Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for densifying a surface of a porous film. By reducing the porosity of a film, the method yields a densified film that is more impenetrable to subsequent liquid processes. The method comprises the steps of providing a film having an exposed surface. The film can be supported by a semiconductor substrate. When the film is moved to a processing position, a focused source of radiation is created by a beam source. The exposed surface of the film is then irradiated by the beam source at the processing position until a predetermined dielectric constant is achieved. The film or beam source may be rotated, inclined, and/or moved between a variety of positions to ensure that the exposed surface of the film is irradiated evenly.

Abstract: Capping layer adhesion to a Cu or Cu alloy interconnect member is enhanced by treating the exposed surface of the Cu or Cu alloy interconnect member with a hydrogen plasma to substantially reduce oxides thereon, forming a thin layer of copper silicide on the treated surface and depositing the capping layer thereon. Embodiments include electroplating or electroless plating Cu or a Cu alloy to fill a damascene opening in a dielectric layer, chemical-mechianiical polishing, hydrogen plasma treatment, reacting the treated surface with silane or dichlorosilane to form a layer of copper silicide on the treated surface and depositing a silicon nitride capping layer on the thin copper silicide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor interconnect barrier material of boron silicon nitride is provided for use with copper interconnects. The material is manufactured by a process of combining silane and ammonia in a boron rich atmosphere during a chemical vapor deposition process.

Abstract: A method of forming a multi-layered interconnect structure is provided. A first conductive pattern is formed over an insulation layer. A first dielectric material is deposited over the first conductive pattern, and plugs are formed in the first dielectric material. A second conductive pattern is formed over the first dielectric material and plugs so as to form the multi-layered interconnect structure in part. Then, the first dielectric material is stripped away to leave the multi-layered interconnect structure exposed to air. A thin layer of second dielectric material is deposited so as to coat at least a portion of the interconnect structure. Next, a thin layer of metal is deposited so as to coat the at least a portion of the interconnect structure coated with the thin layer of second dielectric material. A third dielectric material is deposited over the interconnect structure to replace the stripped away first dielectric material.

Abstract: A deep submicron MOS device having a self-aligned silicide gate structure and a method for forming the same is provided so as to overcome the problems of poly-Si depletion and boron penetration. A first Nickel silicide layer is formed between a gate oxide and a polycrystalline silicon gate electrode. Further, second Nickel silicide layers are formed over highly-doped source/drain regions. In this fashion, the reliability of the MOS device will be enhanced.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method for manufacturing therefor is provided in which a partial dual damascene deposition is performed to place a barrier, seed, and conductive layer in most of a via between two interconnect channels and then capping the via with a further barrier, seed, conductive layer to prevent electromigration between an interconnect channel and the via.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and method of fabrication is provided for an integrated circuit having punch-through suppression. Unlike conventional methods of punch-through suppression wherein a dopant implant is fabricated in the device, the present invention utilizes an inert ion implantation process whereby inert ions are implanted through a fabricated gate structure on the semiconductor substrate to form a region of inert ion implant between source and drain regions of a device on the integrated circuit. This accumulation region prevents punch-through between source and drain regions of the device. In a second embodiment, the inert ion implantation is used in conjunction with the conventional punch-through dopant implant. In this second embodiment, diffusion of the implant during subsequent thermal annealing is suppressed by the inert ion accumulation in the subsurface region of the device.

Abstract: Cu interconnection patterns with improved electromigration resistance are formed by depositing a barrier metal layer, such as W or WN, to line an opening in a dielectric layer. The exposed surface of the deposited barrier metal layer is treated with silane or dichlorosaline to form a thin silicon layer thereon. Cu is then deposited to fill the opening and reacted with the thin silicon layer to form a thin layer of Cu silicide at the interface between Cu and the barrier metal layer, thereby reducing the interface defect density and improving electromigration resistance.

Abstract: The adhesion of a diffusion barrier or capping layer to Cu and/or Cu alloy interconnect members is significantly enhanced by treating the exposed surface of the Cu and/or Cu alloy interconnect members with a silane or dichlorosilane plasma to form a layer of copper silicide thereon prior to depositing the capping layer. Embodiments include electroplating or electroless plating Cu or a Cu alloy to fill a damascene opening in a dielectric interlayer, chemical mechanical polishing, treating the exposed surface of the Cu or Cu alloy interconnect member in a silane or dichlorosilane plasma to form the copper silicide layer and depositing a capping layer of silicon nitride thereon.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an amorphous layer is formed in a crystalline substrate (e.g., the channel region of a MOSFET transistor) by, for example, implanting ions of an inert specie such as germanium. A dopant is implanted so that it overlaps with the amorphous layer. Subsequently, low temperature recrystallization of the amorphous layer leads to an abrupt retrograded layer of active dopant in the channel region of the MOSFET. This retrograded dopant layer could be formed before or after the formation of the gate electrode.

