Patent ID: 9583380
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A method, comprising: forming a plurality of conductive lines disposed in a first dielectric material, wherein said conductive lines comprise a conductive fill material and a liner layer disposed between at least a bottom surface of said conductive fill material and said first dielectric material; exposing said first dielectric material to photon radiation in an ambient atmosphere comprising a carbon gettering agent to generate damaged portions of said first dielectric material, wherein said conductive lines block said photon radiation, and said damaged portions have a depth greater than a depth of a bottom surface of said liner layer of said conductive lines; removing said damaged portions of said first dielectric material to define recesses between said conductive lines, said recesses having a depth greater than said depth of said bottom surface of said liner layer of said conductive lines; forming a cap layer above said conductive lines without filling said recesses to define an air gap between said conductive lines; and forming a second dielectric material above said cap layer.