ASM INTERNATIONAL N.V. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150017794 | METHODS FOR FORMING DOPED SILICON OXIDE THIN FILMS - The present disclosure relates to the deposition of dopant films, such as doped silicon oxide films, by atomic layer deposition processes. In some embodiments, a substrate in a reaction space is contacted with pulses of a silicon precursor and a dopant precursor, such that the silicon precursor and dopant precursor adsorb on the substrate surface. Oxygen plasma is used to convert the adsorbed silicon precursor and dopant precursor to doped silicon oxide. | 01-15-2015 |
20140193579 | Combination CVD/ALD method and source - The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for the controlled growing of material on substrates. According to embodiments of the present invention, a precursor fed is split in to two paths from a precursor source. One of the paths is restricted in a continuous manner. The other path is restricted in a periodic manner. The output of the two paths converges at a point prior to entry of the reactor. Therefore, a single precursor source is able to fed precursor in to a reactor under two different conditions, one which can be seen as mimicking ALD conditions and one which can be seen as mimicking CVD conditions. This allows for an otherwise single mode reactor to be operated in a plurality of modes including one or more ALD/CVD combination modes. | 07-10-2014 |
20140087076 | ENHANCED DEPOSITION OF NOBLE METALS - The invention relates generally to processes for enhancing the deposition of noble metal thin films on a substrate by atomic layer deposition. Treatment with gaseous halides or metalorganic compounds reduces the incubation time for deposition of noble metals on particular surfaces. The methods may be utilized to facilitate selective deposition. For example, selective deposition of noble metals on high-k materials relative to insulators can be enhanced by pretreatment with halide reactants. In addition, halide treatment can be used to avoid deposition on the quartz walls of the reaction chamber. | 03-27-2014 |
20130196502 | SELECTIVE FORMATION OF METALLIC FILMS ON METALLIC SURFACES - Metallic layers can be selectively deposited on one surface of a substrate relative to a second surface of the substrate. In some embodiments, the metallic layers are selectively deposited on copper instead of insulating or dielectric materials. In some embodiments, a first precursor forms a layer on the first surface and is subsequently reacted or converted to form a metallic layer. The deposition temperature may be selected such that a selectivity of above about 50% or even about 90% is achieved. | 08-01-2013 |
20130189837 | SELECTIVE FORMATION OF METALLIC FILMS ON METALLIC SURFACES - Metallic layers can be selectively deposited on surfaces of a substrate relative to a second surface of the substrate. In preferred embodiments, the metallic layers are selectively deposited on copper instead of insulating or dielectric materials. In preferred embodiments, a first precursor forms a layer or adsorbed species on the first surface and is subsequently reacted or converted to form a metallic layer. Preferably the deposition temperature is selected such that a selectivity of above about 90% is achieved. | 07-25-2013 |
20130183445 | ENHANCED THIN FILM DEPOSITION - Methods of producing metal-containing thin films with low impurity contents on a substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) are provided. The methods preferably comprise contacting a substrate with alternating and sequential pulses of a metal source chemical, a second source chemical and a deposition enhancing agent. The deposition enhancing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, hydrogen plasma, hydrogen radicals, silanes, germanium compounds, nitrogen compounds, and boron compounds. In some embodiments, the deposition-enhancing agent reacts with halide contaminants in the growing thin film, improving film properties. | 07-18-2013 |
20130115763 | METHODS FOR FORMING DOPED SILICON OXIDE THIN FILMS - The present disclosure relates to the deposition of dopant films, such as doped silicon oxide films, by atomic layer deposition processes. In some embodiments, a substrate in a reaction space is contacted with pulses of a silicon precursor and a dopant precursor, such that the silicon precursor and dopant precursor adsorb on the substrate surface. Oxygen plasma is used to convert the adsorbed silicon precursor and dopant precursor to doped silicon oxide. | 05-09-2013 |
20130095664 | ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION OF ANTIMONY OXIDE FILMS - Antimony oxide thin films are deposited by atomic layer deposition using an antimony reactant and an oxygen source. Antimony reactants may include antimony halides, such as SbCl | 04-18-2013 |
