Abstract: An edge seal for sealing an outer surface of a lower electrode assembly configured to support a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber, the lower electrode assembly including an annular groove defined between a lower member and an upper member of the lower electrode assembly. The edge seal includes an elastomeric band configured to be arranged within the groove, the elastomeric band having an annular upper surface, an annular lower surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. When the elastomeric band is in an uncompressed state, the outer surface of the elastomeric band is concave. When the upper and lower surfaces are axially compressed at least 1% such that the elastomeric band is in a compressed state, an outward bulging of the outer surface is not greater than a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance corresponds to a maximum outer diameter of the elastomeric band in the uncompressed state.

Abstract: In some examples, a substrate support assembly comprises a monolithic ceramic body, a heater element disposed within the monolithic ceramic body, and an RF antenna disposed within the monolithic ceramic body. One or more power lines supplies the heater element and the RF antenna. A lamellar structure is formed or included within the monolithic ceramic body, the lamellar structure including at least one layer having a thermal conductivity different than a thermal conductivity of the monolithic ceramic body.

Abstract: A large beam spot spectral reflectometer system for measuring a substrate is provided. Hardware components for collecting in situ large beam spot optical signals is disclosed. Machine learning models for denoising large beam spot optical signals are disclosed. Machine learning models for interpreting in situ optical data and facilitating process control are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method comprises arranging an apparatus on a top surface of a pedestal in a processing chamber. The apparatus comprises an annular member, N supporting members, and N pins, where N is an integer greater than two. The N supporting members support the annular member in a plane parallel to and above the top surface of the pedestal. The N pins are arranged perpendicularly to the plane along a circumference around the annular member. Each of the N pins includes threads engageable with respective threaded slots in the apparatus. Each of the N pins includes a conical end pointing towards the top surface of the pedestal and engageable with a periphery of the top surface of the pedestal. The method further comprises aligning a center of the annular member to a center of the pedestal by adjusting one or more of the N pins.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a plasma sheath characteristic are described. One of the methods includes determining a first value of the plasma sheath characteristic of a plasma sheath formed within a plasma chamber. The method further includes determining whether the first value of the plasma sheath characteristic is within a predetermined range from a preset value of the plasma sheath characteristic. The method also includes modifying a variable of a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the plasma chamber via an impedance matching circuit upon determining that the first value is not within the predetermined range from the preset value. The operation of modifying the variable of the RF generator is performed until it is determined that the first value of the plasma sheath characteristic is within the predetermined range from the preset value.

Abstract: A doped or undoped silicon carbide film can be deposited using a remote plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. One or more silicon-containing precursors are provided to a reaction chamber. Radical species, such as hydrogen radical species, are provided in a substantially low energy state or ground state and interact with the one or more silicon-containing precursors to deposit the silicon carbide film. A co-reactant may be flowed with the one or more silicon-containing precursors, where the co-reactant can be a depositing additive or a non-depositing additive to increase step coverage of the silicon carbide film.

Abstract: Provided herein are low resistance metallization stack structures for logic and memory applications and related methods of fabrication. In some embodiments, thin metal oxynitride or metal nitride nucleation layers are deposited followed by deposition of a pure metal conductor. The nucleation layer is amorphous, which templates large pure metal film grain growth and reduced resistivity. Further, certain embodiments of the methods described below convert most or all of the metal oxynitride nucleation layer to a pure metal layer, further lowering the resistivity.

Abstract: A consumable part and methods for tracking the consumable part includes embedding a radio frequency tag within a pocket created on a side of the consumable part that faces away from a process region defined within a process chamber of the processing tool and covering an opening of the pocket using a plug. The plug is laser fused along an interface formed between sidewalls of the plug and sidewalls of the pocket.

Abstract: A filter module for a substrate processing chamber includes a plurality of exterior panels defining an interior, a plurality of internal panels defining a plurality of compartments within the interior of the filter module, and an adjustable capacitor arranged on a first panel of the plurality of internal panels within a first compartment of the plurality of compartments. The adjustable capacitor is coupled, through the first panel, to a motor located outside of the first compartment, and the adjustable capacitor is configured to receive a radio frequency input signal and provide a radio frequency voltage to the substrate processing chamber based on a position of the motor.

Abstract: A dual ion filter is arranged between upper and lower chambers of a substrate processing system. The dual ion filter includes upper and lower filters. The upper filter includes a first plurality of through holes configured to filter ions from a plasma in the upper chamber. The lower filter includes a second plurality of through holes configured to control plasma uniformity in the lower chamber. A diameter of the first plurality of through holes of the upper filter is less than a diameter of the second plurality of through holes of the lower filter. A number of the first plurality of through holes of the upper filter is greater than a number of the second plurality of through holes of the lower filter.

