Patent ID: 7088003

Claim:
A back end of the line (BEOL) interconnect structure comprising: (a) an ultralow k (ULK) dielectric, having a dielectric constant of up to about 3, and conductive metal features provided on a substrate; (b) a liner barrier layer between said ULK dielectric and said conductive metal features; and (c) a thin dielectric layer (TDL), having a thickness of up to about 5 nanometers, between the liner barrier layer and the ULK dielectric, wherein the TDL comprises a dense dielectric film having hermetic barrier capability, said film comprising a different material than the material of the ULK dielectric, wherein said material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: (i) materials of formula: Si x O w N y H z , wherein x ranges from about 0.35 to about 0.45, w ranges from 0 to about 0.1, y ranges from about 0.45 to about 0.55, and z ranges from 0 to about 0.2; (ii) materials of formula: Si x O x C w N y H z , wherein x ranges from about 0.2 to about 0.3, v ranges from 0 to about 0.1, w ranges from about 0.25 to about 0.35, y ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.2, and z ranges from 0 to about 0.35; and (iii) materials of formula: Si x C w O y H z , wherein x ranges from about 0.22 to about 0.32, w ranges from about 0.15 to about 0.3, y ranges from about 0.3 to about 0.5, and z ranges from 0 to about 0.3.