Micron Technology Incorporated

Mosaid Technologies Corporation

Weimin Li

Gurtej S Sandhu

Zhiping Yin

William Budge

Li Li

Neal R Rueger

Sam Yang

Vishnu Kumar Agarwal

Mark R Visokay

Cem Basceri

Sujit Sharan

Garo Jacques Derderian

Christopher W Hill

Chris W Hill

Jingyi Bai

David J Williams

Trung Tri Doan

Pai-Hung Pan

Martin Ceredig Roberts

Ross S Dando

Allen P Mardian

David L Chapek

Kevin T Hamer

Gurtei Singh Sandhu

John Q Li

A cap material may be formed over a photopatternable material on a semiconductor substrate. The cap material absorbs or reflects radiation and protects the photopatternable material from a first wavelength of radiation used in patterning the photoresist layer. Upon exposure to a first wavelength of radiation, the photopatternable material may be converted into a silicon dioxide-based material. The silicon dioxide-based material may be selectively removed.

Methods of forming intermediate semiconductor device structures using spin-on, photopatternable, interlayer dielectric materials

A method for growing films on substrates using sequentially pulsed precursors and reactants, system and devices for performing the method, semiconductor devices so produced, and machine readable media containing the method.

Sequential pulse deposition

A process for the in situ formation of a selective contact and a local interconnect on a semiconductor substrate. The exposed semiconductor substrate regions of a semiconductor device structure may be treated in a plasma to enhance the adhesiveness of a selective contact thereto. The semiconductor device structure is positioned within a reaction chamber, wherein a selective contact is deposited onto the exposed semiconductor substrate regions. Any residual selective contact material may be removed from oxide surfaces either intermediately or after selective contact deposition. While the semiconductor device remains in the reaction chamber, a local interconnect is deposited over the semiconductor device structure. The local interconnect may then be patterned. Subsequent layers may be deposited over the local interconnect. The present invention also includes semiconductor device structures formed by the inventive process.

Method for forming a selective contact and local interconnect in situ

A cap layer that enables a photopatternable, spin-on material to be used in the formation of semiconductor device structures at wavelengths that were previously unusable. The photopatternable, spin-on material is applied as a layer to a semiconductor substrate. The cap layer and a photoresist layer are each formed over the photopatternable layer. The cap layer absorbs or reflects radiation and protects the photopatternable layer from a first wavelength of radiation used in patterning the photoresist layer. The photopatternable, spin-on material is convertible to a silicon dioxide-based material upon exposure to a second wavelength of radiation.

A cap layer that enables a photopatternable, spin-on material to be used in the formation of semiconductor device structures at wavelengths that were previously unusable is disclosed. The photopatternable, spin-on material is applied as a layer to a semiconductor substrate. The cap layer and a photoresist layer are each formed over the photopatternable layer. The cap layer absorbs or reflects radiation and protects the photopatternable layer from a first wavelength of radiation used in patterning the photoresist layer. The photopatternable, spin-on material is convertible to a silicon dioxide-based material upon exposure to a second wavelength of radiation.

Intermediate semiconductor device structures using photopatternable, dielectric materials

A method including, prior to a plasma heat-up operation, forming a liner on structure coated with an insulator. And a method including forming a trench on a substrate, forming an insulator on the trench, and after forming a liner having a thickness of between about 50 angstroms and about 400 angstroms on the insulator, applying a plasma heat-up operation to the substrate.

Protection in integrated circuits

A method for depositing a dielectric in a trench on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The dielectric is deposited by using an HDP-CVD system and performing a deposition of first and second layers of dielectric material. A first inert gas is utilized during the deposition of the first layer, and a second inert gas is utilized during the deposition of the second layer. Generally, a purge step is performed between the deposition of the first and second layers. The resulting dielectric layers are substantially free of voids and have low particle counts. Structures utilizing the filled trenches are also disclosed.

Filled trench isolation structure

A low k interlevel dielectric layer fabrication method includes providing a substrate having integrated circuitry at least partially formed thereon. An oxide comprising interlevel dielectric layer comprising carbon and having a dielectric constant no greater than 3.5 is formed over the substrate. After forming the carbon comprising dielectric layer, it is exposed to a plasma comprising oxygen effective to reduce the dielectric constant to below what it was prior to said exposing. A low k interlevel dielectric layer fabrication method includes providing a substrate having integrated circuitry at least partially formed thereon. In a chamber, an interlevel dielectric layer comprising carbon and having a dielectric constant no greater than 3.5 is plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited over the substrate at subatmospheric pressure. After forming the carbon comprising dielectric layer, it is exposed to a plasma comprising oxygen at a subatmospheric pressure effective to reduce the dielectric constant by at least 10% below what it was prior to said exposing. The exposing occurs without removing the substrate from the chamber between the depositing and the exposing, and pressure within the chamber is maintained at subatmospheric between the depositing and the exposing.

