Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus for variable substrate temperature control may include a heater moveable along a central axis of a substrate support; a seal ring disposed about the heater, the seal ring configured to interface with a shadow ring disposed above the heater to form a seal; a plurality of spacer pins configured to support a substrate and disposed within a plurality of through holes formed in the heater, the plurality of spacer pins moveable parallel to the central axis, wherein the plurality of spacer pins control a first distance between the substrate and the heater and a second distance between the substrate and the shadow ring; and a resilient element disposed beneath the seal ring to bias the seal ring toward a backside surface of the heater.

Abstract: Methods for controlling crystal size in bulk tungsten layers are disclosed herein. Methods for depositing a bulk tungsten metal layer can include positioning a substrate with a barrier layer in a processing chamber, forming a tungsten nucleation layer, post-treating the nucleation layer with one or more treatment gas cycles including an activating gas and a purging gas, heating the substrate to a deposition temperature, and depositing a bulk tungsten layer with alternating nitrogen flow on the nucleation layer. The post-treatment cycling can be applied optionally to the bulk metal deposition with alternating nitrogen flow.

Abstract: Methods for plasma treatment of films to remove impurities are disclosed herein. Methods for removing impurities can include positioning a substrate with a barrier layer in a processing chamber, the barrier layer comprising a barrier metal and one or more impurities, maintaining the substrate at a bias, creating a plasma comprising a treatment gas, the treatment gas comprising an inert gas, delivering the treatment gas to the substrate to reduce the ratio of one or more impurities in the barrier layer, and reacting a deposition gas comprising a metal halide and hydrogen-containing gas to deposit a bulk metal layer on the barrier layer. The methods can further include the use of diborane to create selective nucleation in features over surface regions of the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate support may include a body; an inner ring disposed about the body; an outer ring disposed about the inner ring forming a first opening therebetween; a first seal ring disposed above the first opening; a shadow ring disposed above the inner ring, extending inward from the outer ring and forming a second opening between the shadow and outer rings; a second seal ring disposed above the second opening; a space at least partially defined by the body and the inner, outer, first, second, and shadow rings; a first gap defined between a processing surface of a substrate when present and the shadow ring; and a plurality of second gaps fluidly coupled to the space; wherein the first gap and the plurality of second gaps are configured such that, when a substrate is present, a gas provided to the space flows out of the space through the first gap.

Abstract: Methods of filling gaps with tungsten are described. The methods include a tungsten dep-etch-dep sequence to enhance gapfilling yet avoid difficulty in restarting deposition after the intervening etch. The first tungsten deposition may have a nucleation layer or seeding layer to assist growth of the first tungsten deposition. Restarting deposition with a less-than-conductive nucleation layer would impact function of an integrated circuit, and therefore avoiding tungsten “poisoning” during the etch is desirable. The etching step may be performed using a plasma to excite a halogen-containing precursor while the substrate at relatively low temperature (near room temperature or less). The plasma may be local or remote. Another method may be used in combination or separately and involves the introduction of a source of oxygen into the plasma in combination with the halogen-containing precursor.

