A Cu interconnect having a diffusion barrier formed with the self-formed high-entropy alloy a method of preparing the same are provided. A high-entropy alloy and Cu are deposited together. When annealing, a diffusion barrier is formed through segregation of the high-entropy alloy may, toward a bottom and a sidewall of an interconnect via, and a Cu seed layer is formed through segregation of Cu at an outer surface of the diffusion barrier, so as to simultaneously self-form the diffusion barrier formed with the self-formed high-entropy alloy and the Cu seed layer. The Cu interconnect having a diffusion barrier formed with the self-formed high-entropy alloy comprises: a base, the self-formed diffusion barrier formed with the self-formed high-entropy alloy and the Cu seed layer and a Cu electroplating layer electroplating on the Cu seed layer.

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. In another aspect of the invention, an integrated circuit device is formed using the method.

A method of forming a composite crystalline nitride structure is provided. The method includes depositing a first crystalline nitride layer on a substrate, patterning the first crystalline nitride layer to form a patterned crystalline nitride layer having a top surface and that includes undulations, annealing the patterned crystalline nitride layer at a temperature between 300° C. to 850° C. to form an annealed patterned crystalline nitride layer, and depositing a second crystalline nitride layer on the annealed patterned crystalline nitride layer. The second crystalline nitride layer is lattice-matched to the underlying annealed patterned crystalline nitride layer to within 2%, thereby forming the composite crystalline nitride structure.

Disclosed herein are a metal-graphene heterojunction metal interconnect, a method of forming the same, and a semiconductor device including the same. The method includes: a) forming a carbon source layer by depositing a carbon source on a top surface of a substrate; b) forming a metal catalyst layer by depositing a metal catalyst on the carbon source layer; and c) carrying out heat treatment on the substrate comprising the carbon source layer and the metal catalyst layer. The graphene can be formed by carrying out the heat treatment only once irrespectively of the number of substrates, and accordingly to the manufacturing time and manufacturing cost of the metal interconnect are reduced, and a damage to the metal interconnect by the heat treatment is not caused.

A reflow enhancement layer is formed in an opening prior to forming and reflowing a contact metal or metal alloy. The reflow enhancement layer facilitates the movement (i.e., flow) of the contact metal or metal alloy during a reflow anneal process such that a void-free metallization structure of the contact metal or metal alloy is provided.

Devices and methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices for forming low resistivity interconnects with improved adhesion are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor interconnect device having a substrate, a cap layer, and a dielectric matrix including a set of trenches and a set of vias; depositing a metal interconnect material directly over and contacting a top surface of the dielectric matrix, wherein the metal interconnect material fills the set of trenches and the set of vias; depositing a barrier layer over a top surface of the device; annealing the barrier layer to diffuse the barrier layer to a bottom surface of the metal interconnect material; planarizing a top surface of the intermediate semiconductor interconnect device; and depositing a dielectric cap over the intermediate semiconductor interconnect device.

Techniques are disclosed for forming column IV transistor devices having source/drain regions with high concentrations of germanium, and exhibiting reduced parasitic resistance relative to conventional devices. In some example embodiments, the source/drain regions each includes a thin p-type silicon or germanium or SiGe deposition with the remainder of the source/drain material deposition being p-type germanium or a germanium alloy (e.g., germanium:tin or other suitable strain inducer, and having a germanium content of at least 80 atomic % and 20 atomic % or less other components). In some cases, evidence of strain relaxation may be observed in the germanium rich cap layer, including misfit dislocations and/or threading dislocations and/or twins. Numerous transistor configurations can be used, including both planar and non-planar transistor structures (e.g., FinFETs and nanowire transistors), as well as strained and unstrained channel structures.

Devices and methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices for forming low resistivity interconnects are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor interconnect device having a substrate, a cap layer, and a dielectric matrix including a set of trenches and a set of vias; depositing a barrier layer along a top surface of the semiconductor interconnect device; depositing and annealing a metal interconnect material over a top surface of the barrier layer, wherein the metal interconnect material fills the set of trenches and the set of vias; planarizing a top surface of the intermediate semiconductor interconnect device; exposing a portion of the barrier layer between the set of trenches and the set of vias; and depositing a dielectric cap. Also disclosed is an intermediate device formed by the method.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes: forming an interconnect structure including a metallization layer over a substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer over the metallization layer; depositing a second dielectric layer over and separate from the first dielectric layer; depositing a third dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer having a Young's modulus greater than that of the first and second dielectric layers; forming a capacitor structure over the third dielectric layer; and forming a conductive via extending through the capacitor structure and the first, second and third dielectric layers and electrically coupled to the metallization layer.

Provided herein are methods of forming conductive cobalt (Co) interconnects and Co features. The methods involve deposition of a thin manganese (Mn)-containing film on a dielectric followed by subsequent deposition of cobalt on the Mn-containing film. The Mn-containing film may be deposited on a silicon-containing dielectric, such as silicon dioxide, and annealed to form a manganese silicate.