Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing moisture within a wafer handling chamber is disclosed. The moisture reduction results in reduced oxidation of a wafer. The moisture reduction is made possible through use of valves and purging gas. Operation of the valves may result in improved localized purging.

Abstract: An adjustable joint for insertion into a linkage of a substrate handler utilized for substrate processing. The adjustable joint allows for adjusting the pitch and roll of an attached link. Such adjustment may permit aligning a pickup surface of an end effector to a desired plane. Once adjusted, the joint may be fixed to maintain the desired orientation of the attached link. The adjustable joint allows for correcting deflection of a pickup surface of an end effector relative to a desired pickup plane due to, for example, drooping caused by high temperature usage, mechanical tolerances and/or installation errors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring light intensity are disclosed. The methods and apparatus can be used to verify an article, such as a reaction chamber. Exemplary apparatus include a first arm, a light source coupled to the first arm, a second arm, and a sensor coupled to the second arm. The sensor can receive light from the light source that is transmitted through at least a portion of the article.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to embodiments of a semiconductor deposition reactor manifold and methods of using the semiconductor deposition reactor manifold which can be used to deposit semiconductor layers using processes such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). The semiconductor deposition reactor manifold has a bore, a first supply channel, and a second supply channel. Advantageously, the first supply channel and the second supply channel merge with the bore in an offset fashion which leads to reduced cross-contamination within the supply channels.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for forming a layer, by sequentially repeating a layer deposition cycle to process a substrate disposed in a reaction chamber. The deposition cycle comprising: supplying a first precursor into the reaction chamber for a first pulse period; supplying a second precursor into the reaction chamber for a second pulse period. At least one of the first and second precursors may be supplied into the reaction chamber for a pretreatment period longer than the first or second pulse period before sequentially repeating the deposition cycles.

Abstract: A method for depositing material is disclosed. An exemplary method includes positioning a substrate provided with a stepped structure comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall in a reaction chamber; controlling a pressure of the reaction chamber to a process pressure; providing a precursor; providing a reactant; and, providing a plasma with a RF plasma power, wherein by simultaneously providing the precursor, the reactant, and the plasma while controlling the process pressure to less than or equal to 200 Pa and controlling the RF plasma power to more than or equal to 0.21 W per cm2 the material is deposited on the top surface, the bottom surface, and the sidewall of the stepped structure.

Abstract: Methods for selective deposition are provided. Material is selectively deposited on a first surface of a substrate relative to a second surface of a different material composition. An inhibitor, such as a polyimide layer, is selectively formed from vapor phase reactants on the first surface relative to the second surface. A layer of interest is selectively deposited from vapor phase reactants on the second surface relative to the first surface. The first surface can be metallic while the second surface is dielectric. Accordingly, material, such as a dielectric transition metal oxides and nitrides, can be selectively deposited on metallic surfaces relative dielectric surfaces using techniques described herein.

Abstract: Methods for depositing a molybdenum nitride film on a surface of a substrate are disclosed. The methods may include: providing a substrate into a reaction chamber; and depositing a molybdenum nitride film directly on the surface of the substrate by performing one or more unit deposition cycles of cyclical deposition process, wherein a unit deposition cycle may include, contacting the substrate with a first vapor phase reactant comprising a molybdenum halide precursor, and contacting the substrate with a second vapor phase reactant comprising a nitrogen precursor. Semiconductor device structures including a molybdenum nitride film are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method for forming a barrier layer, the barrier layer is formed on a base layer having a three-dimensional structure before a dopant-containing layer is formed on the base layer. At this time, at least one of a film thickness, a film quality, and a film type of the barrier layer is controlled in a height direction of the three-dimensional structure by using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process.

Abstract: An atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for depositing a fluorine-containing thin film on a substrate can include a plurality of super-cycles. Each super-cycle may include a metal fluoride sub-cycle and a reducing sub-cycle. The metal fluoride sub-cycle may include contacting the substrate with a metal fluoride. The reducing sub-cycle may include alternately and sequentially contacting the substrate with a reducing agent and a nitrogen reactant.