Abstract: Methods for forming cobalt silicide are provided. One method for forming a cobalt silicide material includes exposing a substrate having a silicon-containing material to either a wet etch solution or a pre-clean plasma during a first step and then to a hydrogen plasma during a second step of a pre-clean process. The method further includes depositing a cobalt metal layer on the silicon-containing material by a CVD process, heating the substrate to form a first cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi at the interface of the cobalt metal layer and the silicon-containing material during a first annealing process, removing any unreacted cobalt metal from the substrate during an etch process, and heating the substrate to form a second cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi2 during a second annealing process.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is described. A substrate is provided having a patterned dielectric layer disposed thereon. A trench is formed in the dielectric layer. The surfaces of the trench are treated with an ammonia-based plasma process. A metal layer is then formed in the trench.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for depositing tungsten-containing materials. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a tungsten nucleation layer over an underlayer disposed on the substrate while sequentially providing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas into a process chamber during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process and depositing a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten nucleation layer, wherein the reducing gas contains hydrogen gas and a hydride compound (e.g., diborane) and has a hydrogen/hydride flow rate ratio of about 500:1 or greater. In some examples, the method includes flowing the hydrogen gas into the process chamber at a flow rate within a range from about 1 slm to about 20 slm and flowing a mixture of the hydride compound and a carrier gas into the process chamber at a flow rate within a range from about 50 sccm to about 500 sccm.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for forming cobalt silicide. In one embodiment, a method for forming a cobalt silicide material includes exposing a substrate having a silicon-containing material to either a wet etch solution or a pre-clean plasma during a first step and then to a hydrogen plasma during a second step of a pre-clean process. The method further includes depositing a cobalt metal layer on the silicon-containing material by a CVD process, heating the substrate to form a first cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi at the interface of the cobalt metal layer and the silicon-containing material during a first annealing process, removing any unreacted cobalt metal from the substrate during an etch process, and heating the substrate to form a second cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi2 during a second annealing process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for depositing tungsten-containing materials. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a tungsten nucleation layer over an underlayer disposed on the substrate while sequentially providing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas into a process chamber during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process and depositing a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten nucleation layer, wherein the reducing gas contains hydrogen gas and a hydride compound (e.g., diborane) and has a hydrogen/hydride flow rate ratio of about 500:1 or greater. In some examples, the method includes flowing the hydrogen gas into the process chamber at a flow rate within a range from about 1 slm to about 20 slm and flowing a mixture of the hydride compound and a carrier gas into the process chamber at a flow rate within a range from about 50 sccm to about 500 sccm.

Abstract: Methods for forming cobalt silicide materials are disclosed herein. In one example, a method for forming a cobalt silicide material includes exposing a substrate having a silicon-containing material to either a wet etch solution or a pre-clean plasma during a first step and then to a hydrogen plasma during a second step of a pre-clean process. The exemplary method further includes depositing a cobalt metal layer on the silicon-containing material by a CVD process, heating the substrate to form a first cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi at the interface of the cobalt metal layer and the silicon-containing material during a first annealing process, removing any unreacted cobalt metal from the first cobalt silicide layer during an etch process, and heating the substrate to form a second cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi2 during a second annealing process.

Abstract: A method of controlling the resistivity and morphology of a tungsten film is provided, comprising depositing a first film of a bulk tungsten layer on a substrate during a first deposition stage by (i) introducing a continuous flow of a reducing gas and a pulsed flow of a tungsten-containing compound to a process chamber to deposit tungsten on a surface of the substrate, (ii) flowing the reducing gas without flowing the tungsten-containing compound into the chamber to purge the chamber, and repeating steps (i) through (ii) until the first film fills vias in the substrate surface, increasing the pressure in the process chamber, and during a second deposition stage after the first deposition stage, depositing a second film of the bulk tungsten layer by providing a flow of reducing gas and tungsten-containing compound to the process chamber until a second desired thickness is deposited.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved process for depositing tungsten-containing materials. The process utilizes soak processes and vapor deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD) to provide tungsten films having significantly improved surface uniformity and production level throughput. In one embodiment, a method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate within a process chamber, wherein the substrate contains an underlayer disposed thereon, exposing the substrate sequentially to a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas to deposit a tungsten nucleation layer on the underlayer during an ALD process, wherein the reducing gas contains a hydrogen/hydride flow rate ratio of about 40:1, 100:1, 500:1, 800:1, 1,000:1, or greater, and depositing a tungsten bulk layer on the tungsten nucleation layer. The reducing gas contains a hydride compound, such as diborane, silane, or disilane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for forming cobalt silicide. In one embodiment, a method for forming a cobalt silicide material includes exposing a substrate having a silicon-containing material to either a wet etch solution or a pre-clean plasma during a first step and then to a hydrogen plasma during a second step of a pre-clean process. The method further includes depositing a cobalt metal layer on the silicon-containing material by a CVD process, heating the substrate to form a first cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi at the interface of the cobalt metal layer and the silicon-containing material during a first annealing process, removing any unreacted cobalt metal from the substrate during an etch process, and heating the substrate to form a second cobalt silicide layer comprising CoSi2 during a second annealing process.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a titanium nitride barrier material on a substrate is provided which includes depositing a titanium nitride layer on the substrate by a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process, and thereafter, densifying the titanium nitride layer by exposing the substrate to a plasma process. In one example, the MOCVD process and the densifying plasma process is repeated to form a barrier stack by depositing a second titanium nitride layer on the first titanium nitride layer. In another example, a third titanium nitride layer is deposited on the second titanium nitride layer. Subsequently, the method provides depositing a conductive material on the substrate and exposing the substrate to a annealing process. In one example, each titanium nitride layer may have a thickness of about 15 ? and the titanium nitride barrier stack may have a copper diffusion potential of less than about 5×1010 atoms/cm2.

