Lam Research Corporation

Ratchana Limary

Stephen M Sirard

Diane J Hymes

Alan M Schoepp

Yang Pan

A method for protecting a surface of a substrate during processing includes a) providing a solution forming a co-polymer having a ceiling temperature; b) dispensing the solution onto a surface of the substrate to form a sacrificial protective layer, wherein the co-polymer is kinetically trapped to allow storage at a temperature above the ceiling temperature; c) exposing the substrate to ambient conditions for a predetermined period; and d) de-polymerizing the sacrificial protective layer by using stimuli selected from a group consisting of ultraviolet (UV) light and heat.

Sacrificial protection layer for environmentally sensitive surfaces of substrates

A method for drying a substrate including a plurality of high aspect ratio (HAR) structures includes, after at least one of (i) wet etching, and (ii) wet cleaning, and (iii) wet rinsing the substrate using at least one of (a) wet etching solution, and (b) wet cleaning solution, and (c) wet rinsing solution, respectively, and without drying the substrate: depositing, between the plurality of HAR structures, a solution that includes a polymer component, a nanoparticle component, and a solvent; wherein as the solvent evaporates, a sacrificial bracing material precipitates out of solution and at least partially fills the plurality of HAR structures, the sacrificial bracing material including (i) polymer material from the polymer component of the solution and (ii) nanoparticle material from the nanoparticle component of the solution; and exposing the substrate to plasma generated using a plasma gas chemistry to volatilize the sacrificial bracing material.

Method for collapse-free drying of high aspect ratio structures

Systems and methods for drying a substrate including a plurality of high aspect ratio (HAR) structures is performed after at least one of wet etching and/or wet cleaning the substrate using at least one of wet etching fluid and/or wet cleaning fluid, respectively, and without drying the substrate. Fluid between the plurality of HAR structures is displaced using a solvent including a bracing material. After the solvent evaporates, the bracing material precipitates out of solution and at least partially fills the plurality of HAR structures. The plurality of HAR structures are exposed to non-plasma based stimuli to remove the bracing material.

Systems and methods for drying high aspect ratio structures without collapse using stimuli-responsive sacrificial bracing material

An apparatus for delamination drying a substrate is provided. A chamber for receiving a substrate is provided. A chuck supports and clamps the substrate within the chamber. A temperature controller controls the temperature of the substrate and is able to cool the substrate. A vacuum pump is in fluid connection with the chamber. A tilting mechanism is able to tilt the chuck at least 90 degrees.

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Ratchana Limary