Patents Assigned to Applied Materials
  • Publication number: 20220267899
    Abstract: Exemplary deposition methods may include introducing hydrogen into a processing chamber, a powder disposed within a processing region of the processing chamber. The method may include striking a first plasma in the processing region, the first plasma including energetic hydrogen species. The method may include exposing the powder to the energetic hydrogen species in the processing region. The method may include chemically reducing the powder through a reaction of the powder with the energetic hydrogen species. The method may include removing process effluents including unreacted hydrogen from the processing region. The method may also include forming a layer of material on grains of the powder within the processing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Shull, Peter Reimer, Hong P. Gao, Chandra V. Deshpandey
  • Publication number: 20220267904
    Abstract: Methods of depositing a metal film by exposing a substrate surface to a halide precursor and an organosilane reactant are described. The halide precursor comprises a compound of general formula (I): MQzRm, wherein M is a metal, Q is a halogen selected from Cl, Br, F or I, z is from 1 to 6, R is selected from alkyl, CO, and cyclopentadienyl, and m is from 0 to 6. The aluminum reactant comprises a compound of general formula (II) or general formula (III): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rf are independently selected from hydrogen (H), substituted alkyl or unsubstituted alkyl; and X, Y, X?, and Y? are independently selected from nitrogen (N) and carbon (C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Geetika Bajaj, Darshan Thakare, Prerna Sonthalia Goradia, Robert Jan Visser, Yixiong Yang, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20220270923
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of producing a semiconductor substrate may include plating a metal within a plurality of vias on the semiconductor substrate. A target average fill thickness of the metal within the plurality of vias may be between about a thickness equal to an average via radius of the plurality of vias and a thickness twice the average via radius of the plurality of vias. At least one via of the plurality of vias may be filled to a height below the target average fill thickness of the metal. The methods may include heating the metal to cause reflow of the metal within each via of the plurality of vias. The reflow may adjust the metal within the at least one via to increase in height towards the target average fill thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul McHugh, Kwan Wook Roh, Gregory J. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20220270883
    Abstract: Methods for depositing molybdenum films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a molybdenum halide precursor and an aluminum precursor to form the molybdenum film (e.g., elemental molybdenum) at a low temperature. The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Dmitrii Leshchev, Mohith Verghese, Alex Romero
  • Patent number: 11421977
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an endpoint detection system of a processing chamber having a ceiling formed therein, a substrate support located internal to the processing chamber, and a substrate resting on the substrate support. A transparent panel is located in the ceiling of the processing chamber, the panel oriented at a first acute angle relative to the substrate and the substrate support. The transparent panel receives an incident light beam from the endpoint detection system at a second acute angle relative to the panel. The transparent panel transmits the incident light beam to the substrate within the processing chamber at an angle perpendicular to the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Lian, Pengyu Han
  • Patent number: 11422096
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring surface topography are described. The analysis apparatus and methods detect light reflected from the reflective backside of a cantilever assembly including a tip, calculate a background level (BGL) value obtained from an optical scan of a reference sample using a power spectral density (PSD) value obtained from a topographical scan of a reference sample to generate a correlational coefficient between the BGL and the PSD values. The correlational coefficient between the BGL and PSD values is used to measure the BGL value of additional EUV mask blanks by a topographical scan of the EUV mask blanks using the same tip mounted to the cantilever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Weimin Li, Wen Xiao, Vibhu Jindal, Sanjay Bhat
  • Patent number: 11423529
    Abstract: There is provided a method and a system configured to obtain an image of a one or more first areas of a semiconductor specimen acquired by an examination tool, determine data Datt informative of defectivity in the one or more first areas, determine one or more second areas of the semiconductor specimen for which presence of a defect is suspected based at least on an evolution of Datt, or of data correlated to Datt, in the one or more first areas, and select the one or more second areas for inspection by the examination tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials Isreal Ltd.
