Synthesis and Characterization of The Electrolessly Deposited Co(Re,P) Film for Cu Capping Layer

Electrolessly deposited Co (Re,P) was investigated as a possible capping layer for Cu wires. 50 nm Co (Re,P) films were deposited on Cu/Ti-coated silicon wafers which acted as a catalytic seed and an adhesion layer, respectively. To obtain the optimized bath composition, electroless deposition was studied through an electrochemical approach via a linear sweep voltammetry analysis. The results of using this method showed that the best deposition conditions were a CoSO concentration of 0.082 mol/l, a solution pH of 9, a KReO concentration of 0.0003 mol/l and sodium hypophosphite concentration of 0.1 mol/L at 80 C. The thermal stability of the Co (Re,P) layer as a barrier preventing Cu was evaluated using Auger electron spectroscopy and a Scanning calorimeter. The measurement results showed that Re impurities stabilized the h.c.p. phase up to 550 C and that the Co (Re,P) film efficiently blocked Cu diffusion under an annealing temperature of 400 C for 1hr. The good barrier properties that were observed can be explained by the nano-sized grains along with the blocking effect of the impurities at the fast diffusion path of the grain boundaries. The transformation temperature from the amorphous to crystal structure is increased by doping the Re.