Abstract: A system and method for treating a deposition reactor are disclosed. The system and method remove or mitigate formation of residue in a gas-phase reactor used to deposit doped metal films, such as aluminum-doped titanium carbide films or aluminum-doped tantalum carbide films. The method includes a step of exposing a reaction chamber to a treatment reactant that mitigates formation of species that lead to residue formation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a solid source precursor delivery system. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a solid source precursor vessel that can be utilized to vaporize a supply of solid precursor stored within the vessel. The disclosed source vessel utilizes a plurality of individual cavities or pockets within the interior of the vessel. Each individual pocket may be loaded with precursor. In an arrangement, the pockets may be loaded with pre-formed blocks of compressed precursor material that typically have a higher density than was previously achieved when packing solid precursor within a source vessel. The increased density of the solid precursor material increases a capacity of the source vessel resulting in longer intervals between replacement and/or refilling the source vessel.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing device is disclosed. The device can include a reactor and a solid source vessel configured to supply a vaporized solid reactant to the reactor. A process control chamber can be disposed between the solid source vessel and the reactor. The device can include a valve upstream of the process control chamber. A control system can be configured to control operation of the valve based at least in part on feedback of measured pressure in the process control chamber.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to the manufacture of semiconductor devices, specifically to methods of forming vanadium metal on a substrate. The methods comprise providing a substrate in a reaction chamber, providing a vanadium precursor to the reaction chamber in a vapor phase and providing a reducing agent to the reaction chamber in a vapor phase to form vanadium metal on the substrate. The disclosure further relates to structures and devices formed by the methods, as well as to a deposition assembly.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are systems and methods related to solid source chemical vaporizer vessels and multiple chamber deposition modules. In some embodiments, a solid source chemical vaporizer includes a housing base and a housing lid. Some embodiments also include a first and second tray configured to be housed within the housing base, wherein each tray defines a first serpentine path adapted to hold solid source chemical and allow gas flow thereover. In some embodiments, a multiple chamber deposition module includes first and second vapor phase reaction chambers and a solid source chemical vaporizer vessel to supply each of the first and second vapor phase reaction chambers.

Abstract: Methods of forming thin-film structures including metal carbide material, and structures and devices including the metal carbide material are disclosed. Exemplary structures include metal carbide material formed using two or more different processes (e.g., two or more different precursors), which enables tuning of various metal carbide material properties, including resistivity, current leakage, and work function.

Abstract: Methods for forming a device structure including a high-k dielectric layer are disclosed. An exemplary method includes using a first cyclical deposition process to deposit a dielectric layer on a substrate and using a second cyclical deposition process to deposit a capping layer directly on the dielectric layer. The methods also include thermally annealing the dielectric layer with the capping layer directly thereon to form a high-k dielectric layer. Exemplary device structures are disclosure, such as metal-insulator-metal capacitor structures.

Abstract: A method for selectively depositing silicon nitride on a first material relative to a second material is disclosed. An exemplary method includes treating the first material, and then selectively depositing a layer comprising silicon nitride on the second material relative to the first material. Exemplary methods can further include treating the deposited silicon nitride.

Abstract: The invention provides in method and systems for determining the amount of solid precursor in a precursor vessel of a semiconductor manufacturing process, wherein the amount of precursor in the precursor vessel is determined by measuring through monochromatic measurements an optical absorption in the process gas flowing from the precursor vessel to the process chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems for depositing vanadium nitride layers onto a surface of the substrate and structures and devices formed using the methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes using a cyclical deposition process, depositing a vanadium nitride layer onto a surface of the substrate. The cyclical deposition process can include providing a vanadium halide precursor to the reaction chamber and separately providing a nitrogen reactant to the reaction chamber. The cyclical deposition process may desirably be a thermal cyclical deposition process.

