Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for semiconductor processing, more particularly, to a thermal process chamber. The thermal process chamber includes a substrate support, a first plurality of heating elements disposed over or below the substrate support, and a spot heating module disposed over the substrate support. The spot heating module is utilized to provide local heating of cold regions on a substrate disposed on the substrate support during processing. Localized heating of the substrate improves temperature profile, which in turn improves deposition uniformity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to batch processing apparatus, systems, and related methods and structures for epitaxial deposition operations. In one implementation, an apparatus for substrate processing includes a chamber body. The chamber body includes a processing volume, a plurality of gas inject passages, and an exhaust port. The apparatus includes one or more upper heat sources positioned above the processing volume, one or more lower heat sources positioned below the processing volume, and a pedestal assembly positioned in the processing volume. The apparatus includes one or more side heat sources positioned outwardly of the processing volume and configured to heat the processing volume through a side of the processing volume. The chamber body can be a dual-chamber body that includes a second processing volume, and the one or more side heat sources can be positioned outwardly of one or more of the processing volume or the second processing volume.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to batch processing apparatus, systems, and related methods and structures for epitaxial deposition operations. In one implementation, an apparatus for substrate processing includes a cassette. The cassette is at least partially supported by a pedestal assembly. The cassette includes a plurality of levels arranged vertically with respect to each other, each level of the plurality of levels including a support surface configured to support a substrate. A level spacing between adjacent levels of the plurality of levels is 25 mm or higher, and the level spacing is defined between the support surfaces of the adjacent levels.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for foreline diagnostics and control. A foreline coupled to a chamber exhaust is instrumented with one or more sensors, in some embodiments placed between the chamber exhaust and an abatement system. The one or more sensors are positioned to measure pressure in the foreline as an indicator of conductance. The sensors are coupled to a trained machine learning model configured to provide a signal when the foreline needs a cleaning cycle or when preventive maintenance should be performed. In some embodiments, the trained machine learning predicts when cleaning or preventive maintenance will be needed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for semiconductor processing, more particularly, to a thermal process chamber. The thermal process chamber includes a substrate support, a first plurality of heating elements disposed over or below the substrate support, and a spot heating module disposed over the substrate support. The spot heating module is utilized to provide local heating of cold regions on a substrate disposed on the substrate support during processing. Localized heating of the substrate improves temperature profile, which in turn improves deposition uniformity.

Abstract: Aspects generally relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for conducting a calibration operation for a plurality of mass flow controllers (MFCs) of a substrate processing system. In one aspect, a corrected flow curve is created for a range of target flow rates across a plurality of setpoints. In one implementation, a method of conducting a calibration operation for a plurality of mass flow controllers (MFCs) of a substrate processing system includes prioritizing the plurality of MFCs for the calibration operation. The prioritizing includes determining an operation time for each MFC of the plurality of MFCs, and ranking the plurality of MFCs in a rank list according to the operation time for each MFC. The method includes conducting the calibration operation for the plurality of MFCs according to the rank list and during an idle time for the substrate processing system.