Abstract: Examples of a substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate carrier apparatus including a shaft, at least one carrier arm that is fixed to the shaft and rotates as the shaft rotates, and at least one thermometer fixed to the carrier arm, a susceptor, a heater that heats the susceptor, a temperature regulator that controls the heater, and a control unit that acquires a measured temperature, which is a surface temperature, of the susceptor obtained by the thermometer by bringing the carrier arm close to the susceptor and control the temperature regulator.

Abstract: Methods for depositing rhenium-containing thin films are provided. In some embodiments metallic rhenium-containing thin films are deposited. In some embodiments rhenium sulfide thin films are deposited. In some embodiments films comprising rhenium nitride are deposited. The rhenium-containing thin films may be deposited by cyclic vapor deposition processes, for example using rhenium halide precursors. The rhenium-containing thin films may find use, for example, as 2D materials.

Abstract: A method for forming a precoat film on a metal surface in a chamber before forming a silicon-containing film having an identical composition system with that of the precoat film on a substrate in the chamber using a PECVD method, wherein the precoat film is formed using a PEALD method in which a first gas and a second gas are supplied into the chamber by shifting timing of supply, the PEALD method comprises an adsorption step comprising supplying the first gas into the chamber so that the source gas component adsorbs on the metal surface, a first purge step comprising discharging an excessive source gas component not adsorbed on the metal surface, and a precoat film forming step comprising supplying the second gas into the chamber and applying high-frequency power to generate plasma in the reactant gas component in the second gas.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus capable of processing a thin film to have improved quality through uniform exhaustion includes: a substrate supporting unit; a processing unit on the substrate supporting unit; an exhaust unit connected to a reaction space between the substrate supporting unit and the processing unit; an exhaust port connected to at least a portion of the exhaust unit; and a flow control unit disposed in an exhaust channel from a space inside the exhaust unit to the exhaust port.

Abstract: A substrate processing method for filling a gap without seams or voids comprising: providing a substrate with a gap in a reaction chamber, pumping down the reaction chamber to a pressure at or below 5 Torr and filling the gap with a film by alternately and sequentially supplying a precursor, a reactant and a radio frequency electromagnetic radiation comprising a relatively high radio frequency component and a relatively low radio frequency component.

Abstract: This application relates to a method of filling a gap in a three-dimensional structure over a semiconductor substrate. The method may include depositing a thin film at least on a three-dimensional structure over a substrate using at least one reaction gas activated with a first radio frequency (RF) power having a first frequency, the three dimensional structure comprising a trench and/or hole. The method may also include etching the deposited thin film using at least one etchant activated with a second RF power having a second frequency lower than the first frequency. The method may further include repeating a cycle of the depositing and the etching at least once until the trench and/or hole are filled with the thin film. According to some embodiments, a thin film having substantially free of voids and/or seams can be formed in the three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: A method of depositing a metal-containing material is disclosed. The method can include use of cyclic deposition techniques, such as cyclic chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition. The metal-containing material can include intermetallic compounds. A structure including the metal-containing material and a system for forming the material are also disclosed.

Abstract: An atomic layer deposition (ALD) method can include pulsing a first reactant vapor into a reactor assembly. The first reactant vapor is supplied to a first reactant gas line. An inactive gas is supplied to a first inactive gas line at a first flow rate. The first reactant vapor and the inactive gas are fed to the reactor assembly by way of a first feed line. The reactor assembly is purged by supplying the inactive gas to the first inactive gas line at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate. A first portion of the inactive gas can be fed back along a diffusion barrier portion of the first reactant gas line to provide an inert gas valve (IGV) upstream of the first inactive gas line. A second portion of the inactive gas can be fed to the reactor assembly by way of the first feed line.

Abstract: Gas-phase reactor systems and methods suitable for use with precursors that are solid phase at room temperature and pressure are disclosed. The systems and methods as described herein can be used to, for example, form amorphous, polycrystalline, or epitaxial layers (e.g., one or more doped semiconductor layers) on a surface of a substrate.