Patents by Inventor Kunal Bhatnagar
Kunal Bhatnagar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20260100329Abstract: A plasma coil assembly including a ring-shaped body, an RF electrode positioned within the ring-shaped body, and a dielectric top plate positioned within the ring-shaped body. A semiconductor manufacturing processing chamber including a processing chamber body, a gas distribution assembly, a substrate support, and the plasma coil assembly. A method of selectively etching a substrate surface including forming a process gas, exposing the substrate surface to the process gas to form activated fluorine-containing species, and sublimating the activated fluorine-containing species. A method of etching a substrate surface including exposing the substrate surface to a fluorine-containing plasma and applying a bias voltage to the substrate surface, the fluorine-containing plasma generated by the plasma coil assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2024Publication date: April 9, 2026Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Nguyen, Shankar Swaminathan, Mohith Verghese, Kunal Bhatnagar, Sue-Ann Yow, Chau T. Nguyen, Sathya Swaroop Ganta
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Patent number: 12577668Abstract: A deposition method demonstrating a slower growth rate is disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide CVD methods which utilize a halide-containing growth inhibitor as a co-reactant with a metal halide precursor and a reactant. Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to CVD and ALD methods comprising exposure of the substrate surface to a pretreatment comprising a halide-containing growth inhibitor.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2022Date of Patent: March 17, 2026Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese
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Patent number: 12559836Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods for molybdenum gapfill. Additional embodiments provide a method of forming a molybdenum gapfill without substantial voids. Some embodiments of the disclosure are relevant for higher aspect ratio features including DRAM memory cells.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2022Date of Patent: February 24, 2026Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar
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Publication number: 20240420998Abstract: Methods of forming transistors, e.g., FinFETs, are described. A conformal liner layer is formed in a trench. A metal nitride material is introduced in regular or semi-regular intervals during a metal gap fill of a trench structure to prevent the formation of voids (air gaps) within the structure. The metal nitride material and the metal gap fill material may be deposited by atomic layer deposition methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2023Publication date: December 19, 2024Applicant: Applied Material, Inc.Inventors: Joni Oskari Raisanen, Kunal Bhatnagar
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Patent number: 12114488Abstract: Methods of forming memory devices are described. A molybdenum silicide nucleation layer is formed, and the substrate is soaked in a titanium precursor prior to a bulk molybdenum gap fill process. In other embodiments, a molybdenum silicide film is formed in a first process cycle and a second process cycle is performed where the substrate is exposed to a titanium precursor. In further embodiments, a substrate having at least one feature thereon is exposed to a first titanium precursor and a nitrogen-containing reactant. The substrate is then soaked in a second titanium precursor, and then is exposed to a first molybdenum precursor followed by exposure to a silane to form a molybdenum silicide layer on a surface of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yong Yang, Kunal Bhatnagar, Srinivas Gandikota, Seshadri Ganguli, Jose Alexandro Romero, Mandyam Sriram, Mohith Verghese, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang
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Patent number: 12080558Abstract: Methods for depositing molybdenum films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a molybdenum halide precursor and an aluminum precursor to form the molybdenum film (e.g., elemental molybdenum) at a low temperature. The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2023Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Dmitrii Leshchev, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
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Publication number: 20240237337Abstract: A method includes obtaining a base structure of a three-dimensional (3D) memory device, forming, on the base structure, a blocking layer including a high-k dielectric material, and forming, on the blocking layer, a wordline for the 3D memory device including molybdenum using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2023Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: Jaesoo Ahn, Jose Alexandro Romero, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mahendra Pakala
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Patent number: 11996292Abstract: Methods for filling a gap feature on a substrate surface are disclosure. The methods may include: providing a substrate comprising one or more gap features into a reaction chamber; and depositing a metallic gap-fill film within the gap feature by performing repeated unit cycles of a cyclical deposition process. Semiconductor structures including metallic gap-fill films are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Ashwin Agathya Boochakravathy, Wei Li
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Publication number: 20240138147Abstract: A method includes obtaining a base structure of a three-dimensional (3D) memory device, forming, on the base structure, a blocking layer including a high-k dielectric material, and forming, on the blocking layer, a wordline for the 3D memory device including molybdenum using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Jaesoo Ahn, Jose Alexandro Romero, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mahendra Pakala
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Publication number: 20240071766Abstract: Methods for filling a gap feature on a substrate surface are disclosure. The methods may include: providing a substrate comprising one or more gap features into a reaction chamber; and depositing a metallic gap-fill film within the gap feature by performing repeated unit cycles of a cyclical deposition process. Semiconductor structures including metallic gap-fill films are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Ashwin Agathya Boochakravarthy, Wei Li
