Hermetic passivation layer structure for capacitors with perovskite or pyrochlore phase dielectrics

A thin-film capacitor structure fabricated on a substrate is provided. The thin-film capacitor includes a pyrochlore or perovskite alkali earth dielectric layer between a plurality of electrode layers. A pyrochlore or perovskite hydrogen-gettering barrier layer is deposited over the thin-film capacitor. A hermetic seal layer is deposited over the barrier layer by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), or some other hydrogen-producing method. The hydrogen-gettering barrier layer prevents hydrogen from reacting with and degrading the properties of the dielectric material, thereby enhancing the durability and other features of the capacitor.