Patent ID: 7470619

Claim:
A method for forming an interconnect, comprising acts of: depositing a first contact on a substrate; depositing a seed layer on the substrate such that it covers a portion of both the first contact and the substrate; depositing a mask layer on the seed layer; depositing a bottom anti-reflection coating (BARC) on the mask layer; forming a photoresist layer on the BARC; removing a portion of the photoresist layer such that a gap exists above the first contact; removing at least a portion of the BARC and the mask layer to expose a portion of the seed layer on the first contact, the portion of the seed layer being an exposed seed layer; forming a first plated plug on the exposed seed layer, the first plated plug being formed to have a top portion; removing at least a portion of the photoresist layer, the BARC, and the mask layer to expose an unplated portion of the seed layer; removing the unplated portion of the seed layer; depositing an inter layer dielectric (ILD) on the interconnect such that it covers at least a portion of the first plated plug, the first contact, and the substrate; removing at least a portion of the ILD to expose the top portion of the first plated plug; and depositing a second contact on the top portion of the first plated plug, thereby forming an interconnect with a plated plug via.