Patent ID: 7332422

Claim:
A method of fabrication of a copper interconnect comprising the steps of: providing a semiconductor structure comprised of a copper interconnect and a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, the copper interconnect having a surface; treating the surface of said copper interconnect with a nitrogen and oxygen containing plasma treatment under a vacuum, wherein the nitrogen and oxygen containing plasma treatment comprises a N 2 O flow between about 1000 and 5000 sccm, a HF RF power between 200 and 400 W, a LF RF power between 50 and 150 W, a pressure between 1.5 and 4.5 torr, a treatment time between 10 and 20 seconds; and a temperature between 350 and 450 degrees C; then treating the copper interconnect with a reducing plasma treatment without breaking the vacuum; and forming a capping layer over the copper interconnect without breaking the vacuum.