Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a processing chamber comprising blocking a flow of cooling fluid to a channel within a support member within a processing chamber, elevating the support member to be within about 0.1 inches of a gas distribution plate, heating the gas distribution plate, and introducing a thermally conductive gas through the gas distribution plate into the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing native oxides from a substrate surface is provided. In one aspect, the chamber comprises a chamber body and a support assembly at least partially disposed within the chamber body and adapted to support a substrate thereon. The support assembly includes one or more fluid channels at least partially formed therein and capable of cooling the substrate. The chamber further comprises a lid assembly disposed on an upper surface of the chamber body. The lid assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode which define a plasma cavity therebetween, wherein the second electrode is adapted to connectively heat the substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer on a substrate id described. The titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer is formed by providing a substrate to a process chamber and treating the substrate with a silicon-containing gas. A titanium nitride layer is formed on the treated substrate and exposed to a silicon-containing gas. The titanium nitride (TiN) layer reacts with the silicon-containing gas to form the titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer. The formation of the titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer is compatible with integrated circuit fabrication processes. In one integrated circuit fabrication process, the titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer may be used as a diffusion barrier for a tungsten (W) metallization process.

Abstract: A method for forming aluminum lines over aluminum-filled vias in a semiconductor substrate that can compensate for some misalignment between the filled vias and the lines. By alternately depositing liner-barrier layers and aluminum layers on the substrate, different etch chemistries can be used that can anisotropically etch an aluminum layer used to form the lines without etching voids in the aluminum-filled vias.

Abstract: A method of forming a titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer on a substrate id described. The titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer is formed by providing a substrate to a process chamber and treating the substrate with a silicon-containing gas. A titanium nitride layer is formed on the treated substrate and exposed to a silicon-containing gas. The titanium nitride (TiN) layer reacts with the silicon-containing gas to form the titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer. The formation of the titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer is compatible with integrated circuit fabrication processes. In one integrated circuit fabrication process, the titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer may be used as a diffusion barrier for a tungsten (W) metallization process.

Abstract: A method of forming a titanium silicide nitride (TiSiN) layer is described. A titanium nitride (TiN) layer is deposited on a substrate, the process chamber is purged to remove reaction by-products therefrom and than the titanium nitride (TiN) layer is exposed to a silicon-containing gas to form the titanium suicide nitride (TiSiN) layer. Alternatively, the substrate may be exposed to the silicon-containing gas in a process chamber different from the one used for the titanium nitride (TiN) layer deposition.