Abstract: A sidewall spacer film or the like is removed without damaging a device structure section. Specifically disclosed is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which comprises a step of forming a first thin film composed of GeCOH or GeCH on a substrate (21) to be processed, a step of removing a part of the first thin film and obtaining a remaining portion (30), and a processing step of performing a certain process on the substrate (21) through the space formed by removing the first thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the chamber dry cleaning of a PECVD system. The apparatus includes an annular gas ring with multiple outlets for introducing a cleaning gas into the process chamber, and the method includes using the gas ring to introduce a cleaning species from a remote plasma source into the processing chamber.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a plasma processing apparatus for processing a target in a process container, which is vacuum-evacuatable, using plasma, includes performing a first cleaning process by supplying a cleaning gas into the process container to generate plasma and maintaining the pressure in the process container at a first pressure, and performing a second cleaning process by supplying a cleaning gas into the process container to generate plasma and maintaining the pressure in the process container at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. Accordingly, the plasma processing apparatus can be efficiently and rapidly cleaned without damaging at least one of the group consisting of inner surfaces of the process container and members in the process container.

Abstract: A thin film is used in a semiconductor device manufacturing process. The thin film contains silicon, germanium, and oxygen.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: forming a sidewall spacer on a sidewall surface of a gate electrode; forming a pair of second conductive type source and drain regions in an active region; covering top surfaces of a semiconductor layer, a device isolation region, the sidewall spacer and the gate electrode with a metal film; reducing resistance of the source and drain regions and the gate electrode partially by making the metal film react with the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode; and removing an unreacted portion of the metal film and the sidewall spacer simultaneously by using an etchant which readily etches the unreacted portion of the metal film and the sidewall spacer while hardly etching the device isolation region, resistance-reduced portions of the gate electrode and resistance-reduced portions of the source and drain regions.

Abstract: Provided is a control device of an evaporating apparatus performing a film forming process on a substrate with a film forming material evaporated from a vapor deposition source, and a storage of the control device stores a plurality of tables each showing a relationship between a deposition rate and a flow rate of a carrier gas. A table selection unit selects a desired table from the plurality of tables stored in the storage based on a processing condition. A deposition controller calculates a deposition rate based on a signal outputted from a QCM. A carrier gas controller controls the flow rate of the carrier gas to obtain a desired deposition rate based on a difference between a target deposition rate and the deposition rate obtained by the deposition controller, with reference to data indicating the relationship between the deposition rate and the flow rate of the carrier gas.

Abstract: An evaporating apparatus 10 includes a vapor deposition source 210, a transport path 110e21, a blowing vessel 110 and a first processing chamber 100. The transport path 110e21 is connected with the vapor deposition source 210 via a connection path 220e and transports a film forming material vaporized from the vapor deposition source 210. A blowing port 110e11 is formed of a metal porous member and blows out the film forming material which has passed through a buffer space S via the transport path 110e21. The first processing chamber 100 performs the film formation on a target object G with the blown-out film forming material. A gap between the target object G and the blowing port 110e1 can be shortened by blowing out gas molecules having a high uniformity from the metal porous member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the post-development photoresist profile on a deposited dielectric film. The method includes depositing a TERA film having tunable optical and etch resistant properties on a substrate using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process and post processing the TERA film using a plasma process. The apparatus includes a chamber having an upper electrode coupled to a first RF source and a substrate holder coupled to a second RF source; and a showerhead for providing multiple precursors and process gasses.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: forming a sidewall spacer on a sidewall surface of a gate electrode; forming a pair of second conductive type source and drain regions in an active region; covering top surfaces of a semiconductor layer, a device isolation region, the sidewall spacer and the gate electrode with a metal film; reducing resistance of the source and drain regions and the gate electrode partially by making the metal film react with the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode; and removing an unreacted portion of the metal film and the sidewall spacer simultaneously by using an etchant which readily etches the unreacted portion of the metal film and the sidewall spacer while hardly etching the device isolation region, resistance-reduced portions of the gate electrode and resistance-reduced portions of the source and drain regions.

