Patents Assigned to Advanced Technology Materials
  • Patent number: 6344432
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cleaning formulation, including 2-98% wt. organic amine, 0-50% wt. water, 0.1-60% wt. 1,3-dicarbonyl compound chelating agent, 0-25% wt. of additional different chelating agent(s), 0.5-40% wt. nitrogen-containing carboxylic acid or an imine, and 2-98% wt polar organic solvent. The formulations are useful to remove residue from wafers following a resist plasma ashing step, such as inorganic residue from semiconductor wafers containing delicate copper interconnecting structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Wojtczak, Ma. Fatima Seijo, David Bernhard, Long Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6344079
    Abstract: A solvent composition for liquid delivery chemical vapor deposition of metal organic precursors, to form metal-containing films such as SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) films for memory devices. An SBT film may be formed using precursors such as Sr(thd)2(pmdeta), Ta(OiPr)4(thd) and Bi(thd)3(pmdeta) which are dissolved in a solvent medium comprising one or more alkanes. Specific alkane solvent compositions may advantageously used for MOCVD of metal organic compound(s) such as &bgr;-diketonate compounds or complexes, compound(s) including alkoxide ligands, and compound(s) including alkyl and/or aryl groups at their outer (molecular) surface, or compound(s) including other ligand coordination species and specific metal constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Baum
  • Patent number: 6343476
    Abstract: A gas storage and dispensing system comprising a vessel for holding a gas at a desired pressure. The vessel has a gas pressure regulator in its interior volume, to maintain pressure of dispensed gas at a desired pressure determined by the set point of the regulator. A second gas pressure regulator may be joined in series gas flow communication with the first gas pressure regulator, with the second gas pressure regulator being in initial contact with gas that is dispensed prior to its flow through the first gas pressure regulator, and with the set point pressure of the second gas pressure regulator being at least twice the set point pressure of the first gas pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Luping Wang, Glenn M. Tom
  • Publication number: 20020011463
    Abstract: A method for removing from a microelectronic device structure a noble metal residue including at least one metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, iridium and rhodium, by contacting the microelectronic device structure with a cleaning gas including a reactive halide composition, e.g., XeF2, SF6, SiF4, Si2F6 or SiF3 and SiF2 radicals. The method may be carried out in a batch-cleaning mode, in which fresh charges of cleaning gas are successively introduced to a chamber containing the residue-bearing microelectronic device structure. Each charge is purged from the chamber after reaction with the residue, and the charging/purging is continued until the residue has been at least partially removed to a desired extent. Alternatively, the cleaning gas may be continuously flowed through the chamber containing the microelectronic device structure, until the noble metal residue has been sufficiently removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Van Buskirk, Frank DiMeo, Peter S. Kirlin, Thomas H. Baum
  • Patent number: 6342711
    Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor device structure, including a ferroelectric stack capacitor comprising a ferroelectric material capacitor element on a substrate containing buried transistor circuitry beneath an insulator layer having a via therein containing a conductive plug to the transistor circuitry, wherein E-fields are structurally confined to the ferroelectric capacitor material element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Van Buskirk, Steven M. Bilodeau
  • Publication number: 20020007849
    Abstract: A fluid distribution system for supplying a gas to a process facility such as a semiconductor manufacturing plant. The system includes a main fluid supply vessel coupled by flow circuitry to a local sorbent-containing supply vessel from which fluid, e.g., low pressure compressed gas, is dispensed to a fluid-consuming unit, e.g., a semiconductor manufacturing tool. A fluid pressure regulator is disposed in the flow circuitry or the main liquid supply vessel and ensures that the gas flowed to the fluid-consuming unit is at desired pressure. The system and associated method are particularly suited to the supply and utilization of liquefied compressed gases such as trimethylsilane, arsine, phosphine, and dichlorosilane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: Advanced Technology Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Luping Wang, Terry A. Tabler, James A. Dietz
  • Patent number: 6340769
    Abstract: A method of forming an iridium-containing film on a substrate, from an iridium-containing precursor thereof which is decomposable to deposit iridium on the substrate, by decomposing the precursor and depositing iridium on the substrate in an oxidizing ambient environment which may for example contain an oxidizing gas such as oxygen, ozone, air, and nitrogen oxide. Useful precursors include Lewis base stabilized Ir(I) &bgr;-diketonates and Lewis base stabilized Ir(I) &bgr;-ketoiminates. The iridium deposited on the substrate may then be etched for patterning an electrode, followed by depositing on the electrode a dielectric or ferroelectric material, for fabrication of thin film capacitor semiconductor devices such as DRAMs, FRAMs, hybrid systems, smart cards and communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Baum, Chongying Xu
