Abstract: A processing chamber includes a grid and a first disk. The grid includes a plurality of holes arranged in the processing chamber. The grid partitions the processing chamber into a first chamber in which plasma is generated and a second chamber in which a pedestal is configured to support a substrate. The first disk is arranged in the second chamber. The first disk is movable between the grid and the substrate when supported on the pedestal.

Abstract: One or more layers of a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) stack on a substrate are etched by ion beam etching. An ion beam of an inert gas is generated in an ion beam source chamber and applied to a substrate in a continuous or pulsed manner. Without passing through the ion beam source chamber, a reactive gas is flowed directly into a processing chamber in which the substrate is located, where the reactive gas is pulsed or continuously provided into the processing chamber. The reactive gas may include a carbon-containing gas having a hydroxyl group that is flowed towards the substrate to limit re-deposition of sputtered atoms on exposed surfaces of the substrate from ion beam etching.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing an anisotropic ion beam for etching and treatment of substrate are discussed. In one embodiment, a system for processing a substrate includes a chamber, a chuck assembly, an ion source, and a grid system. The ion source includes grid system interfaces both the chamber and the ion source and includes a plurality of holes through which ions are extracted from the ion source to form an ion beam. The grid system is oriented so the ion beam is directed into the chamber toward the substrate support, and the array of holes of the grid system is defined vertically by a y-axis and horizontally by an x-axis, The array of holes is defined by hole densities that vary vertically in the y-axis such that the ion beam is caused to have an energy density gradient that is defined vertically in the y-axis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing an anisotropic ion beam for etching and treatment of substrate are discussed. In one embodiment, a system for processing a substrate includes a chamber, a chuck assembly, an ion source, and a grid system. The ion source includes grid system interfaces both the chamber and the ion source and includes a plurality of holes through which ions are extracted from the ion source to form an ion beam. The size of the plurality holes varies along an axis such that the ion density of the ion beam also varies along the axis. The density of the plurality of holes varies along an axis such that the ion density of the ion beam also varies along the axis. In some embodiments, the energies of a beamlet or multiple beamlets may be individual defined to adjust beam energy density.

Abstract: Apparatuses suitable for etching substrates at various pressure regimes are described herein. Apparatuses include a process chamber including a movable pedestal capable of being positioned at a raised position or a lowered position, showerhead, and optional plasma generator. Apparatuses are capable of forming a pressure differential between an upper chamber region and lower chamber region by varying the position of the movable pedestal. Apparatuses also include a sidewall region adjacent to the showerhead such that an adjustable gap is formed between an edge of the movable pedestal and the sidewall region, the distance of which can be varied to form a pressure differential.

Abstract: Apparatuses suitable for etching substrates at various pressure regimes are described herein. Apparatuses include a process chamber including a movable pedestal capable of being positioned at a raised position or a lowered position, showerhead, and optional plasma generator. Apparatuses may be suitable for etching non-volatile metals using a treatment while the movable pedestal is in the lowered position and a high pressure exposure to organic vapor while the movable pedestal is in the raised position.

Abstract: Apparatuses suitable for etching substrates at various pressure regimes are described herein. Apparatuses include a process chamber including a movable pedestal capable of being positioned at a raised position or a lowered position, showerhead, and optional plasma generator. Apparatuses may be suitable for etching non-volatile metals using a treatment while the movable pedestal is in the lowered position and a high pressure exposure to organic vapor while the movable pedestal is in the raised position.

Abstract: A method of opening a barrier film below copper structures in a stack is provided. A pulsed gas is provided into a plasma processing chamber, wherein the providing the pulsed gas comprises providing a pulsed H2 containing gas and providing a pulsed halogen containing gas, wherein the pulsed H2 containing gas and the pulsed halogen containing gas are pulsed out of phase, and wherein the pulsed H2 containing gas has an H2 high flow period and the pulsed halogen containing gas has a halogen containing gas high flow period, wherein the H2 high flow period is greater than the halogen containing gas high flow period. The pulsed gas is formed into a plasma. The copper structures and the barrier film are exposed to the plasma, which etches the barrier film. In another embodiment, a wet and dry cyclical process may be used.

Abstract: A method for combinatorially processing a substrate is provided. The method includes introducing a first etchant into a reactor cell and introducing a fluid into the reactor cell while the first etchant remains in the reactor cell. After initiating the introducing the fluid, contents of the reactor cell are removed through a first removal line and a second removal line, wherein the first removal line extends farther into the reactor cell than the second removal line. A level of the fluid above an inlet to the first removal line is maintained while removing the contents. A second etchant is introduced into the reactor cell while removing the contents through the first removal line and the second removal line. The method includes continuing the introducing of the second etchant until a concentration of the second etchant is at a desired level, wherein the surface of the substrate remains submerged.

