Patent ID: 8673760
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: forming a seed layer above a substrate that includes a plurality of spaced-apart conductive regions, said seed layer being comprised of a metal-containing material; forming a nucleation layer on said seed layer, said nucleation layer comprising a transition metal oxide ceramic material; performing a thermal treatment process at a temperature so as to generate a plurality of spaced-apart, vertically oriented alloy structures, wherein said alloy structures are comprised of at least one material from said seed layer and at least one material from said nucleation layer and wherein each of said alloy structures is positioned above one of said plurality of conductive regions; after forming said alloy structures, forming a material layer above said nucleation layer and around said alloy structures; performing at least one etching process to remove said alloy structures and portions of said seed layer so as to thereby expose said plurality of spaced-apart conductive regions and define an opening above each of said spaced-apart conductive regions; forming an initial conductive structure in each of said openings, said initial conductive structures being conductively coupled to said conductive regions; performing at least one etching process to remove said material layer and said nucleation layer so as to thereby expose said initial conductive structures; forming additional conductive material on said initial conductive structures so as to thereby define a plurality of conductive contacts, each of which is conductively coupled to one of said spaced-apart conductive regions; and forming a layer of insulating material around said plurality of conductive contacts.