Patent ID: 6410418
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of forming a layer of an electrically conductive material filling at least one recess formed in a substrate surface, which method comprises the sequential steps of:providing a substrate having a surface comprising at least one recess formed therein, said recess comprising: (a) a mouth surface portion at the upper end thereof and bordering an adjacent, non-recessed substrate surface portion; (b) an interior wall surface portion; and (c) a bottom surface portion at the lower end thereof; providing an electrically conductive nucleation/seed layer over recess surface portions (a), (b), (c), and extending over the adjacent, non-recessed substrate surface portion; selectively rendering non-conductive exposed surfaces of said nucleation/seed layer formed over recess surface portion (a) and adjacent, non-recessed substrate surface portion; and filling said recess with a layer of an electrically conductive material by electroplating said layer on the nucleation/seed layer over recess surface portions (b) and (c), with substantially no electroplating occurring on the surfaces of said nucleation/seed layer over said recess surface portion (a) and said adjacent, non-recessed substrate surface portion rendered non-conductive; whereby occlusion and/or pinching off of the recess mouth portion (a) during said electroplating due to formation thereon of overhanging portions of said conductive material layer is prevented and unnecessary electroplating on non-recessed portions of the substrate surface is minimized.