Patent ID: 8420531
Filing Date: 2013-04-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming an interconnect structure, said method comprising: forming at least one opening into an interconnect dielectric material; forming a nitrogen enriched dielectric surface layer within exposed surfaces of said interconnect dielectric material, wherein said nitrogen enriched dielectric surface layer is formed by thermal nitridation in a non-plasma nitrogen-containing ambient, said nitrogen enriched dielectric surface layer has a higher nitrogen content than a remaining portion of the interconnect dielectric material; forming a metal diffusion barrier liner on said nitrogen enriched dielectric surface layer, wherein during and/or after said forming the metal diffusion barrier liner, a metal nitride liner forms in a lower region of the metal diffusion barrier liner by reacting metal atoms from said metal diffusion barrier liner with nitrogen atoms from said nitrogen enriched dielectric surface layer; forming a conductive material on said metal diffusion barrier liner; and removing said conductive material, said metal diffusion barrier liner and said metal nitride liner that are located outside of the at least one opening to provide a planarized conductive material, a planarized metal diffusion barrier liner and a planarized metal nitride liner, each of which includes an upper surface that is co-planar with an upper surface of the nitrogen enriched dielectric surface layer of the interconnect dielectric material.