NEW COBALT PRECURSORS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR APPLICATIONS

Background

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor fabrication. More specifically, the invention relates to new precursors for the deposition of cobalt containing films onto substrates.

Background of the Invention

Cobalt suicides are compounds useful in the electronics field, particularly regarding the manufacture of integrated circuits and micro-electronics. Interest in cobalt suicides is increasing as device scale-down progresses due to their good thermal and chemical stability, low resistivity, wide process window and the small lattice mismatch to the silicon crystal lattice, which allows the cobalt suicide to be grown epitaxially on silicon.

ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) are particularly useful techniques for deposition of metal and metal suicide films as compared to other methods of deposition such as physical vapor deposition

(PVD) methods like sputtering, molecular beam epitaxy, and ion beam implantation. CVD may also be used to provide flexibility in the design and manufacturing of electronic devices, including the potential to reduce the number of processing phases required to provide a desired product. ALD and CVD of various metals have been hampered by the lack of suitable precursor compounds. For example, conventional cobalt organometallic precursors, such as Co(acac)2, Co(acac)3 (acac: acetylacetonato ligand), Co ₂ (CO) ₈ , Co(C ₅ H ₅ ) ₂ (cobaltocene), Co(C ₅ H ₅ )(CO) ₂ and Co(CO) ₃ (NO) have not demonstrated satisfactory properties for use in forming device-quality cobalt suicide films. Other precursors such as Co(acac) ₂ and Co(acac) ₃ have low vapor pressures and therefore require high temperatures to produce a vapor flow sufficient to support CVD or ALD. Carbonyl-containing molecules might be subject to decomposition, especially during light or heat exposure, which may

lead to the evolution of the very harmful, toxic CO molecule. Phosphine- containing molecules are disqualified for the same reason. Organic phosphines are very hazardous and PF ₃ being both toxic and might lead to undesired phosphorus contamination and fluorine-induced etching/damage. Such chemicals might therefore be subject to strict regulations. For instance, Co ₂ (CO) ₈ is volatile and can produce cobalt metal coatings without the addition of a reducing agent, but is too thermally unstable to be a practical CVD precursor, giving rise to competing side reactions and decomposition during storage, even under vacuum or an inert atmosphere. Likewise, Co(CO) ₃ (NO) can be subject to unacceptable contamination with carbon and oxygen in the resulting cobalt and cobalt suicide layers when deposition is conducted at less than 350 ⁰ C or with a hydrogen flow of less than 500 standard cubic centimeters (seem). Cobaltocene may be used to deposit cobalt films, but such films can be subject to severe carbon and oxygen contamination problems, even when hydrogen is used as a reducing agent. Consequently there exists need for new cobalt suitable cobalt precursors for ALD and CVD applications.

Brief Summary

Methods and precursors for depositing a cobalt containing film are described herein. In general, the disclosed precursor compounds utilize pentadienyl or cylclopentadienyl ligands to the cobalt to increase thermal stability. The methods and compositions may be used in a variety of deposition processes, and the compositions have several advantages such as thermal stability at room temperatures, and the absence of toxic phosphorus compounds. Other aspects of the methods and compositions will be described in more detail below.

In one embodiment, a method for depositing a cobalt containing film onto one or more substrate comprises introducing a cobalt precursor into a reaction chamber containing one or more substrate. The cobalt precursor has the general formula: where

RyOP is a pentadienyl (Op) ligand, substituted or not, with an independently selected number y of R ligands in any position on the pentadienyl ligand;

RtCp is a cylclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand, substituted or not, with an independently selected number t of R ligands in any position on the cylclopentadienyl ligand;

R is a ligand independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydrogen group, alkylamides, alkoxides, alkylsilylamides, amidinates, isonitrile, and carbonyl, and where each R may be the same or different from another R;

R' is a ligand independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms with an even number of π bonds, and where each R' may be the same or different from another R'; y is an integer ranging from 0 to 7, preferably y = 2 and each R is a methyl group; x is an integer ranging from 0 to 1 ; t is an integer ranging from 0 to 5, preferably t =1 , and each R is a methyl group; z is an integer ranging from 0 to 1 ; and u is an integer ranging from 1 to 2.

