Metal cap with ultra-low k dielectric material for circuit interconnect applications

An interconnect structure comprising:

• a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less, said dielectric material having at least one conductive material having an upper surface embedded within said dielectric material, wherein said upper surface of said dielectric material is recessed relative to said upper surface of said at least one conductive material;
• a noble metal cap located directly on said upper surface of said at least one conductive material, said noble metal cap does not substantially extend onto an upper surface said dielectric material that is adjacent to said at least one conductive material and no noble metal residues are present on the upper surface of said dielectric material, and wherein noble metal cap is selected from the group consisting of elemental Ru, elemental Ir, and elemental Rh;
• a diffusion barrier liner located between said dielectric material and said at least one conductive material, wherein a topmost surface of the diffusion barrier liner does not extend above a topmost surface of said noble metal cap;
• and
• a dielectric capping layer located directly atop said dielectric material and said noble metal cap.

An interconnect structure comprising:

• a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less, said dielectric material having at least one Cu-containing conductive material embedded within said dielectric material, said at least one Cu-containing conductive material having an upper surface, wherein said upper surface of said dielectric material is recessed relative to said upper surface of said at least one Cu-containing conductive material;
• a diffusion barrier liner located between said dielectric material and said at least one Cu-containing conductive material, wherein a surface of said dielectric barrier liner is in direct contact with portions of said dielectric material;
• and
• a Ru-containing noble metal cap located directly on said upper surface of said at least one Cu-containing conductive material, said Ru-containing noble metal cap does not substantially extend onto an upper surface of said dielectric material that is adjacent to said at least one Cu-containing conductive material and no Ru-containing noble metal residues are present on the upper surface of said dielectric material, and wherein said Ru-containing noble metal cap is composed of only elemental Ru.