Abstract: Method and structures are provided for conformal lining of dual damascene structures in integrated circuits, and particularly of openings formed in porous materials. Trenches and contact vias are formed in insulating layers. The pores on the sidewalls of the trenches and vias are blocked, and then the structure is exposed to alternating chemistries to form monolayers of a desired lining material. In exemplary process flows chemical or physical vapor deposition (CVD or PVD) of a sealing layer blocks the pores due to imperfect conformality. An alternating process can also be arranged by selection of pulse separation and/or pulse duration to achieve reduced conformality relative to a self-saturating, self-limiting atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. In still another arrangement, layers with anisotropic pore structures can be sealed by selectively melting upper surfaces. Blocking is followed by a self-limiting, self-saturating atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactions without significantly filling the pores.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an ultrathin oxide layer of uniform thickness. The method is particularly advantageous for producing uniformly thin interfacial oxides beneath materials of high dielectric permitivity, or uniformly thin passivation oxides. Hydrofluoric (HF) etching of a silicon surface, for example, is followed by termination of the silicon surface with ligands larger than H or F, particularly hydroxyl, alkoxy or carboxylic tails. The substrate is oxidized with the surface termination in place. The surface termination and relatively low temperatures moderate the rate of oxidation, such that a controllable thickness of oxide is formed. In some embodiments, the ligand termination is replaced with OH prior to further deposition. The deposition preferably includes alternating, self-limiting chemistries in an atomic layer deposition process, though any other suitable deposition process can be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for forming dielectric layers on a substrate, such as in an integrated circuit. In one aspect of the invention, a thin interfacial layer is formed. The interfacial layer is preferably an oxide layer and a high-k material is preferably deposited on the interfacial layer by a process that does not cause substantial further growth of the interfacial layer. For example, water vapor may be used as an oxidant source during high-k deposition at less than or equal to about 300° C.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an ultrathin oxide layer of uniform thickness. The method is particularly advantageous for producing uniformly thin interfacial oxides beneath materials of high dielectric permittivity, or uniformly thin passivation oxides. Hydrofluoric (HF) etching of a silicon surface, for example, is followed by termination of the silicon surface with ligands larger than H or F, particularly hydroxyl, alkoxy or carboxylic tails. The substrate is oxidized with the surface termination in place. The surface termination and relatively low temperatures moderate the rate of oxidation, such that a controllable thickness of oxide is formed. In some embodiments, the ligand termination is replaced with OH prior to further deposition. The deposition preferably includes alternating, self-limiting chemistries in an atomic layer deposition process, though any other suitable deposition process can be used.

Abstract: An ultrathin aluminum oxide and lanthanide layers, particularly formed by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) type process, serve as interface layers between two or more materials. The interface layers can prevent oxidation of a substrate and can prevent diffusion of molecules between the materials. In the illustrated embodiments, a high-k dielectric material is sandwiched between two layers of aluminum oxide or lanthanide oxide in the formation of a transistor gate dielectric or a memory cell dielectric. Aluminum oxides can serve as a nucleation layer with less than a full monolayer of aluminum oxide. One monolayer or greater can also serve as a diffusion barrier, protecting the substrate from oxidation and the high-k dielectric from impurity diffusion. Nanolaminates can be formed with multiple alternating interface layers and high-k layers, where intermediate interface layers can break up the crystal structure of the high-k materials and lower leakage levels.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an ultrathin oxide layer of uniform thickness. The method is particularly advantageous for producing uniformly thin interfacial oxides beneath materials of high dielectric permittivity, or uniformly thin passivation oxides. Hydrofluoric (HF) etching of a silicon surface, for example, is followed by termination of the silicon surface with ligands larger than H or F, particularly hydroxyl, alkoxy or carboxylic tails. The substrate is oxidized with the surface termination in place. The surface termination and relatively low temperatures moderate the rate of oxidation, such that a controllable thickness of oxide is formed. In some embodiments, the ligand termination is replaced with OH prior to further deposition. The deposition preferably includes alternating, self-limiting chemistries in an atomic layer deposition process, though any other suitable deposition process can be used.

Abstract: In a method for epitaxially growing objects of SiC, a Group III-nitride or alloys thereof on a substrate (13) received in a susceptor (7) having circumferential walls (8) these walls and by that the substrate and a source material (24) for the growth are heated above a temperature level from which sublimation of the material grown starts to increase considerably. The carrier gas flow is fed into the susceptor towards the substrate for carrying said source material to the substrate for said growth. At least a part of said source material for said growth is added to the carrier gas flow upstream the susceptor (7) and carried by the carrier gas flow to the susceptor in one of a) a solid state and b) a liquid state for being brought to a vapor state in a container comprising said susceptor by said heating and carried in a vapor state to said substrate for said growth.

Abstract: A device for epitaxially growing objects of for instance SiC by Chemical Vapor Deposition on a substrate has a first conduit (24) arranged to conduct substantially only a carrier gas to a room (18) receiving the substrate and a second conduit (25) received in the first conduit, having a smaller cross-section than the first conduit and extending in the longitudinal direction of the first conduit with a circumferential space separating it from inner walls of the first conduit. The second conduit is adapted to conduct substantially the entire flow of reactive gases and it ends as seen in the direction of the flows, and emerges into the first conduit at a distance from said room.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for heat treatment of objects. It comprises a susceptor for receiving an object in the form of a substrate and a gas mixture fed to the substrate for epitaxial growth of a crystal on said substrate by Chemical Vapor Deposition. The susceptor includes an inner wall and an outer, circumferential wall enclosing the inner wall at a distance therefrom. The inner wall defines a chamber for receiving the object. An enclosed space is formed between the inner and outer wall, and is filled with a powder. The powder is made of SiC, a group III nitride or alloys thereof. Also, for heating the susceptor and thereby also the object, a Rf-field radiator is provided surrounding the susceptor.