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).

  • Publication number: 20260100329
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2024
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Nguyen, Shankar Swaminathan, Mohith Verghese, Kunal Bhatnagar, Sue-Ann Yow, Chau T. Nguyen, Sathya Swaroop Ganta
  • Patent number: 12577668
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese
  • Patent number: 12559836
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar
  • Publication number: 20240420998
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Material, Inc.
    Inventors: Joni Oskari Raisanen, Kunal Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 12114488
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Kunal Bhatnagar, Srinivas Gandikota, Seshadri Ganguli, Jose Alexandro Romero, Mandyam Sriram, Mohith Verghese, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang
  • Patent number: 12080558
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Dmitrii Leshchev, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
  • Publication number: 20240237337
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Jaesoo Ahn, Jose Alexandro Romero, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mahendra Pakala
  • Patent number: 11996292
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Ashwin Agathya Boochakravathy, Wei Li
  • Publication number: 20240138147
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Jaesoo Ahn, Jose Alexandro Romero, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mahendra Pakala
  • Publication number: 20240071766
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Ashwin Agathya Boochakravarthy, Wei Li
  • Publication number: 20240074162
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar
  • Publication number: 20240060175
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang, Yong Yang, Tuerxun Ailihumaer, Yogesh Sharma, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese
  • Publication number: 20240047215
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Dmitrii Leshchev, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
  • Publication number: 20240035151
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero, Aniruddh Shekhawat
  • Publication number: 20240035149
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand Haddadin, Kunal Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 11854813
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Dmitrii Leshchev, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
  • Publication number: 20230238239
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventor: Kunal Bhatnagar
  • Publication number: 20230178375
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Wei Liu, Shashank Sharma, Archana Kumar, Mohith Verghese, Jose Alexandro Romero
  • Publication number: 20220380897
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Bhatnagar, Mohith Verghese
  • Publication number: 20220359532
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Kunal Bhatnagar, Srinivas Gandikota, Seshadri Ganguli, Jose Alexandro Romero, Mandyam Sriram, Mohith Verghese, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang