Effect of mechanical strength and residual stress of dielectric capping layer on electromigration performance in Cu/low-k interconnects

We present the effect of mechanical strength and residual stress of dielectric barrier on electromigration performance in Cu/low-k interconnects. It has been discovered that mechanical strength and residual stress of dielectric capping layer have a great role on EM performance. The use of mechanically strong dielectric capping material with high residual compressive stress in Cu/low-k interconnects improves a structural confinement of Cu line. Also, it helps tensile stress level decrease near via bottom and compressive stress level increase at Cu beneath SiCN along Cu line. Reduction of tensile stress at via bottom would effectively suppress void nucleation and growth. Moreover, increase of compressive stress in Cu beneath SiCN alleviates Cu migration through that pathway, leading to a longer lifetime of interconnect component.