The cobalt precursor is then deposited to form a cobalt containing film on the substrates in the reaction chamber. In another embodiment, a first metal precursor, and at least one reaction fluid are also introduced into the reaction chamber. The reaction fluid is selected from hydrogen containing fluids, oxygen containing fluids, nitrogen containing fluids, and oxygen and nitrogen containing fluids. The cobalt precursor is reacted with the reaction fluid, and a cobalt containing film is formed on the substrate, at a temperature between about 100 and 500 C. The cobalt containing film has the general formula:

where

M is a metal or semi-metallic element;

Co is a cobalt atom, O is an oxygen atom, and N is a nitrogen atom; - 0 < a < 2;

0 < b < 2, preferably 0.5 < b < 1 .5; and

0 < c < 1 , preferably 0 < c < 0.5.

Other embodiments of the current invention may include, without limitation, one or more of the following features: - M in the cobalt containing film is one of magnesium (Mg), calcium

(Ca), zinc (Zn), boron (B), aluminum (Al), indium (In), scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), the rare earth metals, silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta); - the cobalt contain film is formed on the substrate at a temperature between about 150 C and about 350 C the reaction fluid is one of O ₂ , O ₃ , H ₂ O, H ₂ O ₂ , oxygen-containing radicals such as O ^* and OH ^# , and mixtures thereof; the reaction fluid is one of N ₂ , NH ₃ , hydrazine and its alkyl or aryl derivatives, nitrogen-containing radicals such as N ^# , NH ^# , NH ₂ ^# , and mixtures thereof; the reaction fluid is one of NO, NO ₂ , N ₂ O, N ₂ O ₅ , N ₂ O ₄ , and mixtures thereof; the pressure in the reaction chamber is between about 1 Pa and about 10O 000 Pa, preferably between about 25 Pa and about 1000

Pa; the first metal precursor has a melting point below about 50 C, preferably below about 35 C, and more preferably the melting point is such that the metal precursor is liquid at room temperature (i.e. ~ 25 C);

the first metal precursor is selected from silicon containing metal precursors, germanium containing precursors, aluminum containing precursors, niobium containing precursors, and tantalum containing precursors; - the first metal precursor is selected from disiloxane, thsilylamine, disilane, and thsilane, and mixtures thereof; the first metal precursor is selected from digermyloxane, trigermylamine, digermane, and trigermane, and mixtures thereof; the first metal precursor is selected from thmethylaluminum, dimethylaluminum hydride, and amidoalane AIR ¹ _X (NR ² R ³ ) _3-X, wherein x ranges from 0 to 4; R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are independently H or a C1 -C6 carbon chain, either linear, branched or cyclic, and mixtures thereof; the first metal precursor is selected from Ta(NMe ₂ )S, Ta(NEt ₂ ) ₄ , Ta(NEt ₂ )S, and Ta(=NR ¹ )(NR ² R ³ ) ₃ wherein each R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are independently H or a C1 -C6 carbon chain, either linear, branched or cyclic and where the amino ligand can have different substituents, and mixtures thereof; the first metal precursor is selected from Nb(NMe ₂ ) ₅ , Nb(NEt ₂ ) ₄ , Nb(NEt ₂ )S, Nb(NMe ₂ ) ₄ , Nb(NMeEt) ₄ , Nb(NMeEt) ₅ , Nb(=NR ¹ )(NR ² R ³ ) ₃ wherein each R ¹ , R ² and R ³ are independently H or a C1 -C6 carbon chain, either linear, branched or cyclic and where the amino ligand can have different substituents, and mixtures thereof In an embodiment, a precursor for depositing a cobalt containing film on one or more substrates has the general formula: (R _y OP) _x (R _t Cp) _z Co R' _u where

RyOP is a pentadienyl (Op) ligand, substituted or not, with an independently selected number y of R ligands in any position on the pentadienyl ligand;

