Materials for interconnects

Daniel Gall, Judy J. Cha, Zhihong Chen, Hyeuk Jin Han, Christopher Hinkle, Joshua A. Robinson, Ravishankar Sundararaman, Riccardo Torsi

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

The electrical resistance of interconnect wires increases with decreasing size, causing signal delay and energy consumption that limits further downscaling of integrated circuits. Electron scattering at surfaces and grain-boundaries of current-technology Cu and Co conductors causes the resistivity of narrow lines to be an order of magnitude above bulk values. New materials systems and processing methods are required that mitigate this resistivity size effect and yield narrow high-conductivity lines. Promising research directions include (1) new materials with a small electron mean free path such that electron scattering at surfaces and grain-boundaries becomes negligible, (2) two-dimensional materials as new liner/barrier layers that maximize the conductor cross-sectional area and facilitate specular surface scattering, and (3) topological metals which exhibit an increasing conductivity with decreasing line width due to protected surface states that suppress electron scattering. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)959-966
Number of pages8
JournalMRS Bulletin
Volume46
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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