Abstract: Exemplary methods of forming a semiconductor structure may include forming a first silicon oxide layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include forming a first silicon layer overlying the first silicon oxide layer. The methods may include forming a silicon nitride layer overlying the first silicon layer. The methods may include forming a second silicon layer overlying the silicon nitride layer. The methods may include forming a second silicon oxide layer overlying the second silicon layer. The methods may include removing the silicon nitride layer. The methods may include removing the first silicon layer and the second silicon layer. The methods may include forming a metal layer between and contacting each of the first silicon oxide layer and the second silicon oxide layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology relate to semiconductor processing methods that include providing a structured semiconductor substrate including a trench having a bottom surface and top surfaces. The methods further include depositing a portion of a silicon-containing material on the bottom surface of the trench for at least one deposition cycle, where each deposition cycle includes: depositing the portion of the silicon-containing material on the bottom surface and top surfaces of the trench, depositing a carbon-containing mask layer on the silicon-containing material on the bottom surface of the trench, where the carbon-containing mask layer is not formed on the top surfaces of the trench, removing the portion of the silicon-containing material from the top surfaces of the trench, and removing the carbon-containing mask layer from the silicon-containing material on the bottom surface of the trench, where the as-deposited silicon-containing material remains on the bottom surface of the trench.

Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include providing a carbon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The substrate may define one or more features along the substrate. The methods may include forming a plasma of the carbon-containing precursor within the processing region. The methods may include depositing a carbon-containing material on the substrate. The carbon-containing material may extend within the one or more features along the substrate. The methods may include forming a plasma of a hydrogen-containing precursor within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include treating the carbon-containing material with plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing precursor. The plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing precursor may cause a portion of the carbon-containing material to be removed from the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include semiconductor processing methods that include depositing a film of semiconductor material on a substrate in a substrate processing chamber. The deposited film may be sampled for defects at greater than or about two non-contiguous regions of the substrate with scanning electron microscopy. The defects that are detected and characterized may include those of a size less than or about 10 nm. The methods may further include calculating a total number of defects in the deposited film based on the sampling for defects in the greater than or about two non-contiguous regions of the substrate. At least one deposition parameter may be adjusted as a result of the calculation. The adjustment to the at least one deposition parameter may reduce the total number of defects in a deposition of the film of semiconductor material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include semiconductor processing methods that include depositing a film of semiconductor material on a substrate in a substrate processing chamber. The deposited film may be sampled for defects at greater than or about two non-contiguous regions of the substrate with scanning electron microscopy. The defects that are detected and characterized may include those of a size less than or about 10 nm. The methods may further include calculating a total number of defects in the deposited film based on the sampling for defects in the greater than or about two non-contiguous regions of the substrate. At least one deposition parameter may be adjusted as a result of the calculation. The adjustment to the at least one deposition parameter may reduce the total number of defects in a deposition of the film of semiconductor material.

Abstract: Exemplary processing methods may include forming a plasma of a silicon-containing precursor. The methods may include depositing a flowable film on a semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the silicon-containing precursor. The semiconductor substrate may define a feature within the semiconductor substrate. The methods may include forming a plasma of a hydrogen-containing precursor within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. A bias power may be applied to the substrate support from a bias power source. The methods may include etching the flowable film from a sidewall of the feature within the semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing precursor. The methods may include densifying remaining flowable film within the feature defined within the semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing precursor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods for gap fill deposition and film densification on microelectronic devices. The method includes forming an oxide layer containing silicon oxide and having an initial wet etch rate (WER) over features disposed on the substrate, and exposing the oxide layer to a first plasma treatment to produce a treated oxide layer. The first plasma treatment includes generating a first plasma by a first RF source and directing the first plasma to the oxide layer by a DC bias. The method also includes exposing the treated oxide layer to a second plasma treatment to produce a densified oxide layer. The second plasma treatment includes generating a second plasma by top and side RF sources and directing the second plasma to the treated oxide layer without a bias. The densified oxide layer has a final WER of less than one-half of the initial WER.

Abstract: A method of post-treating a dielectric film formed on a surface of a substrate includes positioning a substrate having a dielectric film formed thereon in a processing chamber and exposing the dielectric film to microwave radiation in the processing chamber at a frequency between 5 GHz and 7 GHz.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include semiconductor processing methods that include depositing a film of semiconductor material on a substrate in a substrate processing chamber. The deposited film may be sampled for defects at greater than or about two non-contiguous regions of the substrate with scanning electron microscopy. The defects that are detected and characterized may include those of a size less than or about 10 nm. The methods may further include calculating a total number of defects in the deposited film based on the sampling for defects in the greater than or about two non-contiguous regions of the substrate. At least one deposition parameter may be adjusted as a result of the calculation. The adjustment to the at least one deposition parameter may reduce the total number of defects in a deposition of the film of semiconductor material.

