Abstract: Disclosed is a patterning method including: forming a first film on a substrate; forming a first resist film on the first film; processing the first resist film into a first resist pattern having a preset pitch by photolithography; forming a silicon oxide film on the first resist pattern and the first film by alternately supplying a first gas containing organic silicon and a second gas containing an activated oxygen species to the substrate; forming a second resist film on the silicon oxide film; processing the second resist film into a second resist pattern having a preset pitch by the photolithography; and processing the first film by using the first resist pattern and the second resist pattern as a mask.

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: Disclosed is a patterning method including: forming, on a thin film, a sacrificial film made of a material different from that of the thin film and made of SiBN; processing the sacrificial film into a pattern having a preset interval by using a photolithography technique; forming, on sidewalls of the processed sacrificial film, sidewall spacers made of a material different from those of the sacrificial film and the thin film; removing the processed sacrificial film; and processing the thin film by using the sidewall spacers as a mask.

Abstract: A patterning method comprises a step for forming a first film on a substrate, a step for forming a multilayer film including a resist film on the first film, a step for patterning the resist film by photolithography to form a patterned resist film having a predetermined pattern, a step for forming an silicon oxide film different from the first film on the patterned resist film and the first film by supplying a first gas containing an organic silicon and a second gas containing an activated oxygen species alternately to the substrate, a step for etching the silicon oxide film to form a sidewall spacer on the sidewall of the patterned resist film, a step for removing the patterned resist film, and a step for processing the first film by using the sidewall spacer as a mask.

Abstract: A film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process includes a source gas supply circuit to supply into a process container a source gas for depositing a thin film on target substrates, and a mixture gas supply circuit to supply into the process container a mixture gas containing a doping gas for doping the thin film with an impurity and a dilution gas for diluting the doping gas. The mixture gas supply circuit includes a gas mixture tank disposed outside the process container to mix the doping gas with the dilution gas to form the mixture gas, a mixture gas supply line to supply the mixture gas from the gas mixture tank into the process container, a doping gas supply circuit to supply the doping gas into the gas mixture tank, and a dilution gas supply circuit to supply the dilution gas into the gas mixture tank.

Abstract: A film formation method for a semiconductor process performs a film formation process to form a silicon-containing insulating film doped with a metal on a target substrate, in a process field inside a process container configured to be selectively supplied with a silicon source gas and a metal source gas. The method includes forming a first insulating thin layer by use of a chemical reaction of the silicon source gas, while maintaining a shut-off state of supply of the metal source gas; then, forming a first metal thin layer by use of a chemical reaction of the metal source gas, while maintaining a shut-off state of supply of the silicon source gas; and then, forming a second insulating thin layer by use of the chemical reaction of the silicon source gas, while maintaining a shut-off state of supply of the metal source gas.

Abstract: A film formation method is used for forming a silicon nitride film on a target substrate by repeating a plasma cycle and a non-plasma cycle a plurality of times, in a process field configured to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas and a second process gas containing a nitriding gas and communicating with an exciting mechanism for exciting the second process gas to be supplied. The method includes obtaining a relation formula or relation table that represents relationship of a cycle mixture manner of the plasma cycle and the non-plasma cycle relative to a film quality factor of the silicon nitride film; determining a specific manner of the cycle mixture manner based on a target value of the film quality factor with reference to the relation formula or relation table; and arranging the film formation process in accordance with the specific manner.

Abstract: An insulating film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas, a second process gas containing a nitriding gas, and a third process gas containing a carbon hydride gas. This method includes repeatedly performing supply of the first process gas to the process field, supply of the second process gas to the process field, and supply of the third process gas to the process field. The supply of the third process gas includes an excitation period of supplying the third process gas to the process field while exciting the third process gas by an exciting mechanism.

Abstract: A silicon nitride film is formed on a target substrate by performing a plurality of cycles in a process field configured to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas and a second process gas containing a nitriding gas. Each of the cycles includes a first supply step of performing supply of the first process gas while maintaining a shut-off state of supply of the second process gas, and a second supply step of performing supply of the second process gas, while maintaining a shut-off state of supply of the first process gas. The method is arranged to repeat a first cycle set with the second supply step including an excitation period of exciting the second process gas and a second cycle set with the second supply step including no period of exciting the second process gas.

Abstract: An impurity-doped silicon nitride or oxynitride film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas, a second process gas containing a nitriding or oxynitriding gas, and a third process gas containing a doping gas. This method alternately includes first to fourth steps. The first step performs supply of the first and third process gases to the field. The second step stops supply of the first to third process gases to the field. The third step performs supply of the second process gas to the field while stopping supply of the first and third process gases to the field, and includes an excitation period of exciting the second process gas by an exciting mechanism. The fourth step stops supply of the first to third process gases to the field.