R _t Cp is a cylclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand, substituted or not, with an independently selected number t of R ligands in any position on the cylclopentadienyl ligand;

R is a ligand independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydrogen group, alkylamides, alkoxides, alkylsilylamides, amidinates, isonithle, and carbonyl, and where each R may be the same or different from another R;

R' is a ligand independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms with an even number of π bonds, and where each R' may be the same or different from another R'; y is an integer ranging from 0 to 7, preferably y = 2 and each R is a methyl group; - x is an integer ranging from 0 to 1 ; t is an integer ranging from 0 to 5, preferably t =1 , and each R is a methyl group; z is an integer ranging from 0 to 1 ; and u is an integer ranging from 1 to 2. The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Notation and Nomenclature

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and

"comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to...". Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean either an indirect or direct chemical bond. Thus, if a first molecule couples to a second molecule, that connection may be through a direct bond, or through an indirect bond via other functional groups or bonds. The bonds may be any known chemical bonds such as without limitation, covalent, ionic, electrostatic, dipole-dipole, etc.

As used herein, the term "alkyl group" refers to saturated functional groups containing exclusively carbon and hydrogen atoms. Further, the term "alkyl group" refers to linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl groups. Examples of linear alkyl groups include without limitation, methyl groups, ethyl groups, propyl groups, butyl groups, etc. Examples of branched alkyls groups include without limitation, /-butyl. Examples of cyclic alkyl groups include without limitation, cyclopropyl groups, cyclopentyl groups, cyclohexyl groups, etc. As used herein, the abbreviation, "Me," refers to a methyl group; the abbreviation, "Et," refers to an ethyl group; the abbreviation, "Pr," refers to a propyl group; and the abbreviation, "iPr," refers to an isopropyl group.

Description of Preferred Embodiments In an embodiment, a cobalt precursor of the aforementioned general formula (RyOP) _x (RtCp) _z Co R' _u is used to form a cobalt containing film of the aforementioned general formula CoM _a ObN _c

According to one embodiment, the Cp ligand may have the following formula:

(1 )

Alternatively, the Cp ligand may be represented by the formula : CpR ^1"5 . R ¹ - R ⁵ may each independently be a hydrogen group, a C1 -C4 linear or branched alkyl group, an alkylamide group, an alkoxide group, an alkylsilylamide group, an amidinate group, a carbonyl group, or combinations thereof. R ^1"5 may be the same or different from one another. Examples of suitable Cp ligands include without limitation, methylcyclopentadiene, ethylcyclopentadiene, isopropylcyclopentadiene, and combinations thereof. In at least one embodiment, at least 4 of R ^1" in the Cp ligand shown in formula (1 ) are hydrogen groups(/.e. unsubstituted).

In an embodiment, the Op ligand may have the following formula:

(2) The Op ligand may alternatively be represented by the formula: OpR ^1"7 . R ¹ -

R ⁷ may each independently be a hydrogen group, a halogen group {e.g. Cl, Br, etc.), a C1 -C4 linear or branched alkyl group, an alkylamide group, an alkoxide group, an alkylsilylamide group, an amidinate group, a carbonyl group, or combinations thereof. R ^1"7 may be the same or different from one another. Examples of Op ligands include without limitation, 1 ,3-pentadiene, 1 ,4-pentadiene,

3-methyl-1 ,3-pentadiene, 3-methyl-1 ,4-pentadiene, 2,4-dimethyl-1 ,3-pentadiene, 2,4-dimethyl-1 ,4-pentadiene, 3-ethyl-1 ,3-pentadiene, 1 ,5-bistrimethoxysilyl-1 ,3- pentadiene, and 1 ,5-bisthmethoxysilyl-1 ,4-pentadiene, and combinations thereof. In at least one embodiment, at least 5 of R ^1"7 in the Op ligand shown in formula (2) are hydrogen groups(/.e. unsubstituted).

In one embodiment the cobalt precursor may be a cobalt compound having the general formula:

(3)

In this embodiment x equals zero. That is, the cobalt precursor comprises only the cylclopentadienyl ligand, t R ligands, and u R' ligands. There may be one R' ligand, or two as shown above in (3). The Cp may be substituted by a methyl or an ethyl. In one embodiment, the cobalt precursor is Co(RCp)(ethylene)2.

