Implantation of nucleating species for selective metallization and products thereof

Claim 2

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming an implant mask over an insulation layer wherein the insulation layer includes a barrier material which acts as barrier to migration of copper, the implant mask having one or more mask apertures defined therethrough for exposing underlying surface portions of the insulation layer; (b) implanting a nucleating species through the mask apertures into the exposed surface portions of the insulation layer; (c) removing the mask; and (d) selectively growing a metallization pattern, composed mostly of copper, on surface portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species; wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and titanium.

Claim 3

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming an implant mask over an insulation layer, the implant mask having one or more mask apertures defined therethrough for exposing underlying surface portions of the insulation layer; (b) implanting a nucleating species through the mask apertures into the exposed surface portions of the insulation layer; (c) removing the mask; and (d) selectively growing a metallization pattern, which is composed of copper, using a precursor compound that is a copper metal-organic precursor on the surface portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species; wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and titanium.

Claim 4

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming an implant mask over an insulation layer, the implant mask having one or more mask apertures defined therethrough for exposing underlying surface portions of the insulation layer; (b) implanting a nucleating species through the mask apertures into the exposed surface portions of the insulation layer; (c) removing the mask; and (d) selectively growing a metallization pattern, which is composed of copper, using a precursor compound that is a copper metal-organic precursor on the surface portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species; wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and titanium.

Claim 5

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a patterned mask over an insulation layer; (b) implanting a nucleating species through the mask into the exposed surface of the insulation layer; (c) removing the mask; and (d) selectively growing a metallization pattern on portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species; wherein the metallization pattern is or includes copper; wherein the step of selectively growing includes using a copper metal-organic precursor, and wherein the copper metal-organic precursor includes Copper (II) (βeta-diketonate).

Claim 6

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a patterned mask over an insulation layer; (b) implanting a nucleating species through the mask into the exposed surface of the insulation layer; (c) removing the mask; and (d) selectively growing a metallization pattern on portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species; wherein the metallization pattern is or includes copper; wherein the step of selectively growing includes using a copper metal-organic precursor, and wherein the copper metal-organic precursor includes Copper (II) (βeta-diketonate).

Claim 7

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a patterned mask over an insulation layer; (b) implanting a nucleating species through the mask into the exposed surface of the insulation material; (c) removing the mask; and (d) selectively growing a metallization pattern on portions of the insulating layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species on their surface; wherein the metallization pattern is or includes copper; wherein the step of selectively growing includes using a copper metal-organic precursor, and wherein all or a component of the copper metal-organic precursor is selected from the group consisting of: (1) (hfac)Cu(COD), (hexafluoroacetylacetonate)copper(I) (1,5 cyclooctadiene); (2) (hfac)Cu(VTMS), (hexafluoroacetylacetonate)copper(I) (vinyltrimethylsilane); and (3) (hfac)Cu(BTMSA), (hexafluoroacetylacetonate)copper(I) (bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene.

Claim 8

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a patterned mask over an insulation layer; (b) implanting a nucleating species through the mask into the exposed surface of the insulation material; (c) removing the mask; and (d) selectively growing a metallization pattern on portions of the insulating layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species on their surface; wherein the metallization pattern is or includes copper; wherein the step of selectively growing includes using a copper metal-organic precursor, and wherein all or a component of the copper metal-organic precursor is selected from the group consisting of: (1) (hfac)Cu(COD), (hexafluoroacetylacetonate)copper(I) (1,5 cyclooctadiene); (2) (hfac)Cu(VTMS), (hexafluoroacetylacetonate)copper(I) (vinyltrimethylsilane); and (3) (hfac)Cu(BTMSA), (hexafluoroacetylacetonate)copper(I) (bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene.

Claim 9

A metallization process according to claim 1 wherein said barrier material includes silicon nitride.

Claim 10

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal; and (b) selectively growing by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) a metallization pattern, composed mostly of copper, on the portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 11

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal; and (b) selectively growing by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) a metallization pattern, composed mostly of copper, on the portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 12

A metallization process according to claim 6 wherein the nucleating species refractory metal includes at least one of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and titanium.

Claim 13

A metallization process according to claim 6 wherein the insulation layer includes a material which acts as a barrier to migration of copper from the metallization pattern.

Claim 14

A metallization process according to claim 8 wherein said implanting step implants the nucleating species into the barrier material.

Claim 15

A metallization process according to claim 6 wherein the insulation layer has one or more apertures defined therethrough, the apertures having copper-permeable sidewalls, and said step (b) of selectively growing a metallization pattern is preceded by the additional step of: (c) coating the copper-permeable sidewalls of said one or more apertures with the barrier material that acts as barrier to copper migration; and further wherein said step (b) of selectively growing a metallization pattern includes growing said metallization pattern within the barrier-coated one or more apertures.

