Abstract: A composite film comprised of three layers is formed by ALD on a substrate with a substrate interface surface. A first layer is coupled to the substrate interface surface. The first layer provides adhesion to the substrate interface surface and initiation of layer by layer ALD growth. A second layer is positioned between the first and third layers and provides a conducting diffusion barrier between the substrate and subsequent overlaying film. A third layer has a surface that is configured to provide adhesion and a texture template in preparation for a subsequent overlaying film. The composite engineered barrier structures are applied to interconnect, capacitor and transistor applications.

Abstract: A composite film comprised of three layers is formed by ALD on a substrate with a substrate interface surface. A first layer is coupled to the substrate interface surface. The first layer provides adhesion to the substrate interface surface and initiation of layer by layer ALD growth. A second layer is positioned between the first and third layers and provides a conducting diffusion barrier between the substrate and subsequent overlaying film. A third layer has a surface that is configured to provide adhesion and a texture template in preparation for a subsequent overlaying film. The composite engineered barrier structures are applied to interconnect, capacitor and transistor applications.

Abstract: A composite film comprised of three layers is formed by ALD on a substrate with a substrate interface surface. A first layer is coupled to the substrate interface surface. The first layer provides adhesion to the substrate interface surface and initiation of layer by layer ALD growth. A second layer is positioned between the first and third layers and provides a conducting diffusion barrier between the substrate and subsequent overlaying film. A third layer has a surface that is configured to provide adhesion and a texture template in preparation for a subsequent overlaying film. The composite engineered barrier structures are applied to interconnect, capacitor and transistor applications.

Abstract: A showerhead diffuser apparatus for a CVD process has a first channel region having first plural independent radially-concentric channels and individual gas supply ports from a first side of the apparatus to individual ones of the first channels, a second channel region having second plural independent radially-concentric channels and a pattern of diffusion passages from the second channels to a second side of the apparatus, and a transition region between the first channel region and the second channel region having at least one transition gas passage for communicating gas from each first channel in the first region to a corresponding second channel in the second region. The showerhead apparatus has a vacuum seal interface for mounting the showerhead apparatus to a CVD reactor chamber such that the first side and supply ports face away from the reactor chamber and the second side and the patterns of diffusion passages from the second channels open into the reactor chamber.

Abstract: A heater assembly for an ALD or CVD reactor provides protection for an electrical conductor associated with a heating element by using a purge gas to isolate the conductor from the corrosive environment of the reactor chamber. The purge gas is introduced into a sleeve surrounding the conductor and from there is allowed to leak into the reactor chamber to be pumped out with the process gasses. This arrangement avoids the need for airtight seals at the junction of the sleeve and the heating element easing manufacturing requirements and potentially reducing component costs.

Abstract: An apparatus with a processing chamber subjects a substrate to atomic layer deposition and deposits a film layer. The processing chamber includes at least a first gas switching port. A gas switching manifold is coupled to the processing chamber and configured to mix reactants with a neutral carrier gas and provide gas switching functionality for ALD processes. An upstream gas source and pressure setting apparatus is coupled to the gas switching manifold. The upstream gas source and pressure setting apparatus includes at least a first reactant source, a second reactant source and a neutral gas source. Additionally, the upstream gas source and pressure setting apparatus is configured to provide a cascade of continuing, decreasing pressures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the use of individual vertically stacked ALD or CVD reactors. Individual reactors are independently operable and maintainable. The gas inlet and output are vertically configured with respect to the reactor chamber for generally axi-symmetric process control. The chamber design is modular in which cover and base plates forming the reactor have improved flow design.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing atomic layer deposition in which a surface of a substrate is pretreated to make the surface of the substrate reactive for performing atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: A General Metal Delivery Source (GMDS) for delivery of volatile metal compounds in gaseous form to processing apparatus has a reaction chamber holding a solid metal source material and connecting to the processing apparatus, and having an outlet for provision of the volatile metal compounds, a source heater coupled to the reaction chamber for heating said solid metal source material, a gas source for providing a reactive gas, a gas delivery conduit from the gas source to the reaction chamber for delivering gas species to the reaction chamber; and a plasma generation apparatus coupled to the gas delivery conduit. The plasma generation apparatus dissociates reactive gas molecules providing monatomic reactive species to the reaction chamber, and the monatomic reactive species combine with metal from the heated solid metal source material forming the volatile metal compounds.