20130065352 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING SOLAR CELL SUBSTRATES - A method for processing solar cells comprising:
| 03-14-2013 |
20130011557 | MICROCONTACT PRINTED FILMS AS AN ACTIVATION LAYER FOR SELECTIVE ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION - The present application relates to methods of forming patterned thin films on a substrate. In some embodiments a first patterned layer may be deposited on a substrate by a imprint lithography technique, such as microcontact printing. A second layer of a desired composition is selectively deposited over the first patterned layer by a vapor phase deposition process, such as ALD or CVD. | 01-10-2013 |
20120329208 | SYNTHESIS AND USE OF PRECURSORS FOR ALD OF GROUP VA ELEMENT CONTAINING THIN FILMS - Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming Group VA element containing thin films, such as Sb, Sb—Te, Ge—Sb and Ge—Sb—Te thin films are provided, along with related compositions and structures. Sb precursors of the formula Sb(SiR | 12-27-2012 |
20120309181 | PROCESS FOR DEPOSITING ELECTRODE WITH HIGH EFFECTIVE WORK FUNCTION - According to some embodiments, an electrode have a high effective work function is formed. The electrode may be the gate electrode of a transistor and may be formed on a high-k gate dielectric by depositing a first layer of conductive material, exposing that first layer to a hydrogen-containing gas, and depositing a second layer of conductive material over the first layer. The first layer may be deposited using a non-plasma process in which the substrate is not exposed to plasma or plasma-generated radicals. The hydrogen-containing gas to which the first layer is exposed may include an excited hydrogen species, which may be part of a hydrogen-containing plasma, and may be hydrogen-containing radicals. The first layer may also be exposed to oxygen before depositing the second layer. The work function of the gate electrode in the gate stack may be about 5 eV or higher in some embodiments. | 12-06-2012 |
20120289061 | NANOLAYER DEPOSITION PROCESS - A hybrid deposition process of CVD and ALD, called NanoLayer Deposition (NLD) is provided. The NLD process is a cyclic sequential deposition process, including introducing a first plurality of precursors to deposit a thin film and introducing a second plurality of precursors to modify the deposited thin film. The deposition using the first set of precursors is not self limiting and is a function of substrate temperature and process time. The second set of precursors modifies the already deposited film characteristics. The second set of precursors can treat the deposited film, including treatments such as modification of film composition and doping or removal of impurities from the deposited film. The second set of precursors can also deposit another layer on the deposited film. The additional layer can react with the existing layer to form a compound layer, or can have minimum reaction to form a nanolaminate film. | 11-15-2012 |
20120270393 | METAL SILICIDE, METAL GERMANIDE, METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME - In one aspect, methods of silicidation and germanidation are provided. In some embodiments, methods for forming metal silicide can include forming a non-oxide interface, such as germanium or solid antimony, over exposed silicon regions of a substrate. Metal oxide is formed over the interface layer. Annealing and reducing causes metal from the metal oxide to react with the underlying silicon and form metal silicide. Additionally, metal germanide can be formed by reduction of metal oxide over germanium, whether or not any underlying silicon is also silicided. In other embodiments, nickel is deposited directly and an interface layer is not used. In another aspect, methods of depositing nickel thin films by vapor phase deposition processes are provided. In some embodiments, nickel thin films are deposited by ALD. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269962 | PROCESS FOR PASSIVATING DIELECTRIC FILMS - Methods are disclosed herein for depositing a passivation layer comprising fluorine over a dielectric material that is sensitive to chlorine, bromine, and iodine. The passivation layer can protect the sensitive dielectric layer thereby enabling deposition using precursors comprising chlorine, bromine, and iodine over the passivation layer. | 10-25-2012 |
