Abstract: Exemplary methods of forming nickel-containing materials may include forming a layer of a nickel-and-oxygen-containing material overlying a substrate. The nickel-and-oxygen-containing material may be characterized by a carbon content. The methods may also include annealing the nickel-containing material with a carbon-containing precursor at a temperature greater than or about 100° C. The carbon content within the nickel-and-oxygen-containing material may be maintained during the annealing.

Abstract: Exemplary methods of forming a nickel-containing film may include simultaneously flowing a nickel-containing precursor and an oxygen-containing precursor into a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a first layer of a nickel-and-oxygen-containing film overlying a substrate housed within the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include halting the simultaneous flow. The methods may include flowing a first precursor selected from the nickel-containing precursor and the oxygen-containing precursor into the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include flowing a second precursor selected from the nickel-containing precursor and the oxygen-containing precursor into the semiconductor processing chamber. The second precursor may be different from the first precursor. The methods may also include forming a second layer of the nickel-and-oxygen-containing film overlying the first layer of the nickel-and-oxygen-containing film.