Patents by Inventor Patricia M. Liu

Patricia M. Liu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220033970
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to forming MOSFET devices. In particular, one or more pre-silicide treatments are performed on a substrate prior to the deposition of the metal-silicide layer to improve the density and performance of the metal-silicide layer in the MOSFETs. The metal-silicide formation formed with the pre-silicide treatment(s) can occur before or after the formation of metal gates during MOSFET fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Xuebi LI, Errol Antonio C. SANCHEZ, Patricia M. LIU
  • Publication number: 20220005704
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing substrates, such as during metal silicide applications, are provided. In one or more embodiments, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing an epitaxial layer on the substrate, depositing a metal silicide seed layer on the epitaxial layer, and exposing the metal silicide seed layer to a nitridation process to produce a metal silicide nitride layer from at least a portion of the metal silicide seed layer. The method also includes depositing a metal silicide bulk layer on the metal silicide nitride layer and forming or depositing a nitride capping layer on the metal silicide bulk layer, where the nitride capping layer contains a metal nitride, a silicon nitride, a metal silicide nitride, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Xuebin LI, Wei LIU, Gaurav THAREJA, Shashank SHARMA, Patricia M. LIU, Schubert CHU
  • Publication number: 20220005705
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing substrates, such as during metal silicide applications, are provided. In one or more embodiments, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing an epitaxial layer on the substrate, depositing a metal silicide seed layer on the epitaxial layer, and exposing the metal silicide seed layer to a nitridation process to produce a metal silicide nitride layer from at least a portion of the metal silicide seed layer. The method also includes depositing a metal silicide bulk layer on the metal silicide nitride layer and forming or depositing a nitride capping layer on the metal silicide bulk layer, where the nitride capping layer contains a metal nitride, a silicon nitride, a metal silicide nitride, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Xuebin LI, Wei LIU, Gaurav THAREJA, Shashank SHARMA, Patricia M. LIU, Schubert CHU
  • Publication number: 20210398814
    Abstract: Processing methods may be performed to produce semiconductor structures. The methods may include forming a silicon layer over a semiconductor substrate. The forming may include forming a silicon layer incorporating a dopant. The methods may include oxidizing a portion of the silicon layer while maintaining a portion of the silicon layer in contact with the semiconductor substrate. The oxidizing may drive a portion of the dopant through the silicon layer and into the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. H. Hung, Benjamin Colombeau, Abhishek Dube, Sheng-Chin Kung, Patricia M. Liu, Malcolm J. Bevan, Johanes F. Swenberg
  • Patent number: 11195914
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a transistor and methods for forming a transistor. A transistor includes a gate electrode structure disposed over a channel region, a source/drain extension region disposed adjacent to the channel region, and a source/drain region disposed on the source/drain extension region. The source/drain region includes antimony (Sb). The method of forming a transistor includes forming the source/drain extension region and forming the source/drain region on the source/drain extension region. The antimony helps prevent unwanted migration of dopants from the source/drain region to the source/drain extension region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia M. Liu, Flora Fong-Song Chang, Zhiyuan Ye
  • Patent number: 11195923
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to methods for forming a transistor. More specifically, implementations described herein generally relate to methods for forming a source/drain contact. In one implementation, the method includes forming a trench in a dielectric material to expose a source/drain region of a transistor, performing a pre-clean process on the exposed source/drain region, forming a doped semiconductor layer on the source/drain region by an epitaxial deposition process, and fill the trench with a conductor. The doped semiconductor layer has a lower electrical resistance than the source/drain region due to a higher dopant concentration in the doped semiconductor layer. As a result, the contact resistance of the source/drain contact is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Thareja, Xuebin Li, Abhishek Dube, Yi-Chiau Huang, Tushar Vidyadhar Mandrekar, Andy Lo, Patricia M. Liu, Sanjay Natarajan, Saurabh Chopra
  • Patent number: 11152221
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing substrates, such as during metal silicide applications, are provided. In one or more embodiments, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing an epitaxial layer on the substrate, depositing a metal silicide seed layer on the epitaxial layer, and exposing the metal silicide seed layer to a nitridation process to produce a metal silicide nitride layer from at least a portion of the metal silicide seed layer. The method also includes depositing a metal silicide bulk layer on the metal silicide nitride layer and forming or depositing a nitride capping layer on the metal silicide bulk layer, where the nitride capping layer contains a metal nitride, a silicon nitride, a metal silicide nitride, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xuebin Li, Wei Liu, Gaurav Thareja, Shashank Sharma, Patricia M. Liu, Schubert Chu