Claim 16

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal; and (b) selectively growing using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) a metallization pattern, comprising copper, on the portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 17

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal; and (b) selectively growing using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) a metallization pattern, comprising copper, on the portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 18

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having metal-phobic sections, the metal-phobic sections being such that they have a disinclination to adhering with a metal composed of copper; (b) forming a copper migration-barrier layer over at least a portion of at least one of the metal-phobic sections in the substrate; (c) selectively implanting a nucleating species into the copper migration-barrier layer and surface portions of the substrate, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal and wherein the surface portions are immediately adjacent to said metal-phobic sections; and (d) selectively growing by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) the metal on the surface portions and the copper migration-barrier layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species and wherein the selectively growing by way of CVD includes using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor.

Claim 19

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having metal-phobic sections, the metal-phobic sections being such that they have a disinclination to adhering with a metal composed of copper; (b) forming a copper migration-barrier layer over at least a portion of at least one of the metal-phobic sections in the substrate; (c) selectively implanting a nucleating species into the copper migration-barrier layer and surface portions of the substrate, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal and wherein the surface portions are immediately adjacent to said metal-phobic sections; and (d) selectively growing by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) the metal on the surface portions and the copper migration-barrier layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species and wherein the selectively growing by way of CVD includes using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor.

Claim 20

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having metal-phobic sections, the metal-phobic sections being characterized as having a disinclination to adhering with a specific metal; (b) forming a migration-barrier layer, having opposed first and a second sides, through which the specific metal cannot migrate over at least a portion of at least one of the metal-phobic sections in the substrate; (c) selectively implanting a nucleating species into the migration-barrier layer and surface portions of the substrate, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal and wherein the surface portions are immediately adjacent to said metal-phobic sections; and (d) selectively growing by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) the specific metal on the surface portions and the migration-barrier layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species where the selectively growing of the specific metal is limited to not extending beyond one of the opposed first and second sides of the migration-barrier layer.

Claim 21

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having metal-phobic sections, the metal-phobic sections being characterized as having a disinclination to adhering with a specific metal; (b) forming a migration-barrier layer, having opposed first and a second sides, through which the specific metal cannot migrate over at least a portion of at least one of the metal-phobic sections in the substrate; (c) selectively implanting a nucleating species into the migration-barrier layer and surface portions of the substrate, wherein said nucleating species includes a refractory metal and wherein the surface portions are immediately adjacent to said metal-phobic sections; and (d) selectively growing by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) the specific metal on the surface portions and the migration-barrier layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species where the selectively growing of the specific metal is limited to not extending beyond one of the opposed first and second sides of the migration-barrier layer.

Claim 22

A metallization process according to claim 13 wherein the specific metal is composed mostly of copper and the migration-barrier layer is substantially impermeable to copper.

Claim 23

A metallization process according to claim 13 further comprising the step of: (e) before forming the metal-migration barrier layer, forming in the substrate beyond the position of said one side of the migration-barrier layer to be formed, a semiconductor region that can be contaminated by the specified metal.

Claim 24

A metallization process according to claim 15 wherein: the semiconductor region is composed of silicon; the specific metal is composed mostly of copper; and the migration-barrier layer includes silicon nitride.

Claim 25

A metallization process according to claim 13 wherein: said metal-phobic sections are composed of SiO 2 and/or Si 3 N 4 .

Claim 26

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer; and (b) selectively growing a metallization pattern on the portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species on their surface wherein the metallization pattern includes copper and wherein the step of selectively growing includes using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor.

Claim 27

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer; and (b) selectively growing a metallization pattern on the portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species on their surface wherein the metallization pattern includes copper and wherein the step of selectively growing includes using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor.

Claim 28

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having metal-phobic sections, the metal-phobic sections being characterized as having a disinclination to adhering with a specific metal; (b) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of the substrate, the surface portions being in or immediately adjacent to said metal-phobic sections; and (c) selectively growing the specific metal on the surface portions that have been altered to include the nucleating species; wherein the specific metal is composed mostly of copper; and wherein the step (c) of selectively growing includes using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor.

Claim 29

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having metal-phobic sections, the metal-phobic sections being characterized as having a disinclination to adhering with a specific metal; (b) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of the substrate, the surface portions being in or immediately adjacent to said metal-phobic sections; and (c) selectively growing the specific metal on the surface portions that have been altered to include the nucleating species; wherein the specific metal is composed mostly of copper; and wherein the step (c) of selectively growing includes using a compound that functions as a copper metal-organic precursor.

