Applied Materials, Inc.

Xiaoxiong (John) Yuan

Mei Yin Chang

Chien-Teh Kao

Joel M Huston

Son Trinh

Wei W Wang

Xinliang Lu

Yu Wen Chang

See-Eng Phan

Sal Umotoy

Jing-Pei (Connie) Chou

Chiukin (Steven) Lai

Salvador P Umotoy

Joseph Yudovsky

Bo Zheng

Lawrence C Lei

Sang Ho Yu

Michael Sterling Jackson

Hua Ai

Hyman Lam

Tom Madar

Anzhong (Andrew) Chang

Hou Gong Wang

A method and apparatus for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a support assembly. In one embodiment, the support assembly includes a shaft coupled to a disk-shaped body. The disk-shaped body includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a cylindrical outer surface. A flange extends radially outward from the cylindrical outer surface. A fluid channel is formed in the disk-shaped body and is coupled to the heat transfer fluid conduit of the shaft. A plurality of grooves formed in the upper surface are coupled by a hole to the vacuum conduit of the shaft. A gas conduit formed through the disk-shaped body couples the gas conduit of the shaft to the cylindrical outer surface of the disk-shaped body.

Support assembly

A method for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises positioning a substrate having an oxide layer into a processing chamber, exposing the substrate to a gas mixture while forming a volatile film on the substrate and maintaining the substrate at a temperature below 65&#xb0; C., heating the substrate to a temperature of at least about 75&#xb0; C. to sublimate the volatile film and remove the oxide layer, and depositing a first layer on the substrate after heating the substrate.

Method for removing oxides

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for atomic layer deposition (ALD), such as plasma-enhanced ALD (PE-ALD). In some embodiments, a PE-ALD chamber is provided which includes a chamber lid assembly coupled with a chamber body having a substrate support therein. In one embodiment, the chamber lid assembly has an inlet manifold assembly containing an annular channel encompassing a centralized channel, wherein the centralized channel extends through the inlet manifold assembly, and the inlet manifold assembly further contains injection holes extending from the annular channel, through a sidewall of the centralized channel, and to the centralized channel. The chamber lid assembly further contains a showerhead assembly disposed below the inlet manifold assembly, a water box disposed between the inlet manifold assembly and the showerhead assembly, and a remote plasma system (RPS) disposed above and coupled with the inlet manifold assembly, and in fluid communication with the centralized channel.

Apparatuses and methods for atomic layer deposition

In one embodiment, a method for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided which includes supporting a substrate containing silicon oxide within a processing chamber, generating a plasma of reactive species from a gas mixture within the processing chamber, cooling the substrate to a first temperature of less than about 65&#xb0; C. within the processing chamber, and directing the reactive species to the cooled substrate to react with the silicon oxide thereon while forming a film on the substrate. The film usually contains ammonium hexafluorosilicate. The method further provides positioning the substrate in close proximity to a gas distribution plate, and heating the substrate to a second temperature of about 100&#xb0; C. or greater within the processing chamber to sublimate or remove the film. The gas mixture may contain ammonia, nitrogen trifluoride, and a carrier gas.

Method for front end of line fabrication

A lid assembly for semiconductor processing is provided. In at least one embodiment, the lid assembly includes a first electrode comprising an expanding section that has a gradually increasing inner diameter. The lid assembly also includes a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode. A plasma cavity is defined between the inner diameter of the expanding section of the first electrode and a first surface of the second electrode.

Lid assembly for front end of line fabrication

A method for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In at least one embodiment, the method includes supporting the substrate surface in a vacuum chamber and generating reactive species from a gas mixture within the chamber. The substrate surface is then cooled within the chamber and the reactive species are directed to the cooled substrate surface to react with the native oxides thereon and form a film on the substrate surface. The substrate surface is then heated within the chamber to vaporize the film.

A substrate support having a removable edge ring, which is made of a material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), than that of the substrate support is provided. The edge ring and the substrate support are configured for pin and slot coupling. Specifically, either the edge ring, or the substrate support comprises a plurality of pins, and the other of the edge ring or the substrate support comprises a plurality of hollow regions or slots in which the pins may be inserted. The slots are at least as wide as a corresponding one of the plurality of pins and extend in the direction in which the substrate support expands and contracts during thermal cycling. Each of the slots extends a length which is sufficient to compensate for the difference between the CTE of the substrate support and the CTE of the edge ring, over the range of process temperatures to which the apparatus is exposed. Preferably the susceptor is made of aluminum, and the edge ring is made of ceramic. A restrictor gap may be defined between a surface of the substrate support and a surface of the purge ring so as to restrict a volume of purge gas flowing to an edge of a substrate positioned on the substrate support. The purge gas delivery channel may have an exposed outlet and may be upwardly angled to facilitate cleaning.

Method and apparatus for preventing edge deposition

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Xiaoxiong (John) Yuan