Abstract: Processing system and platform embodiments are described that illuminate etch solutions to provide controlled etching of materials. The processing systems and platforms deposit a liquid etch solution over a material to be etched and illuminate the liquid etch solution to adjust levels of reactants. The liquid etch solution has a first level of reactants, and the illumination causes the liquid etch solution to have a second level of reactants that is different than the first level. The material is modified with the illuminated etch solution, and the modified material is removed. The delivery, exposing, and removing can be repeated to provide a cyclic etch. Further, oxidation and dissolution can occur simultaneously or can occur in multiple steps. The material being etched can be a polycrystalline material, a polycrystalline metal, and/or other material. One liquid etch solution can include hydrogen peroxide that is illuminated to form hydroxyl radicals.

Abstract: A method is provided for depositing a planarization layer over features on a substrate using sequential polymerization chemical vapor deposition. According to one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of features with gaps between the plurality of features, delivering precursor molecules by gas phase exposure to the substrate, adsorbing the precursor molecules on the substrate to at least substantially fill the gaps with a layer of the adsorbed precursor molecules, and reacting the precursor molecules to form a polymer layer that at least substantially fills the gaps.

Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a processing chamber having a substrate holder; a first gas delivery system configured to deliver a first source gas within the processing chamber; a second gas delivery system configured to deliver a second source gas within the processing chamber; an energy activation system; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to control first processing parameters for delivery of the first source gas, control second processing parameters for delivery of the second source gas, control processing chamber parameters and energy activation system parameters to cause a reaction of the first source gas and the second source gas with a surface of one or more parts in the processing chamber to etch an atomic layer from the surface of the one or more parts in absence of a plasma, and control vacuum system parameters for removal of one or more reaction gases from the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method is provided for depositing a planarization layer over features on a substrate using sequential polymerization chemical vapor deposition. According to one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of features with gaps between the plurality of features, delivering precursor molecules by gas phase exposure to the substrate, adsorbing the precursor molecules on the substrate to at least substantially fill the gaps with a layer of the adsorbed precursor molecules, and reacting the precursor molecules to form a polymer layer that at least substantially fills the gaps.

Abstract: A method is provided for coating or filling a porous material. According to one embodiment, the method includes providing the porous material, delivering precursor molecules by gas phase exposure into pores of the porous material, and reacting the precursor molecules to form a polymer inside the pores.

Abstract: A system for depositing a thin film on a substrate using a vapor deposition process is described. The deposition system includes a process chamber having a vacuum pumping system configured to evacuate the process chamber, a substrate holder coupled to the process chamber and configured to support the substrate, a gas distribution system coupled to the process chamber and configured to introduce a film forming composition to a process space in the vicinity of a surface of the substrate, a non-ionizing heat source separate from the substrate holder that is configured to receive a flow of the film forming composition and to cause thermal fragmentation of one or more constituents of the film forming composition when heated, and one or more power sources coupled to the heating element array and configured to provide an electrical signal to the at least one heating element zone.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for depositing a thin film on a surface of a substrate is described. The CVD method comprises disposing a substrate on a substrate holder in a process chamber, and introducing a process gas to the process chamber, wherein the process gas comprises a chemical precursor. The process gas is exposed to a non-ionizing heat source separate from the substrate holder to cause decomposition of the chemical precursor. A thin film is deposited upon the substrate.

Abstract: A system for depositing a thin film on a substrate using a vapor deposition process is described. The deposition system includes a process chamber having a vacuum pumping system configured to evacuate the process chamber, a substrate holder coupled to the process chamber and configured to support the substrate, a gas distribution system coupled to the process chamber and configured to introduce a film forming composition to a process space in the vicinity of a surface of the substrate, a non-ionizing heat source separate from the substrate holder that is configured to receive a flow of the film forming composition and to cause thermal fragmentation of one or more constituents of the film forming composition when heated, and one or more power sources coupled to the heating element array and configured to provide an electrical signal to the at least one heating element zone.

Abstract: A method of depositing a thin film on a substrate in a deposition system is described. The method includes disposing a gas heating device comprising a plurality of heating element zones in a deposition system, and independently controlling a temperature of each of the plurality of heating element zones, wherein each of the plurality of heating element zones having one or more resistive heating elements. Additionally, the method includes providing a substrate on a substrate holder in the deposition system, wherein the substrate holder has one or more temperature control zones. The method further includes providing a film forming composition to the gas heating device coupled to the deposition system, pyrolyzing one or more constituents of the film forming composition using the gas heating device, and introducing the film forming composition to the substrate in the deposition system to deposit a thin film on the substrate.

Abstract: A processing method and apparatus uses at least one electric field applicator (34) biased to produce a spatial-temporal electric field to affect a processing medium (26), suspended nano-objects (28) or the substrate (30) in processing, interacting with the dipole properties of the medium (26) or particles to construct structure on the substrate (30). The apparatus may include a magnetic field, an acoustic field, an optical force, or other generation device. The processing may affect selective localized layers on the substrate (30) or may control orientation of particles in the layers, control movement of dielectrophoretic particles or media, or cause suspended particles of different properties to follow different paths in the processing medium (26). Depositing or modifying a layer on the substrate (30) may be carried out.

Abstract: A processing method and apparatus uses at least one electric field applicator (34) biased to produce a spatial-temporal electric field to affect a processing medium (26), suspended nano-objects (28) or the substrate (30) in processing, interacting with the dipole properties of the medium (26) or particles to construct structure on the substrate (30). The apparatus may include a magnetic field, an acoustic field, an optical force, or other generation device. The processing may affect selective localized layers on the substrate (30) or may control orientation of particles in the layers, control movement of dielectrophoretic particles or media, or cause suspended particles of different properties to follow different paths in the processing medium (26). Depositing or modifying a layer on the substrate (30) may be carried out.

