Abstract: A method of forming a silicide on a silicon layer. First, a monosilane based tungsten-silicide layer is formed on the silicon layer. Next, a dichlorosilane based tungsten-silicide layer is formed on the monosilane based tungsten-silicide layer.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, in a vacuum processing chamber includes the steps of depositing a material on a surface of the substrate using a gas mixture, and purging the chamber of residual gases by flowing SiH4 into the chamber. Preferably, WSix is deposited on a semiconductor wafer using a mixture comprising WF6, dichlorosilane and a noble gas, and the chamber is subsequently purged of residual WF6 and dichlorosilane by flowing SiH4 into the chamber. A further method of processing a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber includes the step of conditioning the chamber by flowing SiH4 into the chamber prior to depositing a material on the surface of the substrate. Semiconductor wafers processed according to the inventive method are characterized by more uniform sheet resistance values and reduced film stress.

Abstract: A tungsten silicide film is deposited on a substrate from a premixed deposition gas mixture comprising: (i) silicon source gas, such as SiCl.sub.2 H.sub.2 and (ii) tungsten source gas, such as WF.sub.6. A seeding gas, such as silane, is used during the initial deposition stages to deposit a substantially uniform interfacial WSi.sub.x layer on the substrate, so that the tungsten to silicon ratio of the WSi.sub.x layer is substantially uniform through the thickness of the WSi.sub.x film. An apparatus for performing the process is also described.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of achieving inter-chamber synchronization in a system for integrated circuit manufacturing that includes first and second chambers. In particular, the disclosed method includes terminating a second operation in a second recipe carried out in the second chamber, upon termination of a first operation in a first recipe carried out in the first chamber. Performance advantages realized by the method are illustrated for various cases including 1) a variable-length first operation; 2) a fixed-length first operation; 3) a process first recipe; 4) a conditioning first recipe; 5) a process second recipe; and 6) a conditioning second recipe.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, in a vacuum processing chamber includes the steps of depositing a material on a surface of the substrate using a gas mixture, and purging the chamber of residual gases by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber. Preferably, WSi.sub.x is deposited on a semiconductor wafer using a mixture comprising WF.sub.6, dichlorosilane and a noble gas, and the chamber is subsequently purged of residual WF.sub.6 and dichlorosilane by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber. A further method of processing a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber includes the step of conditioning the chamber by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber prior to depositing a material on the surface of the substrate. Semiconductor wafers processed according to the inventive method are characterized by more uniform sheet resistance values and reduced film stress.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, in a vacuum processing chamber includes the steps of depositing a material on a surface of the substrate using a gas mixture, and purging the chamber of residual gases by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber. Preferably, WSi.sub.x is deposited on a semiconductor wafer using a mixture comprising WF.sub.6, dichlorosilane and a noble gas, and the chamber is subsequently purged of residual WF.sub.6 and dichlorosilane by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber. A further method of processing a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber includes the step of conditioning the chamber by flowing SiH.sub.4 into the chamber prior to depositing a material on the surface of the substrate. Semiconductor wafers processed according to the inventive method are characterized by more uniform sheet resistance values and reduced film stress.