Abstract: A processing station adaptable to standard cluster tools has a vertically-translatable pedestal having an upper wafer-support surface including a heater plate adapted to be plugged into a unique feedthrough in the pedestal. At a lower position for the pedestal wafers may be transferred to and from the processing station, and at an upper position for the pedestal the pedestal forms an annular pumping passage with a lower circular opening in a processing chamber. A removable, replaceable ring at the lower opening of the processing chamber allows process pumping speed to be tailored for different processes by replacing the ring. In some embodiments the pedestal also has a surrounding shroud defining an annular pumping passage around the pedestal. A unique two-zone heater plate is adapted to the top of the pedestal, and connects to a unique feedthrough allowing heater plates to be quickly and simply replaced.

Abstract: A method to deposit a passivating layer of a first material on an interior reactor surface of a cold or warm wall reactor, in which the first material is non-reactive with one or more precursor used to form a second materials. Subsequently when a film layer is deposited on a substrate by subjecting the substrate to the one or more precursors, in which at least one precursor has a low vapor pressure, uniformity and repeatability is improved by the passivation layer.

Abstract: A new method for CVD deposition on a substrate is taught wherein radical species are used in alternate steps to depositions from a molecular precursor to treat the material deposited from the molecular precursor and to prepare the substrate surface with a reactive chemical in preparation for the next molecular precursor step. By repetitive cycles a composite integrated film is produced. In a preferred embodiment the depositions from the molecular precursor are metals, and the radicals in the alternate steps are used to remove ligands left from the metal precursor reactions, and to oxidize or nitridize the metal surface in subsequent layers. A variety of alternative chemistries are taught for different films, and hardware combinations to practice the invention are taught as well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing atomic layer deposition in which a surface of a substrate is pretreated to make the surface of the substrate reactive for performing atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: A new method for CVD deposition on a substrate is taught wherein radical species are used in alternate steps to depositions from a molecular precursor to treat the material deposited from the molecular precursor and to prepare the substrate surface with a reactive chemical in preparation for the next molecular precursor step. By repetitive cycles a composite integrated film is produced. In a preferred embodiment the depositions from the molecular precursor are metals, and the radicals in the alternate steps are used to remove ligands left from the metal precursor reactions, and to oxidize or nitridize the metal surface in subsequent layers. A variety of alternative chemistries are taught for different films, and hardware combinations to practice the invention are taught as well.

Abstract: An RF electrode module for use with a gas-diffuser showerhead device in a CVD chamber has an electrically-conductive electrode ring with a ring, inside diameter (R-ID) and a ring outside diameter (R-OD). The ring has an upwardly-extending power post, and an internal water-cooling channel open to an upwardly extending inlet tube and an upwardly-extending outlet tube, the post and tubes parallel to a central axis of the ring. There is further an electrical-insulator ring having an insulator outside diameter (I-OD) equal to or greater than the R-OD and an insulator inside diameter (I-ID) equal to or smaller than the R-ID, and through-openings extending in the direction of the central axis of the ring and spaced such that the power post, inlet tube, and outlet tube extend through the through-openings in the insulator ring. In a preferred embodiment the I-ID is sized to engage a shoulder diameter of the gas diffuser showerhead device.

Abstract: A showerhead diffuser apparatus for a CVD process has a first channel region having first plural independent radially-concentric channels and individual gas supply ports from a first side of the apparatus to individual ones of the first channels, a second channel region having second plural independent radially-concentric channels and a pattern of diffusion passages from the second channels to a second side of the apparatus, and a transition region between the first channel region and the second channel region having at least one transition gas passage for communicating gas from each first channel in the first region to a corresponding second channel in the second region. The showerhead apparatus has a vacuum seal interface for mounting the showerhead apparatus to a CVD reactor chamber such that the first side and supply ports face away from the reactor chamber and the second side and the patterns of diffusion passages from the second channels open into the reactor chamber.

Abstract: A technique to form an ultrathin dielectric layer over a ferromagnetic layer by atomic layer deposition.

Abstract: A new method for CVD deposition on a substrate is taught wherein radical species are used in alternate steps to depositions from a molecular precursor to treat the material deposited from the molecular precursor and to prepare the substrate surface with a reactive chemical in preparation for the next molecular precursor step. By repetitive cycles a composite integrated film is produced. In a preferred embodiment the depositions from the molecular precursor are metals, and the radicals in the alternate steps are used to remove ligands left from the metal precursor reactions, and to oxidize or nitridize the metal surface in subsequent layers. A variety of alternative chemistries are taught for different films, and hardware combinations to practice the invention are taught as well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a metal-insulator-metal capacitor by performing atomic layer deposition (ALD). A fully integrated process flow prevents electrode-dielectric contamination during an essential ex situ bottom electrode patterning step.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for avoiding contamination of films deposited in layered depositions, such as Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and other sequential chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes, is taught, wherein CVD-deposited contamination of ALD films is prevented by use of a pre-reaction chamber that effectively causes otherwise-contaminating gaseous constituents to deposit on wall elements of gas-delivery apparatus prior to entering the ALD chamber.