Patent ID: 6989604

Claim:
An integrated circuit comprising; a substrate having a semiconductor device thereon; a first stop layer over the substrate having a portion open to the semiconductor device; a first dielectric layer over the first stop layer having an opening provided therein having sidewalls in the first dielectric layer; a first conformal barrier liner in the opening, the first conformal barrier liner having only vertical portions of a constant thickness on the sidewalls of the opening in the first dielectric layer, the vertical portions of the first conformal barrier liner on the sidewalls acting as a barrier to diffusion of conductor core material to the first dielectric layer; a treated area on the first conformal barrier liner and the first stop layer to increase adhesion properties thereof; a second stop layer over the first dielectric layer and having a stepped opening provided therein; and a first conductor core in the opening over the vertical portions of the first conformal barrier liner and the first stop layer, the first conductor core connected to the semiconductor device.