Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a process chamber, and a dual-mode gas distribution plate disposed within the process chamber. The dual-mode gas distribution plate comprises a first gas distribution zone disposed in a center of the gas distribution plate, and a second gas distribution zone surrounding the first gas distribution zone, the second gas distribution zone being fluidly isolated from the first gas distribution zone, wherein the first gas distribution zone is coupled to a valve system to deliver sequential pulses of a first gas to the first gas distribution zone to perform a cyclical deposition process, and the second gas distribution zone is in communication with a flow controller to deliver a second gas to perform a chemical vapor deposition process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming an integrated barrier layer on a substrate is described. The integrated barrier layer comprises at least a first refractory metal layer and a second refractory metal layer. The integrated barrier layer is formed using a dual-mode deposition process comprising a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) step and a cyclical deposition step. The dual-mode deposition process may be performed in a single process chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A method of forming a material on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a tantalum nitride layer on a substrate disposed in a plasma process chamber by sequentially exposing the substrate to a tantalum precursor and a nitrogen precursor, followed by reducing a nitrogen concentration of the tantalum nitride layer by exposing the substrate to a plasma annealing process. A metal-containing layer is subsequently deposited on the tantalum nitride layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method of plasma assisted deposition by generation of a plasma adjacent a processing region. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a substrate processing chamber including a top shower plate, a power source coupled to the top shower plate, a bottom shower plate, and an insulator disposed between the top shower plate and the bottom shower plate. In one aspect, the power source is adapted to selectively provide power to the top shower plate to generate a plasma from the gases between the top shower plate and the bottom shower plate. In another embodiment, a power source is coupled to the top shower plate and the bottom shower plate to generate a plasma between the bottom shower plate and the substrate support.

Abstract: A method of forming a material on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a tantalum nitride layer on a substrate disposed in a plasma process chamber by sequentially exposing the substrate to a tantalum precursor and a nitrogen precursor, followed by reducing a nitrogen concentration of the tantalum nitride layer by exposing the substrate to a plasma annealing process. A metal-containing layer is subsequently deposited on the tantalum nitride layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing materials on a substrate is provided which includes forming a titanium nitride barrier layer on the substrate by sequentially exposing the substrate to a titanium precursor containing a titanium organic compound and a nitrogen plasma formed from a mixture of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. In another embodiment, the method includes exposing the substrate to the deposition gas containing the titanium organic compound to form a titanium-containing layer on the substrate, and exposing the titanium-containing layer disposed on the substrate to a nitrogen plasma formed from a mixture of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. The method further provides depositing a conductive material containing tungsten or copper over the substrate during a vapor deposition process. In some examples, the titanium organic compound may contain methylamido or ethylamido, such as tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium, tetrakis(diethylamido)titanium, or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate is provided which includes forming a tungsten-containing layer by sequentially exposing a substrate to a processing gas and a tungsten-containing gas during an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the processing gas comprises a boron-containing gas and a nitrogen-containing gas, and forming a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten-containing layer by exposing the substrate to a deposition gas comprising the tungsten-containing gas and a reactive precursor gas during a chemical vapor deposition process. In one example, the tungsten-containing layer and the tungsten bulk layer are deposited within the same processing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing a tungsten material on a substrate within a process chamber is provided which includes exposing the substrate to a gaseous mixture containing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas to deposit a tungsten nucleation layer on the substrate during a tungsten deposition process. The process further includes removing reaction by-products generated during the tungsten deposition process from the process chamber, exposing the substrate to the reducing gas to react with residual tungsten precursor within the process chamber during a soak process, removing reaction by-products generated during the soak process from the process chamber, and repeating the tungsten deposition process and the soak process during a cyclic deposition process. In the examples, the reducing gas may contain diborane or silane.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a tungsten material on a substrate surface is provide which includes positioning a substrate within a deposition chamber, heating the substrate to a deposition temperature, and exposing the substrate sequentially to diborane and a tungsten precursor gas to form a tungsten nucleation layer on the substrate during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further provides exposing the substrate to a deposition gas comprising hydrogen gas and the tungsten precursor gas to form a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten nucleation layer during a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Examples are provided which include ALD and CVD processes that may be conducted in the same deposition chamber or in different deposition chambers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods for depositing tungsten materials. In one embodiment, a method for forming a composite tungsten film is provided which includes positioning a substrate within a process chamber, forming a tungsten nucleation layer on the substrate by subsequently exposing the substrate to a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas containing hydrogen during a cyclic deposition process, and forming a tungsten bulk layer during a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) process. The PE-CVD process includes exposing the substrate to a deposition gas containing the tungsten precursor while depositing the tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten nucleation layer. In some example, the tungsten nucleation layer has a thickness of less than about 100 ?, such as about 15 ?. In other examples, a carrier gas containing hydrogen is constantly flowed into the process chamber during the cyclic deposition process.

Abstract: A portable device comprises a data storage for storing avatar data defining a user avatar. The user avatar is formed by a plurality of visual objects. The portable device further comprises a camera for capturing an image. A visual characteristic processor is arranged to determine a first visual characteristic from the image and an avatar processor is arranged to set an object visual characteristic of an object of the plurality of visual objects in response to the first visual characteristic. The invention may allow improved customization of user avatars. For example, a color of an element of a user avatar may be adapted to a color of a real-life object simply by a user taking a picture thereof.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate is provided which includes forming a tungsten-containing layer by sequentially exposing a substrate to a processing gas and a tungsten-containing gas during an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the processing gas comprises a boron-containing gas and a nitrogen-containing gas, and forming a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten-containing layer by exposing the substrate to a deposition gas comprising the tungsten-containing gas and a reactive precursor gas during a chemical vapor deposition process. In one example, the tungsten-containing layer and the tungsten bulk layer are deposited within the same processing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a peripheral portion of a substrate includes a housing and a spin chuck mounted within the housing and configured to support the substrate in a substantially horizontal orientation. The apparatus also includes a fluid dispense nozzle coupled to the housing and proximate to the peripheral portion of the substrate. The fluid dispense nozzle is in fluid communication with a source of a chemical and configured to direct a flow of the chemical to the peripheral portion of the substrate located at a first radial distance from a center of the substrate. The apparatus further includes a light guide optically coupled to a laser source. The light guide is configured to direct radiation to the peripheral portion of the substrate located at a second radial distance from the center of the substrate greater than the first radial distance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing materials on a substrate is provided which includes forming a titanium nitride barrier layer on the substrate by sequentially exposing the substrate to a titanium precursor containing a titanium organic compound and a nitrogen plasma formed from a mixture of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. In another embodiment, the method includes exposing the substrate to the deposition gas containing the titanium organic compound to form a titanium-containing layer on the substrate, and exposing the titanium-containing layer disposed on the substrate to a nitrogen plasma formed from a mixture of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. The method further provides depositing a conductive material containing tungsten or copper over the substrate during a vapor deposition process. In some examples, the titanium organic compound may contain methylamido or ethylamido, such as tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium, tetrakis(diethylamido)titanium, or derivatives thereof.