Patent ID: 8349149
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: C25D,H01L,H05K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for electroplating copper or a copper alloy on a substrate having at least one opening located at a front surface of the substrate, wherein at least one surface inside the at least one opening comprises an exposed metallic surface, the apparatus comprising: an electrochemical deposition (ECD) cell that contains an electrolyte comprising copper ions and at least one inhibitor additive, said copper ions and the at least one inhibitor additive having concentrations; a fixture adapted to hold the substrate so that at least a portion of the front surface of the substrate is immersed in the electrolyte during electroplating; at least one anode, wherein at least a portion of the at least one anode is immersed in said electrolyte during electroplating; a power supply adapted to generate an electroplating current through the electrolyte between a cathode and said at least one anode, wherein the cathode comprises, when the fixture holds the substrate, exposed metallic surfaces in the at least a portion of the front surface of the substrate; and jet nozzles adapted to produce electrolyte jets impinging on the front surface of the substrate in a direction that is substantially normal to the front surface of the substrate, the jet nozzles being adapted to rotate about the normal direction and/or the fixture being adapted to rotate the substrate about the normal direction; wherein: (a) the electrolyte jets and rotation of the jet nozzles and/or the fixture are adapted to produce a turbulent flow agitation of the electrolyte across the at least a portion of the front surface of the substrate that can be sufficiently vigorous, (b) the concentrations are sufficiently large, and (c) the power supply can generate sufficient current to produce an average electroplating current density greater than about 20 mA/cm