Patent ID: 7153766

Claim:
A method of forming a copper interconnect, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate, at least one first copper point of electrical contact having been provided through a first layer of dielectric deposited over said substrate; creating a layer of barrier material overlying said at least one first copper point of interconnect, comprising: (i) creating a patterned second layer of dielectric over said first layer of dielectric, at least one opening there through being aligned with said at least one first copper point of electrical contact; (ii) argon sputtering said at least one first copper point of electrical contact, creating copper deposits over sidewalls of said at least one opening created through said patterned second layer of dielectric; (iii) depositing a layer of barrier material over said patterned second layer of dielectric, thereby including inside surfaces of said at least one opening created through said patterned second layer of dielectric; and (v) removing by dielectric lift-off said patterned second layer of dielectric from said substrate, thereby leaving said layer of barrier material in place overlying said at least one first copper point of electrical contact, thereby forming a protective layer overlying said at least one first copper point of electrical contact; and creating a patterned layer of second copper aligned with said layer of barrier material overlying said at least one first copper point of electrical contact.