Abstract: The manufacture of semiconductor devices may include methods of forming vanadium metal on a substrate. The methods comprise providing a substrate in a reaction chamber, providing a vanadium precursor to the reaction chamber in a vapor phase and providing a reducing agent to the reaction chamber in a vapor phase to form vanadium metal on the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a deposition reactor are disclosed. The system and method remove or mitigate formation of residue in a gas-phase reactor used to deposit doped metal films, such as aluminum-doped titanium carbide films or aluminum-doped tantalum carbide films. The method includes a step of exposing a reaction chamber to a treatment reactant that mitigates formation of species that lead to residue formation.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are systems and methods related to solid source chemical sublimator vessels and corresponding deposition modules. The solid source chemical sublimator can include a housing configured to hold solid chemical reactant therein. A lid may be disposed on a proximal portion of the housing. The lid can include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and define a serpentine flow path within a distal portion of the lid. The lid can be adapted to allow gas flow within the flow path. The solid source chemical sublimator can include a filter that is disposed between the serpentine flow path and the distal portion of the housing. The filter can have a porosity configured to restrict a passage of a solid chemical reactant therethrough.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to embodiments of a semiconductor deposition reactor manifold and methods of using the semiconductor deposition reactor manifold which can be used to deposit semiconductor layers using processes such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). The semiconductor deposition reactor manifold has a bore, a first supply channel, and a second supply channel. Advantageously, the first supply channel and the second supply channel merge with the bore in an offset fashion which leads to reduced cross-contamination within the supply channels.

Abstract: A method for forming a layer comprising SiOCN on a substrate is disclosed. An exemplary method includes thermally depositing the layer comprising SiOCN on a surface of the substrate. The layer comprising SiOCN can be used for various applications, including spacers, etch stop layers, and etch resistant layers.

Abstract: Vapor deposition methods and related systems are provided for depositing layers comprising vanadium and oxygen. In some embodiments, the methods comprise contacting a substrate in a reaction space with alternating pulses of a vapor-phase vanadium precursor and a vapor-phase oxygen reactant. The reaction space may be purged, for example, with an inert gas, between reactant pulses. The methods may be used to fill a gap on a substrate surface. Reaction conditions, including deposition temperature and reactant pulse and purge times may be selected to achieve advantageous gap fill properties. In some embodiments, the substrate on which deposition takes place is maintained at a relatively low temperature, for example between about 50° C. and about 185° C.

Abstract: Methods for forming hafnium oxide within a three-dimensional structure, such as in a high aspect ratio hole, are provided. The methods may include depositing a first hafnium-containing material, such as hafnium nitride or hafnium carbide, in a three-dimensional structure and subsequently converting the first hafnium-containing material to a second hafnium-containing material comprising hafnium oxide by exposing the first hafnium-containing material to an oxygen reactant. The volume of the second hafnium-containing material may be greater than that of the first hafnium-containing material. Voids or seams formed during the deposition of the first hafnium-containing material in the three-dimensional structure may be filled by the expanded material after exposing the first hafnium-containing material to the oxygen reactant. Thus, the three-dimensional structure, such as a high aspect ratio hole, can be filled with hafnium oxide substantially free of voids or seams.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are systems and methods related to solid source chemical sublimator vessels and corresponding deposition modules. The solid source chemical sublimator can include a housing configured to hold solid chemical reactant therein. A lid may be disposed on a proximal portion of the housing. The lid can include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and define a serpentine flow path within a distal portion of the lid. The lid can be adapted to allow gas flow within the flow path. The solid source chemical sublimator can include a filter that is disposed between the serpentine flow path and the distal portion of the housing. The filter can have a porosity configured to restrict a passage of a solid chemical reactant therethrough.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are systems and methods related to solid source chemical sublimator vessels and corresponding deposition modules. The solid source chemical sublimator can include a housing configured to hold solid chemical reactant therein. A lid may be disposed on a proximal portion of the housing. The lid can include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and define a serpentine flow path within a distal portion of the lid. The lid can be adapted to allow gas flow within the flow path. The solid source chemical sublimator can include a filter that is disposed between the serpentine flow path and the distal portion of the housing. The filter can have a porosity configured to restrict a passage of a solid chemical reactant therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods method for thin film deposition of molybdenum for source/drain formation. A deposition process may be performed in which the surface is contacted in the reaction chamber with a first oxygen-free molybdenum halide reactant at a first temperature, wherein said contacting with the first oxygen-free molybdenum halide reactant forms at least one layer of molybdenum on the substrate. In some embodiments, the temperature of the reaction chamber may be raised from the first temperature to a second temperature. In some embodiments, the substrate in the reaction chamber may be contacted with a second oxygen-free molybdenum halide reactant at the second temperature, wherein said contacting with the second oxygen-free molybdenum halide reactant forms at least one layer of molybdenum on the substrate. In some embodiments, the deposition at the second temperature may be repeated until a molybdenum-containing film of desired thickness is formed.