← Back to Patent Explorer
US5913147A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for fabricating copper-aluminum metallization

Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc
•
Filing: 1997-01-21
•
Granted: 1999-06-15
•
Expires: 2017-01-21
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method for fabricating copper-aluminum metallization utilizing the technique of electroless copper deposition is described. The method provides a self-encapsulated copper-aluminum metallization structure.

Inventors

  • 👤 Valery Dubin
  • 👤 Chiu Ting

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 23:10
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/40; H10W20/41; H10W20/44; H10W20/4403; H10W20/4421; H10W20/4424; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/40; H10P14/46; H10W20/01; H10W20/031; H10W20/056; H10W20/425

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 86 words
A method for fabricating copper alloy metallization in a recess defined in a dielectric layer of a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a diffusion barrier layer on the surfaces of the recess; depositing a copper alloy layer on the diffusion barrier layer; and annealing the copper alloy layer to form a first thin oxide layer on an exposed surface of the copper alloy layer, and a second thin oxide layer at the interface between the copper alloy layer and the diffusion barrier layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 86 words
A method for fabricating copper alloy metallization in a recess defined in a dielectric layer of a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a diffusion barrier layer on the surfaces of the recess; depositing a copper alloy layer on the diffusion barrier layer; and annealing the copper alloy layer to form a first thin oxide layer on an exposed surface of the copper alloy layer, and a second thin oxide layer at the interface between the copper alloy layer and the diffusion barrier layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises a metal composite selected from the group of tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium tungsten, titanium nitride, tantalum silicon nitride, titanium silicon nitride, or tungsten silicon nitride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the copper alloy layer comprises aluminum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
A method as in claim 3, wherein the first thin layer of oxide comprises an aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), and the second thin layer of oxide comprises an aluminum oxide and copper-aluminum alloy (Al 2 O 3 +CuAl).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method as in claim 3, wherein the depositing step comprises: depositing a copper-aluminum alloy film on the diffusion barrier layer; and depositing electroless copper on the copper-aluminum alloy film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 56 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of depositing electroless copper is performed in a solution, having a pH of 11.5-13.5, containing: a) 5-10 g/l CuSO 4 .5H 2 O; b) 5-10 g/l glyoxylic acid, or 5-10 ml/l formaldehyde; c) 10-35 g/l KOH; and d) 0.01-10 g.l RE 610, or 0.01-1 g/l polyethylene glycol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the depositing step further comprises the step of: filling the recess using the technique of copper electroplating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 41 words
A method as in claim 7, wherein said step of copper electroplating is performed using a 0.1-100 millisecond envelope of cathodic pulses, having a 50-90% duty cycle, followed by a 0.1-10 millisecond envelope of anodic pulses, having a 50-90% duty cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the dielectric comprises silicon dioxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said copper alloy layer is formed by first depositing a CuAl bilayer, followed by an annealing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein said annealing step of said CuAl bilayer is carried out at a temperature between 150° C. to 500° C.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for fabricating copper alloy metallization in a recess defined in a dielectric layer of a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a U-shaped diffusion barrier layer on the surfaces of the recess; depositing a copper alloy layer on the U-shaped diffusion barrier layer; and annealing the copper alloy layer to form a first thin oxide layer on an exposed surface of the copper alloy layer, and a second thin oxide layer at the interface between the copper alloy layer and the U-shaped diffusion barrier layer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 89 words
A method for fabricating copper alloy metallization in a recess defined in a dielectric layer of a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a U-shaped diffusion barrier layer on the surfaces of the recess; depositing a copper alloy layer on the U-shaped diffusion barrier layer; and annealing the copper alloy layer to form a first thin oxide layer on an exposed surface of the copper alloy layer, and a second thin oxide layer at the interface between the copper alloy layer and the U-shaped diffusion barrier layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the depositing step comprises: depositing a copper-aluminum alloy film on the U-shaped diffusion barrier layer; and depositing electroless copper on the copper-aluminum alloy film.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5039338A Cited
US5674787A Cited
US5789320A Cited
US5858816A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-06-14 2002-12-14 2003-06-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-06-14 2006-12-14 2007-06-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-06-14 2010-12-14 2011-06-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag