Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include providing one or more deposition precursors to a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be disposed within a processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing material on the substrate and on one or more components of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include providing a fluorine-containing precursor to the processing region. The fluorine-containing precursor may be plasma-free when provided to the processing region. The methods may include contacting the silicon-containing material on the one or more components of the semiconductor processing chamber with the fluorine-containing precursor. The methods may include removing at least a portion of the silicon-containing material on the one or more components of the semiconductor processing chamber with the fluorine-containing precursor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus to identify chemical and spatial properties of nanoparticles in a semiconductor cleaning solution, comprises a broadband light source to provide an excitation beam; a focusing lens in a path of the excitation beam to form a focused excitation beam; a sample cell, the sample cell configured to hold a cleaning solution and one or more insoluble analytes-of-interest therein; a plurality of optical lens in the path of one or more fluorescence signals to focus the one or more fluorescence signals; and an imaging device, wherein the imaging device captures the one or more fluorescence signals to form a plurality of images that contain both spatial data and spectral data about the one or more insoluble analytes-of-interest.

Abstract: A system and method of performing deep cell body segmentation on a biological sample is provided. The method includes receiving a first and a second stained image. The first image is processed using a trained machine learned model that outputs locations of a plurality of cell nuclei in the first stained image. Seed points are then determined based on the locations of the plurality of cell nuclei. The second image is then processed using the seed points to determine a plurality of cell membranes using a watershed segmentation. The second image is then post-processed and an output image is produced. The output image is then analyzed and gene sequencing is performed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for visualizing information on gigapixels Whole Slide Image are described. In an example, a method for visualizing information includes providing an image viewer with a list of information to visualize, loading an image and a mask for an information source, and dynamically finding a zoom factor. If the zoom factor is not suitable for fine detailed view, then information for a coarse mask is shown. If the zoom factor is suitable for fine detailed view, then information for a fine detailed mask is chosen from a plurality of information sources.

Abstract: A processing method comprises positioning a substrate in a processing chamber and setting a temperature of the substrate to a range of 50° C. to 500° C.; conducting an atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycle on the substrate; and repeating the ALD cycle to form a silicon oxide film. The ALD cycle comprises: exposing the substrate to an aminosilane precursor in the processing chamber by pulsing a flow of the aminosilane precursor; purging the processing chamber of the aminosilane precursor; exposing the substrate to an oxidizing agent by pulsing a flow of the oxidizing agent for a duration in a range of greater than or equal to 100 milliseconds to less than or equal to 3 seconds; and purging the processing chamber of the oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor for sputtering deposition materials such as tantalum, tantalum nitride and copper, for example and its method of use, in which self-ionized plasma (SIP) sputtering and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sputtering are promoted, either together or alternately, in the same or different chambers. Also, bottom coverage may be thinned or eliminated by ICP resputtering in one chamber and SIP in another. SIP is promoted by a small magnetron having poles of unequal magnetic strength and a high power applied to the target during sputtering. ICP is provided by one or more RF coils which inductively couple RF energy into a plasma. The combined SIP-ICP layers can act as a liner or barrier or seed or nucleation layer for hole. In addition, an RF coil may be sputtered to provide protective material during ICP resputtering. In another chamber an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target.

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor for sputtering deposition materials such as tantalum, tantalum nitride and copper, for example, and its method of use, in which self-ionized plasma (SIP) sputtering and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sputtering are promoted, either together or alternately, in the same or different chambers. Also, bottom coverage may be thinned or eliminated by ICP resputtering in one chamber and SIP in another. SIP is promoted by a small magnetron having poles of unequal magnetic strength and a high power applied to the target during sputtering. ICP is provided by one or more RF coils which inductively couple RF energy into a plasma. The combined SIP-ICP layers can act as a liner or barrier or seed or nucleation layer for hole. In addition, an RF coil may be sputtered to provide protective material during ICP resputtering. In another chamber an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target.

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor for sputtering deposition materials such as tantalum, tantalum nitride and copper, for example, and its method of use, in which self-ionized plasma (SIP) sputtering and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sputtering are promoted, either together or alternately, in the same or different chambers. Also, bottom coverage may be thinned or eliminated by ICP resputtering in one chamber and SIP in another. SIP is promoted by a small magnetron having poles of unequal magnetic strength and a high power applied to the target during sputtering. ICP is provided by one or more RF coils which inductively couple RF energy into a plasma. The combined SIP-ICP layers can act as a liner or barrier or seed or nucleation layer for hole. In addition, an RF coil may be sputtered to provide protective material during ICP resputtering. In another chamber an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target.

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor (410) and its method of use, in which SIP sputtering and ICP sputtering are promoted is disclosed. In another chamber (412) an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls (414) of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target is disclosed. The magnetron (436) preferably is a small one having a stronger outer pole (442) of a first polarity surrounding a weaker inner pole (440) of a second polarity all on a yoke (444) and rotates about the axis (438) of the chamber using rotation means (446, 448, 450). The auxiliary magnets (462) preferably have the first polarity to draw the unbalanced magnetic field (460) towards the wafer (424), which is on a pedestal (422) supplied with power (454). Argon (426) is supplied through a valve (428). The target (416) is supplied with power (434).