Abstract: A method and system for depositing a film with tunable optical and etch resistant properties on a substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. A chamber has a plasma source and a substrate holder coupled to a RF source. A substrate is placed on the substrate holder. The TERA layer is deposited on the substrate. The amount of RF power provided by the RF source is selected such that the rate of deposition of at least one portion of the TERA layer is greater than when no RF power is applied the substrate holder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are included that provide an improved deposition process for a Tunable Etch Resistant ARC (TERA) layer with improved wafer to wafer uniformity and reduced particle contamination. More specifically, the processing chamber is seasoned to reduce the number of contaminant particles generated in the chamber during the deposition of the TERA layer and improve wafer to wafer uniformity. The apparatus includes a chamber having an upper electrode at least one RF source, a substrate holder, and a showerhead for providing multiple precursors and process gasses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the chamber dry cleaning of a PECVD system. The apparatus includes an annular gas ring with multiple outlets for introducing a cleaning gas into the process chamber, and the method includes using the gas ring to introduce a cleaning species from a remote plasma source into the processing chamber.

Abstract: In a chamber (11), a SiOF film is formed on a wafer W using a plasma CVD method. A film remaining inside the chamber (11) is cleaned up using a gas containing NF3. A manometer (28) is prepared for the chamber (11). An end point of cleaning of the chamber (11) is detected by monitoring the pressure inside the chamber (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the properties of a deposited film. The method includes depositing a low-k dielectric on a substrate using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process and performing a soft de-chucking sequence after depositing the low-k dielectric film using a soft plasma process. The apparatus includes a chamber having an upper electrode coupled to a first RF source and a substrate holder coupled to a second RF source; and a showerhead for providing multiple precursors and process gasses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are included that provide an improved deposition process for a Tunable Etch Resistant ARC (TERA) layer with improved wafer to wafer uniformity and reduced particle contamination. More specifically, the processing chamber is seasoned to reduce the number of contaminant particles generated in the chamber during the deposition of the TERA layer and improve wafer to wafer uniformity. The apparatus includes a chamber having an upper electrode at least one RF source, a substrate holder, and a showerhead for providing multiple precursors and process gasses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the post-development photoresist profile on a deposited dielectric film. The method includes depositing a TERA film having tunable optical and etch resistant properties on a substrate using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process and post processing the TERA film using a plasma process. The apparatus includes a chamber having an upper electrode coupled to a first RF source and a substrate holder coupled to a second RF source; and a showerhead for providing multiple precursors and process gasses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a TERA film having tunable optical and etch resistant properties on a substrate using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, wherein for at least a part of the deposition of the TERA film, the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process employs a precursor that reduces reaction with a photoresist. The apparatus includes a chamber having an upper electrode coupled to a first RF source and a substrate holder coupled to a second RF source; and a showerhead for providing multiple process and precursor gasses.

Abstract: A method and system for depositing a film with tunable optical and etch resistant properties on a substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. A chamber has a plasma source and a substrate holder coupled to a RF source. A substrate is placed on the substrate holder. The TERA layer is deposited on the substrate. The amount of RF power provided by the RF source is selected such that the rate of deposition of at least one portion of the TERA layer is greater than when no RF power is applied the substrate holder.

Abstract: In a case where a CF film is used as an interlayer dielectric film of a semiconductor device, when a wiring of tungsten is formed, the CF film is heated to a temperature of, e.g., about 400 to 450° C. At this time, F gases are desorbed from the CF film, so that there are various disadvantages due to the corrosion of the wiring and the decrease of film thickness. In order to prevent this, thermostability is enhanced. A compound gas of C and F, e.g., C4F8 gas, and a hydrocarbon gas, e.g., C2H4 gas, are used as thin film deposition gases. These gases are activated as plasma to deposit a CF film on a semiconductor wafer 10 using active species thereof. Then, Ar gas serving as a sputtering gas is introduced to be activated as plasma, and the CF film deposited on the wafer 10 is sputtered with the Ar plasma. If the thin-film deposition process and the sputtering process are alternately repeated, weak bonds existing in the CF film are removed by sputtering.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a diffusion preventing film capable of inhibiting diffusion of Cu into an insulator film when Cu is used as a wiring material. This objective is attained by forming the diffusion preventing film from a crystalline WCN film. The WCN film, when subjected to X-ray diffraction, shows peaks at a first position between 36° to 38° and at a second position between 42° to 44°. The half-width of the peak at the first position is 3.2° or less, and the half-width of the peak at the second position is 2.6° or less. Since the WCN film has satisfactory coverage, it can form a thick barrier film in a concave with a high aspect ratio.