Applied Materials, Inc.

Meng Chu Tseng

Susan G Telford

Mei Yin Chang

Michio Aruga

Moshe Eizenberg

Klaus-Dieter Rinnen

Ramanujapuram A Srinivas

Mehul B Naik

Karl Anthony Littau

Dale Robert Du Bois

Semyon Sherstinsky

Zhiyuan Wu

Ben-Li Sheu

Ronald Lloyd Rose

Charles C Harris

James F Roberts

Methods for forming a copper seed layer having improved anti-migration properties are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a first copper layer in a feature, forming a ruthenium layer over the first copper layer in the feature, and forming a second copper layer on the ruthenium layer in the feature. The ruthenium layer substantially locks the copper layer there below in place in the feature, preventing substantial physical migration thereof.

Seed layers for copper interconnects

Utilization of SiH4 soak and purge in deposition processes

A tungsten silicide film is deposited on a substrate from a premixed deposition gas mixture comprising: (i) silicon source gas, such as SiCl.sub.2 H.sub.2 and (ii) tungsten source gas, such as WF.sub.6. A seeding gas, such as silane, is used during the initial deposition stages to deposit a substantially uniform interfacial WSi.sub.x layer on the substrate, so that the tungsten to silicon ratio of the WSi.sub.x layer is substantially uniform through the thickness of the WSi.sub.x film. An apparatus for performing the process is also described.

Substrate having uniform tungsten silicide film and method of manufacture

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.

Utilization of SiH.sub.4 soak and purge in deposition processes

A tungsten silicide film is deposited from WF.sub.6 and SiCl.sub.2 H.sub.2 onto a substrate so that the tungsten to silicon ratio is substantially uniform through the thickness of the WSi.sub.x film, and the WSi.sub.x film is substantially free of fluorine. The film can be deposited by a multi-stage process where the pressure in the chamber is varied, or by a high temperature, high pressure deposition process in a plasma cleaned deposition chamber. Preferably the SiCl.sub.2 H.sub.2 and the WF.sub.6 are mixed upstream of the deposition chamber. A seeding gas can be added to the process gases.

Uniform tungsten silicide films produced by chemical vapor depostiton

A process and is described for forming a tungsten silicide layer on a semiconductor wafer in a deposition chamber which comprises mounting a wafer on a susceptor having a fixed outer diameter regardless of the diameter wafer thereon to be processed in said chamber, and flowing into a deposition chamber a mixture of gases, including dichlorosilane gas and a gaseous source of tungsten through a fixed gas inlet pattern formed in a fixed diameter inlet receptacle, whereby a constant gas flow will be maintained in the deposition chamber regardless of wafer diameter being processed to thereby provide uniform deposition conditions in the deposition chamber, independent of wafer diameter. In this manner the same showerhead is used for all diameters of wafers, and while the susceptor is changed with each size of wafer to be processed, to thereby provide a crown pattern on the susceptor corresponding to the diameter of the wafer being processed, the same outer diameter is used for each susceptor, thereby providing the same dimensioned gap in the same position between the outer edge of the susceptor and a baffle plate surrounding the susceptor, so that the gas flow patterns in the deposition chamber remain constant during deposition, regardless of wafer diameter.

Process for forming tungsten silicide on semiconductor wafer using

Uniform tungsten silicide films produced by chemical vapor deposition

A clamping ring having a downwardly extending finger that mates with a pocket in the periphery of a susceptor for supporting a wafer in a chemical vapor deposition chamber, provides alignment of the clamping ring, the wafer and the susceptor. A source of inert gas connected to the pocket provides a positive pressure in the pocket that prevents reactive gas in the chamber from reaching the edge and backside of the wafer. A source of vacuum connected to the susceptor support surface ensures good contact between the wafer and the susceptor. The clamping ring also has a lip extending over the top surface of the wafer having a rear surface that has a negative angle with respect to the upper surface of the clamping ring, providing a knife edge seal to the wafer, reducing the area of contact between the clamping ring and the wafer and providing a reduced area of thermal contact between the clamping ring and the wafer.

Clamping ring and susceptor therefor

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Meng Chu Tseng