Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
As the interconnect line width reduces to the sub-micron range, the grain distribution of Al(Cu) alloy lines reaches a bamboo structure. Understanding of the electromigration resistance of near-bamboo and bamboo structures is essential to the sub-micron reliability issue. In this study, the mass transport and failure mechanism of 1 μm wide Al(1%Cu) two-level lines with near-bamboo and bamboo structures were investigated by a drift velocity technique [1]. Our results show that interfacial (A10X/A1 interface) diffusion coupled with grain boundary diffusion determines the failure mechanism of bamboo lines.