20120258257 | NANOLAYER DEPOSITION PROCESS - A hybrid deposition process of CVD and ALD, called NanoLayer Deposition (NLD) is provided. The NLD process is a cyclic sequential deposition process, including introducing a first plurality of precursors to deposit a thin film and introducing a second plurality of precursors to modify the deposited thin film. The deposition using the first set of precursors is not self limiting and is a function of substrate temperature and process time. The second set of precursors modifies the already deposited film characteristics. The second set of precursors can treat the deposited film, including treatments such as modification of film composition and doping or removal of impurities from the deposited film. The second set of precursors can also deposit another layer on the deposited film. The additional layer can react with the existing layer to form a compound layer, or can have minimum reaction to form a nanolaminate film. | 10-11-2012 |
20120202353 | NANOLAYER DEPOSITION USING PLASMA TREATMENT - A process to deposit a thin film by chemical vapor deposition includes evacuating a chamber of gases; exposing a device to a gaseous first reactant, wherein the first reactant deposits on the device to form the thin film having a plurality of monolayers in thickness; evacuating the chamber of gases; exposing the device, coated with the first reactant, to a gaseous second reactant under a plasma treatment, wherein the thin film is treated by the first reactant; and repeating the previous steps. | 08-09-2012 |
20120189774 | ENHANCED DEPOSITION OF NOBLE METALS - The invention relates generally to processes for enhancing the deposition of noble metal thin films on a substrate by atomic layer deposition. Treatment with gaseous halides or metalorganic compounds reduces the incubation time for deposition of noble metals on particular surfaces. The methods may be utilized to facilitate selective deposition. For example, selective deposition of noble metals on high-k materials relative to insulators can be enhanced by pretreatment with halide reactants. In addition, halide treatment can be used to avoid deposition on the quartz walls of the reaction chamber. | 07-26-2012 |
20120164329 | Combination CVD/ALD method and source - The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for the controlled growing of material on substrates. According to embodiments of the present invention, a precursor fed is split in to two paths from a precursor source. One of the paths is restricted in a continuous manner. The other path is restricted in a periodic manner. The output of the two paths converges at a point prior to entry of the reactor. Therefore, a single precursor source is able to fed precursor in to a reactor under two different conditions, one which can be seen as mimicking ALD conditions and one which can be seen as mimicking CVD conditions. This allows for an otherwise single mode reactor to be operated in a plurality of modes including one or more ALD/CVD combination modes. | 06-28-2012 |
20120009773 | SELECTIVE DEPOSITION OF NOBLE METAL THIN FILMS - Processes are provided for selectively depositing thin films comprising one or more noble metals on a substrate by vapor deposition processes. In some embodiments, atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes are used to deposit a noble metal containing thin film on a high-k material, metal, metal nitride or other conductive metal compound while avoiding deposition on a lower k insulator such as silicon oxide. The ability to deposit on a first surface, such as a high-k material, while avoiding deposition on a second surface, such as a silicon oxide or silicon nitride surface, may be utilized, for example, in the formation of a gate electrode. | 01-12-2012 |
20110269310 | SELECTIVE SILICIDE PROCESS - A method of self-aligned silicidation on structures having high aspect ratios involves depositing a metal oxide film using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and converting the metal oxide film to metal film in order to obtain uniform step coverage. The substrate is then annealed such that the metal in regions directly overlying the patterned and exposed silicon reacts with the silicon to form uniform metal silicide at the desired locations. | 11-03-2011 |
20110256722 | METHODS FOR FORMING ROUGHENED SURFACES AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - Methods of forming a roughened metal surface on a substrate are provided, along with structures comprising such roughened surfaces. In preferred embodiments roughened surfaces are formed by selectively depositing metal or metal oxide on a substrate surface to form discrete, three-dimensional islands. Selective deposition may be obtained, for example, by modifying process conditions to cause metal agglomeration or by treating the substrate surface to provide a limited number of discontinuous reactive sites. The roughened metal surface may be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits. | 10-20-2011 |
