Abstract: Chemical deliver conduits, systems for substrate processing and methods for supplying a chemical to a substrate processing chamber are described. The conduit has a length and connects a vessel containing the chemical to the substrate processing chamber. The conduit comprises an outer channel surrounding an inner channel. The outer channel is in fluid communication with source of a heat transfer fluid, and the inner channel is in fluid communication with the vessel containing the chemical.

Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to localized stress modulation by implanting a first side of a substrate to reduce in-plane distortion along a second side of the substrate. In some embodiments, a method may include providing a substrate, the substrate comprising a first main side opposite a second main side, wherein a plurality of features are disposed on the first main side, performing a metrology scan to the first main side to determine an amount of distortion to the substrate due to the formation of the plurality of features, and depositing a stress compensation film along the second main side of the substrate, wherein a stress and a thickness of the stress compensation film is determined based on the amount of distortion to the substrate. The method may further include directing ions to the stress compensation film in an ion implant procedure.

Abstract: Thicker hardmasks are typically needed for etching deeper capacitor holes in a DRAM structure. Instead of increasing the hardmask thickness, hardmasks may instead be formed with an increased etch selectivity relative to the underlying semiconductor structure. For example, boron-based hardmasks may be formed that include a relatively high percentage of boron (e.g., greater than 90%). The etch selectivity of the hardmask may be improved by performing an ion implant process using different types of ions. The ion implant may take place before or after opening the hardmask with the pattern for the DRAM capacitor holes. Some designs may also tilt the semiconductor substrate relative to the ion implant process and rotate the substrate to provide greater ion penetration throughout a depth of the openings in the hardmask.

Abstract: Metal stacks and methods of depositing a metal stack on a semiconductor substrate are disclosed. The metal stack is formed by depositing a tungsten (W) layer on the semiconductor substrate and depositing a molybdenum (Mo) layer on the tungsten (W) layer. In one method, a tungsten (W) capping layer is deposited on the molybdenum (Mo) layer, followed by formation of a nitride capping layer on the tungsten (W) capping layer). In a second method, a nitride capping layer is formed on the molybdenum (Mo) layer using an ammonia free process. Both processes result in the formation of a metal stack having low resistivity.

Abstract: A dual-channel showerhead may include a first plate defining two or more channels and a second plate including a bottom surface and defining a plurality of apertures. Each of the two or more channels may be fluidly coupled with one of the plurality of apertures to define a fluid path extending from the first plate through the bottom surface. The plurality of apertures may be arranged in a series of rings. A first subset of apertures of the plurality of apertures may extend through the first plate and the bottom surface. A second subset of apertures in a first ring of the series of rings may include a first opening area. Each aperture of the second subset in a second ring may include a second opening area smaller than the first opening area, such that a flow conductance of the first ring is within 5% of the second ring.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a platen to hold a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad, and a controller. The polishing pad has a polishing control groove. The carrier is laterally movable by a first actuator across the polishing pad and rotatable by a second actuator. The controller synchronizes lateral oscillation of the carrier head with rotation of the carrier head such that over a plurality of successive oscillations of the carrier head such that when a first angular swath of an edge portion of the substrate is at an azimuthal angular position about an axis of rotation of the carrier head the first angular swath overlies the polishing surface and when a second angular swath of the edge portion of the substrate is at the azimuthal angular position the second angular swath overlies the polishing control groove.

Abstract: A method of delayering a sample that includes a second layer formed under a first layer, where the first and second layers are different materials or different texture, the method including: acquiring a plurality of gray scale images of the region of interest in an iterative process by alternating a sequence of delayering the region of interest with a first charged particle beam and imaging a surface of the region of interest with a second charged particle beam; after each iteration of acquiring a gray scale image, calculating an entropy of the acquired gray scale image and calculating a second derivative of the entropy; determining whether a transition from the first layer to the second layer occurred based on the second derivative of the entropy; and if it is determined that a transition from the first layer to the second layer did not occur, proceeding with a next iteration of acquiring a plurality of gray scale images, and if it is determined that a transition from the first layer to the second layer did

Abstract: A vapor deposition system and methods of operation thereof are disclosed. The vapor deposition system includes a vacuum chamber; a dielectric target within the vacuum chamber, the dielectric target having a front surface and a thickness; a substrate support within the vacuum chamber, the substrate support having a front surface spaced from the front surface of the dielectric target to form a process gap; and a signal generator connected to the dielectric target to generate a plasma in the vacuum chamber, the signal generator comprises a power source, the power source configured to prevent charge accumulation in the dielectric target. The method includes applying power to a dielectric target within a vacuum chamber to generate a plasma in a process gap between the dielectric target and a substrate support and pulsing the power applied to the dielectric target to prevent charge accumulation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. For example, an apparatus for processing a substrate comprises a transfer robot configured to position a substrate on a substrate support disposed within an interior of a processing chamber configured to process the substrate and a sensor disposed on the transfer robot, operably connected to a controller of the processing chamber, and configured with an angle of view to provide in-situ continuous closed loop feedback relating to spatial information of the interior of the processing chamber to the controller.