  • Patent number: 6340386
    Abstract: A solvent composition useful for liquid delivery MOCVD, comprising toluene and a Lewis base, wherein toluene is present at a concentration of from about 75% to about 98% by volume, based on the total volume of toluene and the Lewis base. Such solvent composition is usefully employed to dissolve or suspend precursors therein for liquid delivery MOCVD, e.g., MOCVD of ferroelectric material films such as SBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan C. Hendrix, Thomas H. Baum, Debra Desrochers Christos, Jeffrey F. Roeder
  • Patent number: 6338312
    Abstract: An ion implantation process system, including an ion implanter apparatus for carrying out an ion implantation process. A supply of source gas for the ion implantation process is arranged to flow to the ion implanter apparatus, which discharges an effluent gas stream including ionization products of the source gas during the ion implantation process. The system includes an effluent abatement apparatus for removing hazardous effluent species from the effluent gas stream. The source gas may be furnished from a low pressure gas source in which the source gas is sorptively retained in a vessel on a sorbent medium having affinity for the source gas, and desorbed for dispensing to the process system. A novel scrubbing composition may be employed for effluent treatment, and the scrubbing composition breakthrough of scrubbable component may be monitored with a device such as a quartz microbalance monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Hayes, Mark R. Holst, Jose I. Arno
  • Patent number: 6338873
    Abstract: Novel Group II metal MOCVD precursor compositions are described having utility for MOCVD of the corresponding Group II metal-containing films. The complexes are Group II metal &bgr;-diketonate Lewis base adducts having ligands such as: (i) amines bearing terminal NH2 groups; (ii) imine ligands formed as amine (i)/carbonyl reaction products; (iii) combination of two or more of the foregoing ligands (i)-(ii), and (iv) combination of one or more of the foregoing ligands (i)-(ii) with one or more other ligands or solvents. The source reagent complexes of barium and strontium are usefully employed in the formation of barium strontium titanate and other Group II doped thin-films on substrates for microelectronic device applications, such as integrated circuits, ferroelectric memories, switches, radiation detectors, thin-film capacitors, microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) and holographic storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Witold Paw, Thomas H. Baum
  • Patent number: 6337148
    Abstract: Copper precursors useful in liquid delivery CVD for forming a copper-containing material on a substrate. The disclosed copper precursors are particularly useful for metallization of interconnections in semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chongying Xu, Thomas H. Baum
  • Publication number: 20010055555
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for treating pollutants in a gaseous stream. The apparatus comprises tubular inlets for mixing a gas stream with other oxidative and inert gases for mixture within a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is heated by heating elements and has orifices through which cool or heated air enters into the central reaction chamber. A process is also provided whereby additional gases are added to the gaseous stream preferably within the temperature range of 650 C.-950 C. which minimizes or alleviates the production of NOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy L. Herman, Jack Ellis, Floris Y. Tsang, Daniel O. Clark, Belynda G. Flippo, David Inori, Keith Kaarup, Mark Morgenlaender, Aaron Mao
  • Patent number: 6333010
    Abstract: An effluent gas stream treatment system for treatment of gaseous effluents such as waste gases from semiconductor manufacturing operations. The effluent gas stream treatment system comprises a pre-oxidation treatment unit, which may for example comprise a scrubber, an oxidation unit such an electrothermal oxidizer, and a post-oxidation treatment unit, such as a wet or dry scrubber. The effluent gas stream treatment system of the invention may utilize an integrated oxidizer, quench and wet scrubber assembly, for abatement of hazardous or otherwise undesired components from the effluent gas stream. Gas or liquid shrouding of gas streams in the treatment system may be provided by high efficiency inlet structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Holst, Kent Carpenter, Scott Lane, Prakash V. Arya
  • Patent number: 6331211
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a low dielectric constant polymeric film on a substrate, by liquid delivery of a parylene precursor reagent, in the form of an organic solution or a neat liquid, subsequent flash vaporization of the neat liquid or organic solution, pyrolytic “cracking” of the precursor to form the reactive monomer and/or reactive radical species, and condensation and polymerization of the monomer and/or reactive radical species to form a low dielectric constant polymeric film on the substrate. The low dielectric constant polymeric film may comprise a parylene film, formed from a precursor such as [2.2]paracyclophane, an alkyl- and/or halo-substituted derivative thereof, or an analogous compound of a p-xylene derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Material, Inc.