Abstract: Dry development or dry removal of metal-containing extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) photoresist is performed in atmospheric conditions or performed in process tools without vacuum equipment. Dry removal of the metal-containing EUV photoresist may be performed under atmospheric pressure or over-atmospheric pressure. Dry removal of the metal-containing EUV photoresist may be performed with exposure to an air environment or with non-oxidizing gases. A process chamber or module may be modified or integrated to perform dry removal of the metal-containing EUV photoresist with baking, wafer cleaning, wafer treatment, or other photoresist processing function. In some embodiments, the process chamber for dry removal of the metal-containing EUV photoresist includes a heating assembly for localized heating of a semiconductor substrate and a movable discharge nozzle for localized gas delivery above the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A plasma processing chamber for depositing a film on an underside surface of a wafer, includes a showerhead pedestal. The showerhead pedestal includes a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is configured for depositing a first film to the underside surface of the wafer and the second zone is configured for depositing a second film to the underside surface of the wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus to determine occurrence of an anomalous plasma event occurring at or near a process station of a multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber is disclosed. In particular embodiments, optical emissions generated responsive to the anomalous plasma event may be detected by at least one photosensor of a plurality of photosensors. A processor may cooperate with the plurality of photosensors to determine that the anomalous plasma event has occurred at or near by a particular process station of the multi-station integrated circuit fabrication chamber.

Abstract: Films that can be useful in large area gap fill applications, such as in the formation of advanced 3D NAND devices, involve processing a semiconductor substrate by depositing on a patterned semiconductor substrate a doped silicon oxide film, the film having a thickness of at least 5 ?m, and annealing the doped silicon oxide film to a temperature above the film glass transition temperature. In some embodiments, reflow of the film may occur. The composition and processing conditions of the doped silicon oxide film may be tailored so that the film exhibits substantially zero as-deposited stress, substantially zero stress shift post-anneal, and substantially zero shrinkage post-anneal.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for determining and using multiple types of offsets for providing wafers to a wafer support of a wafer station of a semiconductor processing tool are disclosed; such techniques and systems may use an autocalibration wafer that may include a plurality of sensors, including a plurality of edge-located imaging sensors that may be used to image fiducials associated with two different structures located in a selected wafer station.

Abstract: An edge ring system comprising a substrate support configured to support a substrate during plasma processing and including a baseplate and an upper layer arranged on the baseplate. An edge ring support includes a first body and an electrostatic clamping electrode arranged in the first body. The edge ring support is arranged above the baseplate and radially outside of the substrate during processing. An edge ring includes a second body arranged on and electrostatically clamped to the edge ring support during plasma processing.

Abstract: A method for selectively etching at least one feature in a silicon oxide region with respect to a lower oxygen containing region is provided. An etch gas comprising a metalloid or metal containing precursor and a halogen containing component is provided. The etch gas is formed into a plasma. At least one feature in the silicon oxide region is selectively etched with respect to the lower oxygen containing region, while simultaneously forming a metalloid or metal containing hardmask over the lower oxygen containing region.

Abstract: A showerhead includes a plurality of plenums and a plurality of through holes positioned in the plurality of plenums. The plenums are stacked in a sequential order in an axial direction perpendicular to a semiconductor substrate. The plenums extend radially fully across the semiconductor substrate. The plenums are disjoint from each other and are configured to respectively supply a first metal precursor, a second metal precursor, and a reactant via the respective plenums without intermixing the first metal precursor, the second metal precursor, and the reactant in the plenums. The through holes of the respective plenums are arranged in a radial direction, which is perpendicular to the axial direction, in the same sequential order as the sequential order of the plenums. The through holes of the plenums open along a flat surface at a bottom of the showerhead. The flat surface extends radially fully across the bottom of the showerhead.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a first chamber including a substrate support. A showerhead is arranged above the first chamber and is configured to filter ions and deliver radicals from a plasma source to the first chamber. The showerhead includes a heat transfer fluid plenum, a secondary gas plenum including an inlet to receive secondary gas and a plurality of secondary gas injectors to inject the secondary gas into the first chamber, and a plurality of through holes passing through the showerhead. The through holes are not in fluid communication with the heat transfer fluid plenum or the secondary gas plenum.

Abstract: An electroplating cup assembly comprises a cup bottom, a lip seal, and an electrical contact structure. The cup bottom at least partially defines an opening configured to allow exposure of a wafer positioned in the cup assembly to an electroplating solution. The lip seal is on the cup bottom and comprises a sealing structure extending upwardly along an inner edge of the lip seal to a peak that is configured to be in contact with a seed layer of a wafer and adjacent to a sacrificial layer of the wafer. The electrical contact structure is over a portion of the seal. The electrical contact structure configured to be coupled to the seed layer of the wafer.