IP Library Granted Patent US 7,709,959
Granted Patent B2
US 7,709,959 · App. 11/363,403 · Granted May 4, 2010

Article with a metal layer on a substrate

Assignee: University of Massachusetts
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,709,959
App. No.
11/363,403
Granted
May 4, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article includes a substrate and a metal layer adhered to a surface of the substrate so as to form an interface. The interface comprises an atomic concentration of carbon that is about 10% or less and of oxygen that is about 10% or less as determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Claims (16)

1. An article comprising:

a substrate; and

a metal layer adhered to a surface of the substrate so as to form an interface comprising an atomic concentration of carbon is about 10% or less and of oxygen is about 10% or less as determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the atomic concentration of carbon is about 5% or less.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the atomic concentration of oxygen is about 5% or less.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer is sufficiently adhered to the substrate so as to withstand a scribe tape test.

5. The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer comprises copper.

6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a silicon wafer.

7. The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a barrier layer deposited on a silicon wafer.

8. An integrated circuit comprising the article of claim 1 .

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein there is substantially no organic acid material at the interface between the substrate and the layer of the metal layer.

10. The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal of the metal layer is primarily in a non-oxidized state at the interface between the substrate and the metal layer.

11. The article of claim 1 , wherein metal in an oxidized state is substantially absent at the interface between the substrate and the metal layer.

12. The article of claim 7 , wherein the barrier layer is an inorganic layer.

13. The article of claim 7 , wherein the barrier layer is a layer deposited by one of CVD, CFD, ALD, and PVD.

14. The article of claim 7 , wherein the barrier layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of TiN, Ta, TaN, Ru and Co.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Oct 21, 2016
From: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 040085/0975 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 1, 2006
From: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 018199/0973 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2006
From: WATKINS, JAMES J.; ZONG, YINFENG
To: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Reel/Frame 017526/0079 →
Continuity (3)
Division 1110474300 · Apr 13, 2005
Provisional Application 6056203100 · Apr 14, 2004
Related Publication 20060145351A1 · Jul 6, 2006