Abstract: An improved thermocouple assembly for providing a temperature measurement is provided. The thermocouple assembly includes a sheath having a measuring tip, a support member received within the sheath, and first and second wires disposed within the support member. An end of each of the first and second wires are fused together to form a thermocouple junction therebetween. A recessed region is formed in a distal end of the support member, and the thermocouple junction is fixedly located at the base of the recessed region such that the recessed region maintains the thermocouple junction in a substantially fixed position relative to the measuring tip of the sheath.

Abstract: Methods of making Si-containing films that contain relatively high levels of Group III or Group V dopants involve chemical vapor deposition using trisilane and a dopant precursor. Extremely high levels of substitutional incorporation may be obtained, including crystalline silicon films that contain at least about 3×1020 atoms cm?3 of an electrically active dopant. Substitutionally doped Si-containing films may be selectively deposited onto the crystalline surfaces of mixed substrates by introducing an etchant gas during deposition.

Abstract: Methods for doping a substrate surface or the interface between two thin films by atomic layer deposition process (ALD) are provided. By blocking some of the available binding sites for a dopant precursor with a blocking reactant, the concentration and uniformity of dopant deposited can be controlled. The blocking reactant may be introduced prior to introduction of the dopant precursor in the ALD process, or the blocking reactant and the dopant precursor can be introduced simultaneously.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods for depositing a smooth, germanium rich epitaxial film by introducing silylgermane as a source gas into a reactor at low temperatures. The epitaxial film can be strained and serve as an active layer, or relaxed and serve as a buffer layer. In addition to the silylgermane gas, a diluent is provided to modulate the percentage of germanium in a deposited germanium-containing film by varying the ratio of the silylgermane gas and the diluent. The ratios can be controlled by way of dilution levels in silylgermane storage containers and/or separate flow, and are selected to result in germanium concentration greater than 55 atomic % in deposited epitaxial silicon germanium films. The diluent can include a reducing gas such as hydrogen gas or an inert gas such as nitrogen gas. Reaction chambers are configured to introduce silylgermane and the diluent to deposit the silicon germanium epitaxial films.

Abstract: Methods are provided herein for forming thin films comprising oxygen by atomic layer deposition. The thin films comprising oxygen can be deposited by providing higher concentration water pulses, a higher partial pressure of water in the reaction space, and/or a higher flow rate of water to a substrate in a reaction space. Thin films comprising oxygen can be used, for example, as dielectric oxides in transistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, and other semiconductor applications.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a mounting block having a first surface, a plurality of valves connected to the mounting block first surface, at least one fluid line connecting the plurality of valves spaced apart from the mounting block first surface, a heating element spaced apart from the at least one fluid line and located within a first insulating layer, and wherein the first insulating layer extends less than completely around the at least one fluid line.

Abstract: Methods for low temperature cleaning of a semiconductor surface prior to in-situ deposition have high throughput and consume very little of the thermal budget. GeH4 deposits Ge on the surface and converts any surface oxygen to GeOx. An etchant, such as Cl2 or HCl removes Ge and any GeOx and epitaxial deposition follows. A spike in Ge concentration can be left on the substrate from diffusion into the substrate. All three steps can be conducted sequentially in-situ at temperatures lower than conventional bake steps.

Abstract: Embodiments related to managing the process feed conditions for a semiconductor process module are provided. In one example, a gas channel plate for a semiconductor process module is provided. The example gas channel plate includes a heat exchange surface including a plurality of heat exchange structures separated from one another by intervening gaps. The example gas channel plate also includes a heat exchange fluid director plate support surface for supporting a heat exchange fluid director plate above the plurality of heat exchange structures so that at least a portion of the plurality of heat exchange structures are spaced from the heat exchange fluid director plate.

Abstract: A precursor source vessel for providing vaporized precursor to a reaction chamber is provided. The precursor source vessel includes a lid having a first port, a second port, and a third port. The precursor source vessel also includes a base removably attached to the lid. The base includes a recessed region formed therein. One of the first, second, and third ports is a burp port configured to relieve the head pressure within the source vessel after the source vessel is installed but prior to use of the source vessel in semiconductor processing.

Abstract: A load lock includes a chamber including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a partition between the upper portion and the lower portion, the partition including an opening therethrough. The load lock further includes a first port in communication with the upper portion of the chamber and a second port in communication with the lower portion of the chamber. The load lock includes a rack disposed within the chamber and a workpiece holder mounted on a first surface of the rack, wherein the rack and the workpiece holder are movable by an indexer that is capable of selectively moving wafer slots of the rack into communication with the second port. The indexer can also move the rack into an uppermost position, at which the first surface of the boat and the partition sealingly separate the upper portion and the lower portion to define an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Auxiliary processing, such as wafer pre-cleaning, or metrology can be conducted in the upper portion.

