Patent ID: 7253109

Claim:
A method of depositing a tantalum nitride/alpha-tantalum-comprising barrier layer over a semiconductor substrate surface, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a layer of tantalum nitride over a semiconductor substrate surface using chemical vapor deposition; (b) producing a Ta N seed layer over said tantalum nitride layer, wherein said Ta N seed layer is capable of inducing the formation of alpha-tantalum when tantalum is deposited over said Ta N seed layer, wherein said Ta N seed layer is produced by: controlling an energy level of high energy species bombarding a tantalum nitride film surface; and controlling an amount of tantalum sputter deposited over said tantalum nitride surface during said bombardment of said tantalum nitride film surface by said high energy species, so that a seed layer of Ta N is formed which contains between about 5 atomic % and about 33 atomic % nitrogen.