Abstract: Low resistivity contacts are formed on source/drain regions and gate electrodes at a suitable thickness to reduce parasitic series resistances, thereby significantly reducing consumption of underlying silicon, while significantly reducing junction leakage. Embodiments include selectively depositing a metal layer, such as nickel, on the source/drain regions and on the gate electrode and ion implanting to form a barrier layer within the nickel layers which does not react with silicon or nickel silicide during subsequent solicitation. The barrier layer confines salicidation to the relatively thin underlayer layer of nickel, thereby minimizing consumption of underlying silicon while the unsilicidized overlying nickel on the barrier layer ensures low sheet resistivity.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit using damascene processes is provided in which conductive material surfaces subject to chemical-mechanical polishing are passivated after polishing with a dry, low energy, ion implantation passivating process to prevent oxidation and to eliminate a high dielectric constant protective layer. In particular, copper conductive material is subject to nitrogen implantation at or below 100 KeV to produce a protective copper nitride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the formation of a protective intermetallic layer 15 on the surface of damascene metal interconnects 12 during semiconductor fabrication. The intermetallic layer 15 prevents problems associated with formation of an oxide layer on the surface of the interconnect. The intermetallic layer is formed by depositing a metal on the surface of the interconnect that will both reduce any present metal oxide layer and form an intermetallic with the interconnect metal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method of forming an integrated circuit is described. The integrated circuit includes a silicon substrate, a dielectric stack formed on the silicon substrate, and conductive metal lines overlying the silicon substrate. A first layer of low-k dielectric material overlies the at least one conductive metal line, and a second layer of low-k dielectric material overlies the first layer of low-k dielectric material. The first layer of low-k dielectric material is electron beam (E-beam) cured and the second layer of low-k dielectric material is thermally cured.

Abstract: The adhesion of a diffusion barrier or capping layer to a Cu or Cu alloy interconnect member is significantly enhanced by treating the exposed surface of the Cu or Cu alloy interconnect member with an ammonia plasma followed by depositing the diffusion barrier layer on the treated surface. Embodiments include electroplating or electroless plating Cu or a Cu alloy to fill a damascene opening in a dielectric interlayer, chemical mechanical polishing, treating the exposed surface of the Cu/Cu alloy interconnect with an ammonia plasma, and depositing a silicon nitride diffusion barrier layer directly on the plasma treated surface.

Abstract: Low resistance contacts are formed on source/drain regions and gate electrodes by selectively depositing a reaction barrier layer and selectively depositing a metal layer on the reaction barrier layer. Embodiments include selectively depositing an alloy of cobalt and tungsten which functions as a reaction barrier layer preventing silicidation of a layer of nickel or cobalt selectively deposited thereon. Embodiments also include tailoring the composition of the cobalt tungsten alloy so that a thin silicide layer is formed thereunder for reduced contact resistance.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a semiconductor device by: depositing a tantalum layer to line the channels and vias of a semiconductor; depositing a tungsten nitride layer at a low temperature on the tantalum layer; and depositing a copper conductor layer on the tungsten nitride layer. The tungsten nitride acts as a highly efficient copper barrier material with high resistivity while the tantalum layer acts as a conductive barrier material to reduce the overall resistance of the barrier layer.

Abstract: A Cu interconnect member is passivated by diffusing Sn, Ta or Cr atoms into its upper surface to form an intermetallic layer. Embodiments include depositing Cu by electroplating or electroless plating to fill a damascene opening in a dielectric layer, CMP, depositing a sacrificial layer of Sn, Ta or Cr on the planarized surface, heating to diffuse Sn, Ta or Cr into the upper surface of the deposited Cu to form a passivating intermetallic alloy layer, and removing any remaining sacrificial layer by CMP or etching.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method for manufacturing therefor is provided in which a partial dual damascene deposition is performed to place a barrier, seed, and conductive layer in most of a via between two interconnect channels and then capping the via with a further barrier, seed, conductive layer to prevent electromigration between an interconnect channel and the via.

Abstract: A semiconductor metalization barrier, and manufacturing method therefor, is provided which is a stack of a cobalt layer and cobalt tungsten layer deposited on a copper bonding pad.