Abstract: Chemical vapor deposition methods are used to deposit amorphous silicon-containing films over various substrates. Such methods are useful in semiconductor manufacturing to provide a variety of advantages, including uniform deposition over heterogeneous surfaces, high deposition rates, and higher manufacturing productivity. Preferably, the deposited amorphous silicon-containing film is annealed to produce crystalline regions over all or part of an underlying substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are delineated which, among other things, are for depositing a film on a substrate that is within a reaction chamber. In an exemplary method, the method may comprise applying an atomic layer deposition cycle to the substrate, wherein the cycle may comprise exposing the substrate to a precursor gas for a precursor pulse interval and then removing the precursor gas thereafter, and exposing the substrate to an oxidizer comprising an oxidant gas and a nitrogen-containing species gas for an oxidation pulse interval and then removing the oxidizer thereafter. Aspects of the present invention utilize molecular and excited nitrogen-oxygen radical/ionic species in possible further combination with oxidizers such as ozone. Embodiments of the present invention also include electronic components and systems that include devices fabricated with methods consistent with the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for depositing a thin film onto a substrate. One aspect of the invention is depositing a thin film metal oxide layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Abstract: A gas panel according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to deliver a constant flow rate of gases to a reaction chamber during a deposition process step. In one embodiment, the gas panel comprises a deposition sub-panel having a deposition injection line, a deposition vent line, and at least one deposition process gas line. The deposition injection line supplies a mass flow rate of a carrier gas to a reactor chamber. Each deposition process gas line may include a pair of switching valves that are configured to selectively direct a deposition process gas to the reactor chamber or a vent line. The deposition vent line also includes a switching valve configured to selectively direct a second mass flow rate of the carrier gas that is equal to the sum of the mass flow rate for all of the deposition process gases to the reactor chamber or a vent line.

Abstract: Methods of selective formation leave high quality epitaxial material using a repeated deposition and selective etch process. During the deposition process, an inert carrier gas is provided with a silicon-containing source without hydrogen carrier gas. After depositing silicon-containing material, an inert carrier gas is provided with an etchant to selectively etch deposited material without hydrogen. The deposition and etch processes can be repeated until a desired thickness of silicon-containing material is achieved. Using the processes described within, it is possible to maintain temperature and pressure conditions, as well as inert carrier gas flow rates, to provide for increased throughput. The inert flow can be constant, or etch rates can be increased by reducing inert flow for the etch phases of the cycles.

Abstract: A dry etch method, apparatus, and system for etching a high-k material comprises sequentially contacting the high-k material with a vapor phase reducing agent, and a volatilizing etchant in a cyclical process. In some preferred embodiments, the reducing agent and/or volatilizing etchant is plasma activated. Control over etch rate and/or selectivity are improved by the pulsed process, where, in some embodiments, each step in the cyclical process has a self-limited extent of etching. Embodiments of the method are useful in the fabrication of integrated devices, as well as for cleaning process chambers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for depositing a thin film onto a substrate. One aspect of the invention is depositing a thin film metal oxide layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD).

Abstract: A self-centering susceptor ring assembly is provided. The susceptor ring assembly includes a susceptor ring support member and a susceptor ring supported on the susceptor ring support member. The susceptor ring support member includes at least three pins extending upwardly relative to the lower inner surface of the reaction chamber. The susceptor ring includes at least three detents formed in a bottom surface to receive the pins from the susceptor ring support member. The detents are configured to allow the pins to slide therewithin while the susceptor ring thermally expands and contracts, wherein the detents are sized and shaped such that as the susceptor ring thermally expands and contracts the gap between the susceptor ring and the susceptor located within the aperture of the susceptor ring remains substantially uniform about the entire circumference of the susceptor, and thereby maintains the same center axis.

Abstract: A system and method for mixing a plurality of gases for an atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactor. The mixer is configured to mix the plurality of gases while minimizing the potential for re-circulation within the mixer. The mixer is further configured to maintain the flow velocity of the plurality of gases as the gases pass through the mixer.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing a pristine hydrogen-terminated silicon wafer surface with high stability against oxidation. The silicon wafer is treated with high purity, heated dilute hydrofluoric acid with anionic surfactant, rinsed in-situ with ultrapure water at room temperature, and dried. Alternatively, the silicon wafer is treated with dilute hydrofluoric acid, rinsed with hydrogen gasified water, and dried. The silicon wafer produced by the method is stable in a normal clean room environment for greater than 3 days and has been demonstrated to last without significant oxide regrowth for greater than 8 days.