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 film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process includes a process gas supply system configured to supply process gases. The process gas supply system includes a gas mixture tank configured to mix first and third process gases to form a mixture gas, a mixture gas supply line configured to supply the mixture gas from the gas mixture tank to a process field, a second process gas supply circuit having a second process gas supply line configured to supply a second process gas to the process field without passing through the gas mixture tank, and first and second switching valves disposed on the mixture gas supply line and the second process gas supply line, respectively. A control section controls the first and second switching valves to be opened and closed so as to alternately and pulse-wise supply the mixture gas and the second process gas to the process field.

Abstract: A method for forming an SiCN film on a target substrate in a process field is arranged to perform a plurality of cycles. Each cycle includes a first step of performing supply of a first process gas containing a silane family gas; a second step of performing supply of a second process gas containing a nitriding gas; a third step of performing supply of a third process gas containing a carbon hydride gas; and a fourth step of shutting off supply of the first process gas. Each cycle is arranged not to turn any one of the first, second, and third process gases into plasma outside the process field during supply thereof, but to heat the process field to a first temperature, at which the silane family gas, the nitriding gas, and the carbon hydride gas react with each other.

Abstract: An insulating film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas, a second process gas containing a nitriding or oxynitriding gas, and a third process gas containing a carbon hydride gas. This method alternately includes first to fourth steps. The first step performs supply of the first and third process gases to the field while stopping supply of the second process gas to the process field. The second step stops supply of the first to third process gases to the field. The third step performs supply of the second process gas to the field while stopping supply of the first and third process gases to the field. The fourth step stops supply of the first to third process gases to the field.

Abstract: An insulating film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas, a second process gas containing a nitriding gas or oxynitriding gas, a third process gas containing a boron-containing gas, and a fourth process gas containing a carbon hydride gas. A first step performs supply of the first process gas and a preceding gas, which is one of the third and fourth process gases, while stopping supply of the second process gas and a succeeding gas, which is the other of the third and fourth process gases. A second step performs supply of the succeeding gas, while stopping supply of the second process gas and the preceding gas. A third step performs supply of the second process gas while stopping supply of the first process gas.

Abstract: A method for using a film formation apparatus performs a first film formation process, while supplying a first film formation gas into a process field inside a process container, thereby forming a first thin film on a first target substrate inside the process field. After unloading the first target substrate from the process container, the method performs a cleaning process of an interior of the process container, while supplying a cleaning gas into the process field, and generating plasma of the cleaning gas by an exciting mechanism. Then, the method performs a second film formation process, while supplying a second film formation gas into the process field, thereby forming a second thin film on a target substrate inside the process field. The second film formation process is a plasma film formation process that generates plasma of the second film formation gas by the exciting mechanism.

Abstract: A film formation method for a semiconductor process is arranged to form a thin film on a target substrate by CVD, while supplying a first process gas for film formation and a second process gas for reacting with the first process gas to a process field accommodating the target substrate. The method alternately includes first to fourth steps. The first step performs supply of the first and second process gases to the process field. The second step stops supply of the first and second process gases to the process field. The third step performs supply of the second process gas to the process field while stopping supply of the first process gas to the process field. The fourth step stops supply of the first and second process gases to the process field.

Abstract: An insulating film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas, a second process gas containing a nitriding gas, and a third process gas containing a carbon hydride gas. This method includes repeatedly performing supply of the first process gas to the process field, supply of the second process gas to the process field, and supply of the third process gas to the process field. The supply of the third process gas includes an excitation period of supplying the third process gas to the process field while exciting the third process gas by an exciting mechanism.

Abstract: A silicon-containing insulating film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a purge gas, a first process gas containing a silane family gas, and a second process gas containing a gas selected from the group consisting of nitriding, oxynitriding, and oxidizing gases. This method alternately includes first to fourth steps. The first, second, third, and fourth steps perform supply of the first process gas, purge gas, second process gas, and purge gas, respectively, while stopping supply of the other two gases. The process field is continuously vacuum-exhausted over the first to fourth steps through an exhaust passage provided with an opening degree adjustment valve. An opening degree of the valve in the first step is set to be 5 to 95% of that used in the second and fourth steps.

Abstract: A film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process includes a process gas supply system configured to supply process gases. The process gas supply system includes a gas mixture tank configured to mix first and third process gases to form a mixture gas, a mixture gas supply line configured to supply the mixture gas from the gas mixture tank to a process field, a second process gas supply circuit having a second process gas supply line configured to supply a second process gas to the process field without passing through the gas mixture tank, and first and second switching valves disposed on the mixture gas supply line and the second process gas supply line, respectively. A control section controls the first and second switching valves to be opened and closed so as to alternately and pulse-wise supply the mixture gas and the second process gas to the process field.