Abstract: A gas distribution system for a reactor having at least two distinct gas source orifice arrays displaced from one another along an axis defined by a gas flow direction from the gas source orifice arrays towards a work-piece deposition surface such that at least a lower one of the gas source orifice arrays is located between a higher one of the gas source orifice arrays and the work-piece deposition surface. Orifices in the higher one of the gas source orifice arrays may spaced an average of 0.2-0.8 times a distance between the higher one of the gas source orifice arrays and the work-piece deposition surface, while orifices in the lower one of the gas source orifice arrays may be spaced an average of 0.1-0.4 times a distance between the higher one of the gas source orifice arrays and the work-piece deposition surface.

Abstract: A method of depositing a silicon oxide layer over a substrate having a trench formed between adjacent raised surfaces. In one embodiment the silicon oxide layer is formed in a multistep process that includes depositing a first portion of layer over the substrate and within the trench by forming a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components from a first process gas comprising a silicon source, an oxygen source and helium and/or molecular hydrogen with highD/S ratio, for example, 10-20 and, thereafter, depositing a second portion of the silicon oxide layer over the substrate and within the trench by forming a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components from a second process gas comprising a silicon source, an oxygen source and molecular hydrogen with a lowerD/S ratio of, for example, 3-10.

Abstract: A process is provided for depositing an silicon oxide film on a substrate disposed in a process chamber. A process gas that includes a halogen source, a fluent gas, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant is flowed into the process chamber. A plasma having an ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3 is formed from the process gas. The silicon oxide film is deposited over the substrate with a halogen concentration less than 1.0%. The silicon oxide film is deposited with the plasma using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components. The flow rate of the halogen source to the process chamber to the flow rate of the silicon source to the process chamber is substantially between 0.5 and 3.0.

Abstract: A gapfill process is provided using cycling of HDP-CVD deposition, etching, and deposition step. The fluent gas during the first deposition step includes an inert gas such as He, but includes H2 during the remainder deposition step. The higher average molecular weight of the fluent gas during the first deposition step provides some cusping over structures that define the gap to protect them during the etching step. The lower average molecular weight of the fluent gas during the remainder deposition step has reduced sputtering characteristics and is effective at filling the remainder of the gap.

Abstract: A nitrogen-free anti-reflective layer for use in semiconductor photolithography is fabricated in a chemical vapor deposition process, optionally plasma-enhanced, using a gaseous mixture of carbon, silicon, and oxygen sources. By varying the process parameters, acceptable values of the refractive index n and extinction coefficient k can be obtained. The nitrogen-free anti-reflective layer produced by this technique eliminates the mushrooming and footing problems found with conventional anti-reflective layers.

Abstract: A process is provided for depositing an undoped silicon oxide film on a substrate disposed in a process chamber. A process gas that includes SiF4, a fluent gas, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant is flowed into the process chamber. A plasma having an ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3 is formed from the process gas. The undoped silicon oxide film is deposited over the substrate with the plasma using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components.

Abstract: A method of filling a gap formed between adjacent raised surfaces on a substrate. In one embodiment the method comprises depositing a boron-doped silica glass (BSG) layer over the substrate to partially fill the gap using a thermal CVD process; exposing the BSG layer to a steam ambient at a temperature above the BSG layer's Eutectic temperature; removing an upper portion of the BSG layer by exposing the layer to a fluorine-containing etchant; and depositing an undoped silica glass (USG) layer over the BSG layer to fill the remainder of the gap.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for depositing silicon oxide in a gap on a substrate. The silicon oxide is formed by flowing a process gas into a process chamber and forming a plasma having an overall ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3. The process gas includes H2, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant, and deposition into the gap is achieved using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components. The probability of forming a void is reduced by ensuring that the plasma has a greater density of ions having a single oxygen atom than a density of ions having more than one oxygen atom.

Abstract: A process is provided for depositing an undoped silicon oxide film on a substrate disposed in a process chamber. A process gas that includes SiF4, H2, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant is flowed into the process chamber. A plasma having an ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3 is formed from the process gas. The undoped silicon oxide film is deposited over the substrate with the plasma using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components. A temperature of the substrate during such depositing is greater than 450° C.

