An Ag alloy film used for a reflecting electrode or an interconnection electrode, the Ag alloy film exhibiting low electrical resistivity and high reflectivity and having exceptional oxidation resistance under cleaning treatments such as an O.sub.2 plasma treatment or UV irradiation, wherein the Ag alloy film contains either In in an amount of larger than 2.0 atomic % to 2.7 atomic % or smaller; or Zn in an amount of larger than 2.0 atomic % to 3.5 atomic % or smaller; or both. The Ag alloy film may further contain Bi in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0 atomic %.

A method for forming at least one Ag or Ag based alloy feature in an integrated circuit, including providing a blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy in a multi-layer structure on a substrate. The method further includes providing a hard mask layer over the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy. The method further includes performing an etch of the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy, wherein a portion of the blanket layer of Ag or Ag based alloy that remains after the etch forms one or more conductive lines. The method further includes forming a liner that surrounds the one or more conductive lines. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer on the multi-layer structure.

An integrated circuit device has a substrate including a dielectric layer patterned with a pattern which includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is disposed on the set of features in the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium layer is disposed on the adhesion promoting layer. A cobalt layer is disposed on the ruthenium layer filling a first portion of the set of features. The cobalt layer has a u-shaped cross section having a thicker bottom layer than side layers. The cobalt layer is formed using a physical vapor deposition process. A metal layer is disposed on the cobalt layer filling a second, remainder portion of the set of features.

A method for fabricating an advanced metal conductor structure is described. A pattern in a dielectric layer is provided. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is created over the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium layer is deposited over the adhesion promoting layer. Using a physical vapor deposition process, a cobalt layer is deposited over the ruthenium layer. A thermal anneal is performed which reflows the cobalt layer to fill the set of features to form a set of metal conductor structures.

A pattern is provided in a dielectric layer. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. The set of features have a first dimension. An adhesion promoting layer disposed over the patterned dielectric is deposited. A ruthenium layer disposed over the adhesion promoting layer is deposited. A cobalt layer is deposited over the ruthenium layer. A high temperature thermal anneal is performed which creates a ruthenium cobalt alloy layer to cover surfaces of the set of features. A metal layer is deposited disposed over the ruthenium cobalt alloy layer to form a set of metal conductor structures. In another aspect of the invention, a device is created using the method.

An integrated circuit device includes a substrate including a patterned dielectric layer. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is disposed over the set of features in the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium cobalt alloy layer is disposed over the adhesion promoting layer. A metal layer is disposed over the ruthenium cobalt alloy layer filling the set of features.

A semiconductor package includes a frame having a through hole, an electronic component disposed in the through hole, a metal layer disposed on either one or both of an inner surface of the frame and an upper surface of the electronic component, a redistribution portion disposed below the frame and the electronic component, and a conductive layer connected to the metal layer.

Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. In a semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate includes a first electrode layer having a top surface coplanar with a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate and the first electrode layer. A first mask layer made of a conductive material is formed on the sacrificial layer. The first mask layer and the sacrificial layer are etched until a surface of the first electrode layer is exposed to form openings through the first mask layer and the sacrificial layer. A cleaning process is performed to remove etch byproducts adhered to a surface of the first mask layer and adhered to sidewalls and bottom surfaces of the openings. Conductive plugs are formed in the openings after the cleaning process.

Methods of forming conductive elements, such as interconnects and electrodes, for semiconductor structures and memory cells. The methods include forming a first conductive material and a second conductive material comprising silver in a portion of at least one opening and performing a polishing process to fill the at least one opening with at least one of the first and second conductive materials. An annealing process may be performed to form a mixture or an alloy of the silver and the first conductive material. The methods enable formation of silver-containing conductive elements having reduced dimensions (e.g., less than about 20 nm). The resulting conductive elements have a desirable resistivity. The methods may be used, for example, to form interconnects for electrically connecting active devices and to form electrodes for memory cells. A semiconductor structure and a memory cell including such a conductive structure are also disclosed.

An advanced metal conductor structure is described. An integrated circuit device includes a substrate having a patterned dielectric layer. The pattern includes a set of features in the dielectric for a set of metal conductor structures. An adhesion promoting layer is disposed over the set of features in the patterned dielectric. A ruthenium layer is disposed over the adhesion promoting layer. A cobalt layer is disposed over the ruthenium layer filling a first portion of the set of features. The cobalt layer is formed using a physical vapor deposition process. A metal layer is disposed over the cobalt layer filling a second portion of the set of features.