| 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 , CO 2 (CO) 8 , Rh 4 (CO) 12 , Re 2 (CO) 10 , Cr(CO) 6 , or Ru 3 (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. |