Abstract: A system for curing a low dielectric constant (low-k) dielectric film on a substrate is described, wherein the dielectric constant of the low-k dielectric film is less than a value of approximately 4. The system comprises one or more process modules configured for exposing the low-k dielectric film to electromagnetic (EM) radiation, such as infrared (IR) radiation and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Abstract: A gas heating device and a processing system for use therein are described for depositing a thin film on a substrate using a vapor deposition process. The gas heating device includes a heating element array having a plurality of heating element zones configured to receive a flow of a film forming composition across or through said plurality of heating element zones in order to cause pyrolysis of one or more constituents of the film forming composition when heated. Additionally, the processing system may include a substrate holder configured to support a substrate. The substrate holder may include a backside gas supply system configured to supply a heat transfer gas to a backside of said substrate, wherein the backside gas supply system is configured to independently supply the heat transfer gas to multiple zones at the backside of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and system for plasma-assisted thin film vapor deposition on a substrate is described. The system includes a process chamber including a first process space having a first volume, a substrate stage coupled to the process chamber and configured to support a substrate and expose the substrate to the first process space, a plasma generation system coupled to the process chamber and configured to generate plasma in at least a portion of the first process space, and a vacuum pumping system coupled to the process chamber and configured to evacuate at least a portion of the first process space. The system further includes a process volume adjustment mechanism coupled to the process chamber and configured to create a second process space that includes at least a part of the first process space and that has a second volume less than the first volume, the substrate being exposed to the second process space.

Abstract: A processing method and apparatus uses at least one electric field applicator (34) biased to produce a spatial-temporal electric field to affect a processing medium (26), suspended nano-objects (28) or the substrate (30) in processing, interacting with the dipole properties of the medium (26) or particles to construct structure on the substrate (30). The apparatus may include a magnetic field, an acoustic field, an optical force, or other generation device. The processing may affect selective localized layers on the substrate (30) or may control orientation of particles in the layers, control movement of dielectrophoretic particles or media, or cause suspended particles of different properties to follow different paths in the processing medium (26). Depositing or modifying a layer on the substrate (30) may be carried out.

Abstract: A method for vapor deposition on a substrate in a vapor deposition system having a process space separated from a transfer space. The method disposes a substrate in a process space of a processing system that is vacuum isolated from a transfer space of the processing system, processes the substrate at either of a first position or a second position in the process space while maintaining vacuum isolation from the transfer space by way of a movement accommodating sealing material, and deposits a material on the substrate at either the first position or the second position.

Abstract: A method and system for depositing a thin film on a substrate using a vapor deposition process is described. The processing system comprises a gas heating device for heating one or more constituents of a film forming composition. The gas heating device comprises one or more resistive heating elements configured to receive an electrical current from one or more power sources. Additionally, the gas heating device comprises a mounting structure configured to support the one or more resistive heating elements. Furthermore, the gas heating device comprises one or more static mounting devices coupled to the mounting structure and configured to fixedly couple the one or more resistive heating elements to the mounting structure, and one or more dynamic mounting devices coupled to the mounting structure and configured to automatically compensate for changes in a length of each of the one or more resistive heating elements.

Abstract: A gas heating device that may be used in a system for depositing a thin film on a substrate using a vapor deposition process is described. The gas heating device may be configured for heating one or more constituents of a film forming composition. The gas heating device comprises one or more resistive heating elements. Additionally, the gas heating device comprises a mounting structure configured to support at least one of the one or more resistive heating elements. Furthermore, the gas heating device comprises a static mounting device coupled to the mounting structure and configured to fixedly couple the at least one of the one or more resistive heating elements to the mounting structure, and a dynamic mounting device coupled to the mounting structure and configured to automatically compensate for changes in a length of the at least one of the one or more resistive heating elements.

Abstract: A method of performing a filament-assisted chemical vapor deposition process is described. The method includes providing a substrate holder in a process chamber of a chemical vapor deposition system, providing a non-ionizing heat source separate from the substrate holder in the process chamber, disposing a substrate on the substrate holder, introducing a film forming composition to the process chamber, thermally fragmenting the film forming composition using the non-ionizing heat source, and forming a thin film on the substrate in the process chamber. The non-ionizing heat source includes a gas heating device through and/or over which the film forming composition flows. The method further includes remotely producing a reactive composition, and introducing the reactive composition to the process chamber to interact with the substrate, wherein the reactive composition is introduced sequentially and/or simultaneously with the introducing the film forming composition.

Abstract: A process module for treating a dielectric film and, in particular, a process module for exposing, for example, a low dielectric constant (low-k) dielectric film to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is described. The process module includes a process chamber, a substrate holder coupled to the process chamber and configured to support a substrate, and a radiation source coupled to the process chamber and configured to expose the dielectric film to electromagnetic (EM) radiation. The radiation source includes a UV source, wherein the UV source has a UV lamp, and a reflector for directing reflected UV radiation from the UV lamp to the substrate. The reflector has a dichroic reflector, and a non-absorbing reflector disposed between the UV lamp and the substrate, and configured to reflect UV radiation from the UV lamp towards the dichroic reflector, wherein the non-absorbing reflector substantially prevents direct UV radiation from the UV lamp to the substrate.