Titanium-silicon-nitride films were grown by metal-organic chemical va
por deposition. At temperatures between 300 and 450 degrees C, tetraki
s(diethylamido)titanium, ammonia, and silane react to form films with
average compositions near the TiN-Si3N4 tie line and low impurity cont
ents (C<1.5 at. %, H between 5 and 15 at. %, with no other impurities
present). The film resistivity is a strong function of Si content in t
he films, ranging continuously from 400 mu Ohm cm for pure TiN up to 1
Ohm cm for films with 25 at. % Si. Step coverages of approximately 75
% on 0.35 mu m, 3:1 aspect ratio trenches, and 35%-40% on 0.1 mu m/10:
1 trenches are found for films with resistivities below 1000 mu Omega
cm. These films are promising candidates for diffusion barriers in mi
croelectronic applications. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.