Patents by Inventor Avgerinos V. Gelatos

Avgerinos V. Gelatos has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240079241
    Abstract: Methods for forming a semiconductor structure and semiconductor structures are described. Some embodiments of the method comprise patterning a substrate to form a first opening and a second opening, the substrate comprising an n transistor and a p transistor, the first opening over the n transistor and the second opening over the p transistor. The substrate is pre-cleaned. A molybdenum film is selectively deposited on the p transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Empante, Avgerinos V. Gelatos
  • Publication number: 20240052480
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively depositing a molybdenum layer on a substrate which includes contacting a substrate surface initially comprising a first portion comprising amorphous silicon, and a second portion comprising silicon and germanium with a molybdenum precursor to selectively form a molybdenum layer on the second portion of the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Avgerinos V. GELATOS, Thomas EMPANTE, Yang HU
  • Publication number: 20240038859
    Abstract: A contact stack of a semiconductor device comprises: a source/drain region; a metal silicide layer above the source/drain region; a metal cap layer directly on the metal silicide layer; and a conductor on the metal cap layer. A method comprises: depositing a metal silicide layer in a feature of a substrate; in the absence of an air break after the depositing of the metal silicide layer, preparing a metal cap layer directly on the metal silicide layer; and depositing a conductor on the metal cap layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bencherki Mebarki, Joung Joo Lee, Wenting Hou, Takashi Kuratomi, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Jianxin Lei, Liqi Wu, Raymond Hoiman Hung, Tae Hong Ha, Xianmin Tang
  • Patent number: 11887855
    Abstract: Provided are atomic layer deposition methods to deposit a tungsten film or tungsten-containing film using a tungsten-containing reactive gas comprising one or more of tungsten pentachloride, a compound with the empirical formula WCl5 or WCl6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xinyu Fu, Srinivas Gandikota, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Atif Noori, Mei Chang, David Thompson, Steve G. Ghanayem
  • Publication number: 20240014076
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrical contact in a semiconductor structure includes performing a patterning process to form a hard mask on a semiconductor structure comprising a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a dielectric layer having a first opening over the first semiconductor region and a second opening over the second semiconductor region, wherein the hard mask covers an exposed surface of the first semiconductor region within the first opening, performing a first selective deposition process to form a contact layer on the exposed surface of the second semiconductor region within the second opening, and performing a second selective deposition process to form a cap layer on the contact layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Louis BREIL, Avgerinos V. GELATOS, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20230377892
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. For example, a method for processing a substrate comprises forming a plasma reaction between titanium tetrachloride (TlCl4), hydrogen (H2), and argon (Ar) in a region between a lid heater and a showerhead of a process chamber or the showerhead and a substrate while providing RF power at a pulse frequency of about 5 kHz to about 100 kHz and at a duty cycle of about 10% to about 20% and flowing reaction products into the process chamber to selectively form a titanium material layer upon a silicon surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Yiyang WAN, Weifeng YE, Shumao ZHANG, Gary HOW, Jiang LU, Lei ZHOU, Dien-yeh WU, Douglas LONG, Avgerinos V. GELATOS, Ying-Bing JIANG, Rongjun WANG, Xianmin TANG, Halbert CHONG
  • Publication number: 20230380145
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of memory levels stacked in a first direction, each of the plurality of memory levels including a semiconductor layer, a word line metal layer, and an interface on a cross section of the semiconductor layer, a spacer between adjacent memory levels of the plurality of memory levels in the first direction, and a bit line in contact with the interface of each of the plurality of memory levels, the bit line extending in the first direction. The bit line comprises metal material, and the interface comprises silicide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN, Ying-Bing JIANG, Avgerinos V. GELATOS
  • Patent number: 11776806
    Abstract: Methods for pre-cleaning substrates having metal and dielectric surfaces are described. The substrate is exposed to a strong reductant to remove contaminants from the metal surface and damage the dielectric surface. The substrate is then exposed to an oxidation process to repair the damage to the dielectric surface and oxidize the metal surface. The substrate is then exposed to a weak reductant to reduce the metal oxide to a pure metal surface without substantially affecting the dielectric surface. Processing tools and computer readable media for practicing the method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xi Cen, Yakuan Yao, Yiming Lai, Kai Wu, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, David T. Or, Kevin Kashefi, Yu Lei, Lin Dong, He Ren, Yi Xu, Mehul Naik, Hao Chen, Mang-Mang Ling
  • Publication number: 20230287022
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a film using a non-halide oxygen-free organometallic precursors are disclosed. The method includes forming the film on a substrate surface by exposing the surface to the precursor and a reducing agent, the precursor has a general formula (1): M-L1L2, wherein M is a metal, L1 is a first aromatic ligand having a hapticity selected from ?3, ?5, or ?6, L2 is a ligand having a hapticity selected from of ?3, ?4, ?5, ?6, ?7, ?8, ?9 or ?10. The first aromatic ligand, L1, may include a structure according to formula (II) wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is independently selected from a group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and iso-butyl. The ligand, L2, can be independently selected from a group consisting of hexa-1,3,5-triene, 2-methylene-1,3-propanediyl, 1,2-diethenylcyclohex-1-ene, cyclooctatetraene, cyclooctatetraenide anion, styrene, o-quinodimethane, phenyl thiocyanate, phenyl isothiocyanate, (3-methylphenyl)-methylene and derivatives thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Byunghoon Yoon, Yuri Vladimirovich Barsukov, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Joung Joo Lee
  • Publication number: 20230268414
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and electronic devices comprising a work function layer comprising a material that forms a weak silicide. The electronic devices comprise a silicon layer with the work function layer thereon and a metal contact on the work function layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Haverty, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Gaurav Thareja, Seshadri Ganguli
  • Publication number: 20230268399
