Patent ID: 6982230

Claim:
A method of forming a semiconductor structure comprising: providing a precursor mixture comprising hafnium and/or zirconium alkoxide precursor and a liquid, said liquid is inert such that the liquid does not react substantially with said alkoxide precursor; vaporizing at least said hafnium and/or zirconium alkoxide precursor into a vaporized precursor; depositing a constituent of the vaporized precursor onto a surface of a substrate to form a hafnium and/or zirconium oxide film at a deposition temperature of greater than 400° C., wherein said hafnium and/or zirconium oxide film comprises little or no FTIR detectable C or OH; forming a conductive metal atop said hafnium and/or zirconium oxide film; and passivating the hafnium and/or zirconium oxide film by hydrogen plasma treatment or forming gas anneal under conditions wherein the conductive metal reacts with trapped water at an interface between the conductive metal and the hafnium and/or zirconium oxide film interface to form a thin conductive metal oxide interlayer that releases hydrogen.