Integrated circuit structure incorporating a conductor layer with both top surface and sidewall passivation and a method of forming the integrated circuit structure

摘要

Disclosed are embodiments of a structure having a metal layer with top surface and sidewall passivation and a method of forming the structure. In one embodiment, a metal layer is electroplated onto a portion of a seed layer at the bottom of a trench. Then, the sidewalls of the metal layer are exposed and, for passivation, a second metal layer is electroplated onto the top surface and sidewalls of the metal layer. In another embodiment, a trench is formed in a dielectric layer. A seed layer is formed over the dielectric layer, lining the trench. A metal layer is electroplated onto the portion of the seed layer within the trench and a second metal layer is electroplated onto the top surface of the metal layer. Thus, in this case, passivation of the top surface and sidewalls of the metal layer is provided by the second metal layer and the dielectric layer, respectively.