Abstract: A plasma sputter chamber and process for sputtering ruthenium and tantalum at low pressure or with self-sustained sputtering (SSS). The source magnetron is strongly unbalanced and of sufficient size to project the unbalanced magnetic field toward the wafer to increase the ionization probability. Sputter etch uniformity is increased by the use of an auxiliary magnet system rotating with the source magnetron but placed towards the center of rotation. It may be a larger, nearly balanced auxiliary magnetron with an outer polarity matching that of the source magnetron or an array of magnets of that polarity. An integrated process includes a directional deposition of the refractory metal and its nitride, a sputter etch, and a flash deposition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a tantalum nitride barrier layer is provided for use in an integrated processing tool. The tantalum nitride is deposited by atomic layer deposition. The tantalum nitride is removed from the bottom of features in dielectric layers to reveal the conductive material under the deposited tantalum nitride. Optionally, a tantalum layer may be deposited by physical vapor deposition after the tantalum nitride deposition. Optionally, the tantalum nitride deposition and the tantalum deposition may occur in the same processing chamber.

Abstract: A plasma cleaning method particularly useful for removing photoresist and oxide residue from a porous low-k dielectric with a high carbon content prior to sputter deposition. A remote plasma source produces a plasma primarily of hydrogen radicals. The hydrogen pressure may be kept relatively low, for example, at 30 milliTorr. Optionally, helium may be added to the processing gas with the hydrogen partial pressure held below 150 milliTorr. Superior results are obtained with 70% helium in 400 milliTorr of hydrogen and helium. Preferably, an ion filter, such as a magnetic filter, removes hydrogen and other ions from the output of the remote plasma source and a supply tube from the remote plasma source includes a removable dielectric liner in combination with dielectric showerhead and manifold liner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a tantalum nitride barrier layer is provided for use in an integrated processing tool. The tantalum nitride is deposited by atomic layer deposition. The tantalum nitride is removed from the bottom of features in dielectric layers to reveal the conductive material under the deposited tantalum nitride. Optionally, a tantalum layer may be deposited by physical vapor deposition after the tantalum nitride deposition. Optionally, the tantalum nitride deposition and the tantalum deposition may occur in the same processing chamber.

Abstract: A system for processing a substrate is provided which includes at least one atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber for depositing a barrier layer containing tantalum and at least one physical vapor deposition (PVD) metal seed chamber for depositing a metal seed layer on the barrier layer. The at least one ALD chamber may be in fluid communication with a first precursor source providing a tantalum-containing compound and a second precursor source. In one example, the tantalum-containing compound is an organometallic tantalum precursor, such as PDMAT. In another example, the second precursor source contains a nitrogen precursor, such as ammonia. The PDMAT may have a chlorine concentration of about 100 ppm or less, preferably, about 30 ppm or less, and more preferably, about 5 ppm or less. In some examples, the PVD metal seed chamber is used to deposit a copper-containing metal seed layer.

Abstract: An integrated copper deposition process, particularly useful for forming a copper seed layer in a narrow via prior to electrochemical plating of copper, including at least one cycle of sputter deposition of copper followed by sputter etching of the deposited copper, preferably performed in a same sputter chamber. The deposition is performed under conditions promoting high copper ionization fractions and strong wafer biasing to draw the copper ions into the via. The etching may be done with argon ions, preferably inductively excited by an RF coil around the chamber, or by copper ions, which may be formed with high target power and intense magnetron or by use of the RF coil. Two or more cycles of deposition/etch may be performed. A final flash deposition may be performed with high copper ionization and low wafer biasing.

