Abstract: A method for reducing a wet etch rate of flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) oxide layers in a semiconductor wafer, the method including performing a plasma doping operation on the semiconductor wafer using a primary dopant gas and a diluent gas adapted to reduce a wet etch rate of the FCVD oxide layer, wherein the dopant gas and the diluent gas are supplied by a gas source of a plasma doping system, wherein the diluent gas is provided in an amount of 0.01%-5% by volume of the total amount of gas supplied by the gas source 36 during the plasma doping operation, and wherein the primary dopant gas is He and the diluent gas is selected from a group including of CH4, CO, CO2, and CF2.

Abstract: A method may include providing a substrate having, on a first surface of the substrate, a low dielectric constant layer characterized by a layer thickness. The method may include heating the substrate to a substrate temperature in a range of 200° C. to 550° C.; and directing an ion implant treatment to the low dielectric constant layer, while the substrate temperature is in the range of 200° C. to 550° C. As such, the ion implant treatment may include implanting a low weight ion species, at an ion energy generating an implant depth equal to 40% to 175% of the layer thickness.

Abstract: A method of processing and passivating an implanted workpiece is disclosed, wherein, after passivation, the fugitive emissions of the workpiece are reduced to acceptably low levels. This may be especially beneficial when phosphorus, arsine, germane or another toxic species is the dopant being implanted into the workpiece. In one embodiment, a sputtering process is performed after the implantation process. This sputtering process is used to sputter the dopant at the surface of the workpiece, effectively lowering the dopant concentration at the top surface of the workpiece. In another embodiment, a chemical etching process is performed to lower the dopant concentration at the top surface. After this sputtering or chemical etching process, a traditional passivation process can be performed.

Abstract: A method may include providing a substrate having, on a first surface of the substrate, a low dielectric constant layer characterized by a layer thickness. The method may include heating the substrate to a substrate temperature in a range of 200° C. to 550° C.; and directing an ion implant treatment to the low dielectric constant layer, while the substrate temperature is in the range of 200° C. to 550° C. As such, the ion implant treatment may include implanting a low weight ion species, at an ion energy generating an implant depth equal to 40% to 175% of the layer thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of processing a workpiece is disclosed, where a sacrificial capping layer is created on a top surface of a workpiece. That workpiece is then exposed to an ion implantation process, where select species are used to passivate the workpiece. While the implant process is ongoing, radicals and excited species etch the sacrificial capping layer. This reduces the amount of etching that the workpiece experiences. In certain embodiments, the thickness of the sacrificial capping layer is selected based on the total time used for the implant process and the etch rate. The total time used for the implant process may be a function of desired dose, bias voltage, plasma power and other parameters. In some embodiments, the sacrificial capping layer is applied prior to the implant process. In other embodiments, material is added to the sacrificial capping layer during the implant process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of processing a workpiece is disclosed, where a sacrificial capping layer is created on a top surface of a workpiece. That workpiece is then exposed to an ion implantation process, where select species are used to passivate the workpiece. While the implant process is ongoing, radicals and excited species etch the sacrificial capping layer. This reduces the amount of etching that the workpiece experiences. In certain embodiments, the thickness of the sacrificial capping layer is selected based on the total time used for the implant process and the etch rate. The total time used for the implant process may be a function of desired dose, bias voltage, plasma power and other parameters. In some embodiments, the sacrificial capping layer is applied prior to the implant process. In other embodiments, material is added to the sacrificial capping layer during the implant process.

Abstract: A method of processing and passivating an implanted workpiece is disclosed, wherein, after passivation, the fugitive emissions of the workpiece are reduced to acceptably low levels. This may be especially beneficial when phosphorus, arsine, germane or another toxic species is the dopant being implanted into the workpiece. In one embodiment, a sputtering process is performed after the implantation process. This sputtering process is used to sputter the dopant at the surface of the workpiece, effectively lowering the dopant concentration at the top surface of the workpiece. In another embodiment, a chemical etching process is performed to lower the dopant concentration at the top surface. After this sputtering or chemical etching process, a traditional passivation process can be performed.

Abstract: A method of processing and passivating an implanted workpiece is disclosed, wherein, after passivation, the fugitive emissions of the workpiece are reduced to acceptably low levels. This may be especially beneficial when phosphorus, arsine, germane or another toxic species is the dopant being implanted into the workpiece. In one embodiment, a sputtering process is performed after the implantation process. This sputtering process is used to sputter the dopant at the surface of the workpiece, effectively lowering the dopant concentration at the top surface of the workpiece. In another embodiment, a chemical etching process is performed to lower the dopant concentration at the top surface. After this sputtering or chemical etching process, a traditional passivation process can be performed.

Abstract: A method of processing and passivating an implanted workpiece is disclosed, wherein, after passivation, the fugitive emissions of the workpiece are reduced to acceptably low levels. This may be especially beneficial when phosphorus, arsine, germane or another toxic species is the dopant being implanted into the workpiece. In one embodiment, a sputtering process is performed after the implantation process. This sputtering process is used to sputter the dopant at the surface of the workpiece, effectively lowering the dopant concentration at the top surface of the workpiece. In another embodiment, a chemical etching process is performed to lower the dopant concentration at the top surface. After this sputtering or chemical etching process, a traditional passivation process can be performed.

Abstract: A method of conformally doping a device on a semiconductor workpiece is disclosed. An oxide layer is applied to all surfaces of the device. Further, the thickness of the oxide layer on each surface is proportional to the energy that ions impact that particular surface. For example, ions strike the horizontal surfaces at nearly a normal angle and penetrate more deeply into the workpiece than ions striking the vertical surfaces. After creating an oxide layer that has a variable thickness, a subsequent dopant implant is performed. While ions strike the horizontal surfaces with more energy, these ions pass through a thicker oxide layer to penetrate the workpiece. In contrast, ions strike the vertical surfaces with less energy, but traverse a much thinner oxide layer to penetrate the workpiece. The result is a conformally doped device.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus and method are disclosed which improve the repeatability of various plasma processes. The actual implanted dose is a function of implant conditions, as well as various other parameters. This method used knowledge of current implant conditions, as well as information about historical data to improve repeatability. In one embodiment, information about plasma composition and dose per pulse is used to control one or more operating parameters in the plasma chamber. In another embodiment, this information is combined with historical data to control one or more operating parameters in the plasma chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses for providing improved electrical contact to a semiconductor wafer during plasma processing applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wafer platen for supporting the wafer; and a plurality of electrical contact elements, each of the plurality of electrical contact elements are configured to provide a path for supplying a bias voltage from a bias power supply to the wafer on the wafer platen. The plurality of electrical contact elements are also geometrically arranged such that at least one electrical contact element contacts an inner surface region (e.g., region between a center of wafer and a distance approximately half of the radius of the wafer) and at least one electrical contact element contacts an outer annular surface region (e.g., region between an outer edge of wafer and a distance approximately half of the radius of the wafer).