Patents by Inventor Xiaoquan MIN
Xiaoquan MIN 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).
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Patent number: 11821082Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include forming a silicon oxide material on exposed surfaces of a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a silicon nitride material overlying the silicon oxide material. The methods may include performing a deposition process on a semiconductor substrate disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include performing a chamber cleaning process.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xiaoquan Min, Byung Ik Song, Hyung Je Woo, Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Kwangduk Lee
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Patent number: 11600470Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a chamber body including sidewalls and a base. The chambers may include a substrate support extending through the base of the chamber body. The substrate support may include a support platen configured to support a semiconductor substrate. The substrate support may include a shaft coupled with the support platen. The substrate support may include a shield coupled with the shaft of the substrate support. The shield may include a plurality of apertures defined through the shield. The substrate support may include a block seated in an aperture of the shield.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Satish Radhakrishnan, Xiaoquan Min, Sarah Michelle Bobek, Sungwon Ha, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Vinay Prabhakar
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Patent number: 11322352Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for forming carbon hard masks to improve deposition uniformity and etch selectivity. The carbon hard mask may be formed in a PECVD process chamber and is a nitrogen-doped carbon hardmask. The nitrogen-doped carbon hardmask is formed using a nitrogen containing gas, an argon containing gas, and a hydrocarbon gas.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xiaoquan Min, Lu Xu, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Kwangduk Douglas Lee
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Publication number: 20220076945Abstract: Methods for depositing an amorphous carbon layer on a substrate and for filling a substrate feature with an amorphous carbon gap fill are described. The method comprises performing a deposition cycle comprising: introducing a hydrocarbon source into a processing chamber; introducing a plasma initiating gas into the processing chamber; generating a plasma in the processing chamber at a temperature of greater than 600° C.; forming an amorphous carbon layer on a substrate with a deposition rate of greater than 200 nm/hr; and purging the processing chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2020Publication date: March 10, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xiaoquan Min, Kwangduk D. Lee
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Publication number: 20210327713Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for forming carbon hard masks to improve deposition uniformity and etch selectivity. The carbon hard mask may be formed in a PECVD process chamber and is a nitrogen-doped carbon hardmask. The nitrogen-doped carbon hardmask is formed using a nitrogen containing gas, an argon containing gas, and a hydrocarbon gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Xiaoquan MIN, Lu XU, Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Kwangduk Douglas LEE
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Publication number: 20210202218Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a chamber body including sidewalls and a base. The chambers may include a substrate support extending through the base of the chamber body. The substrate support may include a support platen configured to support a semiconductor substrate. The substrate support may include a shaft coupled with the support platen. The substrate support may include a shield coupled with the shaft of the substrate support. The shield may include a plurality of apertures defined through the shield. The substrate support may include a block seated in an aperture of the shield.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Satish Radhakrishnan, Xiaoquan Min, Sarah Michelle Bobek, Sungwon Ha, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Vinay Prabhakar
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Publication number: 20210159048Abstract: A plasma processing system is described. The system may include a showerhead. The system may further include a first RF generator in electrical communication with the showerhead. The first RF generator may be configured to deliver a first voltage at a first frequency to the showerhead. Additionally, the system may include a second RF generator in electrical communication with a pedestal. The second RF generator may be configured to deliver a second voltage at a second frequency to the pedestal. The second frequency may be less than the first frequency. The system may also include a terminator in electrical communication with the showerhead. The terminator may provide a path to ground for the second voltage. Methods of depositing material using the plasma processing system are described. A method of seasoning a chamber by depositing silicon oxide and silicon nitride on the wall of the chamber is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Xiaoquan Min, Zheng John Ye, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Vinay K. Prabhakar, Lu Xu, Kwangduk Douglas Lee
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Publication number: 20210143010Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include treating a surface of a substrate with a hydrogen-containing precursor. The substrate may be disposed within a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include contacting the substrate with a tungsten-containing precursor. The methods may include forming an initiation layer comprising tungsten on the substrate. The methods may include treating the initiation layer with a hydrogen-containing precursor. The methods may include forming a plasma of the tungsten-containing precursor and a carbon-containing precursor. Hydrogen in the plasma may be limited to hydrogen included in the carbon-containing precursor. The methods may include forming a tungsten-containing hardmask layer on the initiation layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xiaoquan Min, Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Kwangduk Lee
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Publication number: 20210130949Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include forming a silicon oxide material on exposed surfaces of a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a silicon nitride material overlying the silicon oxide material. The methods may include performing a deposition process on a semiconductor substrate disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include performing a chamber cleaning process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xiaoquan Min, Byung Ik Song, Hyung Je Woo, Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Kwangduk Lee