Abstract: A plasma sputter chamber and process for sputtering ruthenium and tantalum at low pressure or with self-sustained sputtering (SSS). The source magnetron is strongly unbalanced and of sufficient size to project the unbalanced magnetic field toward the wafer to increase the ionization probability. Sputter etch uniformity is increased by the use of an auxiliary magnet system rotating with the source magnetron but placed towards the center of rotation. It may be a larger, nearly balanced auxiliary magnetron with an outer polarity matching that of the source magnetron or an array of magnets of that polarity. An integrated process includes a directional deposition of the refractory metal and its nitride, a sputter etch, and a flash deposition.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to filling of a feature by depositing a barrier layer, depositing a seed layer over the barrier layer, and depositing a conductive layer over the seed layer. In one embodiment, the seed layer comprises a copper alloy seed layer deposited over the barrier layer. For example, the copper alloy seed layer may comprise copper and a metal, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, tin, and combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the seed layer comprises a copper alloy seed layer deposited over the barrier layer and a second seed layer deposited over the copper alloy seed layer. The copper alloy seed layer may comprise copper and a metal, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, tin, and combinations thereof. The second seed layer may comprise a metal, such as undoped copper. In still another embodiment, the seed layer comprises a first seed layer and a second seed layer.

Abstract: A system for processing a substrate is provided which includes at least one atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber for depositing a barrier layer containing tantalum and at least one physical vapor deposition (PVD) metal seed chamber for depositing a metal seed layer on the barrier layer. The at least one ALD chamber may be in fluid communication with a first precursor source providing a tantalum-containing compound and a second precursor source. In one example, the tantalum-containing compound is an organometallic tantalum precursor, such as PDMAT. In another example, the second precursor source contains a nitrogen precursor, such as ammonia. The PDMAT may have a chlorine concentration of about 100 ppm or less, preferably, about 30 ppm or less, and more preferably, about 5 ppm or less. In some examples, the PVD metal seed chamber is used to deposit a copper-containing metal seed layer.

Abstract: A substrate processing method practiced in a plasma sputter reactor including an RF coil and two or more coaxial electromagnets, at least two of which are wound at different radii. After a barrier layer, for example, of tantalum is sputter deposited into a via hole, the RF coil is powered to cause argon sputter etching of the barrier layer and the current to the electromagnets are adjusted to steer the argon ions, for example to eliminate sidewall asymmetry. For example, the two electromagnets are powered with unequal currents of opposite polarities or a third electromagnet wrapped at a different height is powered. In one embodiment, the steering straightens the trajectories near the wafer edge. In another embodiment, the etching is divided into two steps in which the steering inclines the trajectories at opposite angles. The invention may also be applied to other materials, such as copper.

Abstract: A plasma cleaning method particularly useful for removing photoresist and oxide residue from a porous low-k dielectric with a high carbon content prior to sputter deposition. A remote plasma source produces a plasma primarily of hydrogen radicals. The hydrogen pressure may be kept relatively low, for example, at 30 milliTorr. Optionally, helium may be added to the processing gas with the hydrogen partial pressure held below 150 milliTorr. Superior results are obtained with 70% helium in 400 milliTorr of hydrogen and helium. Preferably, an ion filter, such as a magnetic filter, removes hydrogen and other ions from the output of the remote plasma source and a supply tube from the remote plasma source includes a removable dielectric liner in combination with dielectric showerhead and manifold liner.

Abstract: A fabrication method and a product for the deposition of a conductive barrier or other liner layer in a vertical electrical interconnect structure. One embodiment includes within a a hole through a dielectric layer a barrier layer of RuTaN, an adhesion layer of RuTa, and a copper seed layer forming a liner for electroplating of copper. The ruthenium content is preferably greater than 50 at % and more preferably at least 80 at % but less than 95 at %. The barrier and adhesion layers may both be sputter deposited. Other platinum-group elements substitute for the ruthenium and other refractory metals substitute for the tantalum. Aluminum alloying into RuTa when annealed presents a moisture barrier. Copper contacts include different alloying fractions of RuTa to shift the work function to the doping type.

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor including an ion beam source producing a linear beam that strikes the wafer center at an angle of less than 35°. The linear beam extends across the wafer perpendicular to the beam but has a much short dimension along the beam propagation axis while the wafer is being rotated. The ion source may be an anode layer source having a plasma loop between an inner magnetic pole and a surrounding outer magnetic pole with anode overlying the loop with a closed-loop aperture. The beams from the opposed sides of the loop are steered together by making the outer pole stronger than the inner pole. The aperture width may be varied to control the emission intensity.

