Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multilayered cap (i.e., migration barrier) that conforms to the substrate (i.e., interconnect structure) below. The multilayered cap, which can be located atop at least one interconnect level of an interconnect structure, includes, from bottom to top, a first layer comprising silicon nitride and a second layer comprising at least one of boron nitride and carbon boron nitride.

Abstract: A flash memory device and methods of forming a flash memory device are provided. The flash memory device includes a doped silicon nitride layer having a dopant comprising carbon, boron or oxygen. The doped silicon nitride layer generates a higher number and higher concentration of nitrogen and silicon dangling bonds in the layer and provides an increase in charge holding capacity and charge retention time of the unit cell of a non-volatile memory device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a substrate is provided. A porous dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. In some embodiments, the dielectric may be capped by a dense dielectric layer. The dielectric layers are patterned, and a dense dielectric layer deposited conformally over the substrate. The dense conformal dielectric layer seals the pores of the porous dielectric layer against contact with species that may infiltrate the pores. The portion of the dense conformal pore-sealing dielectric layer covering the field region and bottom portions of the pattern openings is removed by directional selective etch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a substrate is provided. A porous dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. In some embodiments, the dielectric may be capped by a dense dielectric layer. The dielectric layers are patterned, and a dense dielectric layer deposited conformally over the substrate. The dense conformal dielectric layer seals the pores of the porous dielectric layer against contact with species that may infiltrate the pores. The portion of the dense conformal pore-sealing dielectric layer covering the field region and bottom portions of the pattern openings is removed by directional selective etch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming magnetic media substrates is provided. A patterned resist layer is formed on a substrate having a magnetically susceptible layer. A conformal protective layer is formed over the patterned resist layer to prevent degradation of the pattern during subsequent processing. The substrate is subjected to an energy treatment wherein energetic species penetrate portions of the patterned resist and conformal protective layer according to the pattern formed in the patterned resist, impacting the magnetically susceptible layer and modifying a magnetic property thereof. The patterned resist and conformal protective layers are then removed, leaving a magnetic substrate having a pattern of magnetic properties with a topography that is substantially unchanged.

Abstract: Stress of a silicon nitride layer may be enhanced by deposition at higher temperatures. Employing an apparatus that allows heating of a substrate to substantially greater than 400° C. (for example a heater made from ceramic rather than aluminum), the silicon nitride film as-deposited may exhibit enhanced stress allowing for improved performance of the underlying MOS transistor device. In accordance with some embodiments, a deposited silicon nitride film is exposed to curing with plasma and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, thereby helping remove hydrogen from the film and increasing film stress. In accordance with other embodiments, a silicon nitride film is formed utilizing an integrated process employing a number of deposition/curing cycles to preserve integrity of the film at the sharp corner of the underlying raised feature. Adhesion between successive layers may be promoted by inclusion of a post-UV cure plasma treatment in each cycle.

Abstract: High tensile stress in a deposited layer, such as a silicon nitride layer, may be achieved utilizing one or more techniques employed either alone or in combination. In one embodiment, a silicon nitride film having high tensile stress may be formed by depositing the silicon nitride film in the presence of a porogen. The deposited silicon nitride film may be exposed to at least one treatment selected from a plasma or ultraviolet radiation to liberate the porogen. The silicon nitride film may be densified such that a pore resulting from liberation of the porogen is reduced in size, and Si—N bonds in the silicon nitride film are strained to impart a tensile stress in the silicon nitride film. In another embodiment, tensile stress in a silicon nitride film may be enhanced by depositing a silicon nitride film in the presence of a nitrogen-containing plasma at a temperature of less than about 400° C., and exposing the deposited silicon nitride film to ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A through-silicon via fabrication method includes etching a plurality of through holes in a silicon plate. An oxide liner is deposited on the surface of the silicon plate and on the sidewalls and bottom wall of the through holes. A metallic conductor is then deposited in the through holes. In another version, which may be used concurrently with the oxide liner, a silicon nitride passivation layer is deposited on the exposed back surface of the silicon plate of the substrate.

Abstract: A through-silicon via fabrication method comprises forming a substrate by bonding the front surface of a silicon plate to a carrier using an adhesive layer therebetween to expose the back surface of the silicon plate. A silicon nitride passivation layer is deposited on the exposed back surface of the silicon plate of the substrate. A plurality of through holes are etched in the silicon plate, the through holes comprising sidewalls and bottom walls. A metallic conductor is deposited in the through holes to form a plurality of through-silicon vias.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a thermal processor or a plasma generator adjacent to a processing chamber. A first processing gas enters the thermal processor or plasma generator. The first processing gas then flows directly through a showerhead into the processing chamber. A second processing gas flows through a second flow path through the showerhead. The first and second processing gases are mixed below the showerhead and a layer of material is deposited on a substrate under the showerhead.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to form spacer materials adjacent substrate structures. In one embodiment, a method is provided for processing a substrate including placing a substrate having a substrate structure adjacent a substrate surface in a deposition chamber, depositing a spacer layer on the substrate structure and substrate surface, and etching the spacer layer to expose the substrate structure and a portion of the substrate surface, wherein the spacer layer is disposed adjacent the substrate structure. The spacer layer may comprise a boron nitride material. The spacer layer may comprise a base spacer layer and a liner layer, and the spacer layer may be etched in a two-step etching process.

