Abstract: The invention includes methods of depositing elemental silicon-comprising materials over a semiconductor substrate, and methods of cleaning an internal wall of a chamber. In one implementation, a semiconductor substrate is positioned within a chamber for deposition. The chamber comprises an infrared radiation transparent wall. An elemental silicon-comprising material is deposited on the semiconductor substrate. During such depositing, a deposit is formed on the infrared radiation transparent wall within the chamber. After such depositing, a plasma is generated within the chamber with a cleaning gas from at least one plasma generating electrode received external of the chamber proximate the infrared radiation transparent wall effective to remove at least some of the deposit from the infrared radiation transparent wall within the chamber. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: This invention includes methods of forming layers comprising epitaxial silicon, and field effect transistors. In one implementation, a method of forming a layer comprising epitaxial silicon comprises epitaxially growing a silicon-comprising layer from an exposed monocrystalline material. The epitaxially grown silicon comprises at least one of carbon, germanium, and oxygen present at a total concentration of no greater than 1 atomic percent. In one implementation, the layer comprises a silicon germanium alloy comprising at least 1 atomic percent germanium, and further comprises at least one of carbon and oxygen at a total concentration of no greater than 1 atomic percent. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: A method used during fabrication of a semiconductor device comprises providing a semiconductor wafer comprising at lease one source region, at least one drain region, and at least one channel region. A mask is formed to cover the source region and the drain region, and which leaves the channel region exposed. A conductive layer is formed which overlies and contacts the channel region, and which does not contact either of the source region and the drain region. The mask is removed and a gate oxide layer is formed on the conductive layer. Processing continues, for example to form transistor control gate on the gate oxide layer over the conductive layer. Another embodiment omits the formation of the conductive layer, and etches the channel region to form a textured surface. A conductive structure is also described.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method of forming a pseudo SOI substrate and semiconductor devices. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises forming a plurality of trenches in a semiconducting substrate comprised of silicon, each of the trenches having a depth, forming a layer of insulating material within each of the plurality of trenches, the layer of insulating material having a thickness that is less than the depth of the trenches, and performing an anneal process on the substrate in a hydrogen environment to cause the silicon substrate material to merge above the layer of insulating material within the plurality of trenches to thereby define a pseudo SOI substrate.

Abstract: In one implementation, a substrate susceptor for receiving a semiconductor substrate for selective epitaxial silicon-comprising depositing thereon, where the depositing comprises measuring emissivity of the susceptor from at least one susceptor location in a non-contacting manner, includes a body having a front substrate receiving side, a back side, and a peripheral edge. At least one susceptor location from which emissivity is to be measured is received on at least one of the front substrate receiving side, the back side, and the edge. Such at least one susceptor location comprises an outermost surface comprising a material upon which selective epitaxial silicon will not deposit upon during selective epitaxial silicon depositing on a semiconductor substrate received by the susceptor for at least an initial thickness of epitaxial silicon depositing on said substrate. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: In one implementation, a substrate susceptor for receiving a semiconductor substrate for selective epitaxial silicon-comprising depositing thereon, where the depositing comprises measuring emissivity of the susceptor from at least one susceptor location in a non-contacting manner, includes a body having a front substrate receiving side, a back side, and a peripheral edge. At least one susceptor location from which emissivity is to be measured is received on at least one of the front substrate receiving side, the back side, and the edge. Such at least one susceptor location comprises an outermost surface comprising a material upon which selective epitaxial silicon will not deposit upon during selective epitaxial silicon depositing on a semiconductor substrate received by the susceptor for at least an initial thickness of epitaxial silicon depositing on said substrate. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes deposition apparatuses configured to monitor the temperature of a semiconductor wafer substrate by utilizing conduits which channel radiation from the substrate to a detector/signal processor system. In particular aspects, the temperature of the substrate can be measured while the substrate is spinning within a reaction chamber. The invention also includes deposition apparatuses in which flow of mixed gases is controlled by mass flow controllers provided downstream of the location where the gases are mixed and/or where flow of gases is measured with mass flow measurement devices provided downstream of the location where the gases are mixed. Additionally, the invention encompasses deposition apparatuses in which mass flow controllers and/or mass flow measurement devices are provided upstream of a header which splits a source gas into multiple paths directed toward multiple different reaction chambers.

Abstract: The invention includes deposition apparatuses having reflectors with rugged reflective surfaces configured to disperse light reflected therefrom, and/or having dispersers between lamps and a substrate. The invention also includes optical methods for utilization within a deposition apparatus for assessing the alignment of a substrate within the apparatus and/or for assessing the thickness of a layer of material deposited within the apparatus.

Abstract: In one implementation, a substrate susceptor for receiving a semiconductor substrate for selective epitaxial silicon-comprising depositing thereon, where the depositing comprises measuring emissivity of the susceptor from at least one susceptor location in a non-contacting manner, includes a body having a front substrate receiving side, a back side, and a peripheral edge. At least one susceptor location from which emissivity is to be measured is received on at least one of the front substrate receiving side, the back side, and the edge. Such at least one susceptor location comprises an outermost surface comprising a material upon which selective epitaxial silicon will not deposit upon during selective epitaxial silicon depositing on a semiconductor substrate received by the susceptor for at least an initial thickness of epitaxial silicon depositing on said substrate. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes deposition apparatuses having reflectors with rugged reflective surfaces configured to disperse light reflected therefrom, and/or having dispersers between lamps and a substrate. The invention also includes optical methods for utilization within a deposition apparatus for assessing the alignment of a substrate within the apparatus and/or for assessing the thickness of a layer of material deposited within the apparatus.

