Patent · US Expired

Passivation layer for a metal film to prevent metal corrosion

US5854134A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
5References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 1997
Grant dateDec 29, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/02071
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a method of fabricating corrosion free metal lines. The method involves forming a thin polymeric passivation layer 30 over the metal layer 20 immediately after the metal deposition and before any photolithographic or etching processes. The polymeric passivation layer 30 is formed using a F-containing gas plasma treatment. The passivation layer prevents corrosion of the metal layer before a metal etch. The passivation layer is preferably composed of a polymeric of C, O, and F and has a thickness in a range of between about 40 and 80 .ANG.. The passivation layer is formed using a F-containing plasma treatment at a power of between 225 and 275 W, a pressure between about 80 and 120 mtorr, a CHF.sub.3 flow between about 40 and 60 sccm and for a duration between about 10 to 30 seconds. Following this, the metal layer is patterned using photo and etch steps.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.