Abstract: A method for providing a dielectric film having enhanced adhesion and stability. The method includes a post deposition treatment that densifies the film in a reducing atmosphere to enhance stability if the film is to be cured ex-situ. The densification generally takes place in a reducing environment while heating the substrate. The densification treatment is particularly suitable for silicon-oxygen-carbon low dielectric constant films that have been deposited at low temperature.

Abstract: Stress of a silicon nitride layer may be enhanced by deposition at higher temperatures. Employing an apparatus that allows heating of a substrate to substantially greater than 400° C. (for example a heater made from ceramic rather than aluminum), the silicon nitride film as-deposited may exhibit enhanced stress allowing for improved performance of the underlying MOS transistor device. In accordance with alternative embodiments, a deposited silicon nitride film is exposed to curing with ultraviolet (UV) radiation at an elevated temperature, thereby helping remove hydrogen from the film and increasing film stress. In accordance with still other embodiments, a silicon nitride film is formed utilizing an integrated process employing a number of deposition/curing cycles to preserve integrity of the film at the sharp corner of the underlying raised feature. Adhesion between successive layers may be promoted by inclusion of a post-UV cure plasma treatment in each cycle.

Abstract: High tensile stress in a deposited layer such as silicon nitride, may be achieved utilizing one or more techniques, employed alone or in combination. High tensile stress may be achieved by forming a silicon-containing layer on a surface by exposing the surface to a silicon-containing precursor gas in the absence of a plasma, forming silicon nitride by exposing said silicon-containing layer to a nitrogen-containing plasma, and then repeating these steps to increase a thickness of the silicon nitride created thereby. High tensile stress may also be achieved by exposing a surface to a silicon-containing precursor gas in a first nitrogen-containing plasma, treating the material with a second nitrogen-containing plasma, and then repeating these steps to increase a thickness of the silicon nitride formed thereby. In another embodiment, tensile film stress is enhanced by deposition with porogens that are liberated upon subsequent exposure to UV radiation or plasma treatment.

Abstract: In a method of depositing a crystalline germanium layer on a substrate, a substrate is placed in the process zone comprising a pair of process electrodes. In a deposition stage, a crystalline germanium layer is deposited on the substrate by introducing a deposition gas comprising a germanium-containing gas into the process zone, and forming a capacitively coupled plasma of the deposition gas by coupling energy to the process electrodes. In a subsequent treatment stage, the deposited crystalline germanium layer is treated by exposing the crystalline germanium layer to an energized treatment gas or by annealing the layer.

Abstract: Methods for forming boron-containing films are provided. The methods include introducing a boron-containing precursor and a nitrogen or oxygen-containing precursor into a chamber and forming a boron nitride or boron oxide film on a substrate in the chamber. In one aspect, the method includes depositing a boron-containing film and then exposing the boron-containing film to the nitrogen-containing or oxygen-containing precursor to incorporate nitrogen or oxygen into the film. The deposition of the boron-containing film and exposure of the film to the precursor may be performed for multiple cycles to obtain a desired thickness of the film. In another aspect, the method includes reacting the boron-containing precursor and the nitrogen-containing or oxygen-containing precursor to chemically vapor deposit the boron nitride or boron oxide film.

Abstract: A silicon dioxide layer is deposited onto a substrate using a process gas comprising BDEAS and an oxygen-containing gas such as ozone. The silicon dioxide layer can be part of an etch-resistant stack that includes a resist layer. In another version, the silicon dioxide layer is deposited into through holes to form an oxide liner for through-silicon vias.

Abstract: Methods are provided for processing a substrate for depositing an adhesion layer having a low dielectric constant between two low k dielectric layers. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for processing a substrate including depositing a barrier layer on the substrate, wherein the barrier layer comprises silicon and carbon and has a dielectric constant less than 4, depositing a dielectric initiation layer adjacent the barrier layer, and depositing a first dielectric layer adjacent the dielectric initiation layer, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon, oxygen, and carbon and has a dielectric constant of about 3 or less.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a method for forming a dielectric barrier with lowered dielectric constant, improved etching resistivity and good barrier property. One embodiment provides a method for processing a semiconductor substrate comprising flowing a precursor to a processing chamber, wherein the precursor comprises silicon-carbon bonds and carbon-carbon bonds, and generating a low density plasma of the precursor in the processing chamber to form a dielectric barrier film having carbon-carbon bonds on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the at least a portion of carbon-carbon bonds in the precursor is preserved in the low density plasma and incorporated in the dielectric barrier film.

Abstract: Methods are provided for processing a substrate for depositing an adhesion layer having a low dielectric constant between two low k dielectric layers. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for processing a substrate including depositing a barrier layer on the substrate, wherein the barrier layer comprises silicon and carbon and has a dielectric constant less than 4, depositing a dielectric initiation layer adjacent the barrier layer, and depositing a first dielectric layer adjacent the dielectric initiation layer, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon, oxygen, and carbon and has a dielectric constant of about 3 or less.