Abstract: This invention includes substrate susceptors which receive substrates to be deposited upon. In one implementation, a substrate susceptor includes a body having a substrate receiving side. The substrate receiving side has a face having a substrate receiving recess formed therein. The recess has an outer peripheral sidewall. At least three projections extend outwardly from a portion of the face. The projections respectively comprise a radially inner sidewall which extends outwardly from the recess outer peripheral sidewall to a projection upper surface. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: This invention includes substrate susceptors which receive substrates to be deposited upon. In one implementation, a substrate susceptor includes a body having a substrate receiving side. The substrate receiving side has a face having a substrate receiving recess formed therein. The recess has an outer peripheral sidewall. At least three projections extend outwardly from a portion of the face. The projections respectively comprise a radially inner sidewall which extends outwardly from the recess outer peripheral sidewall to a projection upper surface. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: This invention includes substrate susceptors which receive substrates to be deposited upon. In one implementation, a substrate susceptor includes a body having a substrate receiving side. The substrate receiving side has a face having a substrate receiving recess formed therein. The recess has an outer peripheral sidewall. At least three projections extend outwardly from a portion of the face. The projections respectively comprise a radially inner sidewall which extends outwardly from the recess outer peripheral sidewall to a projection upper surface. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for selective deposition of semiconductor material. A substrate is placed within a reaction chamber. The substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces are exposed to a semiconductor material precursor under conditions in which growth of semiconductor material from the precursor comprises a lag phase prior to a growth phase, and under which it takes longer for the growth phase to initiate on the second surface than on the first surface. The exposure of the first and second surfaces is conducted for a time sufficient for the growth phase to occur on the first surface, but not long enough for the growth phase to occur on the second surface.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming layers comprising epitaxial silicon. In one implementation, an opening is formed within a first material received over a monocrystalline material. Opposing sidewalls of the opening are lined with a second material, with monocrystalline material being exposed at a base of the second material-lined opening. A silicon-comprising layer is epitaxially grown from the exposed monocrystalline material within the second material-lined opening. At least a portion of the second material lining is in situ removed. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material and methods of forming vertical transistors. In one implementation, a method of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material includes providing a substrate comprising monocrystalline material. A first portion of the monocrystalline material is outwardly exposed while a second portion of the monocrystalline material is masked. A first silicon-comprising layer is epitaxially grown from the exposed monocrystalline material of the first portion and not from the monocrystalline material of the masked second portion. After growing the first silicon-comprising layer, the second portion of the monocrystalline material is unmasked. A second silicon-comprising layer is then epitaxially grown from the first silicon-comprising layer and from the unmasked monocrystalline material of the second portion. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material and methods of forming vertical transistors. In one implementation, a method of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material includes providing a substrate comprising monocrystalline material. A first portion of the monocrystalline material is outwardly exposed while a second portion of the monocrystalline material is masked. A first silicon-comprising layer is epitaxially grown from the exposed monocrystalline material of the first portion and not from the monocrystalline material of the masked second portion. After growing the first silicon-comprising layer, the second portion of the monocrystalline material is unmasked. A second silicon-comprising layer is then epitaxially grown from the first silicon-comprising layer and from the unmasked monocrystalline material of the second portion. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material and methods of forming vertical transistors. In one implementation, a method of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material includes providing a substrate comprising monocrystalline material. A first portion of the monocrystalline material is outwardly exposed while a second portion of the monocrystalline material is masked. A first silicon-comprising layer is epitaxially grown from the exposed monocrystalline material of the first portion and not from the monocrystalline material of the masked second portion. After growing the first silicon-comprising layer, the second portion of the monocrystalline material is unmasked. A second silicon-comprising layer is then epitaxially grown from the first silicon-comprising layer and from the unmasked monocrystalline material of the second portion. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: This invention includes methods of forming layers comprising epitaxial silicon, and field effect transistors. In one implementation, a method of forming a layer comprising epitaxial silicon comprises epitaxially growing a silicon-comprising layer from an exposed monocrystalline material. The epitaxially grown silicon comprises at least one of carbon, germanium, and oxygen present at a total concentration of no greater than 1 atomic percent. In one implementation, the layer comprises a silicon germanium alloy comprising at least 1 atomic percent germanium, and further comprises at least one of carbon and oxygen at a total concentration of no greater than 1 atomic percent. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material and methods of forming vertical transistors. In one implementation, a method of forming epitaxial silicon-comprising material includes providing a substrate comprising monocrystalline material. A first portion of the monocrystalline material is outwardly exposed while a second portion of the monocrystalline material is masked. A first silicon-comprising layer is epitaxially grown from the exposed monocrystalline material of the first portion and not from the monocrystalline material of the masked second portion. After growing the first silicon-comprising layer, the second portion of the monocrystalline material is unmasked. A second silicon-comprising layer is then epitaxially grown from the first silicon-comprising layer and from the unmasked monocrystalline material of the second portion. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.