Applied Materials, Inc.
Ruthenium Film Deposition Using Low Valent Metal Precursors

Abstract:

Methods of depositing metal films comprising exposing a substrate surface to a first metal precursor followed by a non-oxygen containing reducing agent comprising a second metal to form a zero-valent first metal film are described. The reducing agent has a metal center that is more electropositive than the metal center of the first metal precursor. In some embodiments, methods of depositing ruthenium films are described in which a substrate surface is exposed to a ruthenium precursor to form a ruthenium containing film on the substrate surface followed by exposure to a non-oxygen containing reducing agent to reduce the ruthenium containing film to a zero-valent ruthenium film and generate an oxidized form of the reducing agent.