Patent ID: 6271120
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A process of forming a barrier titanium nitride layer in contact openings etched in a dielectric layer supported over a semiconductor substrate, said process comprising:(a) etching said contact openings in said dielectric layer down to a titanium silicide layer, each of said contact openings having a bottom;(b) forming said barrier titanium nitride layer at said bottom of said contact openings by converting at least a portion of said titanium silicide layer at said bottom of said contact openings into said barrier titanium nitride layer by exposing said titanium silicide layer to a rapid thermal anneal performed at a temperature of at least about 600.degree. C. in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere comprising a nitrogen-containing species selected from the group consisting of N.sub.2, NH.sub.3, and N.sub.2 O;(c) providing blanket deposition of a metal by employing a process selected from the group consisting of high temperature metal sputtering, regular metal sputtering followed by high temperature reflow, and chemical vapor deposition of said metal, to form a layer thereof; and(d) removing metal outside of said contact openings via chemical-mechanical polishing or plasma etchback of said layer of metal thereby forming a metal plug in each of said contact openings consisting essentially of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, and gold.