Patent ID: 8329575

Claim:
A through-silicon via fabrication method comprising: (a) etching a plurality of through holes in a silicon plate, the through holes each having a sidewall and a bottom wall; (b) depositing an oxide liner on the sidewall and bottom wall of each of the plurality of through holes by: (i) providing the silicon plate in a process zone comprising process electrodes and a gas distributor; (ii) maintaining the silicon plate at a temperature of less than about 250° C.; (iii) introducing into the process zone, a deposition gas comprising a silicon-containing gas comprising tetraethylorthosilane, and an oxygen precursor comprising oxygen gas; and (iv) energizing the deposition gas to form a plasma by applying a current to the process electrodes; (c) depositing a metallic conductor in the through holes; (d) after (c), removing a native oxide film formed on the exposed portions of the metallic conductor in the through holes by: (i) introducing into the process zone, a reducing gas comprising ammonia or hydrogen; and (ii) energizing the reducing gas to form a reducing plasma by applying a current to the process electrodes; and (e) depositing a protective coating comprising: (i) a lower layer comprising silicon nitride; (ii) a middle layer comprising silicon oxide; and (iii) an upper layer comprising silicon nitride.