Patent ID: 6204171
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
A process for forming a film composed of a nitride of a diffusion barrier material, the process comprising:providing a surface layer located on a semiconductor substrate;sputtering a layer of a diffusion barrier material on the surface layer in an environment comprising a production gaseous nitrogen content, wherein:a nucleation of a nitride nuclei of the diffusion barrier material is incorporated in the layer of the diffusion barrier material;the nitride nuclei of the diffusion barrier material are formed to be uniformly dispersed throughout the layer of the diffusion barrier material; andthere is substantially no growth of grains of a nitride of the diffusion barrier material in the layer of the diffusion barrier material;growing grains of a nitride of the diffusion barrier material in the layer of the diffusion barrier material in an environment containing nitrogen to form a layer of a nitride of the diffusion barrier material.