IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,438,077
Granted Patent B2
US 12,438,077 · App. 17/454,378 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Damascene interconnect spacer to facilitate gap fill

Inventors: Nicholas Anthony Lanzillo (Wynantskill, NY); Timothy Mathew Philip (Albany, NY); Kevin W. Brew (Niskayuna, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H01L23/5226H01L21/76829H01L21/76843H01L21/76871H01L23/53238
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,438,077
App. No.
17/454,378
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor component includes a dielectric layer including an opening. The semiconductor component further includes a liner arranged in the opening in direct contact with the dielectric layer. The semiconductor component further includes a wetting layer arranged in the opening in direct contact with the liner. The semiconductor component further includes an interconnect structure arranged in the opening in direct contact with the wetting layer. The semiconductor component further includes a cap arranged in the opening in direct contact with the interconnect structure and separated from the wetting layer by a spacer.

Claims (48)

1. A semiconductor component, comprising:

a dielectric layer including an opening;

a liner arranged in the opening in direct contact with the dielectric layer;

a wetting layer arranged in the opening in direct contact with the liner;

an interconnect structure arranged in the opening in direct contact with the wetting layer; and

a cap arranged in the opening in direct contact with the interconnect structure and separated from the wetting layer by a spacer, wherein a lowermost surface of the spacer is in direct contact with an uppermost surface of the wetting layer.

2. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein an uppermost surface of the liner is substantially coplanar with an uppermost surface of the spacer.

3. The semiconductor component of claim 2 , wherein the uppermost surface of the liner and the uppermost surface of the spacer are substantially coplanar with the uppermost surface of the wetting layer.

4. The semiconductor component of claim 2 , wherein the uppermost surface of the liner and the uppermost surface of the spacer are arranged higher than the uppermost surface of the wetting layer.

5. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein an uppermost surface of the cap is substantially coplanar with an uppermost surface of the liner and an uppermost surface of the spacer.

6. The semiconductor component of claim 5 , wherein the uppermost surface of the cap is substantially coplanar with the uppermost surface of the wetting layer.

7. The semiconductor component of claim 5 , wherein the uppermost surface of the cap is arranged higher than the uppermost surface of the wetting layer.

8. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein:

the wetting layer is made of ruthenium; and

the cap is made of cobalt.

9. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is made of a metal nitride.

10. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is integrally formed with the liner.

11. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein the wetting layer is interposed between the liner and the spacer.

12. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein the cap is not in direct contact with the wetting layer.

13. The semiconductor component of claim 1 , wherein:

a first side surface of the wetting layer is in direct contact with the liner; and

a second side surface of the wetting layer is opposite the first side surface of the wetting layer and is in direct contact with the spacer.

14. A method of making a semiconductor component, the method comprising:

forming a liner in an opening in a dielectric layer;

forming a wetting layer in the opening in direct contact with the liner;

forming an interconnect structure in the opening in direct contact with the wetting layer;

recessing the interconnect structure and the wetting layer relative to the dielectric layer;

forming a spacer on top of the wetting layer and in direct contact with the liner; and

forming a cap on top of the interconnect structure and in direct contact with the spacer such that the cap is not in direct contact with the wetting layer.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the spacer includes:

depositing a layer of spacer material on top of the liner, the wetting layer, and the interconnect structure; and

selectively removing the layer of spacer material from on top of the liner and the interconnect structure.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:

recessing the interconnect structure and the wetting layer includes recessing the liner relative to the dielectric layer; and

forming the spacer includes:

depositing a layer of spacer material on top of the liner, the wetting layer, and the interconnect structure; and

selectively removing the layer of spacer material from on top of the interconnect structure.

17. A method of making a semiconductor component, the method comprising:

forming a liner in an opening in a dielectric layer;

forming a wetting layer in the opening in direct contact with the liner;

forming an interconnect structure in the opening in direct contact with the wetting layer;

recessing the interconnect structure relative to the dielectric layer;

forming a spacer on top of the interconnect structure and in direct contact with the wetting layer, wherein a lowermost surface of the spacer is in direct contact with an uppermost surface of the wetting layer; and

forming a cap on top of the interconnect structure and in direct contact with the spacer such that the cap is not in direct contact with the wetting layer.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein forming the spacer includes:

depositing a layer of spacer material on top of the liner, the wetting layer, and the interconnect structure; and

selectively removing the layer of spacer material from on top of the liner, the wetting layer, and a portion of the interconnect structure.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein forming the cap includes depositing a layer of cap material on the portion of the interconnect structure from which the layer of spacer material was selectively removed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2021
From: LANZILLO, NICHOLAS ANTHONY; PHILIP, TIMOTHY MATHEW; BREW, KEVIN W.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058074/0447 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230144842A1 · May 11, 2023
References Cited (27)
US 6756313B2 · Choi et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 7008871B2 · Andricacos et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7422984B2 · Okamoto · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7772702B2 · Bielefeld et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8178437B2 · Chang et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 9343406B2 · Zhang et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9362166B2 · Ishizaka et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9780035B1 · Briggs et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9799555B1 · Zhang et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10418326B2 · Jung · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20030207585A1 · Choi et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20050001325A1 · Andricacos et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050042785A1 · Okamoto · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20070202689A1 · Choi et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080073748A1 · Bielefeld et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080142971A1 · Dordi · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20080280432A1 · Chang et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20100200991A1 · Akolkar · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20150130063A1 · Zhang et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150262872A1 · Ishizaka et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20180096888A1 · Naik · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180158781A1 · Jung · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190304918A1 · Griggio et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190393085A1 · Bhosale · 2019 [cited by examiner]
Russell, et al., “Precision integrated thickness control with gas cluster ion beam patch,” TEL Epion Inc, TEL Technology Center America, https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie, downloaded Aug.… [cited by applicant]
Anonymous, “Interconnect Structures and Process Flows for Improved Metal Cap Coverage,” an IP.com Prior Art Database, IBM.com No. IPCOM000124950D, May 13, 2005, 5 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Huang et al., “Impact of Liner Metals on Copper Resistivity at Beyond 7nm Dimensions,” 2018 IEEE International Interconnect Technology Conference (IITC), 2018, pp. 13-15, doi: 10.1109/IITC.2018.8430472. [cited by applicant]