Patent ID: 7666753

Claim:
A method, comprising: forming metal lines within a first dielectric, wherein said forming of said metal lines comprises forming said metal lines such that said metal lines comprise copper; forming a metal layer over said metal lines and a top portion of said first dielectric, wherein said forming of said metal layer comprises forming said metal layer such that said metal layer contacts said metal lines, wherein said forming of said metal layer comprises forming said metal layer such that said metal layer comprises one tantalum (Ta) with tantalum oxide (TaOx), tantalum nitride (TaNx), tantalum alloys, cobalt (Co) with cobalt oxide (CoOx), cobalt nitride (CoNx), cobalt alloys, titanium (Ti) with titanium oxide (TiOx), titanium nitride (TiNx), titanium alloys, ruthenium (Ru) with ruthenium oxide (RuOx), ruthenium nitride (RuNx), ruthenium alloys, rhodium (Rh) with rhodium oxide (RhOx), rhodium nitride (RhNx), rhodium alloys, indium (In) with indium oxide (InOx), indium nitride (InNx), indium alloys, iridium (Ir) with iridium oxide (IrOx), iridium nitride (IrNx), iridium alloys, metal compounds with an associated metal oxide, and a metal nitride, and wherein said forming of said metal layer comprises depositing said metal layer via one of a PVD, a CVD, and a ALD deposition technique; forming a dielectric layer on said metal layer; forming protective covers over said metal layer, such that said protective covers are formed only over said metal lines; performing an etching process to remove portions of said metal layer and portions of said first dielectric that are not under said protective covers, such that said metal layer is patterned into metal caps over said metal lines, wherein said performing of said etching process removes portions of said dielectric layer that are not under said protective covers, such that said dielectric layer is patterned into dielectric caps over said metal lines; removing said protective covers; and forming a second dielectric over said metal caps, such that air gaps are formed between said metal lines, wherein said forming of said second dielectric comprises forming said second dielectric such that said air gaps are formed between said metal caps.