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Publication number: 20240074162Abstract: Methods for DRAM device with a buried word line are described. The method includes forming a metal nitride layer comprising lanthanum nitride (LaN) and a molybdenum conductor layer in a feature on a substrate. The method includes depositing the molybdenum conductor layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the metal nitride layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar
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Publication number: 20240060175Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide conformally deposited molybdenum films having reduced resistivity and methods of forming the same. The methods include forming a nucleation layer directly on a dielectric layer on a substrate surface by exposing the substrate surface to a molybdenum-containing precursor and a nucleation reactant, and conformally depositing a molybdenum film on the nucleation layer. Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to a method that is part of a gap fill process, comprising forming a nucleation layer directly on a dielectric region within one or more high aspect ratio gap features, including vertical gap features and/or horizontal gap features, and conformally depositing a molybdenum film on the nucleation layer to fill the feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang, Yong Yang, Tuerxun Ailihumaer, Yogesh Sharma, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese
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Publication number: 20240047215Abstract: Methods for depositing molybdenum films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a molybdenum halide precursor and an aluminum precursor to form the molybdenum film (e.g., elemental molybdenum) at a low temperature. The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Dmitrii Leshchev, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
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Publication number: 20240035151Abstract: Methods for selective deposition are described herein. The methods include depositing an oxide on a first portion of a substrate surface selected from the group consisting of a metal surface, a metal nitride surface and a metal silicide surface. The methods further comprise selectively depositing a molybdenum film on a second portion of the substrate surface that does not have the oxide deposited thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero, Aniruddh Shekhawat
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Publication number: 20240035149Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods for molybdenum gapfill. Additional embodiments provide a method of forming a molybdenum gapfill without substantial voids. Some embodiments of the disclosure are relevant for higher aspect ratio features including DRAM memory cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar
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Patent number: 11854813Abstract: Methods for depositing molybdenum films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a molybdenum halide precursor and an aluminum precursor to form the molybdenum film (e.g., elemental molybdenum) at a low temperature. The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Dmitrii Leshchev, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
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Publication number: 20230238239Abstract: Methods for filling a gap feature on a substrate surface are disclosure. The methods may include: providing a substrate comprising one or more gap features into a reaction chamber; and depositing a metallic gap-fill film within the gap feature by performing repeated unit cycles of a cyclical deposition process. Semiconductor structures including metallic gap-fill films are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventor: Kunal Bhatnagar
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Publication number: 20230178375Abstract: Method of forming film stacks and film stacks for electronic devices are described herein. The methods comprise depositing a molybdenum nucleation layer on a gate oxide layer; depositing a molybdenum layer on the molybdenum nucleation layer; and performing a plasma nitridation process to insert nitrogen atoms into the molybdenum layer to form a work function modulating layer having an effective work function ? 4.5 eV. The plasma nitridation process comprises exposing the molybdenum layer to a radical-rich plasma comprising one or more of N2 or NH3. Some methods further comprise one or more of annealing the work function modulating layer, depositing a conductive layer on the work function modulating layer, or performing an etch process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Wei Liu, Shashank Sharma, Archana Kumar, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
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Publication number: 20220380897Abstract: A deposition method demonstrating a slower growth rate is disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide CVD methods which utilize a halide-containing growth inhibitor as a co-reactant with a metal halide precursor and a reactant. Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to CVD and ALD methods comprising exposure of the substrate surface to a pretreatment comprising a halide-containing growth inhibitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese
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Publication number: 20220359532Abstract: Methods of forming memory devices are described. A molybdenum silicide nucleation layer is formed, and the substrate is soaked in a titanium precursor prior to a bulk molybdenum gap fill process. In other embodiments, a molybdenum silicide film is formed in a first process cycle and a second process cycle is performed where the substrate is exposed to a titanium precursor. In further embodiments, a substrate having at least one feature thereon is exposed to a first titanium precursor and a nitrogen-containing reactant. The substrate is then soaked in a second titanium precursor, and then is exposed to a first molybdenum precursor followed by exposure to a silane to form a molybdenum silicide layer on a surface of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2021Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yong Yang, Kunal Bhatnagar, Srinivas Gandikota, Seshadri Ganguli, Jose Alexandro Romero, Mandyam Sriram, Mohith Verghese, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang