Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
We have used chemical vapor deposition to grow ternary tungsten based diffusion barriers to determine if they exhibit properties similar to those of sputter deposited ternaries. A range of different W-Si-N compositions were produced. The deposition temperature was low, 350°C, and the precursors used are accepted by the industry. Deposition rates are acceptable for a diffusion barrier application. Resistivities range from 350 to 20000 μΩ-cm, depending on composition. Step coverage of films with compositions expected to be of interest for diffusion barrier applications is 100%.