Abstract: Methods for depositing a metal containing material formed on a certain material of a substrate using an atomic layer deposition process for semiconductor applications are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a metal containing material on a substrate comprises pulsing a first gas precursor comprising a metal containing precursor to a surface of a substrate, pulsing a second gas precursor comprising a silicon containing precursor to the surface of the substrate, forming a metal containing material selectively on a first material of the substrate, and thermal annealing the metal containing material formed on the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to high pressure processing apparatus for semiconductor processing. The apparatus described herein include a high pressure process chamber and a containment chamber surrounding the process chamber. A high pressure fluid delivery module is in fluid communication with the high pressure process chamber and is configured to deliver a high pressure fluid to the process chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for minimizing line edge/width roughness in lines formed by photolithography are provided. In one example, a method of processing a substrate includes applying a photoresist layer comprising a photoacid generator to on a multi-layer disposed on a substrate, wherein the multi-layer comprises an underlayer formed from an organic material, inorganic material, or a mixture of organic and inorganic materials, exposing a first portion of the photoresist layer unprotected by a photomask to a radiation light in a lithographic exposure process, and applying an electric field or a magnetic field to alter movement of photoacid generated from the photoacid generator substantially in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A high-pressure processing system for processing a layer on a substrate includes a first chamber, a support to hold the substrate in the first chamber, a second chamber adjacent the first chamber, a foreline to remove gas from the second chamber, a vacuum processing system configured to lower a pressure within the second chamber to near vacuum, a valve assembly between the first chamber and the second chamber to isolate the pressure within the first chamber from the pressure within the second chamber, a gas delivery system configured to increase the pressure within the first chamber to at least 10 atmospheres while the first chamber is isolated from the second chamber, an exhaust system comprising an exhaust line to remove gas from the first chamber, and a common housing surrounding both the first gas delivery module and the second gas delivery module.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermally stable spacer layer is disclosed. The method includes first disposing a substrate in an internal volume of a processing chamber. The substrate has a film formed thereon, the film including silicon, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Next, high pressure steam is introduced into the processing chamber. The film is exposed to the high pressure steam to convert the film to reacted film, the reacted film including silicon, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems and methods herein are directed towards forming, via ALD or CVD, a protective film in-situ on a plurality of interior components of a process chamber. The interior components coated with the protective film include a chamber sidewall, a chamber bottom, a substrate support pedestal, a showerhead, and a chamber top. The protective film can be of various compositions including amorphous Si, carbosilane, polysilicon, SiC, SiN, SiO2, Al2O3, AlON, HfO2, or Ni3Al, and can vary in thickness from about 80 nm to about 250 nm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate and etching a nickel silicide layer are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of etching a nickel silicide film in a semiconductor device include: contacting a nickel silicide film disposed on a substrate in a process chamber with an etching gas sufficient to form one or more soluble or volatile products in order to reduce or eliminate re-deposition of products formed from the nickel silicide film upon the nickel silicide film.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an apparatus and method for processing semiconductor substrates. In one embodiment, a processing system is disclosed. The processing system includes an outer chamber that surrounds an inner chamber. The inner chamber includes a substrate support upon which a substrate is positioned during processing. The inner chamber is configured to have an internal volume that, when isolated from an internal volume of the outer chamber, is changeable such that the pressure within the internal volume of the inner chamber may be varied.

Abstract: Methods for forming a transition metal material on a substrate and thermal processing such metal containing material in a cluster processing system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a device structure for semiconductor devices includes forming a two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide layer on a substrate in a first processing chamber disposed in a cluster processing system, thermally treating the two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide layer to form a treated metal layer in a second processing chamber disposed in the cluster processing system, and forming a capping layer on the treated metal layer in a third processing chamber disposed in the cluster processing system.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may include an electrostatic chuck (ESC) carrier. In an embodiment, the ESC carrier may comprise a carrier substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. In an embodiment, a first through substrate opening and a second through substrate opening may pass through the carrier substrate from the first surface to the second surface. Embodiments may include a first conductor in the first through substrate opening, and a second conductor in the second through substrate opening. In an embodiment, the ESC carrier may further comprise a first electrode over the first surface of the carrier substrate and electrically coupled to the first conductor, and a second electrode over the first surface of the carrier substrate and electrically coupled to the second conductor. In an embodiment, an oxide layer may be formed over the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate and etching a nickel silicide layer are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of etching a nickel silicide film in a semiconductor device include: contacting a nickel silicide film disposed on a substrate in a process chamber with an etching gas sufficient to form one or more soluble or volatile products in order to reduce or eliminate re-deposition of products formed from the nickel silicide film upon the nickel silicide film.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include methods of treating a substrate to remove one or more of voids, seams, and grain boundaries from interconnects formed on the substrate. The method includes heating the substrate in an environment pressurized at supra-atmospheric pressure. In one example, the substrate may be heated in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of forming graphene layers is disclosed. A method of improving graphene deposition is also disclosed. Some methods are advantageously performed at lower temperatures. Some methods advantageously provide graphene layers with lower resistance. Some methods advantageously provide graphene layers in a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and methods for depositing a dielectric material using RF bias pulses along with remote plasma source deposition for manufacturing semiconductor devices, particularly for filling openings with high aspect ratios in semiconductor applications. In one embodiment, a method of depositing a dielectric material includes providing a gas mixture into a processing chamber having a substrate disposed therein, forming a remote plasma in a remote plasma source and delivering the remote plasma to an interior processing region defined in the processing chamber, applying a RF bias power to the processing chamber in pulsed mode, and forming a dielectric material in an opening defined in a material layer disposed on the substrate in the presence of the gas mixture and the remote plasma.

Abstract: A process chamber is provided including a sidewall, a substrate support, and an exhaust vent disposed above the substrate support. A processing region is formed between the exhaust vent and substrate support, and the exhaust vent is coupled to an exhaust device configured to create a low pressure at the exhaust vent relative to the processing region. The process chamber further includes a gas ring including an annular shaped body having an inner surface that circumscribes an annular region. The gas ring further includes a plurality of first nozzles that are coupled to a first gas source and configured to deliver a first gas to the processing region. The gas ring further includes a plurality of second nozzles that are coupled to a second gas source and configured to deliver a second gas to the processing region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to selective metal silicide deposition methods. In one embodiment, a substrate having a silicon containing surface is heated and the silicon containing surface is hydrogen terminated. The substrate is exposed to sequential cycles of a MoF6 precursor and a Si2H6 precursor which is followed by an additional Si2H6 overdose exposure to selectively deposit a MoSix material comprising MoSi2 on the silicon containing surface of the substrate. Methods described herein also provide for selective native oxide removal which enables removal of native oxide material without etching bulk oxide materials.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally describe methods for depositing an amorphous carbon layer onto a substrate, including over previously formed layers on the substrate, using a high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) process, and in particular, biasing of the substrate during the deposition process and flowing a nitrogen source gas and/or a hydrogen source gas into the processing chamber in addition to an inert gas to improve the morphology and film stress of the deposited amorphous carbon layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a film treatment process. In one embodiment, a transition metal oxide layer including a dopant is deposited on a substrate. After the doped transition metal oxide layer is deposited, a high pressure annealing process is performed on the doped transition metal oxide layer to densify the doped transition metal oxide without outgassing of the dopant. The high pressure annealing process is performed in an ambient environment including the dopant and at a pressure greater than 1 bar.

Abstract: Embodiments of multi-cassette carrying cases are provided herein. In some embodiments a multi-cassette carrying case includes: a body having an inner volume; a door coupled to the body to selectively seal off the inner volume; and a plurality of cassette holders disposed in the inner volume to hold one or more substrate cassettes. In some embodiments, a method of transferring substrates includes: placing a substrate in a substrate cassette, wherein an inner volume of the substrate cassette is sealed from an environment outside of the substrate cassette; and placing the substrate cassette in a multi-cassette carrying case.

Abstract: A graphene barrier layer is disclosed. Some embodiments relate to a graphene barrier layer capable of preventing diffusion from a fill layer into a substrate surface and/or vice versa. Some embodiments relate to a graphene barrier layer that prevents diffusion of fluorine from a tungsten layer into the underlying substrate. Additional embodiments relate to electronic devices which contain a graphene barrier layer.