IP Library Granted Patent US 10,361,119
Granted Patent B1
US 10,361,119 · App. 15/966,695 · Granted Jul 23, 2019

Enlarged contact area structure using noble metal cap and noble metal liner

Inventors: Koichi Motoyama (Clifton Park, NY); Chih-Chao Yang (Glenmont, NY); James J. Kelly (Schenectady, NY); Cornelius Brown Peethala (Slingerlands, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H01L21/76843H01L21/76805H01L21/76807H01L21/76862H01L21/76873H01L21/76876H01L21/76879H01L23/5226H01L23/53228
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,361,119
App. No.
15/966,695
Granted
Jul 23, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method is presented for forming an enlarged contact area. The method includes forming a trench for receiving a first conductive material, forming a noble metal cap over a portion of the first conductive material, forming a dielectric capping layer over the noble metal cap, etching a portion of the first conductive material to create a via anchoring structure and an undercut region exposing a bottom surface of the noble metal cap, and depositing a plurality of liners such that one liner of the plurality of liners directly contacts an entirety of the exposed bottom surface of the noble metal cap.

Claims (35)

1. A method for forming an enlarged contact area, the method comprising:

forming a trench for receiving a first conductive material;

forming a noble metal cap over a portion of the first conductive material;

forming a dielectric capping layer over the noble metal cap;

etching a portion of the first conductive material to create a via anchoring structure and an undercut region exposing a bottom surface of the noble metal cap; and

depositing a plurality of liners such that one liner of the plurality of liners directly contacts an entirety of the exposed bottom surface of the noble metal cap.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal received within the trench is copper (Cu).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the noble metal cap is a ruthenium (Ru) cap.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the etching is an isotropic wet etch that prevents etching of the noble metal cap.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of liners includes three layers.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first layer is a tantalum nitride (TaN) liner, the second layer is a ruthenium (Ru) liner, and the third layer is a copper (Cu) layer.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising filling the undercut region with a second conductive material such that voids are prevented from forming between a via and the first conductive material.

8. A method for forming an enlarged contact area, the method comprising:

depositing a first conductive material within a barrier layer;

forming a ruthenium (Ru) cap over a portion of the first conductive material;

etching a portion of the first conductive material;

creating a via anchoring structure and an undercut region exposing a bottom surface of the Ru cap; and

depositing a plurality of liners such at least one liner of the plurality of liners directly contacts the exposed bottom surface of the Ru cap such that plating current flows through the plurality of liners.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the metal received within the barrier layer is copper (Cu).

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the etching is an isotropic wet etch that prevents etching of the Ru cap.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of liners includes three layers.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first layer is a tantalum nitride (TaN) liner, the second layer is a ruthenium (Ru) liner, and the third layer is a copper (Cu) layer.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising filling the undercut region with a second conductive material such that voids are prevented from forming between a via and the first conductive material.

14. A semiconductor structure forming an enlarged contact area, the structure comprising:

a first conductive material disposed within a barrier layer;

a noble metal cap disposed over a portion of the first conductive material;

a via anchoring structure created by etching a portion of the first conductive material;

an undercut region defined under the noble metal cap, the undercut region exposing a bottom surface of the noble metal cap; and

a plurality of liners deposited such at least one liner of the plurality of liners directly contacts the exposed bottom surface of the noble metal cap.

15. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the metal received within the barrier layer is copper (Cu).

16. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the noble metal cap is a ruthenium (Ru) cap.

17. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of liners includes three layers.

18. The structure of claim 17 , wherein the first layer is a tantalum nitride (TaN) liner, the second layer is a ruthenium (Ru) liner, and the third layer is a copper (Cu) layer.

19. The structure of claim 14 , wherein the undercut region is filled with a second conductive material such that voids formation is prevented between a via and the first conductive material.

20. The structure of claim 14 , wherein plating current flows through the plurality of liners due to the noble metal cap directly contacting the at least one liner of the plurality of liners.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2020
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: ELPIS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 052561/0161 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE FOR ASSIGNOR KOICHI MOTOYAMA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045671 FRAME 0186. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 20, 2020
From: MOTOYAMA, KOICHI; YANG, CHIH-CHAO; KELLY, JAMES J.; PEETHALA, CORNELIUS BROWN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051643/0381 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2018
From: MOTOYAMA, KOICHI; YANG, CHIH-CHAO; KELLY, JAMES J.; PEETHALA, CORNELIUS BROWN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 045671/0186 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,581,645 US 12,702,050