Patents by Inventor Lakmal C. Kalutarage

Lakmal C. Kalutarage has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240120193
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include etching a portion of a silicon-containing material from a substrate disposed within a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The silicon-containing material may extend into one or more recesses defined by alternating layers of material deposited on the substrate. The methods may include providing a carbon-containing precursor to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include contacting a remaining silicon-containing material with the carbon-containing precursor. The contacting with the carbon-containing precursor may replenish carbon in the silicon-containing material. The methods may include providing a cleaning agent to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include contacting the substrate with the cleaning agent. The contacting with the cleaning precursor may remove surface oxide from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar Venkataraman, Zeqing Shen, Susmit Singha Roy, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Jongbeom Seo, Sai Hooi Yeong, Benjamin Colombeau, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan
  • Patent number: 11942330
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of etching gallium oxide from a semiconductor substrate may include flowing a first reagent in a substrate processing region housing the semiconductor substrate. The first reagent may include HX. X may be at least one of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. The semiconductor substrate may include an exposed region of gallium oxide. Fluorinating the exposed region of gallium oxide may form a gallium halide and H2O. The methods may include flowing a second reagent in the substrate processing region. The second reagent may be at least one of trimethylgallium, tin acetylacetonate, tetramethylsilane, and trimethyltin chloride. The second reagent may promote a ligand exchange where a methyl group may be transferred to the gallium halide to form a volatile Me2GaY or Me3Ga. Y may be at least one of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine from the second reagent. The methods may include recessing a surface of the gallium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Q. Liu, Lisa J. Enman, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Mark J. Saly
  • Publication number: 20240087881
    Abstract: Embodiments include semiconductor processing methods to form low-K films on semiconductor substrates are described. The processing methods may include flowing one or more deposition precursors to a semiconductor processing system, wherein the one or more deposition precursors include a silicon-containing precursor. The silicon-containing precursor may include a carbon chain. The methods may include generating a deposition plasma from the one or more deposition precursors. The methods may include depositing a silicon-and-carbon-containing material on the substrate from plasma effluents of the deposition plasma. The silicon-and-carbon-containing material as-deposited may be characterized by a dielectric constant less than or about 3.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Haverty, Shruba Gangopadhyay, Bo Xie, Yijun Liu, Ruitong Xiong, Rui Lu, Xiaobo Li, Li-Qun Xia, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Lauren Bagby
  • Publication number: 20240087880
    Abstract: Embodiments include semiconductor processing methods to form low-? films on semiconductor substrates are described. The processing methods may include flowing one or more deposition precursors to a semiconductor processing system. The one or more deposition precursors may include a silicon-containing precursor that may be a cyclic compound. The methods may include generating a deposition plasma from the one or more deposition precursors. The methods may include depositing a silicon-and-carbon-containing material on the substrate from plasma effluents of the deposition plasma. The silicon-and-carbon-containing material as-deposited may be characterized by a dielectric constant less than or about 3.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shruba Gangopadhyay, Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Michael Haverty, Bo Xie, Li-Qun Xia, Rui Lu, Yijun Liu, Ruitong Xiong, Xiaobo Li, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Lauren Bagby
  • Publication number: 20240038833
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of forming memory devices are described. Methods of forming electronic devices are described where carbon is used as the removable mold material for the formation of a DRAM capacitor. A dense, high-temperature (500° C. or greater) PECVD carbon material is used as the removable mold material, e.g., the core material, instead of oxide. The carbon material can be removed by isotropic etching with exposure to radicals of oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), hydrogen (H2), ammonia (NH3), and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrick Fishburn, Tomohiko Kitajima, Qian Fu, Srinivas Guggilla, Hang Yu, Jun Feng, Shih Chung Chen, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Jayden Potter, Karthik Janakiraman, Deenesh Padhi, Yifeng Zhou, Yufeng Jiang, Sung-Kwan Kang
