Patent ID: 7592257

Claim:
A method for forming a semiconductor contact structure, the method comprising: providing a patterned structure in a process chamber, the patterned structure containing a micro-feature formed in a dielectric material and a contact layer at the bottom of the micro-feature; depositing a metal carbonitride or metal carbide film on the patterned structure, including in the micro-feature and on the contact layer, wherein the depositing a metal carbonitride or metal carbide film comprises: (a) exposing the patterned structure to a first process material comprising a Ta-containing precursor or a Ti-containing precursor; (b) exposing the patterned structure to a second process material comprising a plasma-excited reducing agent; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) a predetermined number of times; (d) after step (c) exposing the patterned structure to plasma-excited Ar; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until the metal carbonitride or metal carbide film has a desired thickness; forming an oxidation-resistant diffusion barrier by increasing the nitrogen-content of the deposited metal carbonitride or metal carbide film; depositing a Ru film on the oxidation-resistant diffusion barrier; and forming bulk Cu metal in the micro-feature, wherein the Ru film and the oxidation-resistant diffusion barrier surround the bulk Cu metal in the micro-feature.