is formed over the metal blanket film. A photoresist coating is deposited over the thin dielectric cap and a lithographic exposure process is performed, but without a lithographic mask. A mask is not needed in this situation, because due to the reflectivity difference between copper and the ILD lying under the two thin layers, a mask pattern is automatically formed for etching away the Ta / TaN metal cap between copper lines. Thus, this mask pattern is self-aligned above the copper lines.

The present invention relates to an integrated-circuit device that has at least one Copper-containing feature in a dielectric layer, and a diffusion-barrier layer stack arranged between the feature and the dielectric layer. The integrated-circuit device of the invention has a diffusion-barrier layer stack, which comprises, in a direction from the Copper-containing feature to the dielectric layer, a CuSiN layer and a SiN layer. This layer combination provides an efficient barrier for suppressing Copper diffusion from the feature into the dielectric layer. Furthermore, a CuSiN / SiN layer sequence provides an improved adhesion between the layers of the diffusion-barrier layer stack and the dielectric layer, and thus improves the electromigration performance of the integrated-circuit device during operation. Therefore, the reliability of device operation and the lifetime of the integrate-circuit device are improved in comparison with prior-art devices. The invention further relates to a method for fabricating such an integrated-circuit device.

An interconnect structure is provided that has improved electromigration resistance as well as methods of forming such an interconnect structure. The interconnect structure includes an interconnect dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 4.0 or less. The interconnect dielectric material has at least one opening therein that is filled with a Cu-containing material. The Cu-containing material within the at least one opening has an exposed upper surface that is co-planar with an upper surface of the interconnect dielectric material. The interconnect structure further includes a composite M-MOx cap located at least on the upper surface of the Cu-containing material within the at least one opening. The composite M-MOx cap includes an upper region that is composed of the metal having a higher affinity for oxygen than copper and copper oxide and a lower region that is composed of a non-stoichiometric oxide of said metal. The interconnect structure further includes a dielectric cap located on at least an upper surface of the composite M-MOx cap.

By forming a cap layer on a dielectric barrier layer of a low-k dielectric material stack, the interaction of UV radiation during the generation of pores in the low-k dielectric material may be significantly reduced. In some illustrative embodiments, the cap layer may comprise titanium oxide and / or vanadium oxide which may provide a high degree of reflectivity and absorption, respectively. The layer thickness of the cap layer may be 10 nm or significantly less, thereby reducing any adverse influence on the overall performance of the resulting layer stack.

A method is provided for integrating cobalt nitride cap layers into manufacturing of semiconductor devices to improve electromigration and stress migration in copper (Cu) metal. One embodiment includes providing a patterned substrate containing a recessed feature formed in a low-k material and a first metallization layer at the bottom of the feature, forming a cobalt nitride cap layer on the first metallization layer, depositing a barrier layer in the recessed feature, including on the low-k dielectric material and on the first cobalt metal cap layer, and filling the recessed feature with Cu metal. Another embodiment includes providing a patterned substrate having a substantially planar surface with Cu paths and low-k dielectric regions, and selectively forming a cobalt nitride cap layer on the Cu paths relative to the low-k dielectric regions.

A conductor for interconnecting integrated circuit components having improved reliability. The conductor includes a liner surrounding at least three surfaces of the conductor, producing a low textured conductor. It has been found that low textured conductor results in improved electromigration lifetime.

The present invention generally provides a sputtering target comprising copper and a total of 0.001 wt %˜10 wt % alloying element or elements chosen from the group consisting of Al, Ag, Co, Cr, Ir, Fe, Mo, Ti, Pd, Ru, Ta, Sc, Hf, Zr, V, Nb, Y, and rare earth metals. An exemplary copper sputtering containing 0.5 wt % aluminum has superfine grain size, high thermal stability, and high electromigration resistance, and is able to form films with desired film uniformity, excellent resistance to electromigration and oxidation, and high adhesion to dielectric interlayer. An exemplary copper sputtering containing 12 ppm silver has superfine grain size. This invention also provides methods of manufacturing copper sputtering targets.

