Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by intermittent delivery of dopant species to the film between the cycles of adsorption and reaction.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of removing contaminants from a low-k film. The method involves forming a sacrificial layer over the contaminated film. The contaminants combine with the sacrificial layer and are removed by etching away the sacrificial layer. An effective material for the sacrificial layer is, for example, a silicon carbide. The method can be used to prevent the occurrence of pattern defects in chemically amplified photoresists formed over low-k films.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric layer (104) is treated with a dry-wet (D-W) or dry-wet-dry (D-W-D) process to improve patterning Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130). The D-W or D-W-D treatment is performed to either pretreat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130) or during a rework of the pattern (130).

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit including an organosilicate low dielectric constant insulating layer (40) formed of a substitution group depleted silicon oxide, such as an organosilicate glass, is disclosed. Subsequent plasma processing has been observed to break bonds in such an insulating layer (40), resulting in molecules at the surface of the film with dangling bonds. Eventually, the damaged insulating layer (40) includes silanol molecules, which results in a degraded film. The disclosed method exposes the damaged insulating layer (40) to a thermally or plasma activated fluorine, hydrogen, or nitrogen, which reacts with the damaged molecules to form a passivated surface for the insulating layer (40).

Abstract: A process for forming nickel silicide and silicon nitride structure in a semiconductor integrated circuit device is described. Good adhesion between the nickel silicide and the silicon nitride is accomplished by passivating the nickel suicide surface with nitrogen. The passivation may be performed by treating the nickel silicide surface with plasma activated nitrogen species. An alternative passivation method is to cover the nickel silicide with a film of metal nitride and heat the substrate to about 500° C. Another alternative method is to sputter deposit silicon nitride on top of nickel silicide.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit including an organosilicate low dielectric constant insulating layer (40) formed of a substitution group depleted silicon oxide, such as an organosilicate glass, is disclosed. Subsequent plasma processing has been observed to break bonds in such an insulating layer (40), resulting in molecules at the surface of the film with dangling bonds. Eventually, the damaged insulating layer (40) includes silanol molecules, which results in a degraded film. The disclosed method exposes the damaged insulating layer (40) to a thermally or plasma activated fluorine, hydrogen, or nitrogen, which reacts with the damaged molecules to form a passivated surface for the insulating layer (40).

Abstract: A method of forming an organosilicate low dielectric constant insulating layer (40) in an integrated circuit, and an integrated circuit structure having such a low-k insulating layer (40), are disclosed. In the case where the low-k dielectric material of the insulating layer (40) comprises an organosilicate glass, subsequent plasma processing has been observed to break bonds between silicon and organic moieties, either by replacing an organic group with a hydroxyl group or with hydrogen, or by leaving a dangling bond. Eventually, the damaged insulating layer (40) includes silanol molecules, which results in a degraded film. The disclosed method exposes the damaged insulating layer (40) to a silylation agent such as hexamethyldisilazane, which reacts with the damaged molecules, and forms molecules that restore the properties of the film.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric layer (104) is treated with a dry H2 plasma pretreatment to improve patterning. Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130). The H2 plasma pre-treatment is performed to either pretreat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130) or during a rework of the pattern (130).

Abstract: A process for forming nickel silicide and silicon nitride structure in a semiconductor integrated circuit device is described. Good adhesion between the nickel silicide and the silicon nitride is accomplished by passivating the nickel suicide surface with nitrogen. The passivation may be performed by treating the nickel silicide surface with plasma activated nitrogen species. An alternative passivation method is to cover the nickel silicide with a film of metal nitride and heat the substrate to about 500° C. Another alternative method is to sputter deposit silicon nitride on top of nickel silicide.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of removing contaminants from a low-k film. The method involves forming a sacrificial layer over the contaminated film. The contaminants combine with the sacrificial layer and are removed by etching away the sacrificial layer. An effective material for the sacrificial layer is, for example, a silicon carbide. The method can be used to prevent the occurrence of pattern defects in chemically amplified photoresists formed over low-k films.

Abstract: Plasma treating a low-k dielectric layer (104) using an oxidation reaction (e.g., O2) to improve patterning. Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130, 132). The plasma treatment is performed to either pretreat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130, 132), during a rework of the pattern (130, 132), or between via and trench patterning to reduce resist poisoning.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method of removing contaminants from a low-k film. The method involves forming a sacrificial layer over the contaminated film. The contaminants combine with the sacrificial layer and are removed by etching away the sacrificial layer. An effective material for the sacrificial layer is, for example, a silicon carbide. The method can be used to prevent the occurrence of pattern defects in chemically amplified photoresists formed over low-k films.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric layer (104) is treated with a dry-wet (D-W) or dry-wet-dry (D-W-D) process to improve patterning Resist poisoning occurs due to an interaction between low-k films (104), such as OSG, and DUV resist (130). The D-W or D-W-D treatment is performed to either pretreat a low-k dielectric (104) before forming the pattern (130) or during a rework of the pattern (130).