In one embodiment the cobalt precursor may be a cobalt compound having the general formula:

(4)

In this embodiment z equals zero. That is, the cobalt precursor comprises only the open pentadienyl ligand, y R ligands and u R' ligands. There may be only one R' ligand, or two as shown above in (4). The Op may be substituted by a methyl or an ethyl. In one embodiment, the cobalt precursor is Co(2,4,R ₂ Op)(ethylene)2. In another embodiment, the precursor may be cobalt diethylene bis(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl).

Generally, the disclosed cobalt precursors have a low melting point. In at least one embodiment, the cobalt precursor is liquid at room temperature (e.g. -25 ⁰ C). Specifically, embodiments of the precursors may have melting points less

than about 5O ⁰ C, alternatively less than about 4O ⁰ C, alternatively less than about 35 ⁰ C.

Examples of the disclosed cobalt precursors include, without limitation CoCp(ethylene)2, Co(MeCp)(ethylene)2, Co(EtCp)(ethylene)2, Co(iPrCp)(ethylene)2,

CoCp(propylene)2, Co(MeCp)(propylene)2, Co(EtCp)(propylene)2, Co(iPrCp)(propylene)2, CoCp(I -butene)2, Co(MeCp)(I -butene)2, Co(EtCp)(I- butene)2, Co(iPrCp)(2-butene)2, CoCp(2-butene)2, Co(MeCp)(2-butene)2, Co(EtCp)(2-butene)2, Co(iPrCp)(2-butaene)2, CoCp(butadiene)2, Co(MeCp)(butadiene)2, Co(EtCp)(butadiene)2, Co(iPrCp)(butadiene)2,

CoCp(cyclobutadiene)2, Co(MeCp)(cyclobutadiene)2, Co(EtCp)(cyclobutadiene)2, Co(iPrCp)(cyclobutadiene)2, CoCp(cyclohexadi-1 ,3-ene)2, Co(MeCp)(cyclohexadi- 1 ,3-diene)2, Co(EtCp)(cyclo- hexadi-1 ,3-diene)2, Co(iPrCp)(cyclohexadi-1 ,3- diene)2, CoCp(cyclohexadi-1 ,4-ene)2, Co(MeCp)(cyclohexadi-1 ,4-diene)2, Co(EtCp)(cyclohexadi-1 ,4-diene)2, Co(iPrCp)(cyclohexadi-1 ,4- diene)2,CoCp(acetylene)2, Co(MeCp)(acetylene)2, Co(EtCp)(acetylene)2, Co(iPrCp)(acetylene)2, CoCp(trimethylsilylacetylene)2, Co(MeCp)(thmethylsilylacetylene)2, Co(EtCp)(thmethylsilylacetylene)2, Co(iPrCp)(thmethylsilylacetylene)2, CoCp(bis(thmethylsilyl)acetylene)2, Co(MeCp)(thmethylsilylacetylene)2, Co(EtCp)(bis(thmethylsilyl)acetylene)2,

Co(iPrCp)(bis(thmethylsilyl)acetylene)2, Co(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)(ethylene)2, Co(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)(propylene)2, Co(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)(1- butylene)2, Co(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)(2-butylene)2, Co(2,4- dimethylpentadienyl)(butadiene)2, Co(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)(cyclobutadiene)2, Co(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)(cyclohexa-1 ,3-diene)2, Co(2,4- dimethylpentadienyl)(cyclohexa-1 ,4-diene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(acetylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(thmethylsilylacetylene)2,

Co(hexadienyl)(bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(ethylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(propylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(1 -butylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(2- butylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(butadiene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(cyclobutadiene)2,

Co(hexadienyl)(cyclohexa-1 ,3-diene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(cyclohexa-1 ,4-diene)2,

