Abstract: A semiconductor processing apparatus is disclosed. The semiconductor processing apparatus comprises a process chamber configured to receive a plurality of substrates; at least one accumulator vessel in fluid communication with the process chamber, configured to store a precursor in gas form; and at least two solid state precursor storage vessels, each being configured to receive a precursor in gas form, to cause said received gas form precursor to be converted to a solid state inside the respective solid state precursor storage vessel, and to cause said solid state precursor to be converted to gas phase. Each of the at least two solid state precursor storage vessels are in fluid communication with the at least one accumulator vessel so as to allow provision of precursor in gas form to the accumulator vessel. The at least one accumulator vessel comprises an actuatable element configured to cause an internal volume of the at least one accumulator vessel to be changed upon actuation.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing apparatus is disclosed. The semiconductor processing apparatus comprises a process chamber configured to receive a plurality of substrates; an accumulator vessel in fluid communication with the process chamber, configured to store a precursor in gas form; and at least two solid state precursor storage vessels, each being configured to receive a precursor in gas form, to cause said received gas form precursor to be converted to a solid state inside the respective solid state precursor storage vessel, and to cause said solid state precursor to be converted to gas phase. Each of the at least two solid state precursor storage vessels are in fluid communication with the accumulator vessel.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to methods of forming a vanadium nitride-containing layer. The method comprises providing a substrate within a reaction chamber of a reactor and depositing a vanadium nitride-containing layer onto a surface of the substrate, wherein the deposition process comprises providing a vanadium precursor to the reaction chamber and providing a nitrogen precursor to the reaction chamber. The disclosure further relates to structures and devices comprising the vanadium nitride-containing layer.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a method of filling one or more gaps created during manufacturing of a feature on a substrate by providing a deposition method comprising; introducing a first reactant to the substrate with a first dose, thereby forming no more than about one monolayer by the first reactant; introducing a second reactant to the substrate with a second dose. The first reactant is introduced with a sub saturating first dose reaching only a top area of the surface of the one or more gaps and the second reactant is introduced with a saturating second dose reaching a bottom area of the surface of the one or more gaps. A third reactant may be provided to the substrate in the reaction chamber with a third dose, the third reactant reacting with at least one of the first and second reactant.

Abstract: A method of determining an end point of a substrate processing chamber cleaning process is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of performing a soaking step comprising containing a cleaning gas within the substrate processing chamber and receiving at least two pressure measurements of pressure in the substrate processing chamber while the cleaning gas is contained within the chamber; and determining whether an end point of the cleaning process has been reached based on the at least two pressure values.

Abstract: Methods of forming a vanadium nitride-containing layer. The method comprises providing a substrate within a reaction chamber of a reactor and depositing a vanadium nitride-containing layer onto a surface of the substrate, wherein the deposition process comprises providing a vanadium precursor to the reaction chamber and providing a nitrogen precursor to the reaction chamber. The disclosure further relates to structures and devices comprising the vanadium nitride-containing layer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a substrate processing apparatus, comprising: a first reactor constructed and arranged to process a rack with a plurality of substrates therein; a second reactor constructed and arranged to process a substrate; and, a substrate transfer device constructed and arranged to transfer substrates to and from the first and second reactor. The second reactor may be provided with an illumination system constructed and arranged to irradiate ultraviolet radiation within a range from 100 to 500 nanometers onto a top surface of at least a substrate in the second reactor.

Abstract: A method and a wafer processing furnace for forming an epitaxial stack on a plurality of substrates is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing plurality of substrates to a process chamber. A plurality of deposition cycles are executed, thereby forming the epitaxial stack on the plurality of substrates. The epitaxial comprises a plurality of epitaxial pairs, each pair comprising a first epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer. The deposition cycle comprises a first deposition pulse and a second deposition pulse. The first deposition pulse comprises a provision of a first reaction gas mixture to the process chamber, thereby forming the first epitaxial layer and the second deposition pulse comprises a provision of a second reaction gas mixture to the process chamber, thereby forming the second epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A method and a wafer processing furnace for forming an epitaxial stack on a plurality of substrates is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing the plurality of substrates to a process chamber. A plurality of deposition cycles is executed, thereby forming the epitaxial stack on the plurality of substrates. The epitaxial stack comprises a plurality of epitaxial pairs, wherein the epitaxial pairs each comprises a first epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer, the second epitaxial layer being different from the first epitaxial layer. Each deposition cycle comprises a first deposition pulse and a second deposition pulse. The first deposition pulse comprises a provision of a first reaction gas mixture to the process chamber, thereby forming the first epitaxial layer. The second deposition pulse comprises a provision of a second reaction gas mixture to the process chamber, thereby forming the second epitaxial layer.

Abstract: A method may comprise disposing vanadium tetrachloride in a delivery vessel; delivering the vanadium tetrachloride to a reaction chamber in fluid communication with the delivery vessel; mitigating the delivery of decomposition products of the vanadium tetrachloride to the reaction chamber; and/or applying the vanadium tetrachloride to a substrate disposed in the reaction chamber to form a layer comprising vanadium on the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for deposition of thin films are provided. A deposition reactor is provided comprising: a first station configured to contain a substrate, the first station comprising a first heating element; a second station configured to contain the substrate, the second station comprising a second heating element, wherein the first station is configured to contact the substrate with a first reactant in the first station in substantial isolation from the second station such that a layer of the first reactant is deposited on the substrate, wherein the first heating element is configured to heat the first station to a first station temperature during contacting of the substrate with the first reactant, wherein the second station is configured to contact the substrate with a second reactant in the second station substantially in the absence of the first reactant.

