Patent ID: 8673766
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a device, comprising: forming a trench/via in a layer of insulating material; forming a barrier liner layer above said layer of insulating material and in said trench/via; performing a deposition process to form an as-deposited copper-based seed layer on said barrier liner layer above said layer of insulating material in said trench/via, said copper-based seed layer comprising a first portion that is positioned above a bottom of said trench/via and second portions that are positioned above sidewalls of said trench/via, said first portion having an as-deposited first thickness, said second portions having an as-deposited second thickness, wherein said as-deposited first thickness is greater than said as-deposited second thickness; performing an etching process on said as-deposited copper-based seed layer to substantially remove portions of said second portions of said as-deposited copper-based seed layer and thereby expose at least a portion of said barrier liner layer; after performing said etching process, exposing at least said exposed portion of said barrier liner layer to a reducing process environment; and after exposing at least said exposed portion of said barrier liner layer to said reducing process environment, performing an electroless deposition process to fill said trench/via with a copper-based material.