Patent ID: 8138604

Claim:
An interconnect structure comprising: a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less, said dielectric material having at least one conductive material having an upper surface embedded within said dielectric material, wherein said upper surface of said dielectric material is recessed relative to said upper surface of said at least one conductive material; a diffusion barrier liner located between said dielectric material and said at least one conductive material, wherein a surface of said dielectric barrier liner is in direct contact with portions of said dielectric material; and a noble metal cap located directly on said upper surface of said at least one conductive material, said noble metal cap does not substantially extend onto an upper surface of said dielectric material that is adjacent to said at least one conductive material and no noble metal residues are present on the upper surface of said dielectric material, and wherein said noble metal cap is selected from the group consisting of elemental Ru, elemental Ir, and elemental Rh.