20110256718 | THIN FILMS - Thin films are formed by formed by atomic layer deposition, whereby the composition of the film can be varied from monolayer to monolayer during cycles including alternating pulses of self-limiting chemistries. In the illustrated embodiments, varying amounts of impurity sources are introduced during the cyclical process. A graded gate dielectric is thereby provided, even for extremely thin layers. The gate dielectric as thin as 2 nm can be varied from pure silicon oxide to oxynitride to silicon nitride. Similarly, the gate dielectric can be varied from aluminum oxide to mixtures of aluminum oxide and a higher dielectric material (e.g., ZrO | 10-20-2011 |
20110146568 | MODIFICATION OF NANOIMPRINT LITHOGRAPHY TEMPLATES BY ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION - Methods of forming thin films on nanopatterning templates, such as nanoimprint lithography (NIL) templates are provided. In some embodiments, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) type process for modifying the surface of a NIL template comprises alternately and sequentially contacting a substrate in a reaction space with vapor phase pulses of two or more reactants. | 06-23-2011 |
20110104906 | METHOD OF GROWING OXIDE THIN FILMS - Process for producing silicon oxide containing thin films on a growth substrate by the ALCVD method. In the process, a vaporisable silicon compound is bonded to the growth substrate, and the bonded silicon compound is converted to silicon dioxide. The invention comprises using a silicon compound which contains at least one organic ligand and the bonded silicon compound is converted to silicon dioxide by contacting it with a vaporised, reactive oxygen source, in particular with ozone. The present invention provides a controlled process for growing controlling thin films containing SiO | 05-05-2011 |
20110076402 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE SUBLIMATION OF REACTANTS - An apparatus and method improves heating of a solid precursor inside a sublimation vessel. In one embodiment, inert, thermally conductive elements are interspersed among units of solid precursor. For example the thermally conductive elements can comprise a powder, beads, rods, fibers, etc. In one arrangement, microwave energy can directly heat the thermally conductive elements. | 03-31-2011 |
20110020546 | Low Temperature ALD of Noble Metals - Noble metal films can be deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD)-type processes. In preferred embodiments, Ir, Pd, and Pt are deposited by alternately and sequentially contacting a substrate with vapor phase pulses of a noble metal precursor, an oxygen source, and a hydrogen source. The oxygen source is preferably a reactive oxygen species. Preferably the deposition temperature is less than about 200° C. Preferably, pulses of the hydrogen source are less than 10 seconds. | 01-27-2011 |
20100326355 | SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING PARTS HAVING APERTURES WITH DEPOSITED COATINGS AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAME - Holes in semiconductor processing reactor parts are sized to facilitate deposition of protective coatings, such as by chemical vapor deposition at atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments, the holes each have a flow constriction that narrows the holes in one part and that also divides the holes into one or more other portions. In some embodiments, the aspect ratios of the one or more other portions are about 15:1 or less, or about 7:1 or less, and have a cylindrical or conical cross-sectional shape. The holes are coated with a protective coating, such as a silicon carbide coating, by chemical vapor deposition, including chemical vapor deposition at atmospheric pressure. | 12-30-2010 |
20100285217 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OXIDE FILMS - Processes are provided for producing bismuth-containing oxide thin films by atomic layer deposition. In preferred embodiments an organic bismuth compound having at least one monodentate alkoxide ligand is used as a bismuth source material. Bismuth-containing oxide thin films can be used, for example, as ferroelectric or dielectric materials in integrated circuits and as superconductor materials. | 11-11-2010 |
20100266751 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ZIRCONIUM OXIDE THIN FILMS - This invention concerns a process for producing oxide thin film on a substrate by an ALD type process. According to the process, alternating vapour-phase pulses of at least one metal source material, and at least one oxygen source material are fed into a reaction space and contacted with the substrate. According to the invention, an yttrium source material and a zirconium source material are alternately used as the metal source material so as to form an yttrium-stabilised zirconium oxide (YSZ) thin film on a substrate. | 10-21-2010 |
