Molecular layer deposition carbon masks for direct selective deposition of silicon-containing materials

Abstract

Embodiments of the present technology relate to semiconductor processing methods that include providing a structured semiconductor substrate including a trench having a bottom surface and top surfaces. The methods further include depositing a portion of a silicon-containing material on the bottom surface of the trench for at least one deposition cycle, where each deposition cycle includes: depositing the portion of the silicon-containing material on the bottom surface and top surfaces of the trench, depositing a carbon-containing mask layer on the silicon-containing material on the bottom surface of the trench, where the carbon-containing mask layer is not formed on the top surfaces of the trench, removing the portion of the silicon-containing material from the top surfaces of the trench, and removing the carbon-containing mask layer from the silicon-containing material on the bottom surface of the trench, where the as-deposited silicon-containing material remains on the bottom surface of the trench.