Abstract: An improved deposition chamber (2) includes a housing (4) defining a chamber (18) which houses a substrate support (14). A mixture of oxygen and SiF4 is delivered through a set of first nozzles (34) and silane is delivered through a set of second nozzles (34a) into the chamber around the periphery (40) of the substrate support. Silane (or a mixture of silane and SiF4) and oxygen are separately injected into the chamber generally centrally above the substrate from orifices (64, 76). The uniform dispersal of the gases coupled with the use of optimal flow rates for each gas results in uniformly low (under 3.4) dielectric constant across the film.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a module is provided that is adapted to process a wafer. The module includes a processing portion having one or more features such as (1) a rotatable wafer support for rotating an input wafer from a first orientation wherein the wafer is in line with a load port to a second orientation wherein the wafer is in line with an unload port; (2) a catcher adapted to contact and travel passively with a wafer as it is unloaded from the processing portion; (3) an enclosed output portion adapted to create a laminar air flow from one side thereof to the other; (4) an output portion having a plurality of wafer receivers; (5) submerged fluid nozzles; and/or (6) drying gas flow deflectors, etc. Other aspects include methods of wafer processing.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for depositing and polishing a material layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided which includes a basin, a cover, a permeable disc, an anode and a polishing head. The permeable disc is disposed in the basin between the cover and the basin's bottom. The cover has an aperture disposed therein that includes a plurality of pins. The pins extend radially into the aperture and are adapted to support the substrate. The anode is disposed in the basin between the disc and the bottom of the basin. The polishing head is adapted to retain the substrate during processing and includes a retaining ring. The retaining ring has a plurality of grooves disposed therein that mate with the pins when the polishing head is disposed in the aperture. When the substrate is biased via the pins, the potential between the substrate and the anode causes material to be deposited on the substrate's surface.

Abstract: A substrate polishing scheme (apparatus and method) is described according to which a polishing surface of a polishing sheet is driven in a generally linear direction by a drive mechanism, a surface of a substrate is held against the polishing surface of the polishing sheet by a polishing head, and the substrate is probed through the polishing sheet by a monitoring system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical mechanical polishing composition for planarizing copper and a method for planarizing, or initiating the planarization of, copper using the composition. The chemical mechanical polishing composition includes an oxidizing agent and a copper (II) compound. The composition optionally includes one or more of the following compound types: a complexing agent; a corrosion inhibitor; an acid; and, an abrasive. In one embodiment, the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide, ferric nitrate or an iodate. In another embodiment, the copper (II) compound is CuSO4. The chemical mechanical polishing method involves the step of polishing a copper layer using a composition that includes an oxidizing agent and a copper (II) compound. The composition is formed in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, it is formed by adding the copper (II) compound to a solution containing the oxidizing agent, and any included optional compound types, in deionized water.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal layer on a substrate is disclosed. The metal layer is formed using a combined electrochemical plating/electrochemical mechanical polishing (ECP/EMP) process. In the ECP/EMP process, the metal layer is deposited on the substrate by contacting the substrate with a porous pad and then alternately applying a first electrical potential and a second electrical potential to an electrolyte plating solution. The first electrical potential functions to deposit metal on the substrate while the second electrical potential functions to remove metal from topographic portions thereof.

Abstract: An improved deposition chamber (2) includes a housing (4) defining a chamber (18) which houses a substrate support (14). A mixture of oxygen and SiF4 is delivered through a set of first nozzles (34) and silane is delivered through a set of second nozzles (34a) into the chamber around the periphery (40) of the substrate support. Silane (or a mixture of silane and SiF4) and oxygen are separately injected into the chamber generally centrally above the substrate from orifices (64, 76). The uniform dispersal of the gases coupled with the use of optimal flow rates for each gas results in uniformly low (under 3.4) dielectric constant across the film.

Abstract: A method and composition for selective removal of a conductive material residue and a portion of the barrier layer from a substrate surface. The composition includes a chelating agent, an oxidizer, a corrosion inhibitor, abrasive particles, and water. The composition may further include one or more pH adjusting agents and/or one or more pH buffering agents. The method comprises selective removal of conductive material residue and a portion of the barrier layer from a substrate surface by applying a composition to a polishing pad, the composition including a chelating agent, an oxidizer, a corrosion inhibitor, abrasive particles, and water. The composition may further include one or more pH adjusting agents and/or one or more pH buffering agents.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for polishing substrates comprising conductive and low k dielectric materials with reduced or minimum substrate surface damage and delamination. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate including positioning a substrate having a conductive material formed thereon in a polishing apparatus having one or more rotational carrier heads and one or more rotatable platens, wherein the carrier head comprises a retaining ring and a membrane for securing a substrate and the platen has a polishing article disposed thereon, contacting the substrate surface and the polishing article to each other at a retaining ring contact pressure of about 0.4 psi or greater than a membrane pressure, and polishing the substrate to remove conductive material.