Co(hexadienyl)(acetylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(trimethylsilylacetylene)2, Co(hexadienyl)(bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene)2, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the cobalt containing film of general formula CoM ₃ ObNc is a pure cobalt metal film where a = 0, b = 0, and c = 0, and where the cobalt precursor is one of CoCp(CO) ₂ , Co ₂ (CO) ₆ (CH-CtBu), Co(RCp) ₂ and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the cobalt containing film of general formula CoM ₃ ObNc is a cobalt oxide alloy film where a = O, O < b < 2, and c = O, and where the cobalt precursor is one Of CoCp(CO) ₂ , Co ₂ (CO) ₆ (CH-CtBu), Co(RCp) ₂ and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the cobalt containing film of general formula CoM ₃ ObNc is a cobalt nitride containing dielectric film where a = O, b = O, and O < c < 0.5, and where the cobalt precursor is one of CoCp(CO) ₂ , Co ₂ (CO) ₆ (CH-CtBu), Co(RCp) ₂ and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the cobalt containing film of general formula

CoM ₃ ObNc is a cobalt oxynithde containing dielectric film where a = O, 1.5 < b < 2.5, and O < c < 0.5, and where the cobalt precursor is one of CoCp(CO) ₂ , Co ₂ (CO) ₆ (CH-CtBu), Co(RCp) ₂ and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the cobalt containing film of general formula CoM ₃ ObNc is a cobalt alloy film where O < a < 1 , b = O, and c = O, and where the cobalt precursor is one Of CoCp(CO) ₂ , Co ₂ (CO) ₆ (CH-CtBu), Co(RCp) ₂ and mixtures thereof, M is one of Si, Ge and/or Ta.

The disclosed cobalt compounds may be deposited using any deposition methods known to those of skill in the art. Examples of suitable deposition methods include without limitation, conventional CVD, low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), pulsed chemical vapor deposition (P-CVD), plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD), or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, a first precursor may be introduced into a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may be any enclosure or chamber within a device in which deposition methods take place such as without limitation, a cold-wall type reactor, a hot-wall type reactor, a single-wafer reactor, a multi-wafer

reactor, or other types of deposition systems under conditions suitable to cause the precursors to react and form the layers. The first precursor may be introduced into the reaction chamber by bubbling an inert gas (e.g. N ₂ , He, Ar, etc.) into the precursor and providing the inert gas plus precursor mixture to the reactor. Generally, the reaction chamber contains one or more substrates on to which the metal layers or films will be deposited. The one or more substrates may be any suitable substrate used in semiconductor manufacturing. Examples of suitable substrates include without limitation, silicon substrates, silica substrates, silicon nitride substrates, silicon oxy nitride substrates, tungsten substrates, or combinations thereof. Additionally, substrates comprising tungsten or noble metals

[e.g. platinum, palladium, rhodium or gold) may be used.

In an embodiment, a method of depositing a cobalt film on a substrate may further comprise introducing a first metal precursor into the reaction chamber. The first metal precursor may be a metal precursor containing any metal or semi-metal element, and in particular it may be one or more metals other than a Group 11 metal. For example, the first metal precursor may include without limitation, Mg, Ca, Zn, B, Al, In, Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, or combinations thereof. Other examples of metals include rare earth metals and lanthanides. The first metal precursor may contain silicon and/or germanium. In particular, examples of suitable first metal precursors include without limitation, thsilylamine, silane, disilane, thsilane, bis(tertiary-butylamino)silane (BTBAS), bis(diethylamino)silane (BDEAS), digermyloxane, thgermylamine, digermane, and thgermane, or combinations thereof. In addition, the first metal precursor may be an aminosilane having the formula: SiH _x (NR ¹ R ² ) _4-x . The subscript, x, is an integer between 0 and 4. R ¹ and R ² may each independently be a hydrogen group or a C1-C6 alkyl group, either linear, branched or cyclic. R ¹ and R ² may be the same or different from on another. In one embodiment, the first metal precursor is ths(diethylamino)silane (ThDMAS).

In another embodiment, the first metal precursor may be an aluminum source. Examples of suitable aluminum sources include without limitation, thmethylaluminum, dimethylaluminum hydride, or combinations thereof.