  • Publication number: 20230295794
    Abstract: Methods of selectively depositing blocking layers on conductive surfaces over dielectric surfaces are described. In some embodiments, a 4-8 membered substituted heterocycle is exposed to a substrate to selectively form a blocking layer. In some embodiments, a layer is selectively deposited on the dielectric surface after the blocking layer is formed. In some embodiments, the blocking layer is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Aaron Dangerfield, Feng Q. Liu, Mark Saly, Michael Haverty, Muthukumar Kaliappan
  • Publication number: 20230295803
    Abstract: Methods of forming metal-containing films for electronic devices (e.g., logic devices and/or memory devices) and methods for reducing equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) penalty in electronic devices are disclosed. The methods comprise exposing a substrate surface to a metal precursor, such as titanium chloride (TiCl4), a reducing agent, such as a cyclic 1,4-diene, and a reactant, ammonia (NH3), either simultaneously, partially simultaneously or separately and sequentially to form the metal-containing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Haoming Yan, Shih Chung Chen, Mandyam Sriram, EunKee Hong, Janardhan Devrajan, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Yongjing Lin, Lisa Michelle Mandrell, Arkaprava Dan
  • Publication number: 20230235451
    Abstract: Molybdenum-DAD precursors are described. Methods for depositing molybdenum-containing films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a molybdenum-DAD precursor and a reactant to form the molybdenum-containing film (e.g., elemental molybdenum, molybdenum oxide, molybdenum carbide, molybdenum silicide, molybdenum nitride). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc., Wayne State University
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Knisley, Martha Serna Villacis, Mark Saly, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Charles H. Winter, Matthew Bertram Edward Griffiths, Shalini Tripathi
  • Patent number: 11702733
    Abstract: Methods of selectively depositing blocking layers on conductive surfaces over dielectric surfaces are described. In some embodiments, a 4-8 membered substituted heterocycle is exposed to a substrate to selectively form a blocking layer. In some embodiments, a layer is selectively deposited on the dielectric surface after the blocking layer is formed. In some embodiments, the blocking layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Aaron Dangerfield, Feng Q. Liu, Mark Saly, Michael Haverty, Muthukumar Kaliappan
  • Publication number: 20220384176
    Abstract: Methods of enhancing selective deposition are described. In some embodiments, a blocking layer is deposited on a metal surface before deposition of a dielectric. In some embodiments, a metal surface is functionalized to enhance or decrease its reactivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Mark Saly, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Thomas Joseph Knisley
  • Patent number: 11515149
    Abstract: Methods for seam-less gapfill comprising forming a flowable film by exposing a substrate surface to a silicon-containing precursor and a co-reactant are described. The silicon-containing precursor has at least one akenyl or alkynyl group. The flowable film can be cured by any suitable curing process to form a seam-less gapfill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Mark Saly, David Thompson, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Tejasvi Ashok, Pramit Manna
  • Publication number: 20220372616
    Abstract: Methods of selectively depositing blocking layers on conductive surfaces over dielectric surfaces are described. In some embodiments, a 4-8 membered substituted heterocycle is exposed to a substrate to selectively form a blocking layer. In some embodiments, a layer is selectively deposited on the dielectric surface after the blocking layer is formed. In some embodiments, the blocking layer is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Aaron Dangerfield, Feng Q. Liu, Mark Saly, Michael Haverty, Muthukumar Kaliappan
  • Publication number: 20220301883
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of etching gallium oxide from a semiconductor substrate may include flowing a first reagent in a substrate processing region housing the semiconductor substrate. The first reagent may include HX. X may be at least one of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. The semiconductor substrate may include an exposed region of gallium oxide. Fluorinating the exposed region of gallium oxide may form a gallium halide and H2O. The methods may include flowing a second reagent in the substrate processing region. The second reagent may be at least one of trimethylgallium, tin acetylacetonate, tetramethylsilane, and trimethyltin chloride. The second reagent may promote a ligand exchange where a methyl group may be transferred to the gallium halide to form a volatile Me2GaY or Me3Ga. Y may be at least one of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine from the second reagent. The methods may include recessing a surface of the gallium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Q. Liu, Lisa J. Enman, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Mark J. Saly
