Abstract: Methods for selectively oxidizing a semiconductor structure include generating a gas cluster ion beam comprising an oxidizing source gas, directing the gas cluster ion beam to a region of a substrate adjacent a conductive line and exposing the region to the gas cluster ion beam including an oxidizing matter. Utilizing the gas cluster ion beam enables selective oxidation of a targeted region at temperatures substantially lower than those of typical oxidation processes thus, reducing or eliminating oxidation of the conductive line. Semiconductor devices including transistors formed using such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for plasma processing of microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a plasma in a chamber while a microfeature workpiece is positioned in the chamber, measuring optical emissions from the plasma, and determining a parameter of the plasma based on the measured optical emissions. The parameter can be an ion density or another parameter of the plasma.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus that allow a chalcogenide glass such as germanium selenide (GexSe1-x) to be doped with a metal such as silver, copper, or zinc without utilizing an ultraviolet (UV) photodoping step to dope the chalcogenide glass with the metal. The chalcogenide glass doped with the metal can be used to store data in a memory device. Advantageously, the systems and methods co-sputter the metal and the chalcogenide glass and allow for relatively precise and efficient control of a constituent ratio between the doping metal and the chalcogenide glass. Further advantageously, the systems and methods enable the doping of the chalcogenide glass with a relatively high degree of uniformity over the depth of the formed layer of chalcogenide glass and the metal. Also, the systems and methods allow a metal concentration to be varied in a controlled manner along the thin film depth.

Abstract: The invention includes an electrically conductive line, methods of forming electrically conductive lines, and methods of reducing titanium silicide agglomeration in the fabrication of titanium silicide over polysilicon transistor gate lines. In one implementation, a method of forming an electrically conductive line includes providing a silicon-comprising layer over a substrate. An electrically conductive layer is formed over the silicon-comprising layer. An MSixNy-comprising layer is formed over the electrically conductive layer, where “x” is from 0 to 3.0, “y” is from 0.5 to 10, and “M” is at least one of Ta, Hf, Mo, and W. An MSiz-comprising layer is formed over the MSixNy-comprising layer, where “z” is from 1 to 3.0. A TiSia-comprising layer is formed over the MSiz-comprising layer, where “a” is from 1 to 3.0.

Abstract: Systems and methods for plasma processing of microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a plasma in a chamber while a microfeature workpiece is positioned in the chamber, measuring optical emissions from the plasma, and determining a parameter of the plasma based on the measured optical emissions. The parameter can be an ion density or another parameter of the plasma.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface, and methods of forming a resistance variable device. In one implementation, a method of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface includes providing a deposition chamber comprising a sputtering target and a substrate to be depositing upon. The target comprises silver, and the substrate comprises an exposed surface comprising metal selenide. Gaseous cesium is flowed to the target and a bombarding inert sputtering species is flowed to the target effective to sputter negative silver ions from the target. The sputtered negative silver ions are flowed to the exposed metal selenide-comprising surface effective to deposit a continuous and completely covering silver film on the exposed metal selenide of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention includes an electrically conductive line, methods of forming electrically conductive lines, and methods of reducing titanium silicide agglomeration in the fabrication of titanium silicide over polysilicon transistor gate lines. In one implementation, a method of forming an electrically conductive line includes providing a silicon-comprising layer over a substrate. An electrically conductive layer is formed over the silicon-comprising layer. An MSixNy-comprising layer is formed over the electrically conductive layer, where “x” is from 0 to 3.0, “y” is from 0.5 to 10, and “M” is at least one of Ta, Hf, Mo, and W. An MSiz-comprising layer is formed over the MSixNy-comprising layer, where “z” is from 1 to 3.0. A TiSia-comprising layer is formed over the MSiz-comprising layer, where “a” is from 1 to 3.0.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus that allow a chalcogenide glass such as germanium selenide (GexSe1-x) to be doped with a metal such as silver, copper, or zinc without utilizing an ultraviolet (UV) photodoping step to dope the chalcogenide glass with the metal. The chalcogenide glass doped with the metal can be used to store data in a memory device. Advantageously, the systems and methods co-sputter the metal and the chalcogenide glass and allow for relatively precise and efficient control of a constituent ratio between the doping metal and the chalcogenide glass. Further advantageously, the systems and methods enable the doping of the chalcogenide glass with a relatively high degree of uniformity over the depth of the formed layer of chalcogenide glass and the metal. Also, the systems and methods allow a metal concentration to be varied in a controlled manner along the thin film depth.

