IP Library Granted Patent US 12,170,248
Granted Patent B2
US 12,170,248 · App. 18/607,380 · Granted Dec 17, 2024

Graphene BEOL integration interconnection structures

Inventors: Klaus Schuegraf (San Diego, CA); Kaustav Banerjee (Goleta, CA); Brian Cronquist (Klamath Falls, OR)
Assignee: DESTINATION 2D
H01L23/53276H01L23/5226H01L23/5283
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,170,248
App. No.
18/607,380
Granted
Dec 17, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interconnection structure, including: a first BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) level which includes a first MLG (Multi-Layer Graphene) layer which includes at least one first line structure of MLG material; and a first isolation layer which includes an electrically isolating material and is disposed above and beside the at least one first line structure of MLG material; a second BEOL level which includes a second MLG layer (includes MLG material) disposed above the first isolation layer; a connection path electrically connecting first MLG layer to second MLG layer; and at least one via with serrated edges mitigating misalignment impacts and providing low via to line contact resistance, where the connection path includes one of the at least one via, where a width of the at least one first line structure of MLG material is greater than a diameter of the one of the at least one via, and where both MLG layers are intercalation doped.

Claims (164)

1. An interconnection structure, the structure comprising:

a first BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) level;

a first MLG (Multi-Layer Graphene) layer;

a first isolation layer,

wherein said first BEOL level comprises said first MLG layer and said first isolation layer,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said first isolation layer comprises an electrically isolating material,

wherein said first isolation layer is disposed above and beside said at least one first line structure of MLG material;

a second BEOL level;

a second MLG layer;

a connection path;

at least one via,

wherein said second BEOL level comprises said second MLG layer,

wherein said second MLG layer is disposed above said first isolation layer,

wherein said second MLG layer comprises MLG material,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said first MLG layer to said second MLG layer,

wherein said connection path comprises one of said at least one via,

wherein a width of said at least one first line structure of MLG material is greater than a diameter of said one of said at least one via, and

wherein said first MLG layer and said second MLG layer are intercalation doped (n-type or p-type); and

a second isolation layer disposed below said at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said at least one via is partially etched into said second isolation layer.

2. The interconnection structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least 1 graphene layer.

3. The interconnection structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a hard mask,

wherein said hard mask is disposed above said second MLG layer.

4. The interconnection structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein said electrically isolating material comprises a low-k dielectric or air-gap or a combination of said air-gap and said low-k dielectric.

5. An interconnection structure, the structure comprising:

a first BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) level;

a first MLG (Multi-Layer Graphene) layer;

a first isolation layer,

wherein said first BEOL level comprises said first MLG layer and said first isolation layer,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said first isolation layer comprises an electrically isolating material,

wherein said first isolation layer is disposed above and beside said at least one first line structure of MLG material;

a second BEOL level;

a second MLG layer;

a connection path; and

at least one via,

wherein said second BEOL level comprises said second MLG layer,

wherein said second MLG layer is disposed above said first isolation layer,

wherein said second MLG layer comprises MLG material,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said first MLG layer to said second MLG layer,

wherein said connection path comprises one of said at least one via,

wherein a width of said at least one first line structure of MLG material is greater than a diameter of said one of said at least one via, and

wherein said first MLG layer and said second MLG layer are intercalation doped (n-type or p-type),

wherein said at least one via has a topside view serrated pattern first perimeter greater than a second perimeter of a conventional circle-shaped via of equivalent diameter as said at least one via, thus maximizing a sidewall area of said at least one first line structure of MLG material directly contacting said at least one via.

6. The interconnection structure according to claim 5 ,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least 1 graphene layer.

7. The interconnection structure according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a hard mask,

wherein said hard mask is disposed above said second MLG layer.

8. An interconnection structure, the structure comprising:

a first BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) level;

a first MLG (Multi-Layer Graphene) layer;

a first isolation layer,

wherein said first BEOL level comprises said first MLG layer and said first isolation layer,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said first isolation layer comprises an electrically isolating material,

wherein said first isolation layer is disposed above and beside said at least one first line structure of MLG material;

a second BEOL level;

a second MLG layer;

a connection path;

at least one via,

wherein said second BEOL level comprises said second MLG layer,

wherein said second MLG layer is disposed above said first isolation layer,

wherein said second MLG layer comprises MLG material,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said first MLG layer to said second MLG layer,

wherein said connection path comprises one of said at least one via,

wherein said second MLG layer comprises at least one second line structure of MLG material,

wherein a width of said at least one second line structure of MLG material is greater than a diameter of said one of said at least one via, and

wherein said first MLG layer and said second MLG layer are intercalation doped (n-type or p-type); and

a second isolation layer disposed below said at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said at least one via is partially etched into said second isolation layer.

9. The interconnection structure according to claim 8 ,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least 1 graphene layer.

10. The interconnection structure according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a hard mask,

wherein said hard mask is disposed above said second MLG layer.

