Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum (Ta) and tantalum nitride (TaNx) films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas to deposit a Ta or TaNx film on a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.

Abstract: A plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum (Ta) films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas to deposit a Ta film on a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited Ta film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.

Abstract: A thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum nitride (TaNx) films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors and nitrogen is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas containing nitrogen to deposit a TaNx a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited TaNx film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum/tantalum nitride (Ta/TaNx) bilayer films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors and nitrogen is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated reaction chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas to deposit a Ta film and a process gas containing nitrogen to deposit a TaNx film on a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited Ta/TaNx bilayer film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum (Ta) and tantalum nitride (TaNx) films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas to deposit a Ta or TaNx film on a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.

Abstract: A plasma treated chemical vapor deposition (PTTCVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum nitride (TaNx) films from inorganic tantalum halide (TaX5) precursors and a nitrogen containing gas is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). In a thermal CVD process, a TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas containing nitrogen to deposit a TaNx film on a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. A hydrogen gas is introduced in a radiofrequency generated plasma to plasma treat the TaNx film. The plasma treatment is performed periodically until a desired TaNx film thickness is achieved. The PTTCVD films have improved microstructure and reduced resistivity with no change in step coverage. The deposited TaNx film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features.

Abstract: A plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum nitride (TaNx) films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors and nitrogen is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas containing nitrogen to deposit a TaNx film on a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited TaNx film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.

Abstract: A process for halide etching of a semi-conductor substrate in the presence of water. Etching is realized in a reaction vessel. The process steps comprise filling of the reaction vessel with a first gas to a first pressure and subsequently filling the reaction vessel with a second gas to a second pressure after which the substrate is left in the reaction vessel for several minutes to obtain the etching required. One of the gases is HF and the other of the gases is water vapor. The etching is conducted at sub-atmospheric pressure, preferably below 50 Torr.