Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for filling one or more gaps on a semiconductor substrate. The disclosed embodiments are especially useful for forming seam-free, void-free fill in both narrow and wide features. The methods may be performed without any intervening etching operations to achieve a single step deposition. In various implementations, a first operation is performed using a novel PEALD fill mechanism to fill narrow gaps and line wide gaps. A second operation may be performed using PECVD methods to continue filling the wide gaps.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a processing chamber defining a reaction volume; a showerhead including: a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber; and a base portion connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extending radially outwardly from the stem portion, where the showerhead is configured to introduce gas into the reaction volume; a plasma generator configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume; and a collar arranged around the stem portion of the showerhead between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber. The collar includes one or more holes to supply purge gas from an inner cavity of the collar to between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.

Abstract: Methods for depositing films by atomic layer deposition using cyclic siloxane precursors are provided. Methods involve exposing the substrate to a cyclic siloxane precursor during operation of an atomic layer deposition cycle to form silicon oxide.

Abstract: A gas delivery system for a processing chamber includes a first channel for delivering a first chemistry and a second channel for delivering a second chemistry. The first channel includes a first outlet valve and the second channel includes a second outlet valve. A trickle gas source is connected to both the first and the second channels. A first junction is coupled to the first outlet valve and a second junction is connected to the second outlet valve. A common conduit connects between the first junction and the second junction. The first junction includes an input to provide a push gas from a push gas source and the second junction includes an output to a processing chamber. During operation, one of the first channel or the second channel is active at one time. A trickle gas from a trickle gas source is flowed into an active one and a non-active one of the first or second channels.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a position of a showerhead in a processing chamber includes arranging a substrate that includes a plurality of mandrels on a substrate support in the processing chamber and adjusting a position of the showerhead relative to the substrate support. Adjusting the position of the showerhead includes adjusting the showerhead to a tilted position based on data indicating a correlation between the position of the showerhead and azimuthal non-uniformities associated with etching the substrate. The method further includes, with the showerhead in the tilted position as adjusted based on the data, performing a trim step to etch the plurality of mandrels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use of a fill on demand ampoule are disclosed. The fill on demand ampoule may refill an ampoule with precursor concurrent with the performance of other deposition processes. The fill on demand may keep the level of precursor within the ampoule at a relatively constant level. The level may be calculated to result in an optimum head volume. The fill on demand may also keep the precursor at a temperature near that of an optimum precursor temperature. The fill on demand may occur during parts of the deposition process where the agitation of the precursor due to the filling of the ampoule with the precursor minimally effects the substrate deposition. Substrate throughput may be increased through the use of fill on demand.

Abstract: A method for forming features over a wafer with a carbon based deposition is provided. The carbon based deposition is pretuned, wherein the pretuning causes a non-uniform removal of some of the carbon based deposition. An oxide deposition is deposited through an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the depositing the oxide deposition causes a non-uniform removal of some of the carbon based deposition. At least one additional process is provided, wherein the at least one additional process completes formation of features over the wafer, wherein the features are more uniform than features that would be formed without pretuning.

Abstract: A gas delivery system for a processing chamber includes a first channel for delivering a first chemistry and a second channel for delivering a second chemistry. The first channel includes a first outlet valve and the second channel includes a second outlet valve. A trickle gas source is connected to both the first and the second channels. A first junction is coupled to the first outlet valve and a second junction is connected to the second outlet valve. A common conduit connects between the first junction and the second junction. The first junction includes an input to provide a push gas from a push gas source and the second junction includes an output to a processing chamber. During operation, one of the first channel or the second channel is active at one time. A trickle gas from a trickle gas source is flowed into an active one and a non-active one of the first or second channels.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of doping a fin-shaped channel region of a partially fabricated 3-D transistor on a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include forming a multi-layer dopant-containing film on the substrate, forming a capping film comprising a silicon carbide material, a silicon nitride material, a silicon carbonitride material, or a combination thereof, the capping film located such that the multi-layer dopant-containing film is located in between the substrate and the capping film, and driving dopant from the dopant-containing film into the fin-shaped channel region. Multiple dopant-containing layers of the film may be formed by an atomic layer deposition process which includes adsorbing a dopant-containing film precursor such that it forms an adsorption-limited layer on the substrate and reacting adsorbed dopant-containing film precursor.

Abstract: A method for forming features over a wafer with a carbon based deposition is provided. The carbon based deposition is pretuned, wherein the pretuning causes a non-uniform removal of some of the carbon based deposition. An oxide deposition of a silicon oxide based material is deposited through an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the depositing the oxide deposition causes a non-uniform removal of some of the carbon based deposition, which is complementary to the non-uniform removal of some of the carbon based deposition by the pretuning.

Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for pedestals are provided. An example pedestal may have a body with an upper annular seal surface that is planar, perpendicular to a vertical center axis of the body, and has a radial thickness, a lower recess surface offset from the upper annular seal surface, and a plurality of micro-contact areas (MCAs) protruding from the lower recess surface, each MCA having a top surface offset from the lower recess surface by a second distance less, and one or more electrodes within the body. The upper annular seal surface may be configured to support an outer edge of a semiconductor substrate when the semiconductor substrate is being supported by the pedestal, and the upper annular seal surface and the tops of the MCAs may be configured to support the semiconductor substrate when the semiconductor substrate is being supported by the pedestal.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing stacks is provided. A first gas source is provided. A first gas manifold is connected to the first gas source. A first processing station has a first gas outlet, wherein the first gas outlet is connected to the first gas manifold. A first variable conductance valve is between the first gas source and the first gas outlet along the first gas manifold.

Abstract: A method for delivering vaporized precursor in a substrate processing system using a vapor delivery system includes (a) selectively supplying push gas to an inlet of an ampoule storing liquid and vaporized precursor during a deposition period of a substrate; (b) measuring a pressure of the push gas and the vaporized precursor at an outlet of the ampoule during the deposition period; (c) determining a maximum pressure during the deposition period; (d) determining an integrated area for the deposition period based on a sampling interval and the maximum pressure during the sampling interval; and (e) repeating (a), (b), (c) and (d) for a plurality of the deposition periods for the substrate.

Abstract: A controller includes memory that stores data correlating accumulation values to respective adjustment factors. The accumulation values correspond to accumulation of material on surfaces within a processing chamber and the respective adjustment factors correspond to adjustments to a control parameter of RF power provided to the processing chamber. An accumulation calculation module is configured to calculate a first accumulation value indicating an amount of accumulation of the material. An RF power control module is configured to receive the first accumulation value, receive at least one of a setpoint power and a duration of an etching step, retrieve the stored data from the memory, adjust the control parameter based on the first accumulation value, the at least one of the setpoint power and the duration of the etching step, and the stored data, and control the RF power provided to the processing chamber in accordance with the adjusted control parameter.

Abstract: Method for gap fill includes performing in order the following: (a) performing, consecutively, a first plurality of cycles of an atomic layer deposition process on a substrate; (b) purging process gases from the atomic layer deposition process; (c) performing a first plasma treatment on the substrate by introducing a fluorine plasma in the process chamber; (d) purging process gases from the plasma treatment; (e) repeating, in order, operations (a) through (d) until a predefined plurality of cycles has been performed; (f) performing, consecutively, a second plurality of cycles of the atomic layer deposition process on the substrate; (g) purging process gases from the atomic layer deposition process; (h) performing a second plasma treatment on the substrate by introducing a fluorine plasma in the process chamber; (i) purging process gases from the plasma treatment; (j) repeating, in order, operations (f) through (i) until a predefined plurality of cycles has been performed.

Abstract: Vacuum-integrated photoresist-less methods and apparatuses for forming metal hardmasks can provide sub-30 nm patterning resolution. A metal-containing (e.g., metal salt or organometallic compound) film that is sensitive to a patterning agent is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-containing film is then patterned directly (i.e., without the use of a photoresist) by exposure to the patterning agent in a vacuum ambient to form the metal mask. For example, the metal-containing film is photosensitive and the patterning is conducted using sub-30 nm wavelength optical lithography, such as EUV lithography.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for patterning carbon-containing material over a layer to be etched are provided herein. Methods involve trimming carbon-containing material by atomic layer etching including exposing the carbon-containing material to an oxygen-containing gas without a plasma to modify a surface of the carbon-containing material and exposing the carbon-containing material to an inert gas and igniting a plasma to remove the modified surface of the carbon-containing material. Methods may be used for multiple patterning techniques such as double and quad patterning. Methods also include depositing a conformal film over a carbon-containing material patterned using atomic layer etching without breaking vacuum. The oxygen-containing gas may be one containing any one or more of oxygen, ozone, water vapor, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, formic acid vapor and/or carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming symmetrical spacers for self-aligned multiple patterning processes are described herein. Methods include depositing gapfill material by atomic layer deposition over a patterned substrate including core material and a target layer, planarizing substrate, and etching the core material to form symmetrical spacers. Gapfill material may be deposited for a duration insufficient to completely fill features such that features are underfilled.

Abstract: A pattern of core material is formed on a wafer to include core features that have a critical dimension. A trim amount indicates an average amount of thickness to be removed from vertically oriented surfaces of the core features. A trim profile indicates how much variation in removal of thickness from vertically oriented surfaces of the core features is to be applied as a function of radial location on the wafer. A first set of data correlates the trim amount to one or more plasma trim process parameters. A second set of data correlates the trim profile to one or more plasma trim process parameters. Based on the trim amount, trim profile, and first and second sets of data, a set of plasma trim process parameters to achieve the trim amount and trim profile on the wafer is determined and a corresponding plasma trim process is performed on the wafer.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a processing chamber defining a reaction volume; a showerhead including: a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber; and a base portion connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extending radially outwardly from the stem portion, where the showerhead is configured to introduce gas into the reaction volume; a plasma generator configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume; and a collar arranged around the stem portion of the showerhead between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber. The collar includes one or more holes to supply purge gas from an inner cavity of the collar to between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.