Graphene and metal interconnects

US9202743B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Junjing Bao · Fishkill, US
• Griselda Bonilla · Hopewell Junction, US
• Samuel S. Choi · Hopewell Junction, US
• Ronald G. Filippi · Wappingers Falls, US
• Naftali E. Lustig · Ossining, US
• Andrew H. Simon · Fishkill, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2012
• Grant date: Dec 1, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L2924/0002
• WIPO field: Semiconductors
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A graphene and metal interconnect structure and methods of making the same are disclosed. The graphene is a multiple layer graphene structure that is grown using a graphene catalyst. The graphene forms an electrical connection between two or more VIAs or components, or a combination of VIAs and components. A VIA includes a fill metal, with at least a portion of the fill metal being surrounded by a barrier metal. A component may be a routing track, a clock signal source, a power source, an electromagnetic signal source, a ground terminal, a transistor, a macrocell, or a combination thereof. The graphene is grown, using a graphene catalyst, from both solid and liquid carbon sources using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at a temperature between 300° C.-400° C. The graphene catalyst can be an elemental form of, or alloy including, nickel, palladium, ruthenium, iridium or copper.