20100216306 | PROTECTION OF CONDUCTORS FROM OXIDATION IN DEPOSITION CHAMBERS - In some embodiments, after depositing conductive material on substrates in a deposition chamber, a reducing gas is introduced into as the chamber in preparation for unloading the substrates. The deposition chamber can be a batch CVD chamber and the deposited material can be a metal nitride, e.g., a transition metal nitride such as titanium metal nitride. As part of the preparation for unloading substrates from the chamber, the substrates may be cooled and the chamber is backfilled with a reducing gas to increase the chamber pressure. It has been found that oxidants can be introduced into the chamber during this time. The introduction of a reducing gas has been found to protect exposed metal-containing films from oxidation during the backfill and/or cooling process. The reducing gas is formed of a reducing agent and a carrier gas, with the reducing agent being a minority component of the reducing gas. By providing a reducing agent, the effects of oxidation on exposed metal-containing films is reduced, therefore enhancing the conductive properties of the metal films. | 08-26-2010 |
20100210117 | SELECTIVE REMOVAL OF OXYGEN FROM METAL-CONTAINING MATERIALS - Oxygen is selectively removed from metal-containing materials in a partially-fabricated integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the partially-fabricated integrated circuit has exposed silicon and metal-containing materials, e.g., as part of a transistor. The silicon and metal-containing material are oxidized. Oxygen is subsequently removed from the metal-containing material by an anneal in an atmosphere containing a reducing agent. Advantageously, the silicon oxide formed by the silicon oxidation is maintained while oxygen is removed from the metal-containing material, thereby leaving a high quality metal-containing material along with silicon oxide. | 08-19-2010 |
20100209597 | SELECTIVE OXIDATION PROCESS - Silicon is selectively oxidized relative to a metal-containing material in a partially-fabricated integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the silicon and metal-containing materials are exposed portions of a partially-fabricated integrated circuit and may form part of, e.g., a transistor. The silicon and metal-containing material are oxidized in an atmosphere containing an oxidant and a reducing agent. In some embodiments, the reducing agent is present at a concentration of about 10 vol % or less. | 08-19-2010 |
20100200989 | LINER MATERIALS AND RELATED PROCESSES FOR 3-D INTEGRATION - In some embodiments, a low-k dielectric film liner, preferably comprising benzocyclobutene, is deposited on the sidewalls of through-silicon vias used in three-dimensional (3-D) integration of integrated circuits. A semiconductor workpiece having a via is provided. A dielectric film liner, preferably comprising benzocyclobutene, is deposited on the sidewalls of the via by chemical vapor deposition. Following the deposition of the dielectric film liner, conductive material is deposited into the via. The conductive material on the bottom of the via can be exposed by thinning the back of the semiconductor workpiece, thereby forming a through-silicon via. The semiconductor workpiece can form a stack with one or more additional semiconductor workpieces having vias filled with conductive material to form a 3-D integrated circuit. The conductive material electrically interconnects the integrated circuits at different levels of the stack. | 08-12-2010 |
20100151681 | TITANIUM SILICON NITRIDE DEPOSITION - Titanium silicon nitride (TiSiN) films are formed in a cyclic chemical vapor deposition process. In some embodiments, the TiSiN films are formed in a batch reactor using TiCl | 06-17-2010 |
20100136776 | SELECTIVE DEPOSITION OF NOBLE METAL THIN FILMS - Processes are provided for selectively depositing thin films comprising one or more noble metals on a substrate by vapor deposition processes. In some embodiments, atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes are used to deposit a noble metal containing thin film on a high-k material, metal, metal nitride or other conductive metal compound while avoiding deposition on a lower k insulator such as silicon oxide. The ability to deposit on a first surface, such as a high-k material, while avoiding deposition on a second surface, such as a silicon oxide or silicon nitride surface, may be utilized, for example, in the formation of a gate electrode. | 06-03-2010 |
20100136772 | DELIVERY OF VAPOR PRECURSOR FROM SOLID SOURCE - A method is disclosed that uses solid precursors for semiconductor processing. A solid precursor is provided in a storage container. The solid precursor is transformed into a liquid state in the storage container. The liquid state precursor is transported from the storage container to a liquid holding container. The liquid state precursor is transported from the liquid holding container to a reaction chamber. The molten precursor allows the precursor to be metered in the liquid state. The storage container can be heated only when necessary to replenish the liquid holding container, thereby reducing the possibility of thermal decomposition of the precursor. | 06-03-2010 |