Abstract: A fluorine-doped silica glass (FSG) dielectric layer includes a number of sublayers. Each sublayer is doped with fluorine in such a way that the doping concentration of fluorine in the sublayer decreases as one moves from an interior region of the sublayer towards one or both of the interfaces between the sublayer and adjacent sublayers. This structure reduces the generation of HF when the layer is exposed to moisture and thereby improves the stability and adhesion properties of the layer. The principles of this invention can also be applied to dielectric layers doped with such other dopants as boron, phosphorus or carbon.

Abstract: A method of depositing a silicon oxide layer over a substrate having a trench formed between adjacent raised surfaces. In one embodiment the silicon oxide layer is formed in a multistep process that includes depositing a first portion of layer over the substrate and within the trench by forming a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components from a first process gas comprising a silicon source, an oxygen source and helium and/or molecular hydrogen with highD/S ratio, for example, 10-20 and, thereafter, depositing a second portion of the silicon oxide layer over the substrate and within the trench by forming a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components from a second process gas comprising a silicon source, an oxygen source and molecular hydrogen with a lowerD/S ratio of, for example, 3-10.

Abstract: A gapfill process is provided using cycling of HDP-CVD deposition, etching, and deposition step. The fluent gas during the first deposition step includes an inert gas such as He, but includes H2 during the remainder deposition step. The higher average molecular weight of the fluent gas during the first deposition step provides some cusping over structures that define the gap to protect them during the etching step. The lower average molecular weight of the fluent gas during the remainder deposition step has reduced sputtering characteristics and is effective at filling the remainder of the gap.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for depositing silicon oxide in a gap on a substrate. The silicon oxide is formed by flowing a process gas into a process chamber and forming a plasma having an overall ion density of at least 1011 ions/cm3. The process gas includes H2, a silicon source, and an oxidizing gas reactant, and deposition into the gap is achieved using a process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components. The probability of forming a void is reduced by ensuring that the plasma has a greater density of ions having a single oxygen atom than a density of ions having more than one oxygen atom.

Abstract: A method of depositing a silicon oxide layer over a substrate having a trench formed between adjacent raised surfaces. In one embodiment the silicon oxide layer is formed in a multistep process that includes depositing a first portion of layer over the substrate and within the trench by forming a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components from a first process gas comprising a silicon source, an oxygen source and helium and/or molecular hydrogen with high D/S ratio, for example, 10-20 and, thereafter, depositing a second portion of the silicon oxide layer over the substrate and within the trench by forming a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components from a second process gas comprising a silicon source, an oxygen source and molecular hydrogen with a lower D/S ratio of, for example, 3-10.

Abstract: An amorphous material containing silicon, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, provides a barrier/etch stop layer for use with low dielectric constant insulating layers and copper interconnects. The amorphous material is prepared by plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of alklysilanes together with nitrogen and ammonia. Material that at the same time has a dielectric constant less than 4.5, an electrical breakdown field about 5 MV/cm, and a leakage current less than or on the order of 1 nA/cm2 at a field strength of 1 MV/cm has been obtained. The amorphous material meets the requirements for use as a barrier/etch stop layer in a standard damascene fabrication process.

Abstract: An amorphous material containing silicon, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, provides a barrier/etch stop layer for use with low dielectric constant insulating layers and copper interconnects. The amorphous material is prepared by plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of alklysilanes together with nitrogen and ammonia. Material that at the same time has a dielectric constant less than 4.5, an electrical breakdown field about 5 MV/cm, and a leakage current less than or on the order of 1 nA/cm2 at a field strength of 1 Mv/cm has been obtained. The amorphous material meets the requirements for use as a barrier/etch stop layer in a standard damascene fabrication process.

Abstract: An improved CVD process, preferably a PECVD process, for forming a low-dielectric-constant insulating material on a semiconductor substrate, or on and/or under a metal barrier, or etch stop layer of SiNx, Ta(N), TiN, WNx and others. Specifically, the improved PECVD process provides for deposition of an N2O+SiF4+SiH4 based FSG film having improved characteristics, which may be accomplished in any conventional PECVD chamber, but preferably in a dual frequency PECVD chamber.