Abstract: Aspects generally relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for conducting a calibration operation for a plurality of mass flow controllers (MFCs) of a substrate processing system. In one aspect, a corrected flow curve is created for a range of target flow rates across a plurality of setpoints. In one implementation, a method of conducting a calibration operation for a plurality of mass flow controllers (MFCs) of a substrate processing system includes prioritizing the plurality of MFCs for the calibration operation. The prioritizing includes determining an operation time for each MFC of the plurality of MFCs, and ranking the plurality of MFCs in a rank list according to the operation time for each MFC. The method includes conducting the calibration operation for the plurality of MFCs according to the rank list and during an idle time for the substrate processing system.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods for depositing silicon-phosphorous materials, and more specifically, relate to using silicon-phosphorous compounds in vapor deposition processes (e.g., epitaxy, CVD, or ALD) to deposit silicon-phosphorous materials. In one or more embodiments, a method for forming a silicon-phosphorous material on a substrate is provided and includes exposing the substrate to a deposition gas containing one or more silicon-phosphorous compounds during a deposition process and depositing a film containing the silicon-phosphorous material on the substrate. The silicon-phosphorous compound has the chemical formula [(R3-vHvSi)—(R2-wHwSi)n]xPHyR?z, where each instance of R and each instance of R? are independently an alkyl or a halogen, n is 0, 1, or 2; v is 0, 1, 2, or 3; w is 0, 1, or 2; x is 1, 2, or 3; y is 0, 1, or 2; z is 0, 1, or 2, and where x+y+z=3.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and systems for cleaning a surface of a substrate. In an embodiment, a method of processing a substrate is provided. The method includes introducing a substrate to a processing volume of a processing chamber by positioning the substrate on a substrate support. The method further includes flowing a first process gas into the processing volume, the first process gas comprising HF, flowing a second process gas into the processing volume, the second process gas comprising pyridine, pyrrole, aniline, or a combination thereof, and exposing the substrate to the first process gas and the second process gas to remove oxide from the substrate under oxide removal conditions. In another embodiment, a system is provided that includes a processing chamber to process a substrate, and a controller to cause a processing method to be performed in the processing chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods for depositing silicon-phosphorous materials, and more specifically, relate to using silicon-phosphorous compounds in vapor deposition processes (e.g., epitaxy, CVD, or ALD) to deposit silicon-phosphorous materials. In one or more embodiments, a method for forming a silicon-phosphorous material on a substrate is provided and includes exposing the substrate to a deposition gas containing one or more silicon-phosphorous compounds during a deposition process and depositing a film containing the silicon-phosphorous material on the substrate. The silicon-phosphorous compound has the chemical formula [(R3-vHvSi)—(R2-wHwSi)n]xPHyR?z, where each instance of R and each instance of R? are independently an alkyl or a halogen, n is 0, 1, or 2; v is 0, 1, 2, or 3; w is 0, 1, or 2; x is 1, 2, or 3; y is 0, 1, or 2; z is 0, 1, or 2, and where x+y+z=3.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and systems for cleaning a surface of a substrate. In an embodiment, a method of processing a substrate is provided. The method includes introducing a substrate to a processing volume of a processing chamber by positioning the substrate on a substrate support. The method further includes flowing a first process gas into the processing volume, the first process gas comprising HF, flowing a second process gas into the processing volume, the second process gas comprising pyridine, pyrrole, aniline, or a combination thereof, and exposing the substrate to the first process gas and the second process gas to remove oxide from the substrate under oxide removal conditions. In another embodiment, a system is provided that includes a processing chamber to process a substrate, and a controller to cause a processing method to be performed in the processing chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to gas inject apparatus for a process chamber for processing of semiconductor substrates. The gas inject apparatus include one or more gas injectors which are configured to be coupled to the process chamber. Each of the gas injectors are configured to receive a process gas and distribute the process gas across one or more gas outlets. The gas injectors include a plurality of pathways, a fin array, and a baffle array. The gas injectors are individually heated. A gas mixture assembly is also utilized to control the concentration of process gases flown into a process volume from each of the gas injectors. The gas mixture assembly enables the concentration as well as the flow rate of the process gases to be controlled.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an epitaxial chamber for processing of semiconductor substrates. In one example, the epitaxial chamber has a chamber body assembly. The chamber body assembly includes a lower window and an upper window, wherein chamber body assembly, the lower window and the upper window enclose an internal volume. A susceptor assembly is disposed in the internal volume. The epitaxial chamber also has a plurality of temperature control elements. The plurality of temperature control elements include one or more of an upper lamp module, a lower lamp module, an upper heater, a lower heater, or a heated gas passage.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include processes and apparatuses relate to epitaxial deposition. A method for epitaxially depositing a material is provided and includes positioning a substrate on a substrate support surface of a susceptor within a process volume of a chamber body, where the process volume contains upper and lower chamber regions. The method includes flowing a process gas containing one or more chemical precursors from an upper gas inlet on a first side of the chamber body, across the substrate, and to an upper gas outlet on a second side of the chamber body, flowing a purge gas from a lower gas inlet on the first side of the chamber body, across the lower surface of the susceptor, and to a lower gas outlet on the second side of the chamber body, and maintaining a pressure of the lower chamber region greater than a pressure of the upper chamber region.

