Applied Materials, Inc.

Errol C Sanchez

David K Carlson

Yihwan Kim

Satheesh Kuppurao

Schubert S Chu

Arkadii V Samoilov

Lara Hawrylchak

Yi-Chiau Huang

Shulin Wang

Kin Pong Lo

Tushar Mandrekar

Nicholas C Dalida

Howard Beckford

Zhiyuan Ye

Lee Luo

Andrew C Lam

Craig Metzner

Steven Aihua Chen

Manish Hemkar

Li Fu

Joseph Michael Ranish

Majeed Foad

Shu-Kwan Danny Lau

Patricia M Liu

Blake R Koelmel

Zhepeng Cong

Ala Moradian

Kailash Kiran Patalay

Zuoming Zhu

Adam Brand

Bingxi Sun Wood

Masato Ishii

Jean Rene Vatus

Ali Zojaji

Jenny Lin

Flora Fong-Song Chang

Xianzhi Tao

Enle Choo

Vilen K Nestorov

Yonah Cho

Bindusagar Marath Sankarathodi

Steven Yencheng Chen

Surendra Singh Srivastava

Jinsong Tang

John Boland

Maxim Shaposhnikov

Luo Lee

Zoran Dragojlovic

Balakrishnam R Jampana

A method for processing a substrate within a processing chamber comprises receiving a first radiation signal corresponding to a film on a target element disposed within the processing chamber, analyzing the first radiation signal, and controlling the processing of the substrate based on the analyzed first radiation signal. The processing chamber includes a substrate support configured to support the substrate within a processing volume and a controller coupled to a first sensing device configured to receive the first radiation signal.

Substrate processing monitoring

Implementations of the present disclosure generally relates to a transfer chamber coupled to at least one vapor phase epitaxy chamber a plasma oxide removal chamber coupled to the transfer chamber, the plasma oxide removal chamber comprising a lid assembly with a mixing chamber and a gas distributor; a first gas inlet formed through a portion of the lid assembly and in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; a second gas inlet formed through a portion of the lid assembly and in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; a third gas inlet formed through a portion of the lid assembly and in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; and a substrate support with a substrate supporting surface; a lift member disposed in a recess of the substrate supporting surface and coupled through the substrate support to a lift actuator; and a load lock chamber coupled to the transfer chamber.

Integrated epitaxy and preclean system

In one implementation, a processing system includes a first transfer chamber coupling to at least one epitaxy process chamber, a second transfer chamber, a transition station disposed between the first transfer chamber and the second transfer chamber, a first plasma chamber coupled to the second transfer chamber for removing oxides from a surface of a substrate, and a load lock chamber coupled to the second transfer chamber. The transition station connects to the first transfer chamber and the second transfer chamber, and the transition station includes a second plasma chamber for removing contaminants from the surface of the substrate.

Epitaxy system integrated with high selectivity oxide removal and high temperature contaminant removal

Apparatus for use with multi-zonal heating sources are provided. In some embodiments, a substrate support may have a pocket disposed in a surface of the substrate support and a lip disposed about the pocket to receive an edge of a substrate and to support the substrate over the pocket such that a gap is defined between a pocket surface and a backside surface of the substrate when the substrate is disposed on the lip; a plurality of features to operate in combination with a plurality of heating zones provided by a multi-zonal heating source to provide a desired temperature profile on a frontside surface of a substrate when the substrate is disposed on the lip, and wherein the plurality of features are alternatingly disposed above and below a baseline surface profile of the pocket surface in a radial direction from a central axis of the substrate support.

Substrate support for use with multi-zonal heating sources

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for positioning a substrate in a processing chamber using capacitive sensors. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus includes first and second capacitive sensors disposed in an inner volume. The first capacitive sensor is positioned to detect a location of an edge of the substrate at a first angular location. The second capacitive sensor is positioned to detect a vertical position of the substrate.

Apparatus and methods for positioning a substrate using capacitive sensors

Methods of depositing layers having reduced interfacial contamination are disclosed herein. The inventive methods may advantageously reduce contamination at the interface between deposited layers, for example, between a deposited layer and an underlying substrate or film. In some embodiments, a method of depositing a layer may include annealing a silicon-containing layer having a first layer disposed thereon in a reducing atmosphere; removing the first layer using an etching process to expose the silicon-containing layer after annealing; and depositing a second layer on the exposed silicon-containing layer.

