Abstract: A method includes providing, within an etch chamber, a base structure including a target layer disposed on a substrate, and an etch mask disposed on the target layer, dry etching, within the etch chamber, the target layer using thionyl chloride to obtain a processed base structure, and after forming the plurality of features. The processed base structure includes a plurality of features and a plurality of openings defined by the etch mask. The method further includes removing the processed base structure from the etch chamber. In some embodiments, the target layer includes carbon. In some embodiments, the dry etching is performed at a sub-zero degree temperature.

Abstract: Processing methods for forming iridium-containing films at low temperatures are described. The methods comprise exposing a substrate to iridium hexafluoride and a reactant to form iridium metal or iridium silicide films. Methods for enhancing selectivity and tuning the silicon content of some films are also described.

Abstract: Methods of depositing platinum group metal films of high purity, low resistivity, and good conformality are described. A platinum group metal film is formed in the absence of an oxidant. The platinum group metal film is selectively deposited on a conductive substrate at a temperature less than 200° C. by using an organic platinum group metal precursor.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for selectively cleaning and/or etching a sample. The method includes selectively forming a film in a trench of a substrate such that the trench may be selectively etched. A polymer film is deposited on the bottom surface of the trench without being deposited on the side wall. A second film is selectively formed in the trench without forming the second film on the polymer film. The polymer is then removed from the bottom surface of the trench and then etching is performed on the bottom surface of the trench using an etch chemistry, wherein the second film protects the side wall from being etched.

Abstract: Methods of depositing metal films comprising exposing a substrate surface to a first metal precursor followed by a non-oxygen containing reducing agent comprising a second metal to form a zero-valent first metal film are described. The reducing agent has a metal center that is more electropositive than the metal center of the first metal precursor. In some embodiments, methods of depositing ruthenium films are described in which a substrate surface is exposed to a ruthenium precursor to form a ruthenium containing film on the substrate surface followed by exposure to a non-oxygen containing reducing agent to reduce the ruthenium containing film to a zero-valent ruthenium film and generate an oxidized form of the reducing agent.

Abstract: A mesa etch may form the geometry of microLED structures. However, the mesa etch may induce defects in the microLED structures that decreases the efficiency of the microLEDs. To correct these defects, a dry etch process may be performed that incrementally removes the surface layers of the microLED structures with the defects. The dry etch may be configured to incrementally remove a small outer layer, and thus may preserve the overall shape of the microLED structures while leaving a smooth surface for the application of a dielectric layer. The dry etch process may include two steps that are repeatedly performed. A first gas may react with the surface to form a gallium compound layer, and a second gas may then selectively remove that layer. The dry etch may include plasma-based etches or reactive thermal etches.

Abstract: Processing methods for forming iridium-containing films at low temperatures are described. The methods comprise exposing a substrate to iridium hexafluoride and a reactant to form iridium metal or iridium silicide films. Methods for enhancing selectivity and tuning the silicon content of some films are also described.

Abstract: Processing methods for forming iridium-containing films at low temperatures are described. The methods comprise exposing a substrate to iridium hexafluoride and a reactant to form iridium metal or iridium silicide films. Methods for enhancing selectivity and tuning the silicon content of some films are also described.

Abstract: Methods of depositing platinum group metal films of high purity, low resistivity, and good conformality are described. A platinum group metal film is formed in the absence of an oxidant. The platinum group metal film is selectively deposited on a conductive substrate at a temperature less than 200° C. by using an organic platinum group metal precursor.

Abstract: Memory devices and methods of forming memory devices are described. The memory devices comprise two work-function metal layers, where one work-function layer has a lower work-function than the other work-function layer. The low work-function layer may reduce gate-induced drain leakage current losses. Methods of forming memory devices are also described.

Abstract: Methods of depositing platinum group metal films of high purity, low resistivity, and good conformality are described. A platinum group metal film is formed in the absence of an oxidant. The platinum group metal film is selectively deposited on a conductive substrate at a temperature less than 200° C. by using an organic platinum group metal precursor.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure provide methods for etching ruthenium. A halide-containing-gas is flowed into a substrate processing chamber, and then an oxygen-containing gas is flowed into the substrate processing chamber. The methods may include atomic layer etching (ALE). The methods may be conducted at higher processing chambers, permitting deposition and etching of ruthenium to be conducted in the same processing chamber.

Abstract: Processing methods comprising exposing a substrate to a first reactive gas comprising a cyclopentadienyl nickel complex and a second reactive gas comprising a sub-saturative amount of oxygen to form a nickel oxide film with a carbon content in the range of about 2 to about 10 atomic percent are described.

Abstract: Metal coordination complexes comprising at least one diazabutadiene based ligand having a structure represented by: where R1 and R4 are selected from the group consisting of C4-C10 alkyl groups; and R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl groups and the difference in the number of carbons in R2 and R3 is greater than or equal to 2. Processing methods using the metal coordination complexes are also described.

Abstract: Processing methods comprising exposing a substrate to a first reactive gas comprising an ethylcyclopentadienyl ruthenium complex or a cyclohexadienyl ruthenium complex and a second reactive gas comprising water to form a ruthenium film are described.

Abstract: Processing methods comprising selectively orthogonally growing a first material through a mask to provide an expanded first material are described. The mask can be removed leaving the expanded first material extending orthogonally from the surface of the first material. Further processing can create a self-aligned via.

Abstract: Metal coordination complexes comprising at least one diazabutadiene based ligand having a structure represented by: where A1, A2, A3, and A4 are atoms in a 6-membered ring and are independently selected from C, N, O, S, and P; and where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, amino groups, C1-C6 alkyl groups, or C4-10 cycloalkyl groups; and further provided that alkyl groups may optionally contain silicon; and where the metal coordination complex is capable of participating in a Diels-Alder type reaction with a dienophile. Processing methods using the metal coordination complexes are also described.

Abstract: Methods of depositing metal films comprising exposing a substrate surface to a first metal precursor followed by a non-oxygen containing reducing agent comprising a second metal to form a zero-valent first metal film are described. The reducing agent has a metal center that is more electropositive than the metal center of the first metal precursor. In some embodiments, methods of depositing ruthenium films are described in which a substrate surface is exposed to a ruthenium precursor to form a ruthenium containing film on the substrate surface followed by exposure to a non-oxygen containing reducing agent to reduce the ruthenium containing film to a zero-valent ruthenium film and generate an oxidized form of the reducing agent.

Abstract: The use of a cyclic 1,4-diene reducing agent with a metal precursor and a reactant to form metal-containing films are described. Methods of forming the metal-containing film comprises exposing a substrate surface to a metal precursor, a reducing agent and a reactant either simultaneously, partially simultaneously or separately and sequentially to form the metal-containing film.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a metal-organic oxide film by exposing a substrate surface to a metal-organic precursor and an oxidant are described. The metal-organic oxide film has the general formula MOxCy, wherein M comprises one or more of a transition metal, a lanthanide, or a boron group element, x is a whole number in a range of 1 to 6, and y is a number in a range of greater than 0 to 0.5.