Abstract: An evaporation apparatus is described, particularly for evaporating a reactive material such as lithium. The evaporation apparatus includes an evaporation crucible for evaporating a liquid material, a material conduit for supplying the liquid material to the evaporation crucible, and a valve configured to close the material conduit by solidifying a part of the liquid material in the material conduit with a cooling device. The valve may include a cooling gas supply for a cooling gas, and the cooling device may be configured to cool the liquid material with the cooling gas. Further described are a vapor deposition apparatus for coating a substrate as well as an evaporation method.

Abstract: A method of classification of a film non-uniformity on a substrate includes obtaining a color image of a substrate with the color image comprising a plurality of color channels, obtaining a standard color for the color image of the substrate, for each respective pixel along a path in the color image determining a difference vector between the a color of the respective pixel and the standard color to generate a sequence of difference vectors, sorting the pixels along the path into a plurality of regions including at least one normal region and at least one abnormal region based on the sequence of difference vectors, and classifying the at least one abnormal region as overpolished or underpolished based on at least one difference vector of a pixel at a boundary between the abnormal region and an adjacent normal region.

Abstract: A method for time constraint management at a manufacturing system is provided. A first request to initiate a set of operations to be run at the manufacturing system is received. The set of operations include one or more operations that each have one or more time constraints. A first set of candidate substrates to be processed during the set of operations is determined. A first simulation of the set of operations for the first set of candidate substrates is run over a first period of time. The simulation generates a first simulation output indicate a first number of candidate substrates that were successfully processed during each of the simulated set of operations to reach the end of the first time period. The set of operations is initiated at the manufacturing system to process the first number of candidate substrates over the first time period.

Abstract: A method of forming an electronic device is disclosed. The method comprises forming depositing a metal on a substrate, the metal comprising one or more of copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), or tantalum (Ta). A metal cap is deposited on the metal. The metal cap comprises one or more of molybdenum (Mo), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), osmium (Os), platinum (Pt), or gold (Au). The substrate is then exposed to an anneal process, e.g., a hydrogen high-pressure anneal. The formation of the metal cap on the metal minimizes parasitic adsorption of hydrogen by the underlying metal.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a plasma source assemblies comprising a differential screw assembly, an RF hot electrode, a top cover, an upper housing and a lower housing. The differential screw assembly is configured to provide force to align the plasma source assembly vertically matching planarity of a susceptor. More particularly, the differential screw assembly increases a distance between the top cover and the upper housing to align the gap with the susceptor. The disclosure also provides a better thermal management by cooling fins. A temperature capacity of the plasma source assemblies is extended by using titanium electrode. The disclosure provides a cladding material covering a portion of a first surface of RF hot electrode, a second surface of RF hot electrode, a bottom surface of RF hot electrode, a portion of a surface of the showerhead and a portion of lower housing surface.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to sub-pixel circuits and methods of forming sub-pixel circuits that may be utilized in a display such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. The sub-pixel circuit includes a plurality of contact overhangs. The plurality of contact overhangs are disposed between adjacent sub-pixels of a sub-pixel circuit to be formed. The contact overhangs are formed over a metal grid exposed through a PDL structure. A cathode is deposited via evaporation deposition to be in contact with the contact overhang. The metal grid is perpendicular to a plurality of metal layers disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: A plasma reactor has a cylindrical microwave cavity overlying a workpiece processing chamber, a microwave source having a pair of microwave source outputs, and a pair of respective waveguides. The cavity has first and second input ports in a sidewall and space apart by an azimuthal angle. Each of the waveguides has a microwave input end coupled to a microwave source output and a microwave output end coupled to a respective one of the first and second input ports, a coupling aperture plate at the output end with a rectangular coupling aperture in the coupling aperture plate, and an iris plate between the coupling aperture plate and the microwave input end with a rectangular iris opening in the iris plate.

Abstract: Methods for detecting areas of localized tilt on a sample using imaging reflectometry measurements include obtaining a first image without blocking any light reflected from the sample and obtaining a second image while blocking some light reflected from the sample at the aperture plane. The areas of localized tilt are detected by comparing first reflectance intensity values of pixels in the first image with second reflectance intensity values of corresponding pixels in the second image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a carbon compound on a substrate includes using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) chamber with a chamber body, a lid, an interior volume, a pumping apparatus, and a gas delivery system and a pedestal for supporting a substrate disposed within the interior volume of the ICP chamber, the pedestal has an upper portion formed from aluminum nitride with an upper surface that is configured to support and heat a substrate with embedded heating elements and a lower portion with a tube-like structure formed from aluminum nitride that is configured to support the upper portion and house electrodes for supplying power to the embedded heating elements of the upper portion, and the pedestal is configured to heat the substrate during deposition of a carbon compound film.

Abstract: Exemplary substrate processing methods are described. The methods may include providing a scandium-doped aluminum nitride layer on a metal layer. They may further include etching a portion of the scandium-doped aluminum nitride layer with an etching composition. The etching composition may include greater than or about 80 wt. % phosphoric acid. The compositions may further be characterized by a temperature of greater than or about 90° C. during etching.