Abstract: A metal interconnect structure includes at least a pair of metal lines, a cavity therebetween, and a dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer located on at least one portion of walls of the cavity. After formation of a cavity between the pair of metal lines, the dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer is formed on the exposed surfaces of the cavity. A dielectric material layer is formed above the pair of metal lines to encapsulate the cavity. The dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer prevents diffusion of metal and impurities from one metal line to another metal line and vice versa, thereby preventing electrical shorts between the pair of metal lines.

Abstract: A microelectronic structure and a method for fabricating the microelectronic structure provide a plurality of voids interposed between a plurality of conductor layers. The plurality of voids is also located between a liner layer and an inter-level dielectric layer. The voids provide for enhanced electrical performance of the microelectronic structure.

Abstract: A microelectronic structure and a method for fabricating the microelectronic structure provide a plurality of voids interposed between a plurality of conductor layers. The plurality of voids is also located between a liner layer and an inter-level dielectric layer. The voids provide for enhanced electrical performance of the microelectronic structure.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a structure which includes the steps of providing a structure having an insulator layer with at least one interconnect, forming a sub lithographic template mask over the insulator layer, and selectively etching the insulator layer through the sub lithographic template mask to form sub lithographic features spanning to a sidewall of the plurality of interconnects.

Abstract: A porous SiCOH dielectric film in which the stress change caused by increased tetrahedral strain is minimized by post treatment in unsaturated Hydrocarbon ambient. The p-SiCOH dielectric film has more —(CHx) and less Si—O—H and Si—H bonding moieties. Moreover, a stable pSiOCH dielectric film is provided in which the amount of Si—OH (silanol) and Si—H groups at least within the pores has been reduced by about 90% or less by the post treatment. A p-SiCOH dielectric film is produced that is flexible since the pores include stabilized crosslinking —(CHx)— chains wherein x is 1, 2 or 3 therein. The dielectric film is produced utilizing an annealing step subsequent deposition that includes a gaseous ambient that includes at least one C—C double bond and/or at least one C—C triple bond.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an interconnect structure for interconnecting a semiconductor substrate to have three distinct patterned structures such that the interconnect structure provides both a low k and high structural integrity. The method includes depositing an interlayer dielectric onto the semiconductor substrate, forming a first pattern within the interlayer dielectric material by a first lithographic process that results in both via features and ternary features being formed in the interconnect structure. The method further includes forming a second pattern within the interlayer dielectric material by a second lithographic process to form line features within the interconnect structure. Hence the method forms the three separate distinct patterned structures using only two lithographic processes for each interconnect level.

Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit and method includes a substrate, a plurality of semiconductor device layers monolithically integrated on the substrate, and a metal wiring layer with vias interconnecting the plurality of semiconductor device layers. The semiconductor device layers are devoid of bonding or joining interface with the substrate.

Abstract: A method of depositing a SiNxCy liner on a porous low thermal conductivity (low-k) substrate by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD), which includes forming a SiNxCy liner on a surface of a low-k substrate having pores on a surface thereon, in which the low-k substrate is repeatedly exposed to a aminosilane-based precursor and a plasma selected from nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, helium, and combinations thereof until a thickness of the liner is obtained, and wherein the liner is prevented from penetrating inside the pores of a surface of the substrate. A porous low thermal conductivity substrate having a SiNxCy liner formed thereon by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for producing air gap-containing metal-insulator interconnect structures for VLSI and ULSI devices using a photo-patternable low k material as well as the air gap-containing interconnect structure that is formed are disclosed. More particularly, the methods described herein provide interconnect structures built in a photo-patternable low k material in which air gaps are defined by photolithography in the photo-patternable low k material. In the methods of the present invention, no etch step is required to form the air gaps. Since no etch step is required in forming the air gaps within the photo-patternable low k material, the methods disclosed in this invention provide highly reliable interconnect structures.

Abstract: An interconnect structure includes a patterned and cured dielectric layer located directly on a surface of a patterned permanent antireflective coating. The patterned and cured dielectric layer and the permanent antireflective coating form shaped openings. The shaped openings include an inverse profile which narrows towards a top of the shaped openings. A conductive structure fills the shaped openings wherein the patterned and cured dielectric layer and the permanent antireflective coating each have a conductively filled region.

Abstract: A microelectronic structure and a method for fabricating the microelectronic structure provide a plurality of voids interposed between a plurality of conductor layers. The plurality of voids is also located between a liner layer and an inter-level dielectric layer. The voids provide for enhanced electrical performance of the microelectronic structure.

