Patent ID: 6482477
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
A method of improving adhesion of a transition metal-based material to a dielectric-covered substrate, the method comprising:positioning the substrate in a reaction chamber; heating the substrate to a predetermined temperature; providing a gas atmosphere comprising a nitrogen-containing and hydrogen-containing process gas and a first transition metal halide vapor-phase reactant adjacent a surface of the dielectric, the first transition metal halide vapor-phase reactant originating from residual transition metal halide transported to the surface of the dielectric from an internal chamber surface of the reaction chamber; creating a plasma from the gas atmosphere; exposing the heated substrate to the plasma for a predetermined time sufficient to form a layer of transition metal nitride on the surface of the dielectric; and thereafter depositing a layer of transition metal-based material by a CVD process onto a surface of the layer of transition metal nitride via a chemical reaction between a second transition metal halide vapor-phase reactant and a reducing gas, the layer of transition metal nitride and the layer of transition metal-based material defining an interface, wherein by-product halogen atoms are created at the interface by the chemical reaction and wherein the layer of transition metal nitride reduces the effect of the by-product halogen atoms resident at the interface upon adhesion of the transition metal-based material to the surface of the dielectric.