Diffusion barrier characteristics of molybdenum nitride films for ultra-large-scale-integrated Cu metallization (I); Surface morphologies and characteristics of sputtered molybdenum nitride films

Surface morphologies and fundamental characteristics of molybdenum nitride films deposited by reactive dc magnetron sputtering were studied for application to Cu diffusion barrier. A phase transformation from Mo to $\gamma$-Mo$_2$N phase at 0.5$N_2$ flow ratio.($N_2$/(Ar+$N_2$)) equal to and larger than 0.2, whereas a second phase transformation to $\gamma$-MoN phase at 0.5 N2 flow ratio, With the variation of the N2 ratio the surface morphologies of the films were generally smooth except the cases of 0.2 and 0.3$N_2$ gas rations, where build-up of film stresses occurred. $\gamma$-Mo$_2$N film was found to crystallize at the deposition temperature of 40$0^{\circ}C$. The surfaces of $\gamma$-Mo$_2$N films deposited up to 40$0^{\circ}C$ were smooth, but the film deposited at 50$0^{\circ}C$ had very rough surface morphology. It seems that this was due to the building-up of thermal stresses at the high deposition temperature, which might lead to hillock formation.