A wiring substrate is provided with an insulating resin film; and first and second conductive films provided on the back side and top side of the insulating resin film, respectively. The wiring substrate includes a via formed to fill a recess provided in the insulating resin film and electrically connecting the top side and back side of the insulating resin film. The via includes a first metal film formed to cover the side wall of the recess, an oxide film formed to cover the first meal film, and a second metal film formed on the metal oxide film.

During the patterning of via openings in sophisticated metallization systems of semi-conductor devices, the opening may extend through a conductive cap layer and an appropriate ion bombardment may be established to redistribute material of the underlying metal region to exposed sidewall portions of the conductive cap layer, thereby establishing a protective material. Consequently, in a subsequent wet chemical etch process, the probability for undue material removal of the conductive cap layer may be greatly reduced.

An interlayer insulating film is formed on the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and lower-level interconnects are formed in the interlayer insulating film. A liner insulating film is formed on the upper surfaces of the interlayer insulating film and lower-level interconnects. An interlayer insulating film is formed on the upper surface of the liner insulating film. Upper-level interconnects are formed in the interlayer insulating film. The lower-level interconnects and the upper-level interconnects are connected with each other through vias. Parts of the liner insulating film formed in via-adjacent regions have a greater thickness than a part thereof formed outside the via-adjacent regions.

A method for integrating selective Ru metal deposition into manufacturing of semiconductor devices to improve electromigration and stress migration in bulk Cu. The method includes selectively depositing a Ru metal film on a metallization layer or on bulk Cu using a process gas containing Ru3(CO)12 precursor vapor and a CO gas in a thermal chemical vapor deposition process. A semiconductor device containing one or more selectively deposited Ru metal films is described.

A method for integrating metal-containing cap layers into copper (Cu) metallization of semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a patterned substrate containing metal surfaces and dielectric layer surfaces, and modifying the dielectric layer surfaces by exposure to a reactant gas containing a hydrophobic functional group, where the modifying substitutes a hydrophilic functional group in the dielectric layer surfaces with a hydrophobic functional group. The method further includes depositing metal-containing cap layers selectively on the metal surfaces by exposing the modified dielectric layer surfaces and the metal surfaces to a deposition gas containing metal-containing precursor vapor.

A method for integrating ruthenium (Ru) metal cap layers and modified Ru metal cap layers into copper (Cu) metallization of semiconductor devices to improve electromigration (EM) and stress migration (SM) in bulk Cu metal. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a planarized patterned substrate containing a Cu metal surface and a dielectric layer surface, depositing first Ru metal on the Cu metal surface, and depositing additional Ru metal on the dielectric layer surface, where the amount of the additional Ru metal is less than the amount of the first Ru metal. The method further includes at least substantially removing the additional Ru metal from the dielectric layer surface to improve the selective formation of a Ru metal cap layer on the Cu metal surface. Other embodiments further include incorporating one or more types of modifier elements into the dielectric layer surface, the Cu metal surface, the Ru metal cap layer, or a combination thereof.

Cu interconnects are formed with composite capping layers for reduced electromigration, improved adhesion between Cu and the capping layer, and reduced charge loss in associated non-volatile transistors. Embodiments include depositing a first relatively thin silicon nitride layer having a relatively high concentration of Si—H bonds on the upper surface of a layer of Cu for improved adhesion and reduced electromigration, and depositing a second relatively thick silicon nitride layer having a relatively low concentration of Si—H bonds on the first silicon nitride layer for reduced charge loss.

In a complex semiconductor device, electronic fuses may be formed in the active semiconductor material by using a semiconductor material of reduced heat conductivity selectively in the fuse body, wherein, in some illustrative embodiments, the fuse body may be delineated by a non-silicided semiconductor base material.

A semiconductor device includes an embedded wire in a first wire trench formed in a first interlayer dielectric film, the embedded wire having a barrier metal, a first seed film, a second seed film, and a copper film. The first seed film is formed by a copper film containing metal, and the second film is formed by a copper film. The second seed film suppresses that the metal contained in the first seed film diffuses into a wiring material film in a manufacturing process.