Abstract: Apparatus, reactors, and methods for heating substrates are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a stage comprising a body and a surface having an area to support a substrate, a shaft coupled to the stage, a first heating element disposed within a central region of the body of the stage, and at least second and third heating elements disposed within the body of the stage, the at least second and third heating elements each partially surrounding the first heating element and wherein the at least second and third heating elements are circumferentially adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a substrate utilizing a rotating substrate support are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing a substrate includes a chamber having a substrate support assembly disposed within the chamber. The substrate support assembly includes a substrate support having a support surface and a heater disposed beneath the support surface. A shaft is coupled to the substrate support and a motor is coupled to the shaft through a rotor to provide rotary movement to the substrate support. A seal block is disposed around the rotor and forms a seal therewith. The seal block has at least one seal and at least one channel disposed along the interface between the seal block and the shaft. A port is coupled to each channel for connecting to a pump. A lift mechanism is coupled to the shaft for raising and lowering the substrate support.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a substrate utilizing a rotating substrate support are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing a substrate includes a chamber having a substrate support assembly disposed within the chamber. The substrate support assembly includes a substrate support having a support surface and a heater disposed beneath the support surface. A shaft is coupled to the substrate support and a motor is coupled to the shaft through a rotor to provide rotary movement to the substrate support. A seal block is disposed around the rotor and forms a seal therewith. The seal block has at least one seal and at least one channel disposed along the interface between the seal block and the shaft. A port is coupled to each channel for connecting to a pump. A lift mechanism is coupled to the shaft for raising and lowering the substrate support.

Abstract: Apparatus, reactors, and methods for heating substrates are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a stage comprising a body and a surface having an area to support a substrate, a shaft coupled to the stage, a first heating element disposed within a central region of the body of the stage, and at least second and third heating elements disposed within the body of the stage, the at least second and third heating elements each partially surrounding the first heating element and wherein the at least second and third heating elements are circumferentially adjacent to each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method for depositing films using photoexcitation. The photoexcitation may be utilized for at least one of treating the substrate prior to deposition, treating substrate and/or gases during deposition, treating a deposited film, or for enhancing chamber cleaning. In one embodiment, a method for depositing silicon and nitrogen-containing film on a substrate includes heating a substrate disposed in a processing chamber, generating a beam of energy of between about 1 to about 10 eV, transferring the energy to a surface of the substrate; flowing a nitrogen-containing chemical into the processing chamber, flowing a silicon-containing chemical with silicon-nitrogen bonds into the processing chamber, and depositing a silicon and nitrogen-containing film on the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method for depositing silicon-containing films. In one embodiment, a method for depositing silicon-containing material film on a substrate includes heating a substrate disposed in a processing chamber to a temperature less than about 550 degrees Celsius; flowing a nitrogen and carbon containing chemical comprising (H3C)—N?N—H into the processing chamber; flowing a silicon-containing source chemical with silicon-nitrogen bonds into the processing chamber; and depositing a silicon and nitrogen containing film on the substrate.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a multilayer nitride stack having nitride etch stop layers formed on top of one another, each of the nitride etch stop layers is formed using a film forming process. A method of making the multilayer nitride stack includes placing a substrate in a single wafer deposition chamber and thermally shocking the substrate momentarily prior to deposition. A first nitride etch stop layer is deposited over the substrate. A second nitride etch stop layer is deposited over the first nitride etch stop layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method for depositing silicon-containing films. In one embodiment, a method for depositing silicon-containing material film on a substrate includes flowing a nitrogen and carbon containing chemical into a deposition chamber, flowing a silicon-containing source chemical having silicon-nitrogen bonds into the processing chamber, and heating the substrate disposed in the chamber to a temperature less than about 550 degrees Celsius. In another embodiment, the silicon containing chemical is trisilylamine and the nitrogen and carbon containing chemical is (CH3)3—N.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for fabricating a silicon nitride stack on a semiconductor substrate are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a silicon nitride stack on a semiconductor substrate includes depositing a base layer including silicon nitride on the substrate using a first set of process conditions that selectively control the stress of the base layer; and depositing an upper layer including silicon nitride using a second set of process conditions that selectively control at least one of an oxidation resistance and a refractive index of the upper layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a poly-crystalline silicon film on a substrate by positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, heating the processing chamber to a first temperature between about 640° C. and about 720° C., stabilizing a deposition pressure between about 200 Torr and about 350 Torr, introducing a silicon precursor into the processing chamber to deposit a silicon film comprising an amorphous or hemisphere grain film, and heating the processing chamber to a second temperature between about 700° C. and about 750 C.° to anneal the amorphous or hemisphere grain film into a poly-crystalline nano-crystalline grain film.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a multiple layer silicon nitride film on a semiconductor substrate is provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a multiple layer silicon nitride film on a semiconductor substrate includes providing a substrate over which the multiple layer silicon nitride film is to be formed; and forming the multiple layer silicon nitride film in a single processing reactor by: (a) depositing a base layer comprising silicon nitride on the base structure; (b) depositing a middle layer comprising a stress-controlling material on the base layer; and (c) depositing a top layer comprising silicon nitride on the middle layer. The stress-controlling material selectively increases or reduces the stress of the multiple layer silicon nitride film as compared to silicon nitride alone.