    Inventors: Chongying Xu, Thomas H. Baum, Ralph J. Carl, Edward A. Sturm
  • Publication number: 20010050350
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cleaning formulation, including 1-21% wt. fluoride source, 20-55% wt. organic amine(s), 0.5-40% wt. nitrogenous component, e.g., a nitrogen-containing carboxylic acid or an imine, 23-50% wt. water, and 0-21% wt. metal chelating agent(s). The formulations are useful to remove residue from wafers following a resist plasma ashing step, such as inorganic residue from semiconductor wafers containing delicate copper interconnecting structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: Advanced Technology Materials Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Wojtczak, Ma. Fatima Seijo, David Bernhard, Long Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6329088
    Abstract: A silicon carbide epitaxial film, grown on an offcut surface of a SiC crystalline substrate of hexagonal crystal form, having an offcut angle of from about 6 to about 10 degrees, toward the <1{overscore (1)}00> crystalline direction of the substrate. The resultant silicon carbide epitaxial film has superior morphological and material properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara E. Landini, George R. Brandes, Michael A. Tischler
  • Patent number: 6323168
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cleaning formulation for use in post plasma ashing semiconductor fabrication comprising the following components in the percentage by weight ranges shown: chelating agent 1-15% water 25-99%  polar organic solvent 0-60% In the preferred embodiment the chelating agent is catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) and the polar organic solvent is gamma butyrolactone (BLO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kloffenstein, Daniel N. Fine
  • Patent number: 6322600
    Abstract: A planarization composition is set forth for chemical mechanical planarization of dielectric layers for semiconductor manufacture. The composition comprises spherical silica particles having an average diameter of from 30 nm to about 400 nm, and a narrow range of particle sizes, wherein about 90% of the particles is within 20% of the average particle diameter. The composition includes a liquid carrier comprising up to about 9% alcohol and an amine hydroxide in the amount of about 0.2 to about 9% by weight. The pH of the composition is in the range of about 9 to about 11.5, and the remainder of the solution is water. The composition has low amounts of metal ions, and the composition is used for thinning, polishing and planarizing interlayer dielectric thin films, shallow trench isolation structures, and isolation of gate structures. The invention also comprises methods for using the planarization composition in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brewer, Thomas J. Grebinski, James E. Currie, Michael Jones, William Mullee, Ann Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6319565
    Abstract: A metal hydride derivative wherein at least one hydrogen atom is replaced by deuterium (21H) or tritium (31H) isotope. The metal constituent of such metal hydride may, be a Group III, IV or V metal or a transition metal, e.g., antimony, aluminum, gallium, tin, or germanium. The isotopically stabilized metal hydride derivatives of the invention are useful as metal source compositions for chemical vapor deposition, assisted chemical vapor deposition (e.g., laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition, light-assisted chemical vapor deposition, plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition and ion-assisted chemical vapor deposition), ion implantation, molecular beam epitaxy, and rapid thermal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Todd, Thomas H. Baum, Gautam Bhandari
  • Patent number: 6320213
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory device (100) includes storage capacitors using a high dielectric constant material, such as, BaSrTiO3, SrBi2Ta2O9 and PbZrTiO3, for the capacitors' insulator. The device includes a conductive plug (106) formed over and connecting with a semiconductor substrate (102). A buffer layer (107) of titanium silicide lays over the plug, and this layer serves to trap “dangling” bonds and to passivate the underlying surface. A first diffusion barrier layer (108), e.g., titanium aluminum nitride, covers the titanium silicide. A capacitor first electrode (110) lays over the diffusion barrier layer. The high dielectric constant material (112) is laid over the capacitor first electrode. A capacitor second electrode (116) is laid over the high dielectric constant material. A second diffusion barrier layer (120) is deposited on the capacitor second electrode. A conductor, such as aluminum (130), is laid over the second diffusion barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter S. Kirlin, Scott R. Summerfelt, Paul McIntryre