Patent ID: 6221792
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A process for nitridization to form a barrier layer on a substrate, the method comiprising:depositing a layer metal silicide including at least one of titanium silicide, tungsten silicide, tantalum silicide, molybdenum silicide, chromium silicide, niobium silicide, and zirconium silicide on a surface of said substrate such that an opening in a dielectric layer of said substrate is at least partially filled;placing said substrate into a high density, low pressure plasma reactor;introducing into said high density, low pressure plasma reactor a gas including nitrogen; andstriking a plasma in said high density, low pressure plasma reactor to form said barrier layer by nitridization of at least a portion of said layer of metal silicide, said portion being converted by said nitridization to a composition of metal silicon nitride, respectfully, said composition being substantially uniform along a depth of said opening in said dielectric layer of said substrate, and said barrier layer being thick enough to effectively prevent diffusion of conductive particles from a conductive material disposed above said layer of metal silicide into said dielectric layer.