20100009080 | FLUIDIZED BED EVAPORATOR - Methods and systems for depositing a film on a substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes converting a non-gaseous precursor into vapor phase. Converting the precursor includes: forming a fluidized bed by flowing gas at a sufficiently high flow rate to suspend and stir a plurality of solid particles, and converting the phase of the non-gaseous precursor into vapor phase in the fluidized bed. The method also includes transferring the precursor in vapor phase through a passage; and performing deposition on one or more substrates with the transferred precursor in vapor phase. | 01-14-2010 |
20100009078 | Synthesis and Use of Precursors for ALD of Tellurium and Selenium Thin Films - Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming Te-containing thin films, such as Sb—Te, Ge—Te, Ge—Sb—Te, Bi—Te, and Zn—Te thin films are provided. ALD processes are also provided for forming Se-containing thin films, such as Sb—Se, Ge—Se, Ge—Sb—Se, Bi—Se, and Zn—Se thin films are also provided. Te and Se precursors of the formula (Te,Se)(SiR | 01-14-2010 |
20100003769 | METHOD RELATING TO THE ACCURATE POSITIONING OF A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - Disclosed is a method involving repeatedly measuring a pressure within a flow of processing gas that is provided in a semiconductor processing apparatus for treatment of a semiconductor substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer. The flow of processing gas is made to extend between a surface of the substrate and a surface of a processing body. From the pressure measurements the occurrence of an event that is related to a variation in the position of the substrate's surface relative to the surface of the processing body is determined. | 01-07-2010 |
20090325391 | OZONE AND TEOS PROCESS FOR SILICON OXIDE DEPOSITION - Methods for depositing silicon oxide in a batch reactor are provided. In some embodiments, a plurality of vertically separated substrates is provided in a reaction chamber. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is pulsed into the reaction chamber by direct liquid injection. Ozone is flowed into the reaction chamber simultaneously or alternately with the TEOS. The deposition is performed at about 10 Torr or less to extend the mean free path length of the ozone molecules. According to some embodiments, the deposition allows openings in the substrates to be filled while the occurrence of voids is maintained at a low level. | 12-31-2009 |
20090310648 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE TEMPERATURE OF A SUBSTRATE - The publication discloses a method for determining a temperature of a substrate, comprising: providing a gas channel that is confined by at least one wall having a certain wall temperature; providing a substrate in said gas channel, proximate to the at least one wall, such that a gap exists between a surface of the substrate and the at least one wall; providing a gas flow with a certain mass flow rate through said gas channel, which gas flow extends at least partially through said gap; determining a pressure drop in the gas flow along the gas channel; and deriving from said pressure drop the temperature of said substrate using a pre-determined relation between the pressure drop along the gas channel, the wall temperature and the temperature of the substrate, at said mass flow rate. Also disclosed is a device for implementing the disclosed method. | 12-17-2009 |
20090308315 | SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING THE SAME - A semiconductor processing apparatus is disclosed, comprising a process chamber configured to contain a heated, gaseous atmosphere, the apparatus further comprising a number of mechanical parts, at least one of which parts is provided at least partly with a heat reflective, amorphous SiO | 12-17-2009 |
20090291209 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION - Atomic layer deposition apparatus for depositing a film in a continuous fashion. The apparatus includes a process tunnel, extending in a transport direction and bounded by at least a first and a second wall. The walls are mutually parallel and allow a flat substrate to be accommodated there between. The apparatus further includes a transport system for moving a train of substrates or a continuous substrate in tape form, through the tunnel. At least the first wall of the process tunnel is provided with a plurality of gas injection channels that, viewed in the transport direction, are connected successively to a first precursor gas source, a purge gas source, a second precursor gas source and a purge gas source respectively, so as to create a tunnel segment that—in use—comprises successive zones containing a first precursor gas, a purge gas, a second precursor gas and a purge gas, respectively. | 11-26-2009 |