Abstract: Methods for producing air gap-containing metal-insulator interconnect structures for VLSI and ULSI devices using a photo-patternable low k material as well as the air gap-containing interconnect structure that is formed are disclosed. More particularly, the methods described herein provide interconnect structures built in a photo-patternable low k material in which air gaps are defined by photolithography in the photo-patternable low k material. In the methods of the present invention, no etch step is required to form the air gaps. Since no etch step is required in forming the air gaps within the photo-patternable low k material, the methods disclosed in this invention provide highly reliable interconnect structures.

Abstract: Deep trenches formed beneath contact level in a semiconductor substrate function as crackstops, in a die area or in a scribe area of the wafer, and may be disposed in rows of increasing distance from a device which they are intended to protect, and may be located under a lattice work crackstop structure in an interconnect stack layer. The deep trenches may remain unfilled, or may be filled with a dielectric material or conductor. The deep trenches may have a depth into the substrate of approximately 1 micron to 100 microns, and a width of approximately 10 nm to 10 microns.

Abstract: A metal interconnect structure includes at least a pair of metal lines, a cavity therebetween, and a dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer located on at least one portion of walls of the cavity. After formation of a cavity between the pair of metal lines, the dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer is formed on the exposed surfaces of the cavity. A dielectric material layer is formed above the pair of metal lines to encapsulate the cavity. The dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer prevents diffusion of metal and impurities from one metal line to another metal line and vice versa, thereby preventing electrical shorts between the pair of metal lines.

Abstract: A selective conductive cap is deposited on exposed metal surfaces of a metal line by electroless plating selective to exposed underlying dielectric surfaces of a metal interconnect structure. A dielectric material layer is deposited on the selective conductive cap and the exposed underlying dielectric layer without a preclean. The dielectric material layer is planarized to form a horizontal planar surface that is coplanar with a topmost surface of the selective conductive cap. A preclean is performed and a dielectric cap layer is deposited on the selective conductive cap and the planarized surface of the dielectric material layer. Because the interface including a surface damaged by the preclean is vertically offset from the topmost surface of the metal line, electromigration of the metal in the metal line along the interface is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device structure, including the steps of providing a structure having an insulator layer with at least one interconnect, forming a sub lithographic template mask over the insulator layer, and selectively etching the insulator layer through the sub lithographic template mask to form sub lithographic features spanning to a sidewall of the at least one interconnect.

Abstract: A metal interconnect structure includes at least a pair of metal lines, a cavity therebetween, and a dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer located on at least one portion of walls of the cavity. After formation of a cavity between the pair of metal lines, the dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer is formed on the exposed surfaces of the cavity. A dielectric material layer is formed above the pair of metal lines to encapsulate the cavity. The dielectric metal-diffusion barrier layer prevents diffusion of metal and impurities from one metal line to another metal line and vice versa, thereby preventing electrical shorts between the pair of metal lines.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming an interconnect to an electrical device. In one embodiment, the method of forming an interconnect includes providing a device layer on a substrate, wherein the device layer comprises at least one electrical device, an intralevel dielectric over the at least one electrical device, and a contact that is in electrical communication with the at least one electrical device. An interconnect metal layer is formed on the device layer, and a tantalum-containing etch mask is formed on a portion of the interconnect metal layer. The interconnect metal layer is etched to provide a trapezoid shaped interconnect in communication with the at least one electrical device. The trapezoid shaped interconnect has a first surface that is in contact with the device layer with a greater width than a second surface of the trapezoid shaped interconnect that is in contact with the tantalum-containing etch mask.

Abstract: An in-situ process is described incorporating plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition comprising flowing at least one of a Si, Si+C, B, Si+B, Si+B+C, and B+C containing precursor, and a N containing precursors at first times and removing the N precursor at second times and starting the flow of an oxidant gas and a porogen gas into the chamber. A dielectric layer is described comprising a network having inorganic random three dimensional covalent bonding throughout the network which contains at least one SiCN, SiCNH, SiN, SiNH, BN, BNH, CBN, CBNH, BSiN, BSiNH, SiCBN and SiCBNH as a first component and a low k dielectric as a second component adjacent thereto.

Abstract: Methods for producing air gap-containing metal-insulator interconnect structures for VLSI and ULSI devices using a photo-patternable low k material as well as the air gap-containing interconnect structure that is formed are disclosed. More particularly, the methods described herein provide interconnect structures built in a photo-patternable low k material in which air gaps are defined by photolithography in the photo-patternable low k material. In the methods of the present invention, no etch step is required to form the air gaps. Since no etch step is required in forming the air gaps within the photo-patternable low k material, the methods disclosed in this invention provide highly reliable interconnect structures.