Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing a capping layer on a substrate surface containing a copper layer is provided which includes exposing the substrate surface to a zinc solution, exposing the substrate surface to a silver solution to form a silver layer thereon and depositing the capping layer on the silver layer by an electroless deposition process. A second silver layer may be formed on the capping layer, if desired. In another embodiment, a composition of a deposition solution useful for forming a cobalt tungsten alloy contains calcium tungstate, a cobalt source at a concentration within a range from about 50 mM to about 500 mM, a complexing agent at a concentration within a range from about 100 mM to about 700 mM, and a buffering agent at a concentration within a range from about 50 mM to about 500 mM.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrolessly depositing a multilayer film using a fluid processing solution(s) that can clean and then electrolessly deposit a metal films having discrete or varying composition onto a conductive surface using a single processing cell. The process advantageously includes in-situ cleaning step in order to minimize the formation of oxides on the conductive surfaces, by minimizing or preventing the exposure of the conductive surfaces to oxygen (e.g., air) between the cleaning step and an electroless deposition process step(s). In one aspect, the chemical components used in the fluid processing solution(s) are selected so that the interaction of various chemical components will not drastically change the desirable properties of each of the interacting fluids, generate particles in the fluid lines or on the surface of the substrate, and/or generate a significant amount of heat which can damage the hardware or significantly change the electroless process results.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing a capping layer on a substrate surface containing a copper layer is provided which includes exposing the substrate surface to a zinc solution to form a zinc layer on the copper layer. The method further includes exposing the substrate surface to a silver solution to form a silver layer on the zinc layer, and depositing the capping layer on the silver layer by an electroless deposition process. A second silver layer may be formed on the capping layer, if desired. In another embodiment, a composition of a deposition solution to deposit a cobalt tungsten alloy is disclosed. The deposition solution includes CaWO4, a cobalt source in a range from about 50 mM to about 500 mM, a complexing agent in a range from about 100 mM to about 700 mM and a buffering agent in a range from about 50 mM to about 500 mM.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide compositions of activation-alloy solutions, methods to deposit activation-alloys and electronic devices including activation-alloys and capping layers. In one embodiment, a method for depositing a capping layer for a semiconductor device is provided which includes exposing a conductive layer on a substrate surface to an activation-alloy solution, forming an activation-alloy layer on the conductive layer using the activation-alloy solution, and depositing the capping layer on the activation-alloy layer using an electroless deposition solution.

Abstract: A method of utilizing electroless copper deposition to form interconnects on a semiconductor wafer. Once a via or a trench is formed in a dielectric layer, a titanium nitride (TiN) or tantalum (Ta) barrier layer is blanket deposited. Then, a contact displacement technique is used to form a thin activation seed layer of copper on the barrier layer. An electroless deposition technique is then used to auto-catalytically deposit copper on the activated barrier layer. The electroless copper deposition continues until the via/trench is filled. Subsequently, the surface is polished by an application of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove excess copper and barrier material from the surface, so that the only copper and barrier material remaining are in the via/trench openings. Then an overlying silicon nitride (SiN) layer is formed above the exposed copper in order to form a dielectric barrier layer.

Abstract: A method or utilizing electroless copper deposition to selectively form encapsulated copper plugs to connect conductive regions on a semiconductor. A via opening in an inter-level dielectric (ILD) provides a path for connecting two conductive regions separated by the ILD. Once the underlying metal layer is exposed by the via opening, a SiN or SiON dielectric encapsulation layer is formed along the sidewalls of the via. Then, a contact displacement technique is used to form a thin activation layer of copper on a barrier metal, such as TiN, which is present as a covering layer on the underlying metal layer. After the contact displacement of copper on the barrier layer at the bottom of the via, an electroless copper deposition technique is then used to auto-catalytically deposit copper in the via. The electroless copper deposition continues until the via is almost filled, but leaving sufficient room at the top in order to form an upper encapsulation layer.