Abstract: A method of controlling the resistivity and morphology of a tungsten film is provided, comprising depositing a first film of a bulk tungsten layer on a substrate during a first deposition stage by (i) introducing a continuous flow of a reducing gas and a pulsed flow of a tungsten-containing compound to a process chamber to deposit tungsten on a surface of the substrate, (ii) flowing the reducing gas without flowing the tungsten-containing compound into the chamber to purge the chamber, and repeating steps (i) through (ii) until the first film fills vias in the substrate surface, increasing the pressure in the process chamber, and during a second deposition stage after the first deposition stage, depositing a second film of the bulk tungsten layer by providing a flow of reducing gas and tungsten-containing compound to the process chamber until a second desired thickness is deposited.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved process for depositing tungsten-containing materials. The process utilizes soak processes and vapor deposition processes to provide tungsten films having significantly improved surface uniformity while increasing the production level throughput. In one embodiment, a method is provided which includes depositing a tungsten silicide layer on the substrate by exposing the substrate to a continuous flow of a silicon precursor while also exposing the substrate to intermittent pulses of a tungsten precursor. The method further provides that the substrate is exposed to the silicon and tungsten precursors which have a silicon/tungsten precursor flow rate ratio of greater than 1, for example, about 2, about 3, or greater. Subsequently, the method provides depositing a tungsten nitride layer on the tungsten suicide layer, depositing a tungsten nucleation layer on the tungsten nitride layer, and depositing a tungsten bulk layer on the tungsten nucleation layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for depositing materials on substrates. In one embodiment, the method includes depositing a barrier layer containing tantalum or titanium on a substrate, depositing a ruthenium layer or a cobalt layer on the barrier layer, and depositing a tungsten bulk layer thereover. In some examples, the barrier layer may contain tantalum nitride deposited by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, the tungsten bulk layer may be deposited by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, and the ruthenium or cobalt layer may be deposited by an ALD process. The ruthenium or cobalt layer may be exposed to a soak compound, such as hydrogen, diborane, silane, or disilane, during a soak process prior to depositing the tungsten bulk layer. In some examples, a tungsten nucleation layer may be deposited on the ruthenium or cobalt layer, such as by ALD, prior to depositing the tungsten bulk layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for depositing materials on substrates. In one embodiment, the method includes depositing a barrier layer containing tantalum or titanium on a substrate, depositing a ruthenium layer or a cobalt layer on the barrier layer, and depositing a tungsten bulk layer thereover. In some examples, the barrier layer may contain tantalum nitride deposited by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, the tungsten bulk layer may be deposited by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, and the ruthenium or cobalt layer may be deposited by an ALD process. The ruthenium or cobalt layer may be exposed to a soak compound, such as hydrogen, diborane, silane, or disilane, during a soak process prior to depositing the tungsten bulk layer. In some examples, a tungsten nucleation layer may be deposited on the ruthenium or cobalt layer, such as by ALD, prior to depositing the tungsten bulk layer.