Inherently selective precursors for deposition of second or third row transition metal thin films

1. A ligand framework for second or third row transition metal complex formation, the ligand framework comprising:

a lithium complex of the formula:

or a lithium complex of the formula:

wherein E is nitrogen (N) or phosphorous (P), and R is an organic group.

2. The ligand framework of claim 1 , wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), iso-propyl ( i Pr), tert-butyl ( t Bu), sec-butyl (sec-Bu), and dimethyl amino (Me 2 N).

3. A second or third row transition metal complex, comprising:

a metal complex of the formula:

or an isomer thereof,

or a metal complex of the formula:

or an isomer thereof,

or a metal complex of the formula:

or an isomer thereof,

or a metal complex of the formula:

or an isomer thereof,

wherein R 2 is dimethyl (Me 2 ) or diethyl (Et 2 ), and R is an organic group.

4. The second or third row transition metal complex of claim 3 , wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), iso-propyl ( i Pr), tert-butyl ( t Bu), sec-butyl (sec-Bu), and dimethyl amino (Me 2 N).

5. The second or third row transition metal complex of claim 4 , wherein M is selected from the group consisting of tungsten (W) and ruthenium (Ru).

6. A method of fabricating a thin metal film, the method comprising:

introducing precursor molecules proximate to a metal surface on or above a substrate, each of the precursor molecules comprising a second or third row transition metal center complexed with three heteroleptic bidentate ligands; and

depositing a second or third row transition metal layer on the metal surface by thermally dissociating the ligands from the precursor molecules, wherein introducing the precursor molecules comprises introducing precursor molecules of the formula:

or an isomer thereof, wherein R 2 is dimethyl (Me 2 ) or diethyl (Et 2 ), and R is an organic group.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein thermally dissociating the ligands from the precursor molecules comprises heating to a temperature approximately in the range of 50-600 degrees Celsius.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein depositing the second or third row transition metal layer on the metal surface comprises depositing selectively on the metal surface without depositing on an adjacent dielectric surface.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein depositing the second or third row transition metal layer on the metal surface comprises forming the second or third row transition metal layer to a thickness approximately equal to or less than 10 nanometers.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein depositing the second or third row transition metal layer comprises using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein depositing the second or third row transition metal layer involves depositing a tungsten layer.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein depositing the second or third row transition metal layer involves depositing a ruthenium layer.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the precursor molecules are formed from a lithium complex of the formula:

wherein E is nitrogen (N).

14. A method of fabricating a thin metal film, the method comprising:

introducing precursor molecules proximate to a metal surface on or above a substrate, each of the precursor molecules comprising a second or third row transition metal center complexed with three heteroleptic bidentate ligands; and

depositing a second or third row transition metal layer on the metal surface by thermally dissociating the ligands from the precursor molecules, wherein introducing the precursor molecules comprises introducing precursor molecules of the formula:

or an isomer thereof, wherein R 2 is dimethyl (Me 2 ) or diethyl (Et 2 ), and R is an organic group.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the precursor molecules are formed from a lithium complex of the formula:

wherein E is phosphorous (P).

16. A method of fabricating a thin metal film, the method comprising:

introducing precursor molecules proximate to a metal surface on or above a substrate, each of the precursor molecules comprising a second or third row transition metal center complexed with three heteroleptic bidentate ligands; and

depositing a second or third row transition metal layer on the metal surface by thermally dissociating the ligands from the precursor molecules, wherein introducing the precursor molecules comprises introducing precursor molecules of the formula:

or an isomer thereof, wherein R 2 is dimethyl (Me 2 ) or diethyl (Et 2 ), and R is an organic group.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the precursor molecules are formed from a lithium complex of the formula:

wherein E is nitrogen (N), and R is an organic group.

18. A method of fabricating a thin metal film, the method comprising:

introducing precursor molecules proximate to a metal surface on or above a substrate, each of the precursor molecules comprising a second or third row transition metal center complexed with three heteroleptic bidentate ligands; and

depositing a second or third row transition metal layer on the metal surface by thermally dissociating the ligands from the precursor molecules, wherein introducing the precursor molecules comprises introducing precursor molecules of the formula:

or an isomer thereof, wherein R 2 is dimethyl (Me 2 ) or diethyl (Et 2 ), and R is an organic group.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the precursor molecules are formed from a lithium complex of the formula:

wherein E is phosphorous (P), and R is an organic group.