Low k interlevel dielectric layer fabrication methods

A method including, prior to a plasma heat-up operation, forming a liner on a structure coated with an insulator. And a method including forming a trench on a substrate, forming an insulator on the trench, and after forming a liner having a thickness of between about 50 angstroms and about 400 angstroms on the insulator, applying a plasma heat-up operation to the substrate.

A substrate is positioned within a deposition chamber. At least two gaseous precursors are fed to the chamber which collectively comprise silicon, an oxidizer comprising oxygen and dopant which become part of the deposited doped silicon dioxide. The feeding is over at least two different time periods and under conditions effective to deposit a doped silicon dioxide layer on the substrate. The time periods and conditions are characterized by some period of time when one of said gaseous precursors comprising said dopant is flowed to the chamber in the substantial absence of flowing any of said oxidizer precursor. In one implementation, the time periods and conditions are effective to at least initially deposit a greater quantity of doped silicon dioxide within at least some gaps on the substrate as compared to any doped silicon dioxide deposited atop substrate structure which define said gaps.

Method of depositing a silicon dioxide comprising layer doped with at least one of P, B and Ge

This invention includes methods of depositing silicon dioxide comprising layers in the fabrication of integrated circuitry, methods of forming trench isolation, and methods of forming bit line over capacitor arrays of memory cells. In one implementation, a semiconductor substrate having an exposed outer first surface comprising silicon-nitrogen bonds and an exposed outer second surface comprising at least one of silicon and silicon dioxide is provided. A layer comprising a metal is deposited over at least the outer second surface. A silanol is flowed to the metal of the outer second surface and to the outer first surface effective to selectively deposit a silicon dioxide comprising layer over the outer second surface as compared to the outer first surface. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Method of depositing a silicon dioxide-comprising layer in the fabrication of integrated circuitry, methods of forming trench isolation in the fabrication of integrated circuitry, methods of depositing silicon dioxide-comprising layers in the fabrication of integrated circuitry, and methods of forming bit line over capacitor arrays of memory cells

A masking structure having multiple layers is formed. The masking structure includes an amorphous carbon layer and a cap layer formed over the amorphous carbon layer. The amorphous carbon layer includes transparent amorphous carbon. The cap layer includes non-oxide materials. The masking structure may be used as a mask in an etching process during fabrication of semiconductor devices.

Masking structure having multiple layers including amorphous carbon layer

A method is disclosed for removing liquids from a semiconductor substrate by contacting the liquid on the substrate with a liquid which attracts the liquid on the substrate, separating the liquids from the substrate, and inducing a phase transition in a layer on the substrate. In particular, the method is applicable to removing water from a water-containing layer on the substrate by contacting the layer with a hygroscopic liquid. Trenches on a substrate can be isolated by filling the trenches with a water-containing gel formed by reacting silane and hydrogen peroxide. The gel is contacted with sulfuric acid to remove a portion of the water from the gel before annealing to form silica in the trenches. Unlike filled trenches formed by conventional technology, there are no voids in the bottom of the trenches. The method is also applicable to forming dielectric layers which cover metal lines, low-dielectric layers, and interlayer dielectric layers. The liquid may be applied to the substrate by chemical vapor deposition or by spin-applying.

Chemical treatment of semiconductor substrates

A transparent amorphous carbon layer is formed. The transparent amorphous carbon layer has a low absorption coefficient such that the amorphous carbon is transparent in visible light. The transparent amorphous carbon layer may be used in semiconductor devices for different purposes. The transparent amorphous carbon layer may be included in a final structure in semiconductor devices. The transparent amorphous carbon layer may also be used as a mask in an etching process during fabrication of semiconductor devices.

Transparent amorphous carbon structure in semiconductor devices

In one aspect, the invention encompasses a semiconductor processing method wherein a conductive copper-containing material is formed over a semiconductive substrate and a second material is formed proximate the conductive material. A barrier layer is formed between the conductive material and the second material. The barrier layer comprises a compound having silicon chemically bonded to both nitrogen and an organic material. In another aspect, the invention encompasses a composition of matter comprising silicon chemically bonded to both nitrogen and an organic material. The nitrogen is not bonded to carbon. In yet another aspect, the invention encompasses a semiconductor processing method. A semiconductive substrate is provided and a layer is formed over the semiconductive substrate. The layer comprises a compound having silicon chemically bonded to both nitrogen and an organic material.

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Boise, ID, United States of America

Weimin Li