Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a substrate (100), first conductive film (22 and 32) over the substrate (100), and a second conductive film (54 and 64) over the first conductive film (22 and 32). The first conductive film includes a refractory metal and nitrogen. The first conductive film has a first portion (22) that lies closer to the substrate and a second portion (32) that lies further from the substrate. The nitrogen percentage for the second portion (32) is lower than the nitrogen atomic percentage for the first portion (22). The second conductive film (54 and 64) includes mostly copper. The combination of portions (22 and 32) within the first conductive film provides a good diffusion barrier (first portion) and has good adhesion (second portion) with the second conductive film (54 and 64).

Abstract: A ramp activated low temperature quality epitaxial growth process. A substrate is pre-conditioned and a passivation layer overlying the substrate surface is formed. The substrate is introduced into a process chamber having a controlled temperature. A process chamber purge technique is used to remove oxygen and contaminants from the process chamber before epitaxial growth begins. A process gas, which has an epitaxial growth species, a process chamber purging species and other possible species, is introduced into the process chamber at a low temperature. The process gas and the passivation layer keep the process chamber environment and the substrate surface free from contamination and free from native oxide growth before and, in some cases, during epitaxial growth. The process chamber temperature is gradually elevated to initiate a quality epitaxial growth by starting growth relative to decomposition of the passivation layer.