Abstract: The density of components in integrated circuits (ICs) is increasing with time. The density of heat generated by the components is similarly increasing. Maintaining the temperature of the components at reliable operating levels requires increased thermal transfer rates from the components to the IC package exterior. Dielectric materials used in interconnect regions have lower thermal conductivity than silicon dioxide. This invention comprises a heat pipe located in the interconnect region of an IC to transfer heat generated by components in the IC substrate to metal plugs located on the top surface of the IC, where the heat is easily conducted to the exterior of the IC package. Refinements such as a wicking liner or reticulated inner surface will increase the thermal transfer efficiency of the heat pipe. Strengthening elements in the interior of the heat pipe will provide robustness to mechanical stress during IC manufacture.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (a) a substrate which includes semiconductor devices and (b) a first ILD (inter-level dielectric) layer on top of the substrate. The structure further includes N first actual metal lines in the first ILD layer, N being a positive integer. The N first actual metal lines are electrically connected to the semiconductor devices. The structure further includes first trenches in the first ILD layer. The first trenches are not completely filled with solid materials. If the first trenches are completely filled with first dummy metal lines, then (i) the first dummy metal lines are not electrically connected to any semiconductor device and (ii) the N first actual metal lines and the first dummy metal lines provide an essentially uniform pattern density of metal lines across the first ILD layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a capping layer of a back end structure (step 706), drilling an extraction line from the capping layer to an inter-metal dielectric layer (step 708), performing a supercritical fluid process to remove portions of the inter-metal dielectric layer that are coupled to the extraction line (step 710): thereby forming a denuded dielectric region. Another embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit 2 having a back-end structure 5 coupled to a front-end structure 4. The back-end structure 5 having a first metal level 22. The first metal level 22 having metal interconnects 15 and an inter-metal dielectric layer 19. The back-end structure 5 further containing an extraction line 24 and a denuded dielectric region 25 coupled to the extraction line 24.

Abstract: A method of forming a method a conductive wire. The method includes forming a dielectric hardmask layer on a dielectric layer; forming an electrically conductive hardmask layer on the dielectric hardmask layer; forming a trench extending through the conductive and dielectric hardmask layers into the dielectric layer; depositing a liner/seed layer on the conductive hardmask layer and the sidewalls and bottom of the trench; filling the trench with a fill material; removing the liner/seed layer from the top surface of the conductive hardmask layer; removing the fill material from the trench; electroplating a metal layer onto exposed surfaces of the conductive hardmask layer and liner/seed layer; and removing the metal layer and the conductive hardmask layer from the dielectric hardmask layer so the metal layer and edges of the liner/seed layer are coplanar with the top surface of the dielectric hardmask layer.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are inductors with an air gap, semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and methods of fabricating them. The method of making an inductor with an air gap can include fabricating a first level of inductor in an intra-metal dielectric layer including one or more inductor loops, one or more vias, and one or more copper bulkhead structures, forming an inter-level dielectric layer over the first level and repeating the steps to form two or more levels of inductor. The method can also include forming an extraction via, forming an air gap between the inductor loops by removing portions of the intra-metal dielectric layer coupled to the extraction via using super critical fluid process, and forming a non-conformal layer to seal the extraction via.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of conductive lines formed within an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer and a non-planar cap layer formed over the ILD layer and the conductive lines, wherein the cap layer is raised with respect to the conductive lines at locations between the conductive lines.

Abstract: A microelectronic structure and a method for fabricating the microelectronic structure use a dielectric layer that is located and formed upon a first conductor layer. An aperture is located through the dielectric layer. The aperture penetrates vertically into the first conductor layer and extends laterally within the first conductor layer beneath the dielectric layer while not reaching the dielectric layer, to form an extended and winged aperture. A contiguous via and interconnect may be formed anchored into the extended and winged aperture while using a plating method, absent voids.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of conductive lines formed within an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer and a non-planar cap layer formed over the ILD layer and the conductive lines, wherein the cap layer is raised with respect to the conductive lines at locations between the conductive lines.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microelectronic structure includes forming a via aperture through a dielectric layer located over a substrate having a conductor layer therein, to expose the conductor layer. The conductor layer typically comprises a copper containing material. The method also includes etching the conductor layer to form a recessed conductor layer prior to etching a trench aperture within the dielectric layer. The trench aperture is typically contiguous with the via aperture to form a dual damascene aperture. By etching the conductor layer after forming the via aperture and before forming the trench aperture, such a dual damascene aperture is formed with enhanced dimensional integrity.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an interconnect. The method for manufacturing the interconnect, in one embodiment, includes forming a first metal feature over or within a substrate, the first metal feature having an exposed surface. The method for manufacturing the interconnect may additionally include cleaning the exposed surface using a reactive system with a reducing agent, and subjecting the exposed surface to a plasma etch. The method for manufacturing the interconnect may further include contacting the first metal feature with a second metal feature.

Abstract: A device employs damascene layers with a pore sealing liner and includes a semiconductor body. A metal interconnect layer comprising a metal interconnect is formed over the semiconductor body. A dielectric layer is formed over the metal interconnect layer. A conductive trench feature and a conductive via feature are formed in the dielectric layer. A pore sealing liner is formed only along sidewall of the conductive via feature and along sidewalls and bottom surfaces of the conductive trench feature. The pore sealing liner is not substantially present along a bottom surface of the conductive via feature.

