Patent ID: 8871601

Claim:
A method for forming a diffusion barrier, the method comprising: forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a semiconductor oxide surface, wherein the semiconductor oxide surface is disposed on a semiconductor substrate, and depositing a metal on the SAM to form a metal layer; wherein the SAM comprises an assembly of one or more monomers comprising a first functional group capable of covalently bonding to the semiconductor oxide surface and a second functional group capable of covalently bonding to a metal atom in the metal layer; wherein the monomer has the structure X 3 —S—(C n H y )-(LH) m where n is from 1 to 20, y is from 2n−2 to 2n, X is a leaving group, m is 1 to 3, and L is a Group VI element; and wherein the diffusion barrier is operable to prevent migration of metal atoms through the SAM to the semiconductor substrate.