  • Publication number: 20220259734
    Abstract: Methods of forming a metal film having a metal halide with a reducing agent are disclosed. The reducing agent, the reducing agent includes a group IV element containing heterocyclic compound, a radical initiator, an alkly alane, a diborene species and/or a Sn(II) compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Mark Saly, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Thomas Knisley
  • Patent number: 11417515
    Abstract: Methods of enhancing selective deposition are described. In some embodiments, a blocking layer is deposited on a metal surface before deposition of a dielectric. In some embodiments, a metal surface is functionalized to enhance or decrease its reactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Mark Saly, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Thomas Knisley
  • Patent number: 11398388
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of etching gallium oxide from a semiconductor substrate may include selectively etching gallium oxide relative to gallium nitride. The method may include flowing a reagent in a substrate processing region housing the semiconductor substrate. The reagent may include at least one of chloride and bromide. The method may further include contacting an exposed region of gallium oxide with the at least one of chloride and bromide from the reagent to form a gallium-containing gas. The gallium-containing gas may be removed by purging the substrate processing region with an inert gas. The method includes recessing a surface of the gallium oxide. The method may include repeated cycles to achieve a desired depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Q. Liu, Lisa J. Enman, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Mark J. Saly
  • Patent number: 11393678
    Abstract: Methods for deposition of high-hardness low-? dielectric films are described. More particularly, a method of processing a substrate is provided. The method includes flowing a precursor-containing gas mixture into a processing volume of a processing chamber having a substrate, the precursor having the general formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are independently selected from hydrogen (H), alkyl, alkoxy, vinyl, silane, amine, or halide; maintaining the substrate at a pressure in a range of about 0.1 mTorr and about 10 Torr and at a temperature in a range of about 200° C. to about 500° C.; and generating a plasma at a substrate level to deposit a dielectric film on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Durand, Mark Saly, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Kang Sub Yim, Shaunak Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 11371136
    Abstract: Methods of depositing a film selectively onto a first substrate surface relative to a second substrate surface are described. The methods include exposing a substrate to a blocking molecule to selectively deposit a blocking layer on the first surface. The blocking layer is exposed to a polymer initiator to form a networked blocking layer. A layer is selectively formed on the second surface. The blocking layer inhibits deposition on the first surface. The networked layer may then optionally be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Mark Saly, David Thompson, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Rana Howlader
  • Patent number: 11289328
    Abstract: Chromium containing precursors and methods of forming chromium-containing thin films are described. The chromium precursor has a chromium-diazadiene bond or cyclopentadienyl ligand and is homoleptic or heteroleptic. A suitable reactant is used to provide one of a metallic chromium film or a film comprising one or more of an oxide, nitride, carbide, boride and/or silicide. Methods of forming ternary materials comprising chromium with two or more of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, boron, silicon, titanium, ruthenium and/or tungsten are also described. Methods of filling gaps in a substrate with a chromium-containing film are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Knisley, Mark Saly, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, David Thompson
  • Publication number: 20220076960
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of etching gallium oxide from a semiconductor substrate may include selectively etching gallium oxide relative to gallium nitride. The method may include flowing a reagent in a substrate processing region housing the semiconductor substrate. The reagent may include at least one of chloride and bromide. The method may further include contacting an exposed region of gallium oxide with the at least one of chloride and bromide from the reagent to form a gallium-containing gas. The gallium-containing gas may be removed by purging the substrate processing region with an inert gas. The method includes recessing a surface of the gallium oxide. The method may include repeated cycles to achieve a desired depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Q. Liu, Lisa J. Enman, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Mark J. Saly