Abstract: By providing a test structure for electromigration tests in semiconductor devices, which may indicate the status of a barrier layer at the bottom of a test via in the structure, a significantly increased reliability of respective electromigration tests may be obtained. Furthermore, the degree of porosity of the barrier layer may be estimated on the basis of the resulting test structure, which comprises a feed line having an increased probability for void formation compared to the test via, when a specific degree of porosity is created in the test via.

Abstract: By providing an etch stop layer selectively at the bevel, at least one additional wet chemical bevel etch process may be performed prior to or during the formation of a metallization layer without affecting the substrate material. Hence, the dielectric material, especially the low-k dielectric material, may be reliably removed from the bevel prior to the formation of any barrier and metal layers. The etch stop layer may be formed at an early manufacturing stage so that a bevel etch process may be performed at any desired stage of the formation of circuit elements.

Abstract: By replacing, in an otherwise copper-based metallization stack, copper with aluminum in the very last metal line layer, the respective terminal metal layer of conventional semiconductor devices may be omitted. Consequently, an enormous gain in production cost savings may be achieved, since a plurality of process steps may be omitted, while, on the other hand, substantially no performance degradation may result.

Abstract: By forming a thin passivation layer after the formation of openings connecting to a highly reactive metal region, any queue time effects may be significantly reduced. Prior to the deposition of a barrier/adhesion layer, the passivation layer may be efficiently removed on the basis of a heat treatment so as to initiate material removal by evaporation.