Methods for depositing layers having reduced interfacial contamination

Methods of forming a fin structure for a field effect transistor are described. The methods may include the operations of patterning a mandrel on a surface of a substrate, and depositing an epitaxial layer of high-mobility channel material over exposed surfaces of the patterned mandrel. The epitaxial layer leaves a gap between adjacent columns of the patterned mandrel, and a dielectric material may be deposited in the gap between the adjacent columns of the patterned mandrel. The methods may also include planarizing the epitaxial layer to form a planarized epitaxial layer and exposing the columns of the patterned mandrel, and etching at least a portion of the exposed columns of the patterned mandrel and the dielectric material to expose at least a portion of the planarized epitaxial layer that forms the fin structure.

Fin formation by epitaxial deposition

Systems and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting the temperature of at least a portion of the surface of a reaction chamber during a film formation process to control film properties. More than one portion of the chamber surface may be temperature-modulated.

Apparatus to control semiconductor film deposition characteristics

Methods and apparatus for providing constant emissivity of the backside of susceptors are described. Provided is a method comprising: providing a susceptor in a deposition chamber, the susceptor comprising a susceptor plate and a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof, the layer being stable in the presence of the reactive process gases; and locating the wafer on a support surface of the susceptor plate. The method can further comprise selectively depositing an epitaxial layer or a non-epitaxial layer on a surface of the wafer. The method can also further comprise selectively etching to maintain the oxide, nitride, oxynitride, or combinations thereof layer.

Susceptor with backside area of constant emissivity

Methods for depositing germanium-containing layers on silicon-containing layers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method may include depositing a first layer atop an upper surface of the silicon-containing layer, wherein the first layer comprises predominantly germanium (Ge) and further comprises a lattice adjustment element having a concentration selected to enhance electrical activity of dopant elements, wherein the dopant elements are disposed in at least one of the first layer or in an optional second layer deposited atop of the first layer, wherein the optional second layer, if present, comprises predominantly germanium (Ge). In some embodiments, the second layer is deposited atop the first layer. In some embodiments, the second layer comprises germanium (Ge) and dopant elements.

Methods for depositing germanium-containing layers

Embodiments of methods for depositing silicon germanium (SiGe) layers on a substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method may include depositing a first layer comprising silicon and germanium (e.g., a seed layer) atop the substrate using a first precursor comprising silicon and chlorine; and depositing a second layer comprising silicon and germanium (e.g., a bulk layer) atop the silicon germanium seed layer using a second precursor comprising silicon and hydrogen. In some embodiments, the first silicon precursor gas may comprise at least one of dichlorosilane (HSiCl), trichlorosilane (HSiCl), or silicon tetrachloride (SiCl). In some embodiments, the second silicon precursor gas may comprise at least one of silane (SiH), or disilane (SiH).

Methods for forming silicon germanium layers

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for the formation of vaporizing liquid precursor materials. The methods or apparatus can be used as part of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus or system, for example for forming films on substrates. The methods and apparatus involve providing a vessel for containing a liquid precursor and diffusing element having external cross-section dimensions substantially equal to the internal cross-sectional dimensions of the vessel.

Apparatus and methods for chemical vapor deposition

Methods and apparatus for providing constant emissivity of the backside of susceptors are provided. Provided is a susceptor comprising: a susceptor plate having a surface for supporting a wafer and a backside surface opposite the wafer supporting surface; a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof located on the backside surface of the susceptor plate, the layer being stable in the presence of a reactive process gas. The layer comprises, for example, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or combinations thereof. Also provided is a method comprising: providing a susceptor in a deposition chamber, the susceptor comprising a susceptor plate and a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof, the layer being stable in the presence of the reactive process gases; locating the wafer on a support surface of the susceptor plate. The method can further comprises selectively depositing an epitaxial layer or a non-epitaxial layer on a surface of the wafer. The method further comprises selectively etching to maintain the oxide, nitride, oxynitride, or combinations thereof layer.

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate may include providing a substrate having at least one of a defect or a contaminant disposed on or near a surface of the substrate; and selectively annealing a portion of the substrate with a laser beam in the presence of a process gas comprising hydrogen. The laser beam may be moved over the substrate or continuously, or in a stepwise fashion. The laser beam may be applied in a continuous wave or pulsed mode. The process gas may further comprise an inert gas, such as, at least one of helium, argon, or nitrogen. A layer of material may be subsequently deposited atop the annealed substrate.

Method for surface treatment of semiconductor substrates

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Tracy, CA, United States of America

Errol C Sanchez