Abstract: A method of opening a barrier film below copper structures in a stack is provided. A pulsed gas is provided into a plasma processing chamber, wherein the providing the pulsed gas comprises providing a pulsed H2 containing gas and providing a pulsed halogen containing gas, wherein the pulsed H2 containing gas and the pulsed halogen containing gas are pulsed out of phase, and wherein the pulsed H2 containing gas has an H2 high flow period and the pulsed halogen containing gas has a halogen containing gas high flow period, wherein the H2 high flow period is greater than the halogen containing gas high flow period. The pulsed gas is formed into a plasma. The copper structures and the barrier film are exposed to the plasma, which etches the barrier film. In another embodiment, a wet and dry cyclical process may be used.

Abstract: Candidate wet processes for native oxide removal from, and passivation of, germanium surfaces can be screened by high-productivity combinatorial variation of different process parameters on different site-isolated regions of a single substrate. Variable process parameters include the choice of hydrohalic acid used to remove the native oxide, the concentration of the acid in the solution, the exposure time, and the use of an optional sulfur passivation step. Measurements to compare the results of the process variations include attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). A sample screening experiment indicated somewhat less native oxide regrowth using HCl or HBr without sulfur passivation, compared to using HF with sulfur passivation.

Abstract: A method of combinatorial processing involving etching a first material and a second material on a substrate comprising: etching the first material with a high first etch rate with a first etchant; etching the second material with a high second etch rate with a second etchant, wherein the first etchant and the second etchant are used sequentially without being separated by a rinse.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention discloses an etchant solution hydrochloric acid and nitric acid to etch doped polysilicon at low etch rates. The doped polysilicon can be doped with Ge, In, B and Ga. Preferably, the concentration of hydrochloric acid can be greater than 1 vol %, and the concentration of nitric acid is greater than 15 vol %.

Abstract: A method for combinatorially processing a substrate is provided. The method includes introducing a first etchant into a reactor cell and introducing a fluid into the reactor cell while the first etchant remains in the reactor cell. After initiating the introducing the fluid, contents of the reactor cell are removed through a first removal line and a second removal line, wherein the first removal line extends farther into the reactor cell than the second removal line. A level of the fluid above an inlet to the first removal line is maintained while removing the contents. A second etchant is introduced into the reactor cell while removing the contents through the first removal line and the second removal line. The method includes continuing the introducing of the second etchant until a concentration of the second etchant is at a desired level, wherein the surface of the substrate remains submerged.

Abstract: A method for combinatorially processing a substrate is provided. The method includes introducing a first etchant into a reactor cell and introducing a fluid into the reactor cell while the first etchant remains in the reactor cell. After initiating the introducing the fluid, contents of the reactor cell are removed through a first removal line and a second removal line, wherein the first removal line extends farther into the reactor cell than the second removal line. A level of the fluid above an inlet to the first removal line is maintained while removing the contents. A second etchant is introduced into the reactor cell while removing the contents through the first removal line and the second removal line. The method includes continuing the introducing of the second etchant until a concentration of the second etchant is at a desired level, wherein the surface of the substrate remains submerged.

Abstract: A method of measuring the thickness of a one or more layers using ellipsometry is presented which overcomes problems with fitting a model to data collected in the presence of a top surface having a surface roughness (peak-to-trough) greater than about 100 ?. Prior to measurement, the top layer is pretreated to form an oxide layer of thickness between about 15 ? and about 30 ?. Ellipsometry data as a function of wavelength is then collected, and the ellipsometry data is fitted to a model including the oxide layer. For layers of doped polycrystalline silicon layers with a rough surface, the model comprises a layer consisting of a mixture of polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon and a top layer consisting of a mixture of polycrystalline silicon and silicon dioxide, and the pretreatment can be performed for about 10 minutes at 600 C in an oxygen atmosphere.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention discloses an etchant solution hydrochloric acid and nitric acid to etch doped polysilicon at low etch rates. The doped polysilicon can be doped with Ge, In, B and Ga. Preferably, the concentration of hydrochloric acid can be greater than 1 vol %, and the concentration of nitric acid is greater than 15 vol %.

Abstract: A method for combinatorially processing a substrate is provided. The method includes introducing a first etchant into a reactor cell and introducing a fluid into the reactor cell while the first etchant remains in the reactor cell. After initiating the introducing the fluid, contents of the reactor cell are removed through a first removal line and a second removal line, wherein the first removal line extends farther into the reactor cell than the second removal line. A level of the fluid above an inlet to the first removal line is maintained while removing the contents. A second etchant is introduced into the reactor cell while removing the contents through the first removal line and the second removal line. The method includes continuing the introducing of the second etchant until a concentration of the second etchant is at a desired level, wherein the surface of the substrate remains submerged.