Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor structures and their fabrication, and more particularly to diffusion barrier structures containing Ti, Si, N and methods of forming same. A method of forming an electrically conductive diffusion barrier comprises providing a substrate in a reaction chamber and forming a titanium silicide (TiSi) region on the substrate by alternatingly exposing the substrate to a titanium-containing precursor and a first silicon-containing precursor. The method additionally comprises forming a titanium silicon nitride (TiSiN) region on the TiSi region by alternatingly exposing the substrate to a titanium-containing precursor, a nitrogen-containing precursor and a second silicon-containing precursor. The method can optionally include, prior to forming the TiSi region, forming a titanium nitride (TiN) region by alternatingly exposing the substrate to a titanium-containing precursor and a nitrogen-containing precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to semiconductor manufacturing, and more particularly to precursor delivery in cyclic deposition. In one aspect, a thin film deposition system comprises a thin film deposition chamber configured to deposit a thin film by alternatingly exposing a substrate to a plurality of precursors. The thin film system additionally comprises a precursor source connected to the thin film deposition chamber by a precursor delivery line, wherein the precursor delivery line comprises a high conductance line portion between the precursor source and a final valve outside of the thin film deposition chamber. The high conductance line portion is elongated in a flow direction and has a conductance that is at least four times greater than either of immediately adjacent low conductance line portions connected at opposing ends of the high conductance line portion.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a titanium nitride-based thin films, and more particularly to a conformal and smooth titanium nitride-based thin films and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method comprises forming a diffusion barrier comprising TiSiN having a modulus exceeding 290 GPa and a Si content exceeding 2.7 atomic % by exposing a semiconductor substrate to one or more first deposition phases alternating with one or more second deposition phases. Exposing the semiconductor substrate to the one or more first deposition phases comprises alternatingly exposing the semiconductor substrate to a titanium (Ti) precursor and a nitrogen (N) precursor. Exposing the semiconductor substrate to the one or more second deposition phases comprises sequentially exposing the semiconductor substrate to the Ti precursor, followed by a silicon (Si) precursor, followed by the N precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a titanium nitride layer, and more particularly to forming by atomic layer deposition a titanium nitride layer on a seed layer. In one aspect, a semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a non-metallic surface. The semiconductor structure additionally comprises a seed layer comprising silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N) conformally coating the non-metallic surface and a TiN layer conformally coating the seed layer. Aspects are also directed to methods of forming the semiconductor structures.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a titanium nitride-based thin films, and more particularly to a conformal and smooth titanium nitride-based thin films and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming a diffusion barrier comprising TiSiN comprises exposing a semiconductor substrate to one or more first deposition phases alternating with one or more second deposition phases. Exposing the semiconductor substrate to the one or more first deposition phases comprises alternatingly exposing the semiconductor substrate to a titanium (Ti) precursor and a nitrogen (N) precursor. Exposing the semiconductor substrate to the one or more second deposition phases comprises sequentially exposing the semiconductor substrate to the Ti precursor and a silicon (Si) precursor without an intervening exposure to the N precursor therebetween, followed by exposing the semiconductor substrate to the N precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a barrier layer comprising titanium silicon nitride, and more particularly to a barrier layer for nonvolatile memory devices, and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming an electrode for a phase change memory device comprises forming over a semiconductor substrate an electrode comprising titanium silicon nitride (TiSiN) on a phase change storage element configured to store a memory state. Forming the electrode comprises exposing a semiconductor substrate to one or more cyclical vapor deposition cycles, wherein a plurality of the cyclical vapor deposition cycles comprises an exposure to a Ti precursor, an exposure to a N precursor and an exposure to a Si precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to semiconductor manufacturing, and more particularly to precursor delivery in cyclic deposition. In one aspect, a method of depositing a thin film comprises alternatingly exposing a substrate in a thin film deposition chamber to a plurality of precursors. Exposing the substrate comprises introducing one of the precursors into the thin film deposition chamber through two or more atomic layer deposition (ALD) valves each configured to supply the one of the precursors.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a thin film comprising titanium nitride (TiN), and more particularly to forming by a cyclical vapor deposition process the thin film comprising (TiN). In one aspect, a method of forming a thin film comprising titanium nitride (TiN) by a cyclical vapor deposition process comprises forming on a semiconductor substrate a TiN thin film by exposing the semiconductor substrate to one or more cyclical vapor deposition cycles each comprising an exposure to a Ti precursor at a Ti precursor flow rate and an exposure to a NH3 precursor at a NH3 precursor flow rate, after forming the TiN film, subjecting the semiconductor substrate, without further deposition of the TiN thin film, to a post-deposition exposure of NH3 at a second NH3 flow rate.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a thin film comprising titanium nitride (TiN), and more particularly to forming by a cyclical vapor deposition process the thin film comprising (TiN). In one aspect, a method a method of forming a thin film comprising titanium nitride (TiN) by a cyclical vapor deposition process comprises forming on a semiconductor substrate a TiN thin film by exposing the semiconductor substrate to one or more cyclical vapor deposition cycles each comprising an exposure to a Ti precursor at a Ti precursor flow rate and an exposure to a N precursor at a N precursor flow rate, wherein a ratio of the N precursor flow rate to the Ti precursor flow rate exceeds 3.