Abstract: Methods of determining a total impurity dose for a plasma doping process, and an apparatus configured to determine same. A total ion dose implanted in a semiconductor substrate is directly measured, such as by utilizing a Faraday cup. A ratio of impurity-based ion species to non-impurity-based ion species in a plasma generated by the plasma doping process and a ratio of each impurity-based ion species to a total impurity-based ion species in the plasma are directly measured. The ratios may be directly measured by ion mass spectroscopy. The total ion dose and the ratios are used to determine the total impurity dose. The apparatus includes an ion detector, an ion mass spectrometer, a dosimeter, and software.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface, and methods of forming a resistance variable device. In one implementation, a method of depositing silver onto a metal selenide-comprising surface includes providing a deposition chamber comprising a sputtering target and a substrate to be depositing upon. The target comprises silver, and the substrate comprises an exposed surface comprising metal selenide. Gaseous cesium is flowed to the target and a bombarding inert sputtering species is flowed to the target effective to sputter negative silver ions from the target. The sputtered negative silver ions are flowed to the exposed metal selenide-comprising surface effective to deposit a continuous and completely covering silver film on the exposed metal selenide of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of sputter depositing silver selenide and controlling the stoichiometry and nodular defect formations of a sputter deposited silver-selenide film. The method includes depositing silver-selenide using a sputter deposition process at a pressure of about 0.3 mTorr to about 10 mTorr. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an RF sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 2 mTorr to about 3 mTorr. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pulse DC sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 4 mTorr to about 5 mTorr.

Abstract: A method of sputter depositing silver selenide and controlling the stoichiometry and nodular defect formations of a sputter deposited silver-selenide film. The method includes depositing silver-selenide using a sputter deposition process at a pressure of about 0.3 mTorr to about 10 mTorr. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an RF sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 2 mTorr to about 3 mTorr. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pulse DC sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 4 mTorr to about 5 mTorr.

Abstract: A method of forming an intermediate semiconductor device is disclosed that comprises providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a photoresist layer on the semiconductor substrate, implanting a dopant into the semiconductor substrate, and removing a dopant-containing layer from the photoresist layer. The dopant-containing layer includes dopant residuals and a carbon-rich crust and may be formed during implantation. The dopant-containing layer may be removed from the photoresist layer by exposing the dopant-containing layer to a water rinse, a chlorinated plasma or to a fluorinated plasma. The water rinse may include deionized water that is maintained at a temperature that ranges from approximately 25° C. to approximately 80° C. The fluorinated plasma may be formed from a gaseous precursor selected from the group consisting of nitrogen trifluoride, carbon tetrafluoride, trifluoromethane, hexafluoroethane, sulfur hexafluoride, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for sputtering a tensile silicon nitride film. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising introducing nitrogen gas into a process chamber, wherein the process chamber includes a target comprising silicon, placing the process chamber into a transition region between a metallic region and a poisoned region, and applying a voltage to the target.

Abstract: A copper interconnect structure is disclosed as comprising a copper layer and an aluminum nitride layer formed over the copper layer. The aluminum nitride layer passivates the copper layer surface and enhances the thermal conductivity of a semiconductor substrate by radiating heat from the substrate as well as from the copper layer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus that allow a chalcogenide glass such as germanium selenide (GexSe1-x) to be doped with a metal such as silver, copper, or zinc without utilizing an ultraviolet (UV) photodoping step to dope the chalcogenide glass with the metal. The chalcogenide glass doped with the metal can be used to store data in a memory device. Advantageously, the systems and methods co-sputter the metal and the chalcogenide glass and allow for relatively precise and efficient control of a constituent ratio between the doping metal and the chalcogenide glass. Further advantageously, the systems and methods enable the doping of the chalcogenide glass with a relatively high degree of uniformity over the depth of the formed layer of chalcogenide glass and the metal. Also, the systems and methods allow a metal concentration to be varied in a controlled manner along the thin film depth.

Abstract: A copper interconnect structure is disclosed as comprising a copper layer and an aluminum nitride layer formed over the copper layer. The aluminum nitride layer passivates the copper layer surface and enhances the thermal conductivity of a semiconductor substrate by radiating heat from the substrate as well as from the copper layer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus that allow a chalcogenide glass such as germanium selenide (GexSe1-x) to be doped with a metal such as silver, copper, or zinc without utilizing an ultraviolet (UV) photodoping step to dope the chalcogenide glass with the metal. The chalcogenide glass doped with the metal can be used to store data in a memory device. Advantageously, the systems and methods co-sputter the metal and the chalcogenide glass and allow for relatively precise and efficient control of a constituent ratio between the doping metal and the chalcogenide glass. Further advantageously, the systems and methods enable the doping of the chalcogenide glass with a relatively high degree of uniformity over the depth of the formed layer of chalcogenide glass and the metal. Also, the systems and methods allow a metal concentration to be varied in a controlled manner along the thin film depth.

Abstract: Systems and methods for plasma doping microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of implanting boron ions into a region of a workpiece includes generating a plasma in a chamber, selectively applying a pulsed electrical potential to the workpiece with a duty cycle of between approximately 20 percent and approximately 50 percent, and implanting an ion specie into the region of the workpiece.

Abstract: A copper interconnect structure is disclosed as comprising a copper layer and an aluminum nitride layer formed over the copper layer. The aluminum nitride layer passivates the copper layer surface and enhances the thermal conductivity of a semiconductor substrate by radiating heat from the substrate as well as from the copper layer.