Microstructure control of Al-Cu films for improved electromigration resistance
Abstract
A process for the forming of Al-Cu conductive thin films with reduced electromigration failures is useful, for example, in the metallization of integrated circuits. An improved formation process includes the heat treatment or annealing of the thin film conductor at a temperature within the range of from 200 C to 300 C for a time period between 10 minutes and 24 hours under a reducing atmosphere such as 15% H[sub 2] in N[sub 2] by volume. Al-Cu thin films annealed in the single phase region of a phase diagram, to temperatures between 200 C and 300 C have [theta]-phase Al[sub 2] Cu precipitates at the grain boundaries continuously become enriched in copper, due, it is theorized, to the formation of a thin coating of [theta]-phase precipitate at the grain boundary. Electromigration behavior of the aluminum is, thus, improved because the [theta]-phase precipitates with copper hinder aluminum diffusion along the grain boundaries. Electromigration, then, occurs mainly within the aluminum grains, a much slower process. 5 figures.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5121792
- Patent Number(s):
- 5300307
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-944865
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 14 Sep 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 42 ENGINEERING; ALUMINIUM ALLOYS; ELECTROPHORESIS; MATERIALS WORKING; MICROSTRUCTURE; COPPER ALLOYS; INTEGRATED CIRCUITS; FABRICATION; PRECIPITATION; THIN FILMS; ALLOYS; ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS; FILMS; MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS; SEPARATION PROCESSES; 360101* - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication; 360102 - Metals & Alloys- Structure & Phase Studies; 360104 - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties; 426000 - Engineering- Components, Electron Devices & Circuits- (1990-)
Citation Formats
Frear, D R, Michael, J R, and Romig, Jr, A D. Microstructure control of Al-Cu films for improved electromigration resistance. United States: N. p., 1994.
Web.
Frear, D R, Michael, J R, & Romig, Jr, A D. Microstructure control of Al-Cu films for improved electromigration resistance. United States.
Frear, D R, Michael, J R, and Romig, Jr, A D. Tue .
"Microstructure control of Al-Cu films for improved electromigration resistance". United States.
@article{osti_5121792,
title = {Microstructure control of Al-Cu films for improved electromigration resistance},
author = {Frear, D R and Michael, J R and Romig, Jr, A D},
abstractNote = {A process for the forming of Al-Cu conductive thin films with reduced electromigration failures is useful, for example, in the metallization of integrated circuits. An improved formation process includes the heat treatment or annealing of the thin film conductor at a temperature within the range of from 200 C to 300 C for a time period between 10 minutes and 24 hours under a reducing atmosphere such as 15% H[sub 2] in N[sub 2] by volume. Al-Cu thin films annealed in the single phase region of a phase diagram, to temperatures between 200 C and 300 C have [theta]-phase Al[sub 2] Cu precipitates at the grain boundaries continuously become enriched in copper, due, it is theorized, to the formation of a thin coating of [theta]-phase precipitate at the grain boundary. Electromigration behavior of the aluminum is, thus, improved because the [theta]-phase precipitates with copper hinder aluminum diffusion along the grain boundaries. Electromigration, then, occurs mainly within the aluminum grains, a much slower process. 5 figures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {4}
}