Published June 1999 | Version v1
Journal article

Thermal stability of Nb-Si-N and Ta-Si-N as diffusion barriers between Cu and Si

  • 1. Inha Univ., Incheon (Korea, Republic of)
  • 2. Anam Industrial Co., Buchon (Korea, Republic of)

Description

In this study, Nb-Si-N and Ta-Si-N films were deposited on (100)Si wafers using a reactive sputtering technique and their thermal stability indispensable for a barrier metal against Cu was investigated using sheet resistance measurement, X-ray diffraction, and Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling. The N2/Ar gas flow ratio for the sputter deposition of the Nb-Si-N and Ta-Si-N films with the highest thermal stability were found to be 5 % and 15 %, respectively. The Nb-Si-N film failed at 700 .deg. C, while the Ta-Si-N film failed at 900 .deg. C. the failure mechanism of the Nb-Si-N was found to be as follows : Cu atoms move to the Nb-Si-N/Si interface through the Nb-Si-N film and react with Si atoms in the Si substrate resulting in the formation of Cu3Si at the Nb-Si-N/Si interface. Also the failure mechanism of Ta-Si-N was found to be nearly the same as that of Nb-Si-N

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of the Korean Physical Society
Journal Volume
34
Journal Issue
Suppl
Series
12 refs, 8 figs
Journal Page Range
p. 504-509
ISSN
0374-4884