11. An interconnection structure, the structure comprising:

a first BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) level;

a first MLG (Multi-Layer Graphene) layer;

a first isolation layer,

wherein said first BEOL level comprises said first MLG layer and said first isolation layer,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said first isolation layer comprises an electrically isolating material,

wherein said first isolation layer is disposed above and beside said at least one first line structure of MLG material;

a second BEOL level;

a second MLG layer;

a connection path; and

at least one via,

wherein said second BEOL level comprises said second MLG layer,

wherein said second MLG layer is disposed above said first isolation layer,

wherein said second MLG layer comprises MLG material,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said first MLG layer to said second MLG layer,

wherein said connection path comprises one of said at least one via,

wherein said second MLG layer comprises at least one second line structure of MLG material,

wherein a width of said at least one second line structure of MLG material is greater than a diameter of said one of said at least one via, and

wherein said first MLG layer and said second MLG layer are intercalation doped (n-type or p-type),

wherein said at least one via has a topside view serrated pattern first perimeter greater than a second perimeter of a conventional circle-shaped via of equivalent diameter as said at least one via, thus maximizing a sidewall area of said at least one first line structure of MLG material directly contacting said at least one via.

12. The interconnection structure according to claim 11 ,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least 1 graphene layer.

13. The interconnection structure according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a hard mask,

wherein said hard mask is disposed above said second MLG layer.

14. An interconnection structure, the structure comprising:

a first BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) level;

a conventional conductor layer;

a first isolation layer,

wherein said first BEOL level comprises said conventional conductor layer and said first isolation layer,

wherein said conventional conductor layer comprises at least one first line structure of conventional conductor material,

wherein said conventional conductor material comprises metals and metal alloys comprising Al, AlCu, Cu, TiN, Ti, TaN, Ta, W, carbon nanotubes, and metal silicides such as CoSi 2 , TiSi 2 , NiSi 2 and WSi 2 ;

wherein said first isolation layer comprises an electrically isolating material,

wherein said first isolation layer is disposed above and beside said at least one first line structure of conventional conductor material;

a second BEOL level;

a first MLG layer;

a connection path; and

at least one via,

wherein said second BEOL level comprises said first MLG layer,

wherein said first MLG layer is disposed above said first isolation layer,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises MLG material,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said conventional conductor layer to said first MLG layer,

wherein said connection path comprises one of said at least one via,

wherein a width of said at least one first line structure of MLG material is greater than a diameter of said one of said at least one via,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said first MLG layer to said one of said at least one via with a minimum contact resistance,

wherein said first MLG layer is intercalation doped (n-type or p-type), and

wherein said at least one via is partially etched into said at least one first line structure of conventional conductor material.

15. The interconnection structure according to claim 14 ,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least 1 graphene layer.

16. The interconnection structure according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a hard mask,

wherein said hard mask is disposed above said first MLG layer.

17. An interconnection structure, the structure comprising:

a first BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) level;

a conventional conductor layer;

a first isolation layer,

wherein said first BEOL level comprises said conventional conductor layer and said first isolation layer,

wherein said conventional conductor layer comprises at least one first line structure of conventional conductor material,

wherein said conventional conductor material comprises metals and metal alloys comprising Al, AlCu, Cu, TiN, Ti, TaN, Ta, W, carbon nanotubes, and metal silicides such as CoSi 2 , TiSi 2 , NiSi 2 and WSi 2 ;

wherein said first isolation layer comprises an electrically isolating material,

wherein said first isolation layer is disposed above and beside said at least one first line structure of conventional conductor material;

a second BEOL level;

a first MLG layer;

a connection path; and

at least one via,

wherein said second BEOL level comprises said first MLG layer,

wherein said first MLG layer is disposed above said first isolation layer,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises MLG material,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least one first line structure of MLG material,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said conventional conductor layer to said first MLG layer,

wherein said connection path comprises one of said at least one via,

wherein a width of said at least one first line structure of MLG material is greater than a diameter of said one of said at least one via,

wherein said connection path electrically connects said first MLG layer to said one of said at least one via with a minimum contact resistance,

wherein said first MLG layer is intercalation doped (n-type or p-type), and

wherein said at least one via has a topside view serrated pattern first perimeter greater than a second perimeter of a conventional circle-shaped via of equivalent diameter as said at least one via, thus maximizing a sidewall area of said at least one first line structure of MLG material directly contacting said at least one via.

18. The interconnection structure according to claim 17 ,

wherein said first MLG layer comprises at least 1 graphene layer.

19. The interconnection structure according to claim 17 , further comprising:

a hard mask,

wherein said hard mask is disposed above said first MLG layer.

20. The interconnection structure according to claim 17 ,

wherein said electrically isolating material comprises a low-k dielectric or air-gap or a combination of said air-gap and said low-k dielectric.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2024
From: SCHUEGRAF, KLAUS; BANERJEE, KAUSTAV; CRONQUIST, BRIAN
To: DESTINATION 2D
Reel/Frame 069040/0681 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63457362 · Apr 5, 2023
Related Publication 20240339407A1 · Oct 10, 2024
Cited By (5)
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