Patent ID: 6844245

Claim:
A process of preparing an integrated circuit structure comprising a passivated Cu laser fuse, the process comprising: a) patterning a Damascene structure in a dielectric to form a fuse; b) depositing a seed-layer of a Cu-alloy for a Cu-fill; c) filling the Damascene structure with pure Cu; d) pre-CMP annealing at low temperatures <200° C. to form a low resistive Cu film of large Cu grains while not out-diffusing dopants in said Cu-alloy; e) CMP Cu to remove Cu-overfill; f) depositing a final passivation layer selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides or combinations of nitrides; g) thinning said final passivation layer on top of said laser fuse; h) laser fusing the metal fuse to form a crater in the surrounding area of the blown Cu fuse; and i) annealing said fuse at temperatures between about 250° C. to about 450° C. to form a Cu laser fuse characterized by self-passivating areas.