Abstract: A method for performing chemical-mechanical polishing/planarization providing highly selective, rapid removal of a Ta-containing barrier layer from a workpiece surface, such as a semiconductor wafer including a damascene-type Cu-based metallization pattern in-laid in a dielectric layer and including a Ta-containing metal diffusion barrier layer, comprises applying an aqueous liquid composition to the workpiece surface during CMP or to the polishing pad utilized for performing the CMP, the composition comprising at least one reducing agent for reducing transition metal ions to a lower valence state, at least one pH adjusting agent, at least one metal corrosion inhibitor, and water, and optionally includes ions of at least one transition metal, e.g., Cu and Fe ions. According to another embodiment, the aqueous liquid composition contains Ag ions and the at least one reducing agent is omitted.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing substrates to improve polishing uniformity, improve planarization, remove residual material and minimize defect formation are provided. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate having a conductive material and a low dielectric constant material disposed thereon including polishing a substrate at a polishing pressures of about 2 psi or less and at platen rotational speeds of about 200 cps or greater. The polishing process may use an abrasive-containing polishing composition having up to about 1 wt. % of abrasives. The polishing process may be integrated into a multi-step polishing process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for polishing conductive materials with low dishing of features and reduced or minimal remaining residues. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate by polishing the substrate to remove bulk conductive material and polishing the substrate by a ratio of carrier head rotational speed to platen rotational speed of between about 2:1 and about 3:1 to remove residual conductive material. In another aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate including polishing the substrate at a first relative linear velocity between about 600 mm/second and about 1900 mm/second at the center of the substrate, and polishing the substrate at a second relative linear velocity between about 100 mm/second and about 550 mm/second at the center of the substrate.

Abstract: Polishing pad glazing during CMP of Al and Al alloys is eliminated or substantially reduced by utilizing a neutral polishing slurry containing a sufficient amount of a surfactant to prevent agglomeration of the abrasive particles with polishing by-products. Embodiments include CMP an Al or an Al alloy surface employing a slurry containing abrasive Al203 particles and about 0.02 to about 5 wt. % of a surfactant to prevent Al203 abrasive slurry particles from agglomerating with Al(OH)3 polishing by-products. Embodiments further include subsequent ex situ pad conditioning using an acid or base to dissolve, or a complexing agent to remove, Al(OH)3 polishing by-products.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for removal of barrier layer materials by a chemical mechanical polishing technique are provided. In one aspect, the invention provides a composition adapted for removing a barrier layer material in a chemical mechanical polishing technique including at least one reducing agent selected from the group of bicarboxylic acids, tricarboxylic acids, and combinations thereof, at least one reducing agent selected from the group of glucose, hydroxylamine, and combinations thereof, and deionized water, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7 or less. The composition may be used in a method for removing the barrier layer material including applying the composition to a polishing pad and polishing the substrate in the presence of the composition to remove the barrier layer.

Abstract: A method of chemically polishing a metal layer on a substrate is provided. The metal layer is chemically polished using an electrochemical polishing (ECP) process. In the ECP process, the substrate is immersed in a chemical polishing solution including a surfactant. The surfactant in the polishing solution covers the surface of the substrate such that only topographic portions of the substrate surface are exposed to the chemical polishing solution. Thereafter, an electrical potential applied to the substrate removes topographic portions of the substrate that are exposed to the polishing solution.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing machine is provided with a platen that has an integral sub-pad. A fixed abrasive polishing layer is mounted, without adhesive between the polishing layer and the sub-pad, to the top surface of the platen and the sub-pad. The polishing layer is vacuum mounted, for example, to the integral sub-pad of the platen. A cooling arrangement is provided in the platen that cools the polishing layer and improves product quality.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for planarizing a substrate surface having copper containing materials thereon is provided. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for polishing a substrate including polishing the substrate with an abrasive-free polishing pad until it is substantially planarized and then polishing the substrate with a fixed abrasive polishing pad to remove residual materials disposed thereon. Another aspect of the invention provides a computer readable medium bearing instructions for performing the method described herein.

Abstract: An improved deposition chamber (2) includes a housing (4) defining a chamber (18) which houses a substrate support (14). A mixture of oxygen and SiF4 is delivered through a set of first nozzles (34) and silane is delivered through a set of second nozzles (34a) into the chamber around the periphery (40) of the substrate support. Silane (or a mixture of silane and SiF4) and oxygen are separately injected into the chamber generally centrally above the substrate from orifices (64, 76). The uniform dispersal of the gases coupled with the use of optimal flow rates for each gas results in uniformly low (under 3.4) dielectric constant across the film.

Abstract: Polishing compositions for metal CMP with reduced dishing and overpolish insensitivity are formulated to have a low static etching rate at high temperatures, e.g., higher than 50° C. Embodiments include abrasive-free polishing compositions comprising one or more chelating agents, one or more oxidizers, one or more corrosion inhibitors, one or more acids to achieve a pH of about 3 to about 10 and deionized water.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a method of cleaning a plasma reactor by creating a vacuum in the chamber while introducing an etchant gas into the chamber through the gas injection ports, and applying RF energy to a ceiling electrode in the chamber while not necessarily applying RF energy to the coil antenna, so as to strike a predominantly capacitively coupled plasma in the vacuum chamber. In another embodiment the method includes, whenever the reactor is to be operated in an inductive coupling mode, applying RF power to the reactors coil antenna while grounding the ceiling electrode, and whenever the reactor is to be operated in a capacitive coupling mode, applying RF power to the ceiling electrode, and whenever the reactor is to be cleaned, cleaning the reactor by applying RF power to the ceiling electrode and to the coil antenna while introducing an etchant gas into the vacuum chamber.