Applied Materials, Inc.

Jennifer Meng Tseng

Mei Yin Chang

Marvin De-Dui Liao

Chyi Chern

Yezdi N Dordi

Robin W Cheung

Ling Chen

Paul F Ma

Karl Anthony Littau

Wei Chih Chen

Annamalai Lakshmanan

Jing Tang

Ramanujapuram A Srinivas

David C Smith

Moshe Eizenberg

Klaus-Dieter Rinnen

Susan Weihar Telford

Described are methods of forming a semiconductor device. Certain methods comprises depositing a film comprising manganese nitride over a dielectric; depositing a copper seed layer over the film; and depositing a copper fill layer over the copper seed layer. Also described are semiconductor devices. Certain semiconductor devices comprise a low-k dielectric layer; a manganese nitride layer overlying the low-k dielectric layer; a seed layer selected from a copper seed layer or electrochemical deposition seed layer overlying the manganese nitride layer; a copper layer overlying the copper seed layer.

Methods for manganese nitride integration

A method of treating a substrate. The method comprises forming a metal-containing layer on at least a selected portion of the substrate during a substrate cleaning process.

Method of treating a substrate

A layer of material is formed on a substrate in a partially formed integrated circuit on a wafer. The substrate undergoes a plasma annealing, during which the substrate is bombarded with ions. The plasma annealing may be performed by exposing the substrate to plasma that is generated from a nitrogen containing gas which is infused with energy. After the substrate is plasma annealed, a layer of a refractory metal nitride is deposited on the substrate. The layer of refractory metal nitride is then bombarded with a first set of ions. The bombardment of the refractory metal by the first set of ions may be achieved by performing a plasma annealing. The refractory metal nitride may be further bombarded by a second set of ions.

Plasma annealing of substrates to improve adhesion

A method for improving the characteristics of deposited thin films by improved control and stabilization of wafer surface temperatures. Further, the invention provides the ability to rapidly change the temperature of the wafer surface without the need to change the temperature of the chamber. The wafer is heated to an operating temperature by conventional means. A gas with high thermal conductivity, such as helium or hydrogen, is passed over the wafer to cool its surface to a desired temperature for the process to be performed. The flow rate is then adjusted to stabilize the temperature of the wafer and reduce surface temperature variations. Processing gases are then introduced into the chamber, and deposition onto the wafer commences. The maintenance of correct wafer surface temperature results in improved step coverage and conformality of the deposited film. Post-deposition steps such as plasma annealing may be performed using a gas compatible with the process at a flow rate which results in a temperature desirable for the post-deposition process.

Wafer surface temperature control for deposition of thin films

A method of processing a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, in a vacuum processing chamber includes the steps of depositing a material on a surface of the substrate using a gas mixture, and purging the chamber of residual gases by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber. Preferably, WSi.sub.x is deposited on a semiconductor wafer using a mixture comprising WF.sub.6, dichlorosilane and a noble gas, and the chamber is subsequently purged of residual WF.sub.6 and dichlorosilane by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber. A further method of processing a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber includes the step of conditioning the chamber by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber prior to depositing a material on the surface of the substrate. Semiconductor wafers processed according to the inventive method are characterized by more uniform sheet resistance values and reduced film stress. A vacuum processing apparatus is also provided for practicing methods of the invention and includes a chamber, means for depositing a material, such as WSi.sub.x, on a surface of a substrate disposed within the chamber, and means for purging the chamber with SiH.sub.4.

Purge in silicide deposition processes dichlorosilane

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Jennifer Meng Tseng