  • Patent number: 11152479
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for forming a semiconductor device, a semiconductor device, and a processing chamber. The method includes forming a source/drain region in a processing system, forming a doped semiconductor layer on the source/drain region in the processing system, forming a metal silicide layer, forming a dielectric material, forming a trench in the dielectric material, and filling the trench with a conductor. The source/drain region, the doped semiconductor layer, and the metal silicide layer are formed without breaking vacuum. A semiconductor device includes a plurality of layers, and the semiconductor device has reduced contact resistance. A processing system is configured to perform the method and form the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Gaurav Thareja, Xuebin Li, Abhishek Dube, Yi-Chiau Huang, Andy Lo, Patricia M. Liu, Sanjay Natarajan, Saurabh Chopra
  • Patent number: 11081358
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to forming MOSFET devices. In particular, one or more pre-silicide treatments are performed on a substrate prior to the deposition of the metal-silicide layer to improve the density and performance of the metal-silicide layer in the MOSFETs. The metal-silicide formation formed with the pre-silicide treatment(s) can occur before or after the formation of metal gates during MOSFET fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuebin Li, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Patricia M. Liu
  • Patent number: 11037838
    Abstract: The systems and methods discussed herein are for a cluster tool that can be used for MOSFET device fabrication, including NMOS and PMOS devices. The cluster tool includes process chambers for pre-cleaning, metal-silicide or metal-germanide film formation, and surface protection operations such as capping and nitridation. The cluster tool can include one or more process chambers configured to form a source and a drain. The devices fabricated in the cluster tool are fabricated to have at least one protective layer formed over the metal-silicide or metal-germanide film to protect the film from contamination during handling and transfer to separate systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xuebin Li, Schubert S. Chu, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Patricia M. Liu, Gaurav Thareja, Raymond Hoiman Hung
  • Publication number: 20210134986
    Abstract: Processing methods may be performed to produce semiconductor structures that may include a high-k dielectric material. The methods may include forming a silicon layer over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate may include silicon germanium. The methods may include oxidizing a portion of the silicon layer to form a sacrificial oxide while maintaining a portion of the silicon layer in contact with the semiconductor substrate. The methods may include removing the sacrificial oxide. The methods may include oxidizing the portion of the silicon layer in contact with the semiconductor substrate to form an oxygen-containing material. The methods may include forming a high-k dielectric material overlying the oxygen-containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Hung, Benjamin Colombeau, Abhishek Dube, Sheng-Chin Kung, Patricia M. Liu, Malcolm J. Bevan, Johanes Swenberg
  • Patent number: 10971366
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a metal silicide are provide and include heating a substrate having a silicon-containing surface to a deposition temperature, and exposing the substrate to a deposition gas to deposit a silicide film on the silicon-containing surface during a chemical vapor deposition process. The deposition gas contains a silicon precursor, a titanium or other metal precursor, and a phosphorus or other non-metal precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuebin Li, Patricia M. Liu
  • Publication number: 20210028280
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a transistor and methods for forming a transistor. A transistor includes a gate electrode structure disposed over a channel region, a source/drain extension region disposed adjacent to the channel region, and a source/drain region disposed on the source/drain extension region. The source/drain region includes antimony (Sb). The method of forming a transistor includes forming the source/drain extension region and forming the source/drain region on the source/drain extension region. The antimony helps prevent unwanted migration of dopants from the source/drain region to the source/drain extension region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Patricia M. LIU, Flora Fong-Song CHANG, Zhiyuan YE
  • Publication number: 20210028075
    Abstract: A method for processing a substrate within a processing chamber comprises receiving a first radiation signal corresponding to a film on a target element disposed within the processing chamber, analyzing the first radiation signal, and controlling the processing of the substrate based on the analyzed first radiation signal. The processing chamber includes a substrate support configured to support the substrate within a processing volume and a controller coupled to a first sensing device configured to receive the first radiation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Zuoming ZHU, Shu-Kwan LAU, Ala MORADIAN, Enle CHOO, Flora Fong-Song CHANG, Vilen K. NESTOROV, Zhiyuan YE, Bindusagar MARATH SANKARATHODI, Maxim D. SHAPOSHNIKOV, Surendra Singh SRIVASTAVA, Zhepeng CONG, Patricia M. LIU, Errol C. SANCHEZ, Jenny C. LIN, Schubert S. CHU, Balakrishnam R. JAMPANA