Additionally, the aluminum source may be an amidoalane having the formula: AIR ¹ χ(NR ² R ³ ) _3-x . The subscript, x, is an integer from 0 and 3. R ¹ , R ² , and R ³ may each independently be a hydrogen group or a C1 -C6 carbon chain, either linear, branched or cyclic and may each be the same or different from on another. In another embodiment, the first metal precursor may be a tantalum and/or niobium source selected from the group comprising MCI ₅ and corresponding adducts, M(NMe2)5, M(NEt ₂ ) ₄ , M(NEt ₂ )S, or combinations thereof. M represents either tantalum or niobium. Furthermore, the tantalum and/or niobium source may be an amino-containing tantalum and/or niobium source having the formula: M(=NR ¹ )(NR ² R ³ ) ₃ . R ¹ , R ² , and R ³ may each independently be a hydrogen group or a C1 -C6 alkyl group, either linear, branched or cyclic.

Generally, The weight ratio of the first metal precursor to the cobalt precursor introduced into the reaction chamber may range from about 100:1 to about 1 :100, alternatively from about 50:1 to about 1 :50, alternatively from about 1 :1 to about 10:1 .

In some embodiments, the reaction chamber may be maintained at a pressure ranging from about 1 Pa to about 100,000 Pa, alternatively from about 10 Pa to about 10,000 Pa, alternatively from about 25 Pa to about 1000 Pa. In addition, the temperature within the reaction chamber may range from about 100 ⁰ C to about 500 ⁰ C, alternatively from about 12O ⁰ C to about 45O ⁰ C, alternatively from about 15O ⁰ C to about 35O ⁰ C. Furthermore, the deposition of the metal film may take place in the presence of a reaction fluid. The reaction fluid, which may be a fluid or a gas, may be a hydrogen source, an oxygen source, a nitrogen source, or an oxygen/nitrogen source. Examples of suitable hydrogen sources include without limitation, H ₂ , H ₂ O,

H ₂ O ₂ , N ₂ , NH ₃ , hydrazine and its alkyl or aryl derivatives, diethylsilane, trisilylamine, silane, disilane, phenylsilane and any molecule containing Si-H bonds, dimethylaluminum hydride, hydrogen-containing radicals such as H ^# , OH ^# , N ^# , NH ^# , NH ₂ ^# , or combinations thereof. Examples of suitable oxygen sources include without limitation, O ₂ , O ₃ , H ₂ O,

H ₂ O ₂ , oxygen-containing radicals such as O ^* and OH ^# , and mixtures thereof.

Examples of suitable nitrogen sources include without limitation, N ₂ , NH ₃ , hydrazine and its alkyl or aryl derivatives, nitrogen-containing radicals such as N ^# , NIT, NH ₂ ^* , and mixtures thereof.

Examples of suitable oxygen/nitrogen sources include without limitation NO, NO ₂ , N ₂ O, N ₂ O ₅ , N ₂ O _4, and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, an inert gas may be introduced into the reaction chamber. Examples of inert gases include without limitation, He, Ar, Ne, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the cobalt precursor and the first metal precursor precursors may be introduced sequentially (as in ALD) or simultaneously (as in

CVD) into the reaction chamber. In one embodiment, the first and second precursors may be pulsed sequentially or simultaneously {e.g. pulsed CVD) into the reaction chamber while the oxidizing or nitridizing gas is introduced continuously into the reaction chamber. Each pulse of the cobalt and/or first metal precursor may last for a time period ranging from about 0.01 s to about 10 s, alternatively from about 0.3 s to about 3 s, alternatively from about 0.5 s to about 2 s. In another embodiment, the reaction fluid, and/or the inert gas may also be pulsed into the reaction chamber. In such embodiments, the pulse of each gas may last for a time period ranging from about 0.01 s to about 10 s, alternatively from about 0.3 s to about 3 s, alternatively from about 0.5 s to about 2 s.

While embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or teaching of this invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the composition and method are possible and within the scope of the invention.

Accordingly the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims which follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.