20090269939 | CYCLICAL OXIDATION PROCESS - Methods for selective oxidation using pulses of an oxidizing agent are described. An oxidation process is provided in which a pulse of an oxidizing agent is followed by a flow of a purging agent. The pulse of the oxidizing agent and the flow of the purging agent forms a cycle that can be repeated to allow for desired oxidation on parts of a structure, e.g., a transistor structure, while preventing or limiting undesired oxidation on other parts of the structure. In addition, during the oxidation, a nitrogen source such as N | 10-29-2009 |
20090246931 | Methods for Forming Roughened Surfaces and Applications thereof - Methods of forming a roughened metal surface on a substrate are provided, along with structures comprising such roughened surfaces. In preferred embodiments roughened surfaces are formed by selectively depositing metal or metal oxide on a substrate surface to form discrete, three-dimensional islands. Selective deposition may be obtained, for example, by modifying process conditions to cause metal agglomeration or by treating the substrate surface to provide a limited number of discontinuous reactive sites. The roughened metal surface may be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits. | 10-01-2009 |
20090209081 | Silicon Dioxide Thin Films by ALD - Methods are provided for depositing silicon dioxide containing thin films on a substrate by atomic layer deposition ALD. By using disilane compounds as the silicon source, good deposition rates and uniformity are obtained. | 08-20-2009 |
20090188874 | Wafer boat - Wafer boat for holding semiconductor wafers in a spaced vertical arrangement during processing, said wafer boat comprising a plurality of vertically spaced holding positions for receiving and supporting said wafers in a substantially horizontal orientation, wherein the holding positions can be accessed from a front side of the wafer boat to allow for insertion and removal of a wafer, wherein at least one holding position comprises a back support for engaging a back side portion of a wafer and two lateral supports for engaging opposite lateral side portions of the wafer, and wherein the back support is disposed at a lower position than said two lateral supports such that sagging of a front side portion of an inserted wafer near the front side of the wafer boat due to gravity is at least partially compensated for. | 07-30-2009 |
20090133632 | SAFE LIQUID SOURCE CONTAINERS - Containers for providing vapor phase reactant from liquid sources include bubbler designs and designs in which carrier gas flows over the liquid surface. Among the bubbler arrangements, a bypass conductance is provided to release excess pressure from the gas volume inside the container, or an enlarged bubbler tube is provided with a volume sufficient to accommodate all possible liquid backflow without having the liquid exit the container. Among the overflow designs, flow dividers provide a tortuous path for the gas to increase the time exposure of carrier gas packets to the evaporating liquid surface. The flow dividers can be microporous to encourage capillary action, thereby increasing the evaporating surface. The tortuous gas flow path can be separated from the liquid phase by a breathable semi-porous membrane that permits vapor phase reactant to pass through but prohibits liquid from passing in the other direction. | 05-28-2009 |
20090071407 | SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING PARTS HAVING APERTURES WITH DEPOSITED COATINGS AND METHODS FOR FORMING THE SAME - Holes in semiconductor processing reactor parts are sized to facilitate deposition of protective coatings, such chemical vapor deposition at atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments, the holes each have a flow constriction that narrows the holes in one part and that also divides the holes into one or more other portions. In some embodiments, the aspect ratios of the one or more other portions are about 15:1 or less, or about 7:1 or less, and have a cylindrical or conical cross-sectional shape. The holes are coated with a protective coating, such as a silicon carbide coating, by chemical vapor deposition, including chemical vapor deposition at atmospheric pressure. | 03-19-2009 |
