Abstract: A methodology is described by which a processing chamber used to deposit plasma-enhanced Ti-CVD films may be conditioned and passivated efficiently after either a wet cleaning or in-situ chemical cleaning, or after each successive deposition sequence. The technique allows a CVD process, such as, for example, a Ti-PECVD process, to recover film properties, such as resistivity, uniformity, and deposition rate, in a minimum time and following a minimum number of conditioning wafers, thereby improving the productivity of the system. The technique also maintains the stability of the system during continuous operation. This allows for the processing of thousands of wafers between in-situ cleaning of the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a film by chemical vapor deposition comprises a showerhead for dispersing reactant gases into the processing space wherein the showerhead has a first space therein operable for receiving and dispersing the first reacting gas, and has a second space therein, generally isolated from the first space, and operable for receiving and dispersing the second reactant gas separate from the first gas dispersion for maintaining segregation of reactant gases and generally preventing premature mixture of the gases prior to their introduction into the processing space to prevent premature deposition in the system.

Abstract: A single chamber method for depositing a stack including titanium and titanium nitride on a wafer surface. Titanium is deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and then plasma nitrided. Titanium nitride is subsequently deposited by a thermal chemical vapor deposition process. Advantageously, the temperatures of the substrate and showerhead as well as the internal chamber pressure are maintained at substantially constant values throughout deposition of the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a film by chemical vapor deposition comprises a showerhead for dispersing reactant gases into the processing space wherein the showerhead has a first space therein operable for receiving and dispersing the first reacting gas, and has a second space therein, generally isolated from the first space, and operable for receiving and dispersing the second reactant gas separate from the first gas dispersion for maintaining segregation of reactant gases and generally preventing premature mixture of the gases prior to their introduction into the processing space to prevent premature deposition in the system.

Abstract: A contact cleaning apparatus is equipped with a cleaning gas source, selectively connectable to a gas inlet of the chamber of the apparatus, structure, to supply a gas mixture of hydrogen and argon in which the hydrogen content is between 20 percent and 80 percent by volume. A selectively operable 450 MHz MF energy source is coupled to the chamber to energize a plasma in gas. A selectively operable 13.56 MHz HF energy source, controllable independently of the MF energy source and connected between the substrate support and a chamber anode biases a wafer on the support to less than 100 volts, preferably 15 to 35 volts, negative. A heater heats the wafer to temperature about 550.degree. C. Preferably, a turbo molecular pump is used to pump the cleaning gas while maintaining a pressure of between 1 mTorr and 10 Torr and at a rate of from 3 to 12 sccm.

Abstract: An effective barrier layer to chemical attack of fluorine during chemical vapor deposition of tungsten from a tungsten fluoride source gas is fabricated by the present invention. A titanium nitride conformal barrier film can be formed by in-situ nitridation of a thin titanium film. The substrate is placed in a module wherein the pressure is reduced and the temperature raised to 350.degree. C. to about 700.degree. C. A titanium film is then deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of titanium tetrahalide and hydrogen. This is followed by formation of titanium nitride on the titanium film by subjecting the titanium film to an nitrogen containing plasma such as an ammonia, an N.sub.2 or an NH.sub.3 /N.sub.2 based plasma. Tungsten is then deposited on the film of titanium nitride by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: A method of filling a via less than about 0.16 .mu.m in diameter in an oxide layer of a substrate with a TiN plug deposited by CVD and capping the plug with TiN only. In one embodiment, a first layer of TiN is deposited on a substrate by thermal CVD, and a second layer of TiN is deposited on the first layer by PECVD. Alternatively, a one-step process is used to deposit a TiN layer using either thermal CVD or PECVD. The method eliminates a tungsten layer, and thus eliminates a processing step.

Abstract: A titanium/titanium nitride film stack can be formed with reduced amounts of impurity by depositing onto a substrate a film of titanium using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen. This film is then subjected to a hydrogen/argon plasma which significantly reduces the chlorine content of the titanium film. The titanium film can then be subjected to an ammonia plasma which will form a thin layer of titanium nitride which is then coated with a thick layer of titanium nitride using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of titanium tetrachloride and ammonia. The hydrogen/argon anneal significantly reduces the chlorine content of the titanium film and thus the chlorine content at the titanium substrate interface, particularly when the substrate contains aluminum. This enhances the overall reliability of the formed product.

Abstract: Titanium is deposited onto a semiconductor interconnect to form a salicide structure by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The reactant gases, including titanium tetrachloride, hydrogen and optionally argon, are combined. A plasma is created using RF energy and the plasma contacts the rotating semiconductor material. This causes titanium to be deposited which reacts with exposed silicon to form titanium silicide without any subsequent anneal. Other titanium deposited on the surface, as well as titanium-rich silicon compositions (TiSi.sub.X wherein X is <2), are removed by chemical etching. If only about 40 .ANG. of titanium is deposited, it will selectively deposit onto the silicon structure without coating the oxide spacers of the interconnect. In this embodiment the need to chemically etch the substrate is eliminated.

Abstract: A method of using titanium chloride to etchback CVD-Ti on a patterned oxide wafer and the product formed by this process. Titanium is deposited onto a wafer composed of a silicon base and a pattern oxide layer which exposes portions of the silicon. The titanium is deposited onto the wafer by CVD-Ti. The titanium is deposited as metallic Ti on the oxide layer and reacts with the silicon substrate to form titanium silicide. The wafer is then exposed to a flow of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl.sub.4) gas. The TiCl.sub.4 etches away the metallic Ti on the oxide layer and does not substantially etch the titanium silicide. Optionally titanium nitride and tungsten may then be deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: A CVD apparatus is equipped with a cleaning gas source, selectively connectable to a gas inlet of the chamber of the apparatus, structure, to supply a gas mixture of hydrogen and argon in which the hydrogen content is between 20 percent and 80 percent by volume. A selectively operable 450 MHz MF energy source is coupled to the chamber to energize a plasma in gas. A selectively operable 13.56 MHz HF energy source, controllable independently of the MF energy source and connected between the wafer support and a chamber anode biases a wafer on the support to less than 100 volts, preferably 15 to 35 volts, negative. A heater heats the wafer to temperature about 550.degree. C. Preferably, a turbo molecular pump is used to pump the cleaning gas while maintaining a pressure of between 1 mTorr and 10 Torr and at a rate of from 3 to 12 sccm.