Abstract: A method for cleaning a metal plating tank is provided herein. In accordance with the method, the tank is exposed to a first acid (103), after which the tank is exposed to a second acid in the presence of a first oxidizing agent (107).

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device includes forming a patterned dielectric overlying active circuitry, the patterned dielectric having a plurality of cavities. A diffusion barrier is formed over the patterned dielectric. A conductive layer is formed over the diffusion barrier in the plurality of cavities. The conductive layer is etched back to be below a top surface of the dielectric, forming recessed areas over the conductive layers in the plurality of cavities. The recessed areas are then filled with a capping film. The capping film and the diffusion barrier are removed to provide a relatively smooth planarized surface. Providing a relatively smooth planarized surface reduces leakage currents between conductors.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device includes cleaning a semiconductor wafer after a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process to remove or reduce particles of copper, a corrosion inhibitor such as triazole, and a copper oxide layer on the copper layer. In order to prepare for plating the copper layer with a layer that functions as a barrier to copper migration or diffusion, the surface of the copper layer and the dielectric layer are treated with an oxidant, a surfactant, and copper-chelating agent. The copper-chelating is preferably a mild acid such as an organic acid. The oxidant is particularly useful in removing the corrosion inhibitor. The barrier layer, preferably conductive, is then plated on the surface of the copper layer. Subsequent interlayer dielectric layers and copper layers follow that can use the same process.

Abstract: A diffusion barrier stack is formed by forming a layer comprising a metal over a conductor that includes copper; and forming a first dielectric layer over the layer, wherein the dielectric layer is of a thickness that alone it can not serve as a diffusion barrier layer to the conductor and the first dielectric layer prevents oxidation of the layer. In one embodiment, the diffusion barrier stack includes two layers; the first layer is a conductive layer and the second layer is a dielectric layer. The diffusion barrier stack minimizes electromigration and copper diffusion from the conductor.

Abstract: A method for forming an improved fully silicided gate electrode in a semiconductor device in which the fully silicided gate electrode is formed using indirect heating. One embodiment relates to a method of manufacturing at least one semiconductor device. The method includes depositing silicon to a first thickness, depositing metal over the silicon, and indirectly heating the metal and silicon to form a metal silicide having a second thickness not less than the first thickness. Another embodiment relates to a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices, each semiconductor device having a fully silicided control electrode. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a dielectric layer over the substrate, forming a silicon-containing layer over the dielectric layer, depositing a metal-containing layer over the silicon-containing layer, and indirectly heating the metal-containing and silicon-containing layers to form a silicide layer in contact with the dielectric layer.

Abstract: An electroless plating process for forming a barrier film such as a cobalt tungsten boron film on copper interconnects lines of semiconductor wafers uses a plating bath of morpholine borane which provides higher thermal stability and range, allowing for greater compatibility with low k dielectric materials. Mixed chelating agents with different stability constants with a metal source are used to complex base metal such as copper which dissolves into solution, if any. A fluorosurfactant is used as a wetting agent and stabilizer.

Abstract: A method of decreasing resistivity in an electrically conductive layer (23) includes providing a substrate (14), using a high density plasma sputtering technique to deposit the electrically conductive layer (23) over the substrate (14), and exposing the electrically conductive layer (23) to an anneal in an ambient comprised of a plasma (21).