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a titanium nitride-based thin films, and more particularly to a conformal and smooth titanium nitride-based thin films and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming a thin film comprising one or both of TiSiN or TiAlN comprises exposing a semiconductor substrate to one or more vapor deposition cycles at a pressure in a reaction chamber greater than 1 torr, wherein a plurality of the vapor deposition cycles comprises an exposure to a titanium (Ti) precursor, an exposure to a nitrogen (N) precursor and an exposure to one or both of a silicon (Si) precursor or an aluminum (Al) precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to an encapsulation layer for a semiconductor device having a chalcogenide material, and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a substrate having an exposed surface comprising a chalcogenide material. The method additionally comprises forming a low-electronegativity (low-?) metal oxide layer on the chalcogenide material by cyclically exposing the substrate to a low-? metal precursor and an oxygen precursor comprising O2, wherein the low-? metal of the metal precursor has an electronegativity of 1.6 or lower.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor structures and their fabrication, and more particularly to diffusion barrier structures containing Ti, Si, N and methods of forming same. A method of forming an electrically conductive diffusion barrier comprises providing a substrate in a reaction chamber and forming a titanium silicide (TiSi) region on the substrate by alternatingly exposing the substrate to a titanium-containing precursor and a first silicon-containing precursor. The method additionally comprises forming a titanium silicon nitride (TiSiN) region on the TiSi region by alternatingly exposing the substrate to a titanium-containing precursor, a nitrogen-containing precursor and a second silicon-containing precursor. The method can optionally include, prior to forming the TiSi region, forming a titanium nitride (TiN) region by alternatingly exposing the substrate to a titanium-containing precursor and a nitrogen-containing precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a barrier layer comprising titanium silicon nitride, and more particularly to a barrier layer for nonvolatile memory devices, and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming an electrode for a phase change memory device comprises forming over a semiconductor substrate an electrode comprising titanium silicon nitride (TiSiN) on a phase change storage element configured to store a memory state. Forming the electrode comprises exposing a semiconductor substrate to one or more cyclical vapor deposition cycles, wherein a plurality of the cyclical vapor deposition cycles comprises an exposure to a Ti precursor, an exposure to a N precursor and an exposure to a Si precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a titanium nitride layer, and more particularly to forming by atomic layer deposition a titanium nitride layer on a seed layer. In one aspect, a semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a non-metallic surface. The semiconductor structure additionally comprises a seed layer comprising silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N) conformally coating the non-metallic surface and a TiN layer conformally coating the seed layer. Aspects are also directed to methods of forming the semiconductor structures.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a thin film comprising titanium nitride (TiN), and more particularly to forming by a cyclical vapor deposition process the thin film comprising (TiN).

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to semiconductor processing and more particularly to liquid precursor injection apparatus and methods for depositing thin films. A method of injecting a liquid precursor into a thin film deposition chamber comprises delivering a vaporized liquid precursor into the thin film deposition chamber by atomizing the liquid precursor into atomized precursor droplets using a liquid injection unit and vaporizing the atomized precursor droplets into the vaporized liquid precursor in a vaporization chamber.

Abstract: A method for ALD coating of a substrate with a layer containing Ti, Si, N, wherein a reaction gas and then a flushing gas are introduced into a process chamber holding the substrate in a plurality of successive steps, each in one or more cycles, wherein TiN is deposited in a first step with a reaction gas containing Ti and a reaction gas containing N, TiSi is deposited in a second step with a reaction gas containing Ti and a reaction gas containing Si, and in a third step following the second step, TiSiN is deposited with a reaction gas containing Ti, with a reaction gas containing N and with a reaction gas containing Si.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to forming a titanium nitride-based thin films, and more particularly to a conformal and smooth titanium nitride-based thin films and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming a thin film comprising one or both of TiSiN or TiAlN comprises exposing a semiconductor substrate to one or more vapor deposition cycles at a pressure in a reaction chamber greater than 1 torr, wherein a plurality of the vapor deposition cycles comprises an exposure to a titanium (Ti) precursor, an exposure to a nitrogen (N) precursor and an exposure to one or both of a silicon (Si) precursor or an aluminum (Al) precursor.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to semiconductor processing and more particularly to placing a substrate in a semiconductor manufacturing equipment for processing, and to apparatuses for placing the substrate in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In one aspect, a method of calibrating a process position of a semiconductor substrate in a process chamber comprises securing a calibration substrate on a susceptor in a processing chamber under an open chamber condition using a securing device, wherein securing comprises preventing the substrate from sliding laterally on the susceptor by more than a predefined tolerance from a centered position relative to a susceptor center. The method additionally comprises subjecting the calibration substrate under a process condition different from the open chamber condition. The method additionally comprises transferring the calibration substrate from the susceptor using a robot arm.