Abstract: Methods are provided that enable the ability to use a less aggressive liner processes, while producing structures known to give a desired high stress migration and electro-migration reliability. The present invention circumvents the issue of sputter damage of low k (on the order of 3.2 or less) dielectric by creating the via “anchors” (interlocked and interpenetrated vias) through chemical means. This allows the elimination or significant reduction of the sputter-etching process used to create the via penetration (“drilling, gouging”) into the line below in the barrier/seed metallization step. The present invention achieves the above, while maintaining a reliable copper fill and device structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of conductive lines formed within an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer and a non-planar cap layer formed over the ILD layer and the conductive lines, wherein the cap layer is raised with respect to the conductive lines at locations between the conductive lines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming an interconnect on a semiconductor substrate 100. The method includes forming an opening 230 over an inner surface of the opening 130, the depositing forming a reentrant profile near a top portion of the opening 130. A portion of barrier 230 is etched, which removes at least a portion of the barrier 230 to reduce the reentrant profile. The etching also removes at least a portion of the barrier 230 layer at the bottom of the opening 130.

Abstract: A device employs damascene layers with a pore sealing liner and includes a semiconductor body. A metal interconnect layer comprising a metal interconnect is formed over the semiconductor body. A dielectric layer is formed over the metal interconnect layer. A conductive trench feature and a conductive via feature are formed in the dielectric layer. A pore sealing liner is formed only along sidewall of the conductive via feature and along sidewalls and bottom surfaces of the conductive trench feature. The pore sealing liner is not substantially present along a bottom surface of the conductive via feature.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a capping layer of a back end structure (step 706), drilling an extraction line from the capping layer to an inter-metal dielectric layer (step 708), performing a supercritical fluid process to remove portions of the inter-metal dielectric layer that are coupled to the extraction line (step 710): thereby forming a denuded dielectric region. Another embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit 2 having a back-end structure 5 coupled to a front-end structure 4. The back-end structure 5 having a first metal level 22. The first metal level 22 having metal interconnects 15 and an inter-metal dielectric layer 19. The back-end structure 5 further containing an extraction line 24 and a denuded dielectric region 25 coupled to the extraction line 24.

Abstract: The formation of a MIM (metal insulator metal) capacitor (164) and concurrent formation of a resistor (166) is disclosed. A copper diffusion barrier (124) is formed over a copper deposition (110) that serves as a bottom electrode (170) of the capacitor (164). The copper diffusion barrier (124) mitigates unwanted diffusion of copper from the copper deposition (110), and is formed via electro-less deposition such that little to none of the barrier material is deposited at locations other than over a top surface (125) of the deposition of copper/bottom electrode. Subsequently, layers of dielectric (150) and conductive (152) materials are applied to form a dielectric (172) and top electrode (174) of the MIM capacitor (164), respectively, where the layer of conductive top electrode material (152) also functions to concurrently develop the resistor (166) on the same chip as the capacitor (164).

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a capping layer of a back end structure (step 706), drilling an extraction line from the capping layer to an inter-metal dielectric layer (step 708), performing a supercritical fluid process to remove portions of the inter-metal dielectric layer that are coupled to the extraction line (step 710): thereby forming a denuded dielectric region. Another embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit 2 having a back-end structure 5 coupled to a front-end structure 4. The back-end structure 5 having a first metal level 22. The first metal level 22 having metal interconnects 15 and an inter-metal dielectric layer 19. The back-end structure 5 further containing an extraction line 24 and a denuded dielectric region 25 coupled to the extraction line 24.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. An interlayer dielectric layer is formed on one or more semiconductor layers (402). One or more feature regions are formed in the interlayer dielectric layer (404). A first conductive layer is formed in at least a portion of the feature regions and on the interlayer dielectric layer (406)). A first anneal is performed that promotes grain growth of the first conductive layer (408). An additional conductive layer is formed on the first conductive layer (410) and an additional anneal is performed (412) that promotes grain growth of the additional conductive layer and further promotes grain size growth of the first conductive layer. Additional conductive layers can be formed and annealed until a sufficient overburden amount has been obtained. Subsequently, a planarization process is performed that removes excess conductive material and thereby forms and isolates conductive features in the semiconductor device (414).

Abstract: A method (10) of forming a MIM (metal insulator metal) capacitor is disclosed whereby adverse affects associated with copper diffusion are mitigated even as the capacitor is scaled down. A layer of bottom electrode/copper diffusion barrier material (136) is formed (16) within an aperture (128) wherein the capacitor (100) is to be defined. The bottom electrode layer (136) is formed via a directional process so that a horizontal aspect (138) of the layer (136) is formed over a metal (110) at a bottom of the aperture (128) to a thickness (142) that is greater than a thickness (144) of a sidewall aspect (148) of the layer (136) formed upon sidewalls (132) of the aperture (128). Accordingly, the thinner sidewall aspects (148) are removed during an etching act (18) while some of the thicker horizontal aspect (138) remains. A layer of capacitor dielectric material (150) is then conformally formed (20) into the aperture 128 and over the horizontal aspect (138).