Abstract: A method for removing oxides from the bottom surface of a contact hole is provided. The method provides efficient cleaning of the bottom surface without distortion of the contact hole upper and sidewall surfaces.

Abstract: Method for recovering treated metal silicide surfaces or layers are provided. In at least one embodiment, a substrate having an at least partially oxidized metal silicide surface disposed thereon is cleaned to remove the oxidized regions to provide an altered metal silicide surface. The altered metal silicide surface is then exposed to one or more silicon-containing compounds at conditions sufficient to recover the metal silicide surface.

Abstract: A method for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises positioning a substrate having an oxide layer into a processing chamber, generating a plasma of a reactive species from a gas mixture within the processing chamber, exposing the substrate to the reactive species while forming a volatile film on the substrate and maintaining the substrate at a temperature below 65° C., heating the substrate to a temperature of at least about 75° C. to vaporize the volatile film and remove the oxide layer, and depositing a first layer on the substrate after heating the substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming a structure includes forming at least one feature across a surface of a substrate. A nitrogen-containing dielectric layer is formed over the at least one feature. A first portion of the nitrogen-containing layer on at least one sidewall of the at least one feature is removed at a first rate and a second portion of the nitrogen-containing layer over the substrate adjacent to a bottom region of the at least one feature is removed at a second rate. The first rate is greater than the second rate. A dielectric layer is formed over the nitrogen-containing dielectric layer.

Abstract: Methods for etching dielectric layers comprising silicon and nitrogen are provided herein. In some embodiments, such methods may include providing a substrate having a dielectric layer comprising silicon and nitrogen disposed thereon, forming reactive species from a process gas comprising hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) using a remote plasma; and etching the dielectric layer using the reactive species. In some embodiments, an oxide layer is disposed adjacent to the dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the flow rate ratio of the process gas can be adjusted such that an etch selectivity of the dielectric layer to at least one of the oxide layer or the substrate is between about 0.8 to about 4.

Abstract: A lid assembly for semiconductor processing is provided. In at least one embodiment, the lid assembly includes a first electrode comprising an expanding section that has a gradually increasing inner diameter. The lid assembly also includes a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode. A plasma cavity is defined between the inner diameter of the expanding section of the first electrode and a first surface of the second electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a support assembly. In one embodiment, the support assembly includes a shaft coupled to a disk-shaped body. The shaft has a vacuum conduit, a heat transfer fluid conduit and a gas conduit formed therein. The disk-shaped body includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a cylindrical outer surface. A thermocouple is embedded in the disk-shaped body. A flange extends radially outward from the cylindrical outer surface, wherein the lower surface of the disk-shaped body comprises one side of the flange. A fluid channel is formed in the disk-shaped body proximate the flange and lower surface. The fluid channel is coupled to the heat transfer fluid conduit of the shaft. A plurality of grooves are formed in the upper surface of the disk-shaped body, and are coupled by a hole in the disk-shaped body to the vacuum conduit of the shaft.

Abstract: An epitaxial deposition process including a dry etch process, followed by an epitaxial deposition process is disclosed. The dry etch process involves placing a substrate to be cleaned into a processing chamber to remove surface oxides. A gas mixture is introduced into a plasma cavity, and the gas mixture is energized to form a plasma of reactive gas in the plasma cavity. The reactive gas enters into the processing chamber and reacts with the substrate, forming a thin film. The substrate is heated to vaporize the thin film and expose an epitaxy surface. The epitaxy surface is substantially free of oxides. Epitaxial deposition is then used to form an epitaxial layer on the epitaxy surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided which includes supporting a substrate containing silicon oxide within a processing chamber, generating a plasma of reactive species from a gas mixture within the processing chamber, cooling the substrate to a first temperature of less than about 65° C. within the processing chamber, and directing the reactive species to the cooled substrate to react with the silicon oxide thereon while forming a film on the substrate. The film usually contains ammonium hexafluorosilicate. The method further provides positioning the substrate in close proximity to a gas distribution plate, and heating the substrate to a second temperature of about 100° C. or greater within the processing chamber to sublimate or remove the film. The gas mixture may contain ammonia, nitrogen trifluoride, and a carrier gas.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of features across a surface of a substrate, with at least one space being between two adjacent features. A first dielectric layer is formed on the features and within the at least one space. A portion of the first dielectric layer interacts with a reactant derived from a first precursor and a second precursor to form a first solid product. The first solid product is decomposed to substantially remove the portion of the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed to substantially fill the at least one space.