Abstract: Embodiments of substrate heating methods and apparatus are provided herein. In one embodiment, a substrate heater is provided including a heater plate having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a recess formed in the top surface, the recess having a feature having an upper surface for supporting a substrate, wherein the depth from a bottom surface of the recess to the upper surface of the feature is at least 5 mils. One or more pads may be disposed in the recess for supporting a substrate. The heater plate may have a thickness of about 19 mm. One or more indentations may be formed in the bottom surface of the recess for altering the rate of heat transfer to a portion of a substrate disposed above the indentation during processing. The heater plate may be utilized in a process chamber for performing heat-assisted processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing silicon boron nitride films is provided. The apparatus comprises a chamber, a gas mixing block connected to the chamber, and separate boron-containing precursor, silicon-containing precursor, and nitrogen-containing precursor gas line systems that are connected to the gas mixing block. Methods of depositing a silicon boron nitride film in the apparatus are provided. In another aspect, a method of depositing a silicon boron nitride film includes reacting a boron-containing precursor, silicon-containing precursor, and nitrogen-containing precursor in a chamber, wherein a ratio of the flow rate of the nitrogen-containing precursor into the chamber to the flow rate of the boron-containing precursor is greater than or equal to about 10.

Abstract: Methods for low thermal budget silicon dioxide chemical vapor deposition in single-wafer chambers are provided. In semiconductor manufacturing, Si2H6-based oxide deposition is worthy of consideration as a viable alternative to higher temperature thermal CVD processes. A process of forming a film on a substrate is provided, the process comprising: placing a substrate in a thermal low-pressure chemical vapor deposition single-wafer chamber; flowing disilane (Si2H6) into the chamber; flowing nitrous oxide (N2O) into the chamber at a ratio of at least approximately 300:1 N2O:Si2H6; heating the chamber at a temperature of from approximately 450° C. to approximately 550° C.; and forming the film on the substrate, wherein the film comprises silicon dioxide (SiO2).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method for depositing a film containing silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N). In one embodiment, the method includes heating a substrate disposed in a processing chamber to a temperature less than about 650 degrees Celsius, flowing a nitrogen-containing gas into the processing chamber, flowing a silicon-containing gas into the processing chamber, and depositing a SiN-containing layer on a substrate. The silicon-containing gas is at least one of a gas identified as NR2—Si(R?2)—Si(R?2)—NR2 (amino(di)silanes), R3—Si—N?N?N (silyl azides), R?3—Si—NR—NR2 (silyl hydrazines) or 1,3,4,5,7,8-hexamethytetrasiliazane, wherein R and R? comprise at least one functional group selected from the group of a halogen, an organic group having one or more double bonds, an organic group having one or more triple bonds, an aliphatic alkyl group, a cyclical alkyl group, an aromatic group, an organosilicon group, an alkyamino group, or a cyclic group containing N or Si.

Abstract: Methods for depositing hemispherical grained silicon layers and nanocrystalline grain-sized polysilicon layers are provided. The hemispherical grained silicon layers and nanocrystalline grain-sized polysilicon layers are deposited in single substrate chemical vapor deposition chambers. The hemispherical grained silicon layers and nanocrystalline grain-sized polysilicon layers may be used as electrode layers in semiconductor devices. In one aspect, a two step deposition process is provided to form a nanocrystalline grain-sized polysilicon layer with a reduced roughness.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for fabricating a spacer structure on a semiconductor substrate are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a spacer structure on a semiconductor substrate includes providing a substrate containing a base structure over which the spacer structure is to be formed. The spacer structure may be formed over the base structure by depositing a first layer comprising silicon nitride on the base structure, depositing a second layer comprising a silicon-based dielectric material on the first layer, and depositing a third layer comprising silicon nitride on the second layer. The first, second, and third layers are deposited in a single processing reactor.

Abstract: A silicon comprising film and its method of fabrication is described. The silicon comprising film is grown on a substrate. A hexachlorodisilane (HCD) source gas is one of the reactant species used to form the silicon comprising film. The silicon comprising film is formed under a pressure between 10 Torr and 350 Torr.

Abstract: A silicon comprising film and its method of fabrication is described. The silicon comprising film is grown on a substrate. A hexachlorodisilane (HCD) source gas is one of the reactant species used to form the silicon comprising film. The silicon comprising film is formed under a pressure between 10 Torr and 350 Torr.