20090070634 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED CUSTOMIZABLE ERROR DIAGNOSTICS - A system and method of automated customizable error diagnostics is provided for use with industrial apparatus, such as semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. An external device, such as a robot, is provided with its own low level controller and a high level controller is provided to send instructions to the low level controller. The high level controller is programmed to perform automated customizable error diagnostics to diagnose errors in the external device. The high level controller monitors the occurrence of error conditions in the external device and executes a list of diagnostic commands based upon a detected error condition. Data concerning the error condition is automatically gathered to diagnose the cause of the error, before the external device executes its own error handling routines. In some embodiments, an editor is provided to edit and customize the diagnostic commands and a viewer is provided to allow diagnostic data to be viewed. | 03-12-2009 |
20090068832 | THIN FILMS - Thin films are formed by formed by atomic layer deposition, whereby the composition of the film can be varied from monolayer to monolayer during cycles including alternating pulses of self-limiting chemistries. In the illustrated embodiments, varying amounts of impurity sources are introduced during the cyclical process. A graded gate dielectric is thereby provided, even for extremely thin layers. The gate dielectric as thin as 2 nm can be varied from pure silicon oxide to oxynitride to silicon nitride. Similarly, the gate dielectric can be varied from aluminum oxide to mixtures of aluminum oxide and a higher dielectric material (e.g., ZrO | 03-12-2009 |
20090023302 | PROTECTIVE INSERTS TO LINE HOLES IN PARTS FOR SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Inserts are used to line openings in parts that form a semiconductor processing reactor. In some embodiments, the reactor parts delimit a reaction chamber. The reactor parts may be formed of graphite. A layer of silicon carbide is deposited on surfaces of the openings in the reactor parts and the inserts are placed in the openings. The inserts are provided with a hole, which can accept another reactor part such as a thermocouple. The insert protects the walls of the opening from abrasion caused by insertion of the other reactor part into the opening. | 01-22-2009 |
20080317955 | LOW RESISTIVITY METAL CARBONITRIDE THIN FILM DEPOSITION BY ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION - Thermal atomic layer deposition processes are provided for growing low resistivity metal carbonitride thin films. In preferred embodiments TaCN thin films with a resistivity of less than about 1000 μΩ·cm are grown from tantalum halide precursors and precursors that contribute both carbon and nitrogen to the growing film. Such precursors include, for example, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), tetramethyldisilazane (TMDS), bisdiethylaminosilane (BDEAS) and hexakis(ethylamino)disilane (HEADS). | 12-25-2008 |
20080286981 | IN SITU SILICON AND TITANIUM NITRIDE DEPOSITION - A method of processing semiconductor wafers is provided, comprising loading a batch of semiconductor wafers into a processing chamber; depositing titanium nitride (TiN) onto the wafers in the processing chamber; and depositing silicon onto the wafers in the processing chamber, without removing the wafers from the processing chamber between said depositing steps. In preferred embodiments, the TiN and silicon depositing steps are both conducted at temperatures within about 400-550° C., and at temperatures within 100° C. of one another. | 11-20-2008 |
20080274276 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE SUBLIMATION OF REACTANTS - An apparatus and method improves heating of a solid precursor inside a sublimation vessel. In one embodiment, inert, thermally conductive elements are interspersed among units of solid precursor. For example the thermally conductive elements can comprise a powder, beads, rods, fibers, etc. In one arrangement, microwave energy can directly heat the thermally conductive elements. | 11-06-2008 |
20080241387 | ATOMIC LAYER DEPOSITION REACTOR - Various reactors for growing thin films on a substrate by subjecting the substrate to alternately repeated surface reactions of vapor-phase reactants are disclosed. The reactor according to the present invention includes a reaction chamber, a substrate holder, a showerhead plate, a first reactant source, a remote radical generator, a second reactant source, and an exhaust outlet. The showerhead plate is configured to define a reaction space between the showerhead plate and the substrate holder. The showerhead plate includes a plurality of passages leading into the reaction space. The substrate is disposed within the reaction space. A first non-radical reactant is supplied through the showerhead plate to the reaction space. The remote radical generator produces the radicals of a second reactant supplied from the second reactant source. The radicals are supplied directly to the reaction space without passing through the showerhead plate. | 10-02-2008 |