Abstract: A method for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In at least one embodiment, the method includes supporting the substrate surface in a vacuum chamber and generating reactive species from a gas mixture within the chamber. The substrate surface is then cooled within the chamber and the reactive species are directed to the cooled substrate surface to react with the native oxides thereon and form a film on the substrate surface. The substrate surface is then heated within the chamber to vaporize the film.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods for removing native oxide surfaces on substrates while simultaneously passivating the underlying substrate surface. In one embodiment, a method is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing an oxide layer within a processing chamber, adjusting a first temperature of the substrate to about 80° C. or less, generating a cleaning plasma from a gas mixture within the processing chamber, such that the gas mixture contains ammonia and nitrogen trifluoride having an NH3/NF3 molar ratio of about 10 or greater, and condensing the cleaning plasma onto the substrate. A thin film, containing ammonium hexafluorosilicate, is formed in part, from the native oxide during a plasma clean process. The method further includes heating the substrate to a second temperature of about 100° C. or greater within the processing chamber while removing the thin film from the substrate and forming a passivation surface thereon.

Abstract: An epitaxial deposition process including a dry etch process, followed by an epitaxial deposition process is disclosed. The dry etch process involves placing a substrate to be cleaned into a processing chamber to remove surface oxides. A gas mixture is introduced into a plasma cavity, and the gas mixture is energized to form a plasma of reactive gas in the plasma cavity. The reactive gas enters into the processing chamber and reacts with the substrate, forming a thin film. The substrate is heated to vaporize the thin film and expose an epitaxy surface. The epitaxy surface is substantially free of oxides. Epitaxial deposition is then used to form an epitaxial layer on the epitaxy surface.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides apparatus and methods for selectively removing various oxides on a semiconductor substrate. One embodiment of the invention provides a method for selectively removing an oxide on a substrate at a desired removal rate using an etching gas mixture. The etching gas mixture comprises a first gas and a second gas, and a ratio of the first gas and a second gas is determined by the desired removal rate.

Abstract: Method for recovering treated metal suicide surfaces or layers are provided. In at least one embodiment, a substrate having an at least partially oxidized metal suicide surface disposed thereon is cleaned to remove the oxidized regions to provide an altered metal silicide surface. The altered metal silicide surface is then exposed to one or more silicon-containing compounds at conditions sufficient to recover the metal silicide surface.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus is disclosed for forming refractory metal layers employing pulse nucleation to minimize formation of a concentration boundary layer during nucleation. The surface of a substrate is nucleated in several steps. Following each nucleation step is a removal step in which all reactants and by-products of the nucleation process are removed from the processing chamber. Removal may be done by either rapidly evacuating the processing chamber, rapidly introducing a purge gas therein or both. After removal of the process gas and by-products from the processing chamber, additional nucleation steps may be commenced to obtain a nucleation layer of desired thickness. After formation of the nucleation layer, a layer is formed adjacent to the nucleation layer using standard bulk deposition techniques.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a substrate is provided. In one aspect, the chamber comprises a chamber body and a support assembly at least partially disposed within the chamber body adapted to support a substrate thereon. The chamber further comprises a lid assembly disposed on an upper surface of the chamber body. The lid assembly includes a top plate and a gas delivery assembly which define a plasma cavity therebetween, wherein the gas delivery assembly is adapted to heat the substrate. A remote plasma source having a U-shaped plasma region is connected to the gas delivery assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a processing chamber comprising blocking a flow of cooling fluid to a channel within a support member within a processing chamber, elevating the support member to be within about 0.1 inches of a gas distribution plate, heating the gas distribution plate, and introducing a thermally conductive gas through the gas distribution plate into the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In one aspect, the chamber comprises a chamber body and a support assembly at least partially disposed within the chamber body and adapted to support a substrate thereon. The support assembly includes one or more fluid channels at least partially formed therein and capable of cooling the substrate. The chamber further comprises a lid assembly disposed on an upper surface of the chamber body. The lid assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode which define a plasma cavity therebetween, wherein the second electrode is adapted to connectively heat the substrate.

Abstract: A lid assembly for semiconductor processing is provided. In at least one embodiment, the lid assembly includes a first electrode comprising an expanding section that has a gradually increasing inner diameter. The lid assembly also includes a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode. A plasma cavity is defined between the inner diameter of the expanding section of the first electrode and a first surface of the second electrode.