    Inventors: Doron Girmonsky, Rafael Ben Ami, Boaz Cohen, Dror Shemesh
  • Patent number: 11424134
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for selectively etching copper, cobalt, and/or aluminum layers on a substrate semiconductor manufacturing applications. A substrate comprising one or more copper layers, cobalt layers, or aluminum layers is transferred to a processing chamber. The surface of the copper, cobalt, or aluminum layer is oxidized. The oxidized copper, cobalt, or aluminum surface is then exposed to hexafluoroacetylacetonate vapor. The hexafluoroacetylacetonate vapor reacts with the oxidized copper, cobalt, or aluminum surface to form a volatile compound, which is then pumped out of the chamber. The reaction of the oxidized copper, cobalt, or aluminum surface with the hexafluoroacetylacetonate vapor selectively atomic layer etches the copper, cobalt, or aluminum surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Deepak, Prerna Sonthalia Goradia
  • Patent number: 11421324
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to hardmasks and to processes for forming hardmasks by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). In an embodiment, a process for forming a hardmask layer on a substrate is provided. The process includes introducing a substrate to a processing volume of a PECVD chamber, the substrate on a substrate support, the substrate support comprising an electrostatic chuck, and flowing a process gas into the processing volume within the PECVD chamber, the process gas comprising a carbon-containing gas. The process further includes forming, under plasma conditions, an energized process gas from the process gas in the processing volume, electrostatically chucking the substrate to the substrate support, depositing a first carbon-containing layer on the substrate while electrostatically chucking the substrate, and forming the hardmask layer by depositing a second carbon-containing layer on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jui-Yuan Hsu, Krishna Nittala, Pramit Manna, Karthik Janakiraman
  • Patent number: 11424164
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method may include providing a substrate, comprising a plurality of surface features, an isolation layer, disposed between the plurality of surface features, and a substrate base, disposed subjacent the isolation layer and the plurality of surface features, wherein the plurality of surface features extend above a surface of the isolation layer. The method may include directing a low energy ion beam to the substrate, when the substrate is heated at a targeted temperature, wherein an altered layer is formed within an outer portion of the isolation layer, and wherein an inner portion of the isolation layer is not implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Waite, Johannes M. van Meer, Jae Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11424136
    Abstract: A component for a processing chamber includes a ceramic body having at least one surface with a first average surface roughness. The component further includes a conformal protective layer on at least one surface of the ceramic body, wherein the conformal protective layer is a plasma resistant rare earth oxide film having a substantially uniform thickness of less than 300 ?m over the at least one surface and having a second average surface roughness that is less than the first average surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Y. Sun, Biraja P. Kanungo, Vahid Firouzdor, Ying Zhang
  • Patent number: 11424125
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for reducing MOSFET trench sidewall surface roughness. In some embodiments, a method includes providing a device structure including a well formed in an epitaxial layer, forming a plurality of trenches through the well and the epitaxial layer, and implanting the device structure to form a treated layer along a sidewall of just an upper portion of the device structure within each of the plurality of trenches. The method may further include etching the device structure to remove the treated layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Qintao Zhang, Wei Zou, Hans-Joachim L. Gossmann
  • Patent number: 11424104
    Abstract: A plasma reactor includes a chamber body having an interior space that provides a plasma chamber and having a ceiling, a gas distributor to deliver a processing gas to the plasma chamber, a pump coupled to the plasma chamber to evacuate the chamber, a workpiece support to hold a workpiece, and an intra-chamber electrode assembly. The intra-chamber electrode assembly includes an insulating frame, a first plurality of coplanar filaments that extend laterally through the plasma chamber between the ceiling and the workpiece support along a first direction, and a second plurality of coplanar filaments that extend in parallel through the plasma chamber along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each filament of the first and second plurality of filaments includes a conductor at least partially surrounded by an insulating shell. A first RF power source supplies a first RF power to the conductor of the intra-chamber electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Collins, Michael R. Rice, Kartik Ramaswamy, James D. Carducci
