Patent ID: 6577011
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A multilevel air-gap-containing interconnect wiring structure comprising:a collection of interspersed line levels and via levels, said via levels and line levels containing conductive via and line features embedded in a dielectric comprising an air-gap and solid dielectric, said air-gap and solid dielectric comprising: (i) one or more solid dielectrics only in the shadows of said conductive features in overlying levels; and (ii) a gaseous dielectric elsewhere in said structure; wherein said collection of line levels and via levels are topped by a laminated thin, taut insulating cover layer having openings to selected conductive features in the topmost underlying line or via layer, and wherein said openings are filled with conductive material connecting to terminal pad contacts on said insulating cover layer; and a thin conformal conductive layer on said selected surfaces of said conductive features, wherein said conformal conductive layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: Ni, Co, Niâ€”P, Niâ€”B, Coâ€”P, Coâ€”Wâ€”P, an alloy thereof, and a combination thereof, applied in a thickness range of 5 to 200 nm.