Abstract: An atomic layer deposition apparatus including a deposition head that is rotatably mounted around a central deposition head axis and including a susceptor having an upper surface for carrying substrates. The lower surface comprises a plurality of process sections. Each process section includes a purge gas injection zone, a first precursor gas injection zone, a gas exhaust zone, a purge gas injection zone, a second precursor gas injection zone and a gas exhaust zone. Each zone radially extends from a radially inward part of the lower surface to a radially outward part of the lower surface of the deposition head. The combination of distance between the lower surface and the upper surface, the rotational speed of the deposition head and the flow rate and the pressure of the purge gas flows are selected such that the first and second precursor gases are substantially prevented from mixing.

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 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: 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: 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.

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.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments herein, methods and apparatuses for deposition of thin films are provided.

Abstract: Amorphous silicon-filled gaps may be formed having no or a low occurrence of voids in the amorphous silicon fill, while maintaining a smooth exposed silicon surface. A gap in a substrate may be filled with amorphous silicon by heating the substrate to a deposition temperature between 300 and 500° C. and providing a feed gas that comprises a first silicon reactant to deposit an amorphous silicon film into the gap with an hydrogen concentration between 0.1 and 10 at. %. The deposited silicon film may subsequently be annealed. After the anneal, any voids may be reduced in size and this reduction in size may occur to such an extent that the voids may be eliminated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a semiconductor device by patterning a substrate by providing an amorphous silicon layer on the substrate and forming a hard mask layer on the amorphous silicon layer. The amorphous silicon layer is provided with an anti-crystallization dopant to keep the layer amorphous at increased temperatures (relative to not providing the anti-crystallization dopant). The hard mask layer may comprise silicon and nitrogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate rack and a substrate processing system for processing substrates in a reaction chamber. The substrate rack may be used for introducing a plurality of substrates in the reaction chamber. The substrate rack may have a plurality of spaced apart substrate holding provisions configured to hold the substrates in a spaced apart relationship. The rack may have an illumination system to irradiate radiation with a range from 100 to 500 nanometers onto a top surface of the substrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus comprising a reaction chamber provided with a substrate rack for holding a plurality of substrates in the reaction chamber. The substrate rack may have a plurality of spaced apart substrate holding provisions configured to hold the plurality of substrates. The apparatus may have an illumination system constructed and arranged to irradiate radiation with a range from 100 to 500 nanometers onto a top surface of the substrates.

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.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system is disclosed for delivering hydrogen peroxide to a semiconductor processing chamber. The system includes a process canister for holding a H2O2/H2O mixture in a liquid state, an evaporator provided with an evaporator heater, a first feed line for feeding the liquid H2O2/H2O mixture to the evaporator, and a second feed line for feeding the evaporated H2O2/H2O mixture to the processing chamber, the second feed line provided with a second feed line heater. The evaporator heater is configured to heat the evaporator to a temperature lower than 120° C. and the second feed line heater is configured to heat the feed line to a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature of the evaporator.

Abstract: An etch stop layer comprises a metal oxide comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of metals of Group 4 of the periodic table, metals of Group 5 of the periodic table, metals of Group 6 of the periodic table, and yttrium. The metal oxide forms exceptionally thin layers that are resistant to ashing and HF exposure. Subjecting the etch stop layer to both ashing and HF etch processes removes less than 0.3 nm of the thickness of the etch stop layer, and more preferably less than 0.25 nm. The etch stop layer may be thin and may have a thickness of about 0.5-2 nm. In some embodiments, the etch stop layer comprises tantalum oxide (TaO).

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to the field of processing substrates, for example comprising materials such as quartz, glass or silicon. The disclosure more particular relates to providing wet etch protection layers comprising boron and carbon and etching the substrate in a hydrogen fluoride aqueous solution. One or more of the boron and carbon containing films can have a thickness of at least 5, preferably 10 and, more preferably 30 nm. The method comprises wet etching the substrate in a hydrofluoric acid solution with a hydrogen fluoride concentration of at least 10 wt. % for at least 5 minutes.

Abstract: Amorphous silicon-filled gaps may be formed having no or a low occurrence of voids in the amorphous silicon fill, while maintaining a smooth exposed silicon surface. A gap in a substrate may be filled with amorphous silicon by heating the substrate to a deposition temperature between 300 and 500° C. and providing a feed gas that comprises a first silicon reactant to deposit an amorphous silicon film into the gap with an hydrogen concentration between 0.1 and 10 at. %. The deposited silicon film may subsequently be annealed. After the anneal, any voids may be reduced in size and this reduction in size may occur to such an extent that the voids may be eliminated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a semiconductor device by patterning a substrate by providing an amorphous silicon layer on the substrate and forming a hard mask layer on the amorphous silicon layer. The amorphous silicon layer is provided with an anti-crystallization dopant to keep the layer amorphous at increased temperatures (relative to not providing the anti-crystallization dopant). The hard mask layer may comprise silicon and nitrogen.

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 vertical furnace processing system for processing semiconductor substrates, comprising the following modules: —a processing module including a vertical furnace; an I/O-station module including at least one load port to which a substrate cassette is dockable; a wafer handling module configured to transfer semiconductor substrates between the processing module and a substrate cassette docked to the load port of the I/O-station module; and a gas supply module including at least one gas supply or gas supply connection for providing the vertical furnace of the processing module with process gas, wherein at least two of the said modules are mutually decouplably coupled, such that said at least two modules are decouplable from one another to facilitate servicing of the system, and in particular the vertical furnace thereof.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are disclosed. Specifically, the semiconductor device may include a charge trapping layer with improved retention and speed for VNAND applications. The charge trapping layer may comprise an aluminum nitride (AlN) or aluminum oxynitride (AlON) layer.