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and electronic devices comprising a work function layer comprising a material that does not form a silicide. The electronic devices comprise a silicon layer with the work function layer thereon and a metal contact on the work function layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Haverty, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Muthukumar Kaliappan
  • Publication number: 20230268415
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and electronic devices comprising a work function layer comprising a material that forms a conductive oxide with or without titanium. The electronic devices comprise a silicon layer with the work function layer thereon and a metal contact on the work function layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Haverty, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Gaurav Thareja
  • Publication number: 20230227975
    Abstract: Organometallic precursors and methods of depositing high purity metal films are discussed. Some embodiments utilize a method comprising exposing a substrate surface to an organometallic precursor comprising one or more of molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), osmium (Os), technetium (Tc), manganese (Mn), rhenium (Re) or ruthenium (Ru), and an iodine-containing reactant comprising a species having a formula RIx, where R is one or more of a C1-C10 alkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, or C2-C10 alkynyl group, I is an iodine group and x is in a range of 1 to 4 to form a carbon-less iodine-containing metal film. Some embodiments advantageously provide methods of forming metal films having low carbon content (e.g., having greater than or equal to 95% metal species on an atomic basis), without using an oxidizing agent or a reductant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Q. Liu, Mark Saly, David Thompson, Annamalai Lakshmanan, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Joung Joo Lee
  • Publication number: 20230187282
    Abstract: Methods for forming a semiconductor structure and semiconductor structures are described. The method comprises patterning a substrate to form a first opening and a second opening, the substrate comprising an n transistor and a p transistor, the first opening over the n transistor and the second opening over the p transistor. The substrate may be pre-cleaned. A ruthenium silicide (RuSi) layer is selectively deposited on the p transistor. A titanium silicide (TiSi) layer is formed on the n transistor and the p transistor. An optional barrier layer may be formed on the titanium silicide (TiSi) layer. The method may be performed in a processing chamber without breaking vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Empante, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Zhibo Yuan, Liqi Wu, Joung Joo Lee, Byunghoon Yoon
  • Patent number: 11658014
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for depositing a coating on a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus component are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of depositing a coating on a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus component includes: sequentially exposing a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus component including nickel or nickel alloy to an aluminum precursor and a reactant to form an aluminum containing layer on a surface of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus component by a deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Pingyan Lei, Dien-Yeh Wu, Xiao Ming He, Jennifer Y. Sun, Lei Zhou, Takashi Kuratomi, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Mei Chang, Steven D. Marcus
  • Patent number: 11598003
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments a showerhead assembly includes a gas distribution plate having a plurality of apertures; a holder having a wall, an radially inwardly extending flange extending from a lower portion of the wall and coupled to the gas distribution plate, and a radially outwardly extending flange extending from an upper portion of the wall, wherein the wall has a thickness between about 0.015 inches and about 0.2 inches; and a heating apparatus disposed above and spaced apart from the gas distribution plate, wherein the heating apparatus includes a heater configured to heat the gas distribution plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Faruk Gungor, Dien-Yeh Wu, Joel M. Huston, Mei Chang, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Kazuya Daito, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Takashi Kuratomi, Yu Chang, Bin Cao
  • Publication number: 20220359209
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively depositing a titanium material layer atop a substrate having a silicon surface and a dielectric surface are disclosed. In embodiments an apparatus is configured for forming a remote plasma reaction between titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), hydrogen (H2) and argon (Ar) in a region between a lid heater and a showerhead of a process chamber at a first temperature of 200 to 800 degrees C.; and flowing reaction products into the process chamber to selectively form a titanium material layer upon the silicon surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: TAKASHI KURATOMI, I-CHENG CHEN, AVGERINOS V. GELATOS, PINGYAN LEI, MEI CHANG, XIANMIN TANG
  • Publication number: 20220344134
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit for a substrate support includes: an upper edge ring made of quartz and having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is substantially planar and the lower surface includes a stepped lower surface to define a radially outermost portion and a radially innermost portion of the upper edge ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhannad MUSTAFA, Muhammad M. RASHEED, Yu LEI, Avgerinos V. GELATOS, Vikash BANTHIA, Victor H. CALDERON, Shi Wei TOH, Yung-Hsin LEE, Anindita SEN
  • Patent number: 11430661
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively depositing a titanium material layer atop a substrate having a silicon surface and a dielectric surface are disclosed. In embodiments an apparatus is configured for forming a remote plasma reaction between titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), hydrogen (H2) and argon (Ar) in a region between a lid heater and a showerhead of a process chamber at a first temperature of 200 to 800 degrees Celsius; and flowing reaction products into the process chamber to selectively form a titanium material layer upon the silicon surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Kuratomi, I-Cheng Chen, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Pingyan Lei, Mei Chang, Xianmin Tang
  • Publication number: 20220270871
    Abstract: Methods for pre-cleaning substrates having metal and dielectric surfaces are described. The substrate is exposed to a strong reductant to remove contaminants from the metal surface and damage the dielectric surface. The substrate is then exposed to an oxidation process to repair the damage to the dielectric surface and oxidize the metal surface. The substrate is then exposed to a weak reductant to reduce the metal oxide to a pure metal surface without substantially affecting the dielectric surface. Processing tools and computer readable media for practicing the method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xi Cen, Yakuan Yao, Yiming Lai, Kai Wu, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, David T. Or, Kevin Kashefi, Yu Lei, Lin Dong, He Ren, Yi Xu, Mehul Naik, Hao Chen, Mang-Mang Ling