Claim 30

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer; and (b) selectively growing by way of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) a metallization pattern on the surface portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 31

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation layer; and (b) selectively growing by way of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) a metallization pattern on the surface portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 32

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation material; and (b) selectively growing by way of plasma-enhanced metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) a metallization pattern on the surface portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 33

A metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively implanting a nucleating species into surface portions of an insulation material; and (b) selectively growing by way of plasma-enhanced metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) a metallization pattern on the surface portions of the insulation layer that have been altered to include the nucleating species.

Claim 34

A metallization process according to claim 1 wherein said nucleating species is limited essentially to a refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten.

Claim 35

A metallization process according to claim 1 wherein the nucleating species is limited essentially to molybdenum.

Claim 36

A metallization process according to claim 6 wherein the nucleating species is limited essentially to a refractory metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten.

Claim 37

A metallization process according to claim 6 wherein said nucleating species is limited essentially to molybdenum.

Claim 38

A metallization process according to claim 12 wherein the refractory metal of said nucleating species is a metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten.

Claim 39

A metallization process according to claim 12 wherein the refractory metal of said nucleating species is limited essentially to molybdenum.

Claim 40

A metallization process for depositing a metal, comprised of copper, over a first isolation layer immediately adjacent to a substrate where the first isolation layer includes metal within via holes to make contact to the substrate, the metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a barrier layer over the first isolation layer where the barrier layer is composed of a barrier material which acts as barrier to migration of copper; (b) forming via holes in the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (c) depositing a second isolation layer upon the barrier layer where the via holes in the barrier layer is filled by the isolation layer; (d) forming via holes through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (e) forming a metallization pattern extending through the second isolation layer to the barrier layer; (f) selectively implanting a nucleating species of a refractory metal into the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer and the barrier layer and the exposed portion of the barrier layer of the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer; (g) depositing upon the implanted nucleating species a copper metal-organic precursor; and (h) depositing the metal comprising copper to fill the via holes in the second isolation layer and the barrier layer and the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer.

Claim 41

A metallization process for depositing a metal, comprised of copper, over a first isolation layer immediately adjacent to a substrate where the first isolation layer includes metal within via holes to make contact to the substrate, the metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a barrier layer over the first isolation layer where the barrier layer is composed of a barrier material which acts as barrier to migration of copper; (b) forming via holes in the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (c) depositing a second isolation layer upon the barrier layer where the via holes in the barrier layer is filled by the isolation layer; (d) forming via holes through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (e) forming a metallization pattern extending through the second isolation layer to the barrier layer; (f) selectively implanting a nucleating species of a refractory metal into the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer and the barrier layer and the exposed portion of the barrier layer of the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer; (g) depositing upon the implanted nucleating species a copper metal-organic precursor; and (h) depositing the metal comprising copper to fill the via holes in the second isolation layer and the barrier layer and the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer.

Claim 42

A metallization process for depositing a metal, comprised of copper over a first isolation layer immediately adjacent to a substrate where the first isolation layer includes metal within via holes to make contact to the substrate, the metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a barrier layer over the first isolation layer where the barrier layer is composed of a barrier material which acts as barrier to migration of copper; (b) forming via holes in the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (c) depositing a second isolation layer upon the barrier layer where the via holes in the barrier layer is filled by the isolation layer; (d) forming via holes through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (e) forming a metallization pattern extending through the second isolation layer to the barrier layer; (f) selectively implanting a nucleating species of a refractory metal into the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer and the exposed portion of the barrier layer of the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer; (g) selectively forming a barrier layer onto all side walls of the via holes through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer and the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer; (h) depositing upon the implanted nucleating species a copper metal-organic precursor; and (i) depositing the metal comprised of copper to fill the via holes extending through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer and the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer.

Claim 43

A metallization process for depositing a metal, comprised of copper over a first isolation layer immediately adjacent to a substrate where the first isolation layer includes metal within via holes to make contact to the substrate, the metallization process comprising the steps of: (a) forming a barrier layer over the first isolation layer where the barrier layer is composed of a barrier material which acts as barrier to migration of copper; (b) forming via holes in the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (c) depositing a second isolation layer upon the barrier layer where the via holes in the barrier layer is filled by the isolation layer; (d) forming via holes through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer to provide access to the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer; (e) forming a metallization pattern extending through the second isolation layer to the barrier layer; (f) selectively implanting a nucleating species of a refractory metal into the metal in the via holes in the first isolation layer and the exposed portion of the barrier layer of the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer; (g) selectively forming a barrier layer onto all side walls of the via holes through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer and the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer; (h) depositing upon the implanted nucleating species a copper metal-organic precursor; and (i) depositing the metal comprised of copper to fill the via holes extending through the second isolation layer and the barrier layer and the metallization pattern in the second isolation layer.