Low temperature integrated metallization process and apparatus
US5877087A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 1995 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/76879
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to an improved process for providing uniform step coverage on a substrate and planarization of metal layers to form continuous, void-free contacts or vias in sub-half micron applications. In one aspect of the invention, a refractory layer is deposited onto a substrate having high aspect ratio contacts or vias formed thereon. A CVD metal layer is then deposited onto the refractory layer at low temperatures to provide a conformal wetting layer for a PVD metal. Next, a PVD metal is deposited onto the previously formed CVD metal layer at a temperature below that of the melting point temperature of the metal. The resulting CVD/PVD metal layer is substantially void-free. The metallization process is preferably carried out in an integrated processing system that includes both a PVD and CVD processing chamber so that once the substrate is introduced into a vacuum environment, the metallization of the vias and contacts occurs without the formation of an oxide layer over the CVD Al layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.