Patent ID: 8445377
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for improving the adhesion strength between two different layers comprising: forming a blanket layer of a dielectric capping material directly on an uppermost surface of an interconnect dielectric material and directly on an uppermost surface of at least one conductive feature embedded in said interconnect dielectric material; treating an upper region of said blanket layer of dielectric capping material with at least one of actinic radiation and electron beam (e-beam) radiation to form a treated surface layer within said upper region of said blanket layer of dielectric capping material, said treated surface layer is located upon an untreated portion of said blanket layer of dielectric capping material, and is physically and chemically different from said untreated portion of said blanket layer of dielectric capping material, and said untreated portion of said blanket layer of dielectric capping material separates the treated surface layer within said upper region of said blanket layer of dielectric capping material from both said interconnect dielectric material and said at least one conductive feature; and forming a low-k dielectric layer having a dielectric constant of less than 4.0 on said treated surface layer, wherein said treated surface layer remains as a permanent element in a semiconductor structure and is located between a remaining portion of the blanket layer of dielectric capping material and said low-k dielectric layer.