Abstract: The technology of the present disclosure generally relates to the field of semiconductor devices. More particularly, semiconductor structures, systems, and methods for producing the same, comprising surface-modified silicon layers formed by reacting a deposited silicon layer with a halide reactant. The system comprising one or more reaction chamber constructed and arranged to hold a substrate; a silicon precursor vessel constructed and arranged to contain and evaporate a silicon precursor; a halide reactant vessel constructed and arranged to contain and evaporate a halide reactant; an exhaust source; and a controller; wherein the controller is configured to control the flow of said silicon precursor and said halide reactant into said reaction chamber, thereby forming a surface-modified silicon layer on said substrate.

Abstract: A vertical furnace and a method for processing a plurality of substrates in said vertical furnace is disclosed. Embodiments of the presently described vertical furnace comprise a process chamber, a heating element configured to provide the heat to reach the desired process temperature for the processing of the plurality of substrates. The vertical furnace may further comprise heat distributing member for distributing the heat provided by the heating element. Embodiments of the presently described method comprise processing the plurality of substrates in a vertical furnace described herein.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition furnace for depositing silicon nitride films is disclosed. The furnace includes a process chamber elongated in a substantially vertical direction and a wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in the process chamber. A process gas injector inside the process chamber is provided with vertically spaced gas injection holes to provide gas introduced at a feed end in an interior of the process gas injector to the process chamber. A valve system connected to the feed end of the process gas injector is being constructed and arranged to connect a source of a silicon precursor and a nitrogen precursor to the feed end for depositing silicon nitride layers. The valve system may connect the feed end of the process gas injector to a cleaning gas system to provide a cleaning gas to remove silicon nitride from the process gas injector and/or the process chamber.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a substrate processing system having a controlled environment comprising one or more FOUPs configured to hold one or more substrates, a substrate processing chamber configured to process the substrate(s), a substrate handling and transporting system configured to receive the FOUP(s) and transfer the substrate(s) to and from the substrate processing chamber, an environmental sensor configured to measure one or more environmental parameters of the substrate handling and transporting system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the environmental sensor configured to track one or more positions of the substrate(s) within the substrate handling and transporting system, determine one or more environmental parameters of the substrate handling and transporting system, determine whether the environmental parameter(s) are within threshold limits at the one or more position of the substrate(s), and indicate an alert if the environmental parameter(s) are determined to not be wit

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition furnace for depositing silicon nitride films is disclosed. The furnace includes a process chamber elongated in a substantially vertical direction and a wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in the process chamber. A process gas injector inside the process chamber is provided with vertically spaced gas injection holes to provide gas introduced at a feed end in an interior of the process gas injector to the process chamber. A valve system connected to the feed end of the process gas injector is being constructed and arranged to connect a source of a silicon precursor and a nitrogen precursor to the feed end for depositing silicon nitride layers. The valve system may connect the feed end of the process gas injector to a cleaning gas system to provide a cleaning gas to remove silicon nitride from the process gas injector and/or the process chamber.

Abstract: A method for forming a structure with a hole on a substrate is disclosed. The method may comprise: depositing a first structure on the substrate; etching a first part of the hole in the first structure; depositing a plug fill in the first part of the hole; depositing a second structure on top of the first structure; etching a second part of the hole substantially aligned with the first part of the hole in the second structure; and, etching the plug fill of the first part of the hole and thereby opening up the hole by dry etching. In this way 3-D NAND device may be provided.

Abstract: A sequential infiltration synthesis apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber constructed and arranged to hold at least a first substrate; a precursor distribution and removal system to provide to and remove from the reaction chamber a vaporized first or second precursor; and, a sequence controller operably connected to the precursor distribution and removal system and comprising a memory provided with a program to execute infiltration of an infiltrateable material provided on the substrate when run on the sequence controller by: activating the precursor distribution and removal system to provide and maintain the first precursor for a first period T1 in the reaction chamber; activating the precursor distribution and removal system to remove a portion of the first precursor from the reaction chamber for a second period T2; and, activating the precursor distribution and removal system to provide and maintain the second precursor for a third period T3 in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A gas injector and a semiconductor processing apparatus comprising the gas injector is disclosed. Embodiments of the presently described gas injector comprise an injector tube to inject a process gas to a process chamber of the semiconductor processing apparatus. The gas injector further comprises a cooling fluid conduit constructed and arranged to cool the injector tube.

Abstract: There is provided a method of filling one or more gaps by providing the substrate in a reaction chamber and introducing a first reactant to the substrate with a first dose, thereby forming no more than about one monolayer by the first reactant on a first area; introducing a second reactant to the substrate with a second dose, thereby forming no more than about one monolayer by the second reactant on a second area of the surface, wherein the first and the second areas overlap in an overlap area where the first and second reactants react and leave an initially unreacted area where the first and the second areas do not overlap; and, introducing a third reactant to the substrate with a third dose, the third reactant reacting with the first or second reactant remaining on the initially unreacted area.