  • Patent number: 10872763
    Abstract: Processing methods may be performed to produce semiconductor structures that may include a high-k dielectric material. The methods may include delivering a nitrogen-containing precursor or an oxygen-containing precursor to a substrate contained in a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming reactive ligands on an exposed surface of the substrate with the nitrogen-containing precursor or the oxygen-containing precursor. The methods may also include forming a high-k dielectric material overlying the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David Chu, Steven C. Hung, Malcolm J. Bevan, Charles Chu, Tatsuya E. Sato, Shih-Chung Chen, Patricia M. Liu, Johanes Swenberg
  • Patent number: 10861722
    Abstract: Generally, examples described herein relate to integrated solutions for forming cladding layers on trimmed layers that were formed as part of a superlattice. In an example, a first material is selectively etched in a first processing chamber of a processing system. The first material is disposed within alternating layers of the first material and a second material in a channel region on a substrate. A portion of the second material is trimmed in the first processing chamber of the processing system. The substrate is transferred from the first processing chamber of the processing system to a second processing chamber of the processing system without exposing the substrate to an ambient environment exterior to the processing system. A cladding layer is epitaxially grown on respective layers of the trimmed second material in the second processing chamber of the processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Colombeau, Sheng-Chin Kung, Patricia M. Liu
  • Publication number: 20200350157
    Abstract: Processing methods may be performed to produce semiconductor structures that may include a high-k dielectric material. The methods may include delivering a nitrogen-containing precursor or an oxygen-containing precursor to a substrate contained in a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming reactive ligands on an exposed surface of the substrate with the nitrogen-containing precursor or the oxygen-containing precursor. The methods may also include forming a high-k dielectric material overlying the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David Chu, Steven C. Hung, Malcolm J. Bevan, Charles Chu, Tatsuya E. Sato, Shih-Chung Chen, Patricia M. Liu, Johanes Swenberg
  • Publication number: 20200266068
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing substrates, such as during metal silicide applications, are provided. In one or more embodiments, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing an epitaxial layer on the substrate, depositing a metal silicide seed layer on the epitaxial layer, and exposing the metal silicide seed layer to a nitridation process to produce a metal silicide nitride layer from at least a portion of the metal silicide seed layer. The method also includes depositing a metal silicide bulk layer on the metal silicide nitride layer and forming or depositing a nitride capping layer on the metal silicide bulk layer, where the nitride capping layer contains a metal nitride, a silicon nitride, a metal silicide nitride, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Xuebin LI, Wei LIU, Gaurav THAREJA, Shashank SHARMA, Patricia M. LIU, Schubert CHU
  • Publication number: 20200258997
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for forming a semiconductor device, a semiconductor device, and a processing chamber. The method includes forming a source/drain region in a processing system, forming a doped semiconductor layer on the source/drain region in the processing system, forming a metal silicide layer, forming a dielectric material, forming a trench in the dielectric material, and filling the trench with a conductor. The source/drain region, the doped semiconductor layer, and the metal silicide layer are formed without breaking vacuum. A semiconductor device includes a plurality of layers, and the semiconductor device has reduced contact resistance. A processing system is configured to perform the method and form the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Gaurav THAREJA, Xuebin LI, Abhishek DUBE, Yi-Chiau HUANG, Andy LO, Patricia M. LIU, Sanjay NATARAJAN, Saurabh CHOPRA
  • Publication number: 20200203490
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to methods for forming a transistor. More specifically, implementations described herein generally relate to methods for forming a source/drain contact. In one implementation, the method includes forming a trench in a dielectric material to expose a source/drain region of a transistor, performing a pre-clean process on the exposed source/drain region, forming a doped semiconductor layer on the source/drain region by an epitaxial deposition process, and fill the trench with a conductor. The doped semiconductor layer has a lower electrical resistance than the source/drain region due to a higher dopant concentration in the doped semiconductor layer. As a result, the contact resistance of the source/drain contact is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Gaurav THAREJA, Xuebin LI, Abhishek DUBE, Yi-Chiau HUANG, Tushar Vidyadhar MANDREKAR, Andy LO, Patricia M. LIU, Sanjay NATARAJAN, Saurabh CHOPRA