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor for sputtering deposition materials such as tantalum, tantalum nitride and copper, for example, and its method of use, in which self-ionized plasma (SIP) sputtering and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sputtering are promoted, either together or alternately, in the same or different chambers. Also, bottom coverage may be thinned or eliminated by ICP resputtering in one chamber and SIP in another. SIP is promoted by a small magnetron having poles of unequal magnetic strength and a high power applied to the target during sputtering. ICP is provided by one or more RF coils which inductively couple RF energy into a plasma. The combined SIP-ICP layers can act as a liner or barrier or seed or nucleation layer for hole. In addition, an RF coil may be sputtered to provide protective material during ICP resputtering. In another chamber an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target.

Abstract: A method of sputtering a copper seed layer and the target used therewith. The copper included in the sputtering target includes a first dopant reactive with copper and a second dopant unreactive with copper. Examples of the first dopant include Ti, Mg, and Al. Examples of the second dopant include Pd, Sn, In, Ir, and Ag. The amount of the first dopant may be determined by testing stress migration and that of the second dopant by testing electromigration.

Abstract: A metal/metal nitride barrier layer for semiconductor device applications. The barrier layer is particularly useful in contact vias where high conductivity of the via is important, and a lower resistivity barrier layer provides improved overall via conductivity.

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor for sputtering deposition materials such as tantalum, tantalum nitride and copper, for example, and its method of use, in which self-ionized plasma (SIP) sputtering and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sputtering are promoted, either together or alternately, in the same or different chambers. Also, bottom coverage may be thinned or eliminated by ICP resputtering in one chamber and SIP in another. SIP is promoted by a small magnetron having poles of unequal magnetic strength and a high power applied to the target during sputtering. ICP is provided by one or more RF coils which inductively couple RF energy into a plasma. The combined SIP-ICP layers can act as a liner or barrier or seed or nucleation layer for hole. In addition, an RF coil may be sputtered to provide protective material during ICP resputtering. In another chamber an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target.

Abstract: A method of depositing a duffusion barrier layer with overlying conductive layer or fill which lowers resistivity of a semiconductor device interconnect. The lower resistivity is achieved by inducing the formation of alpha tantalum within a tantalum-comprising barrier layer.

Abstract: A magnetron sputter reactor for sputtering deposition materials such as tantalum, tantalum nitride and copper, for example, and its method of use, in which self-ionized plasma (SIP) sputtering and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sputtering are promoted, either together or alternately, in the same or different chambers. Also, bottom coverage may be thinned or eliminated by ICP resputtering in one chamber and SIP in another. SIP is promoted by a small magnetron having poles of unequal magnetic strength and a high power applied to the target during sputtering. ICP is provided by one or more RF coils which inductively couple RF energy into a plasma. The combined SIP-ICP layers can act as a liner or barrier or seed or nucleation layer for hole. In addition, an RF coil may be sputtered to provide protective material during ICP resputtering. In another chamber an array of auxiliary magnets positioned along sidewalls of a magnetron sputter reactor on a side towards the wafer from the target.

Abstract: An aluminum bondpad and method for making the aluminum bondpad is disclosed. In forming aluminum bondpads, a barrier layer is necessary between a copper interconnect layer and the aluminum bondpad layer. Additionally, a gold wiring layer is deposited on the aluminum bondpad layer and annealed at a high temperature to form an aluminum-gold intermetallic compound. Aluminum reacts with tungsten at high temperatures. Therefore, during the annealing, the aluminum will react with the tungsten. By providing a tungsten nitride barrier layer on a tungsten barrier layer, no aluminum-tungsten intermetallic compound will form, even at the high annealing temperatures required to form the aluminum bondpad.

Abstract: A method of sputtering a copper seed layer and the target used therewith. The copper included in the sputtering target includes a first dopant reactive with copper and a second dopant unreactive with copper. Examples of the first dopant include Ti, Mg, and Al. Examples of the second dopant include Pd, Sn, In, Ir, and Ag. The amount of the first dopant may be determined by testing stress migration and that of the second dopant by testing electromigration.

Abstract: A metal/metal nitride barrier layer for semiconductor device applications. The barrier layer is particularly useful in contact vias where high conductivity of the via is important, and a lower resistivity barrier layer provides improved overall via conductivity.

Abstract: We have discovered a method of providing a thin, approximately from about 2 ? to about 100 ? thick TaN seed layer, which can be used to induce the formation of alpha tantalum when tantalum is deposited over the TaN seed layer. Further, the TaN seed layer exhibits low resistivity, in the range of 30 ??cm and can be used as a low resistivity barrier layer in the absence of an alpha tantalum layer. In one embodiment of the method, a TaN film is altered on its surface to form the TaN seed layer. In another embodiment of the method, a Ta film is altered on its surface to form the TaN seed layer.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a method for improving fill and electrical performance of metals deposited on patterned dielectric layers. Apertures such as vias and trenches in the patterned dielectric layer are etched to enhance filling and then cleaned in the same chamber to reduce metal oxides within the aperture.