| abstract |
A method and a processing tool are provided for forming a metal layer with improved morphology on a substrate. The method includes pre-treating the substrate by exposing the substrate to excited species in a plasma, exposing the pre-treated substrate to a process gas containing a metal-carbonyl precursor, and forming a metal layer on the pre-treated substrate surface by a chemical vapor deposition process. The metal-carbonyl precursor can contain W(CO)6, Ni(CO)4, Mo(CO)6, Co2(CO)8, Rh4(CO)12, Re2(CO)10, Cr(CO)6, or Ru3(CO)12 or any combination thereof, and the metal layer can contain W, Ni, Mo, Co, Rh, Re, Cr, or Ru, or any combination thereof, respectively. |