Abstract: Methods of processing a semiconductor substrate and apparatus to process semiconductor substrates are described. The methods and apparatus described enable the repetitive cyclic low temperature application of a chemistry and high temperature treatment step to a substrate.

Abstract: Aspects generally relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for conducting a calibration operation for a plurality of mass flow controllers (MFCs) of a substrate processing system. In one aspect, a corrected flow curve is created for a range of target flow rates across a plurality of setpoints. In one implementation, a method of conducting a calibration operation for a plurality of mass flow controllers (MFCs) of a substrate processing system includes prioritizing the plurality of MFCs for the calibration operation. The prioritizing includes determining an operation time for each MFC of the plurality of MFCs, and ranking the plurality of MFCs in a rank list according to the operation time for each MFC. The method includes conducting the calibration operation for the plurality of MFCs according to the rank list and during an idle time for the substrate processing system.

Abstract: One or more embodiments herein relate to methods for detection using optical emission spectroscopy. In these embodiments, an optical signal is delivered from the process chamber to an optical emission spectrometer (OES). The OES identifies emission peaks of photons, which corresponds to the optical intensity of radiation from the photons, to determine the concentrations of each of the precursor gases and reaction products. The OES sends input signals of the data results to a controller. The controller can adjust process variables within the process chamber in real time during deposition based on the comparison. In other embodiments, the controller can automatically trigger a process chamber clean based on a comparison of input signals of process chamber residues received before the deposition process and input signals of process chamber residues received after the deposition process.

Abstract: Generally, examples described herein relate to methods and processing chambers and systems for forming a stacked pixel structure using epitaxial growth processes and device structures formed thereby. In an example, a first sensor layer is epitaxially grown on a crystalline surface on a substrate. A first isolation structure is epitaxially grown on the first sensor layer. A second sensor layer is epitaxially grown on the first isolation structure. A second isolation structure is epitaxially grown on the second sensor layer. A third sensor layer is epitaxially grown on the second isolation structure.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to apparatus, systems, and methods of using atomic hydrogen radicals with epitaxial deposition. In one aspect, nodular defects (e.g., nodules) are removed from epitaxial layers of substrate. In one implementation, a method of processing substrates includes selectively growing an epitaxial layer on one or more crystalline surfaces of a substrate. The epitaxial layer includes silicon. The method also includes etching the substrate to remove a plurality of nodules from one or more non-crystalline surfaces of the substrate. The etching includes exposing the substrate to atomic hydrogen radicals. The method also includes thermally annealing the epitaxial layer to an anneal temperature that is 600 degrees Celsius or higher.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling temperature profile of a substrate within an epitaxial chamber includes a bottom center pyrometer and a bottom outer pyrometer to respectively measure temperatures at a center location and an outer location of a first surface of a susceptor of an epitaxy chamber, a top center pyrometer and a top outer pyrometer to respectively measure temperatures at a center location and an outer location of a substrate disposed on a second surface of the susceptor opposite the first surface, a first controller to receive signals, from the bottom center pyrometer and the bottom outer pyrometer, and output a feedback signal to a first heating lamp module that heats the first surface based on the measured temperatures of the first surface, and a second controller to receive signals, from the top center pyrometer, the top outer pyrometer, the bottom center pyrometer, and the bottom outer pyrometer, and output a feedback signal to a second heating lamp module that heats the substrate based on the mea