  • Patent number: 11424137
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a processing chamber incorporating a small thermal mass which enable efficient temperature cycling for supercritical drying processes. The chamber generally includes a body, a liner, and an insulation element which enables the liner to exhibit a small thermal mass relative to the body. The chamber is also configured with suitable apparatus for generating and/or maintaining supercritical fluid within a processing volume of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Gouk, Han-Wen Chen, Steven Verhaverbeke, Jean Delmas
  • Publication number: 20220263022
    Abstract: A resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) device may include a thermally engineered layer that is positioned adjacent to an active layer and configured to act as a heat sink during filament formation in response to applied voltages. The thermally engineered layer may act as one of the electrodes on the ReRAM device and may be adjacent to any side of the active layer. The active layer may also include a plurality of individual active layers. Each of the active layers may be associated with a different dielectric constant, such that the middle active layer has a dielectric constant that is significantly higher than the other two surrounding active layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Pesic, Luca Larcher, Bastien Beltrando
  • Publication number: 20220259735
    Abstract: Methods of forming a metal oxyfluoride films are provided. A substrate is placed in an atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber having a processing region. Flows of zirconium-containing gas, a zirconium precursor gas, for example, Tris(dimethylamino)cyclopentadienyl zirconium, an oxygen-containing gas, a fluorine containing gas, and an yttrium precursor, for example, tris(butylcyclopentadienyl)yttrium gas are delivered to the processing region, where a metal oxyfluoride film such as an yttrium zirconium oxyfluoride film, is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Deepak, Gayatri Natu, Albert Barrett Hicks, III, Prerna Sonthalia Goradia, Jennifer Y. Sun
  • Publication number: 20220262619
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing memory devices are provided. The methods improve the quality of a selectively deposited silicon-containing dielectric layer. The method comprises selectively depositing a silicon-containing dielectric layer in a recessed region of a film stack. The selectively deposited silicon-containing dielectric layer is then exposed to a high-density plasma and annealed at a temperature greater than 800 ° C. to provide a silicon-containing dielectric film having a wet etch rate of less than 4 ?/min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ning Li, Shuaidl Zhang, Mihaela A. Balseanu, Qi Gao, Rajesh Prasad, Tomohiko Kitajima, Chang Seok Kang, Deven Matthew Raj Mittal, Kyu-Ha Shim
  • Publication number: 20220259766
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of forming a semiconductor structure may include forming a nucleation layer on a semiconductor substrate. The exemplary methods may further include forming at least one gallium nitride (GaN)-containing region on the nucleation layer, and forming an indium-gallium-nitride (InGaN)-containing layer on the GaN-containing region. A porosified region may be formed on a portion of at least one of the GaN-containing region and the InGaN-containing layer, and an active region may be formed on the porosified region. In embodiments, the porosified region may be characterized by a void fraction of greater than or about 20 vol. %. In further embodiments, the active region may include a greater mole percentage (mol. %) indium than the porosified region or the GaN-containing region. In still further embodiments, the active region may characterized by a peak light emission at a wavelength of greater than or about 620 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Chudzik, Max Batres, Michel Khoury
  • Publication number: 20220259756
    Abstract: Exemplary electroplating apparatuses may include a system head operable to clamp a substrate. The system head may be operable to raise and lower the substrate between a plating bath, a first position above the plating bath, and a second position above the first position. The electroplating apparatuses may include a plating bath vessel adapted to hold the plating bath for electroplating on the substrate. The electroplating apparatuses may include a weir extending about the plating bath vessel. The electroplating apparatuses may include a first nozzle extending through the weir at a first radial position, and positioned to deliver fluid to the substrate at the first position above the plating bath. The electroplating apparatuses may include a second nozzle extending through the weir at a second radial position, and positioned to deliver fluid to the substrate at the second position above the plating bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Lee, Kyle M. Hanson, Eric J. Bergman
  • 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