Abstract: A fabrication method, a product structure, a fabrication method, and a sputtering target for the deposition of a conductive barrier or other liner layer in an interconnect structure. The barrier layer comprises a conductive metal of a refractory noble metal alloy, such as a ruthenium/tantalum alloy, which may be amorphous though it is not required to be so. The barrier layer may be sputtered from a target of similar composition. The barrier and target composition may be chosen from a combination of the refractory metals and the platinum-group metals as well as RuTa. A copper noble seed layer may be formed of an alloy of copper and ruthenium in contact to a barrier layer over the dielectric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming layers on a substrate comprising depositing a metal seed layer on a substrate surface having apertures, depositing a transition metal layer over the copper seed layer, and depositing a bulk metal layer over the transition metal layer. Also a method and apparatus for forming a via through a dielectric to reveal metal at the base of the via, depositing a transition metal layer, and depositing a first metal layer on the transition metal layer. Additionally, a method and apparatus for depositing a transition metal layer on an exposed metal surface, and depositing a layer thereover selected from the group consisting of a capping layer and a low dielectric constant layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a tantalum nitride barrier layer is provided for use in an integrated processing tool. The tantalum nitride is deposited by atomic layer deposition. The tantalum nitride is removed from the bottom of features in dielectric layers to reveal the conductive material under the deposited tantalum nitride. Optionally, a tantalum layer may be deposited by physical vapor deposition after the tantalum nitride deposition. Optionally, the tantalum nitride deposition and the tantalum deposition may occur in the same processing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a tantalum nitride barrier layer is provided for use in an integrated processing tool. The tantalum nitride is deposited by atomic layer deposition. The tantalum nitride is removed from the bottom of features in dielectric layers to reveal the conductive material under the deposited tantalum nitride. Optionally, a tantalum layer may be deposited by physical vapor deposition after the tantalum nitride deposition. Optionally, the tantalum nitride deposition and the tantalum deposition may occur in the same processing chamber.

Abstract: An integrated sputtering method and reactor for copper or aluminum seed layers in which a plasma sputter reactor initially deposits a thin conformal layer onto a substrate including a high-aspect ratio hole subject to the formation of overhangs. After the seed deposition, the same sputter reactor is used to sputter etch the substrate with energetic light ions, especially helium, having an energy sufficiently low that it selectively etches the metallization to the heavier underlying barrier layer, for example, copper over tantalum or aluminum over titanium. An RF inductive coil generates the plasma during the sputtering etching while the target power is turned off. A final copper flash step deposits copper over the bare barrier field region before copper is electrochemically plated to fill the hole. The invention also includes a simultaneous sputter deposition and sputter etch, and an energetic ion processing of the copper seed sidewall.

Abstract: A first method is provided for forming a barrier layer on a substrate by sputter-depositing a tantalum nitride layer on a substrate having (1) a metal feature formed on the substrate; (2) a dielectric layer formed over the metal feature; and (3) a via formed in the dielectric layer so as to expose the metal feature. The via has side walls and a bottom, and a width of about 0.18 microns or less. The tantalum nitride layer is deposited on the side walls and bottom of the via and on a field region of the dielectric layer; and has a thickness of at least about 200 angstroms on the field region. The first method also includes sputter-depositing a tantalum layer on the substrate, in the same chamber. The tantalum layer having a thickness of less than about 100 angstroms on the field region. Other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A first method is provided for forming a barrier layer on a substrate by sputter-depositing a tantalum nitride layer on a substrate having (1) a metal feature formed on the substrate; (2) a dielectric layer formed over the metal feature; and (3) a via formed in the dielectric layer so as to expose the metal feature. The via has side walls and a bottom, and a width of about 0.18 microns or less. The tantalum nitride layer is deposited on the side walls and bottom of the via and on a field region of the dielectric layer; and has a thickness of at least about 200 angstroms on the field region. The first method also includes sputter-depositing a tantalum layer on the substrate, in the same chamber. The tantalum layer having a thickness of less than about 100 angstroms on the field region. Other aspects are provided.