Applied Materials, Inc.

Victor Nguyen

Li-Qun Xia

Mihaela A Balseanu

Derek R Witty

Ning Li

Mark Joseph Saly

Hichem M'Saad

Cong Trinh

Wenbo Yan

Isabelita Roflox

David P Thompson

Mei-Yee Shek

Keiichi Tanaka

Steven D Marcus

Mei Yin Chang

Christopher Dennis Bencher

Xinliang Lu

Chien-Teh Kao

Vladimir Zubkov

Haichun Yang

Yongmei Chen

Weifeng Ye

Li Yan Miao

Jeong-Uk Huh

Yi Chen

Woong Jae Lee

Provided are self-aligned double patterning methods including feature trimming. The SADP process is performed in a single batch processing chamber in which the substrate is laterally moved between sections of the processing chamber separated by gas curtains so that each section independently has a process condition.

Self-aligned double patterning with spatial atomic layer deposition

Provided are methods for the deposition of films comprising SiCN. Certain methods involve exposing a substrate surface to a silicon precursor, wherein the silicon precursor is halogenated with Cl, Br or I, and the silicon precursor comprises a halogenated silane, a halogenated carbosilane, an halogenated aminosilane or a halogenated carbo-sillyl amine. Then, the substrate surface can be exposed to a nitrogen-containing plasma or a nitrogen precursor and densification plasma.

Atomic layer deposition of films comprising silicon, carbon and nitrogen using halogenated silicon precursors

Processes for depositing SiOfilms on a wafer surface utilizing an aminosilane compound as a silicon precursor are described.

High temperature silicon oxide atomic layer deposition technology

Provided are methods of for deposition of SiN films via PEALD processes. Certain methods pertain to exposing a substrate surface to a silicon precursor to provide a silicon precursor at the substrate surface; purging excess silicon precursor; exposing the substrate surface to an ionized reducing agent; and purging excess ionized reducing agent to provide a film comprising SiN, wherein the substrate has a temperature of 23&#xb0; C. to about 550&#xb0; C.

PEALD of films comprising silicon nitride

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to the processing of substrates, and more particularly, relate to methods for accurate control of film thickness using deposition-etch cycles. Particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in controlling film thickness during filling high aspect ratio features.

Accurate film thickness control in gap-fill technology

A method for the removal of copper oxide from a copper and dielectric containing structure of a semiconductor chip is provided. The copper and dielectric containing structure may be planarized by chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) and treated by the method to remove copper oxide and CMP residues. Annealing in a hydrogen (H) gas and ultraviolet (UV) environment removes copper oxide, and a pulsed ammonia plasma removes CMP residues.

Copper oxide removal techniques

In a method of depositing a crystalline germanium layer on a substrate, a substrate is placed in the process zone comprising a pair of process electrodes. In a deposition stage, a crystalline germanium layer is deposited on the substrate by introducing a deposition gas comprising a germanium-containing gas into the process zone, and forming a capacitively coupled plasma of the deposition gas by coupling energy to the process electrodes. In a subsequent treatment stage, the deposited crystalline germanium layer is treated by exposing the crystalline germanium layer to an energized treatment gas or by annealing the layer.

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of crystalline germanium

Methods and apparatus for forming conformal silicon nitride films at low temperatures on a substrate are provided. The methods of forming a silicon nitride layer include performing a deposition cycle including flowing a processing gas mixture into a processing chamber having a substrate therein, wherein the processing gas mixture comprises precursor gas molecules having labile silicon to nitrogen, silicon to carbon, or nitrogen to carbon bonds, activating the precursor gas at a temperature between about 20&#xb0; C. to about 480&#xb0; C. by preferentially breaking labile bonds to provide one or more reaction sites along a precursor gas molecule, forming a precursor material layer on the substrate, wherein the activated precursor gas molecules bond with a surface on the substrate at the one or more reaction sites, and performing a plasma treatment process on the precursor material layer to form a conformal silicon nitride layer.

Low temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of conformal silicon carbon nitride and silicon nitride films

Methods for processing a substrate with a boron rich film are provided. A patterned layer of boron rich material is deposited on a substrate and can be used as an etch stop. By varying the chemical composition, the selectivity and etch rate of the boron rich material can be optimized for different etch chemistries. The boron rich materials can be deposited over a layer stack substrate in multiple layers and etched in a pattern. The exposed layer stack can then be etched with multiple etch chemistries. Each of the boron rich layers can have a different chemical composition that is optimized for the multiple etch chemistries.

Method for depositing boron-rich films for lithographic mask applications

A method and apparatus are provided to form spacer materials adjacent substrate structures. In one embodiment, a method is provided for processing a substrate including placing a substrate having a substrate structure adjacent a substrate surface in a deposition chamber, depositing a spacer layer on the substrate structure and substrate surface, and etching the spacer layer to expose the substrate structure and a portion of the substrate surface, wherein the spacer layer is disposed adjacent the substrate structure. The spacer layer may comprise a boron nitride material. The spacer layer may comprise a base spacer layer and a liner layer, and the spacer layer may be etched in a two-step etching process.

Boron nitride and boron-nitride derived materials deposition method

Stress of a silicon nitride layer may be enhanced by deposition at higher temperatures. Employing an apparatus that allows heating of a substrate to substantially greater than 400&#xb0; C. (for example a heater made from ceramic rather than aluminum), the silicon nitride film as-deposited may exhibit enhanced stress allowing for improved performance of the underlying MOS transistor device. In accordance with alternative embodiments, a deposited silicon nitride film is exposed to curing with ultraviolet (UV) radiation at an elevated temperature, thereby helping remove hydrogen from the film and increasing film stress. In accordance with still other embodiments, a silicon nitride film is formed utilizing an integrated process employing a number of deposition/curing cycles to preserve integrity of the film at the sharp corner of the underlying raised feature. Adhesion between successive layers may be promoted by inclusion of a post-UV cure plasma treatment in each cycle.

Method to increase silicon nitride tensile stress using nitrogen plasma in-situ treatment and ex-situ UV cure

Methods for forming boron-containing films are provided. The methods include introducing a boron-containing precursor and a nitrogen or oxygen-containing precursor into a chamber and forming a boron nitride or boron oxide film on a substrate in the chamber. In one aspect, the method includes depositing a boron-containing film and then exposing the boron-containing film to the nitrogen-containing or oxygen-containing precursor to incorporate nitrogen or oxygen into the film. The deposition of the boron-containing film and exposure of the film to the precursor may be performed for multiple cycles to obtain a desired thickness of the film. In another aspect, the method includes reacting the boron-containing precursor and the nitrogen-containing or oxygen-containing precursor to chemically vapor deposit the boron nitride or boron oxide film.

Growing community of inventors

Novato, CA, United States of America

Victor Nguyen