Patent ID: 6508919
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for forming a diffusion barrier stack integral with a dielectric material for use in an interconnect structure in which passage of current through the stack primarily occurs via tunneling, the method comprising:providing a dielectric material having a topography including a top surface and at least one recessed surface feature comprising at least a sidewall and a bottom; and depositing a liner stack on the dielectric material topography comprising at least one refractory metal layer in alternating relation with at least one electrically resistive diffusion barrier layer, wherein each metal layer other than a terminal layer has a thickness at the feature bottom sufficient to function as a contact facilitation layer for the at least one diffusion barrier layer, and wherein each diffusion barrier layer has a thickness less than a thickness that substantially limits passage of tunneling current through the diffusion barrier layer, and a total thickness for the sum of the at least one diffusion barrer layer is sufficient to block passage of diffusing atoms from the at least one metal layer, the dielectric material topography or a subsequently applied interconnect layer.