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Publication number: 20210082696Abstract: A method of and system for substrate fabrication is disclosed herein. The method includes performing a first plasma-enhanced surface treatment in a chamber prior to disposal of a substrate, then, subsequently, depositing a season material in the process chamber. After depositing the plurality of season materials in the process chamber, a substrate is disposed in the chamber. The substrate is positioned in the process chamber in contact with the season material. A substrate treatment is performed. The substrate treatment can include one or more of: performing a second plasma-enhanced surface treatment, forming a barrier layer on the substrate, or performing a low frequency RF treatment prior to forming a metal-based hardmask film on the substrate. The metal-based hardmask film includes one or more metals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Xiaoquan MIN, Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Vinay K. PRABHAKAR
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Patent number: 10950445Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for depositing metal silicide layers on substrates and chamber components. In one embodiment, a method of forming a hardmask includes positioning the substrate having a target layer within a processing chamber, forming a seed layer comprising metal silicide on the target layer and depositing a tungsten-based bulk layer on the seed layer, wherein the metal silicide layer and the tungsten-based bulk layer form the hardmask. In another embodiment, a method of conditioning the components of a plasma processing chamber includes flowing an inert gas comprising argon or helium from a gas applicator into the plasma processing chamber, exposing a substrate support to a plasma within the plasma processing chamber and forming a seasoning layer including metal silicide on an aluminum-based surface of the substrate support.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Jiarui Wang, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Milind Gadre, Xiaoquan Min, Paul Connors
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Publication number: 20210025056Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an improved electrostatic chuck for use in a processing chamber to fabricate semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, a processing chamber includes a chamber body having a processing volume defined therein and an electrostatic chuck disposed within the processing volume. The electrostatic chuck includes a support surface with a plurality of mesas located thereon, one or more electrodes disposed within the electrostatic chuck, and a seasoning layer deposited on the support surface over the plurality of mesas. The support surface is made from an aluminum containing material. The one or more electrodes are configured to form electrostatic charges to electrostatically secure a substrate to the support surface. The seasoning layer is configured to provide cushioning support to the substrate when the substrate is electrostatically secured to the support surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Zheng John YE, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Dong Hyung LEE, Vinay PRABHAKAR, Juan Carlos ROCHA-ALVAREZ, Xiaoquan MIN
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Publication number: 20200357643Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for depositing metal silicide layers on substrates and chamber components. In one embodiment, a method of forming a hardmask includes positioning the substrate having a target layer within a processing chamber, forming a seed layer comprising metal silicide on the target layer and depositing a tungsten-based bulk layer on the seed layer, wherein the metal silicide layer and the tungsten-based bulk layer form the hardmask. In another embodiment, a method of conditioning the components of a plasma processing chamber includes flowing an inert gas comprising argon or helium from a gas applicator into the plasma processing chamber, exposing a substrate support to a plasma within the plasma processing chamber and forming a seasoning layer including metal silicide on an aluminum-based surface of the substrate support.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Jiarui WANG, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Milind GADRE, Xiaoquan MIN, Paul CONNORS
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Patent number: 10734232Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for depositing metal silicide layers on substrates and chamber components. In one embodiment, a method of forming a hardmask includes positioning the substrate having a target layer within a processing chamber, forming a seed layer comprising metal silicide on the target layer and depositing a tungsten-based bulk layer on the seed layer, wherein the metal silicide layer and the tungsten-based bulk layer form the hardmask. In another embodiment, a method of conditioning the components of a plasma processing chamber includes flowing an inert gas comprising argon or helium from a gas applicator into the plasma processing chamber, exposing a substrate support to a plasma within the plasma processing chamber and forming a seasoning layer including metal silicide on an aluminum-based surface of the substrate support.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Jiarui Wang, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Milind Gadre, Xiaoquan Min, Paul Connors
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Publication number: 20180330951Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for depositing metal silicide layers on substrates and chamber components. In one embodiment, a method of forming a hardmask includes positioning the substrate having a target layer within a processing chamber, forming a seed layer comprising metal silicide on the target layer and depositing a tungsten-based bulk layer on the seed layer, wherein the metal silicide layer and the tungsten-based bulk layer form the hardmask. In another embodiment, a method of conditioning the components of a plasma processing chamber includes flowing an inert gas comprising argon or helium from a gas applicator into the plasma processing chamber, exposing a substrate support to a plasma within the plasma processing chamber and forming a seasoning layer including metal silicide on an aluminum-based surface of the substrate support.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Jiarui WANG, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Milind GADRE, Xiaoquan MIN, Paul CONNORS