Patent ID: 8679972
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for depositing a metal-containing material on a substrate, the method comprising: (a) receiving a wafer substrate comprising at least one via comprising a bottom part and at least one trench, wherein the substrate comprises an exposed metal at the bottom part of the at least one via, and wherein at least one via is unlanded; (b) depositing a first portion of the metal-containing material at least over the bottom part of the at least one via using a metal from a deposition source; (c) etching away the first portion of the metal-containing material at the bottom part of the at least one via with energetic inert gas ions without fully etching through to partially remove the first portion of the metal-containing material such that a part of the first portion of the metal-containing material remains at the bottom part of the at least one via and a portion of the first portion of the metal-containing material is removed from the bottom part of the at least one via, such that the resistance of subsequently formed interconnects is reduced relative to that of interconnects formed using the first portion of the metal-containing material prior to etching, while simultaneously depositing a second portion of the metal-containing material in the at least one trench and/or field on the wafer substrate.