Abstract: Exemplary processing methods may include forming a plasma of a silicon-containing precursor. The methods may include depositing a flowable film on a semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the silicon-containing precursor. The semiconductor substrate may define a feature within the semiconductor substrate. The methods may include forming a plasma of a hydrogen-containing precursor within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. A bias power may be applied to the substrate support from a bias power source. The methods may include etching the flowable film from a sidewall of the feature within the semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing precursor. The methods may include densifying remaining flowable film within the feature defined within the semiconductor substrate with plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing precursor.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method including depositing an underlayer comprising silicon oxide over a substrate, depositing a polysilicon liner on the underlayer, and depositing an amorphous silicon layer on the polysilicon liner. Aspects of the disclosure provide a device intermediate including a substrate, an underlayer comprising silicon oxide formed over the substrate, a polysilicon liner disposed on the underlayer, and an amorphous silicon layer disposed on the polysilicon liner.

Abstract: Embodiments described and discussed herein provide methods for depositing silicon nitride materials by vapor deposition, such as by flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD), as well as for utilizing new silicon-nitrogen precursors for such deposition processes. The silicon nitride materials are deposited on substrates for gap fill applications, such as filling trenches formed in the substrate surfaces. In one or more embodiments, the method for depositing a silicon nitride film includes introducing one or more silicon-nitrogen precursors and one or more plasma-activated co-reactants into a processing chamber, producing a plasma within the processing chamber, and reacting the silicon-nitrogen precursor and the plasma-activated co-reactant in the plasma to produce a flowable silicon nitride material on a substrate within the processing chamber. The method also includes treating the flowable silicon nitride material to produce a solid silicon nitride material on the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for oxygen radical based treatment of silicon containing material layers deposited using a flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) process. Oxygen radical based treatment of the FCVD deposited silicon containing material layers desirably increases the number of stable Si—O bonds, removes undesirably hydrogen and nitrogen impurities, and provides for further densification and excellent film quality in the treated silicon containing material layers. Embodiments include methods and apparatus for making a semiconductor device including: contacting a flowable layer of silicon containing material disposed on a substrate with a plurality of oxygen radicals under conditions sufficient to anneal and increase the density of the flowable layer of silicon containing material.

Abstract: Exemplary methods of forming a semiconductor structure may include forming a first silicon oxide layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include forming a first silicon layer overlying the first silicon oxide layer. The methods may include forming a silicon nitride layer overlying the first silicon layer. The methods may include forming a second silicon layer overlying the silicon nitride layer. The methods may include forming a second silicon oxide layer overlying the second silicon layer. The methods may include removing the silicon nitride layer. The methods may include removing the first silicon layer and the second silicon layer. The methods may include forming a metal layer between and contacting each of the first silicon oxide layer and the second silicon oxide layer.

Abstract: A method of post-treating a silicon nitride (SiN)-based dielectric film formed on a surface of a substrate includes positioning a substrate having a silicon nitride (SiN)-based dielectric film formed thereon in a processing chamber, and exposing the silicon nitride (SiN)-based dielectric film to helium-containing high-energy low-dose plasma in the processing chamber. Energy of helium ions in the helium-containing high-energy low-dose plasma is between 1 eV and 3.01 eV, and flux density of the helium ions in the helium-containing high-energy low-dose plasma is between 5×1015 ions/cm2·sec and 1.37×1016 ions/cm2·sec.

Abstract: A method of post-treating a dielectric film formed on a surface of a substrate includes positioning a substrate having a dielectric film formed thereon in a processing chamber and exposing the dielectric film to microwave radiation in the processing chamber at a frequency between 5 GHz and 7 GHz.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method including depositing an underlayer comprising silicon oxide over a substrate, depositing a polysilicon liner on the underlayer, and depositing an amorphous silicon layer on the polysilicon liner. Aspects of the disclosure provide a device intermediate including a substrate, an underlayer comprising silicon oxide formed over the substrate, a polysilicon liner disposed on the underlayer, and an amorphous silicon layer disposed on the polysilicon liner.

Abstract: Embodiments described and discussed herein provide methods for depositing silicon nitride materials by vapor deposition, such as by flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD), as well as for utilizing new silicon-nitrogen precursors for such deposition processes. The silicon nitride materials are deposited on substrates for gap fill applications, such as filling trenches formed in the substrate surfaces. In one or more embodiments, the method for depositing a silicon nitride film includes introducing one or more silicon-nitrogen precursors and one or more plasma-activated co-reactants into a processing chamber, producing a plasma within the processing chamber, and reacting the silicon-nitrogen precursor and the plasma-activated co-reactant in the plasma to produce a flowable silicon nitride material on a substrate within the processing chamber. The method also includes treating the flowable silicon nitride material to produce a solid silicon nitride material on the substrate.