Disclosed is a method using the implantation of ionized titanium for the formation of an electrical contact having a metal silicide diffusion barrier. The electrical contact is created by the steps of etching a contact opening over an active region on an in-process integrated circuit wafer, implanting metal ions into the contact opening, and annealing the contact opening to form a titanium silicide layer at the bottom of the contact opening adjacent to the underlying active region. In a further step, a titanium nitride layer is formed on the surface of the contact opening above the metal silicide layer, and the remainder of the contact opening is then filled by depositing tungsten into the contact opening. The method is especially useful for forming contacts having a high aspect ratio and for forming self-aligned contacts as it is capable of forming a uniform silicide layer at the bottom of a narrow contact opening.