Patents by Inventor Srinivas Gandikota

Srinivas Gandikota has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10916505
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Wu, Srinivas Gandikota, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Srinivas D. Nemani
  • Publication number: 20210028055
    Abstract: Methods for seam-less gapfill comprising sequentially depositing a film with a seam, reducing the height of the film to remove the seam and repeating until a seam-less film is formed. Some embodiments include optional film doping and film treatment (e.g., ion implantation and annealing).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Pramit Manna, Ludovic Godet, Rui Cheng, Erica Chen, Ziqing Duan, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20200411373
    Abstract: Methods of forming semiconductor device with fluorine-incorporated metal nitride films are described. A substrate surface is exposed to a metal fluoride precursor to form a metal-fluorine species on the substrate surface. The substrate surface is exposed to a nitriding agent to react with the metal-fluorine species to form a fluorine-incorporated metal nitride film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yixiong Yang, Srinivas Gandikota, Steven C.H. Hung, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yongjing Lin, Susmit Singha Roy, Wei V. Tang, Shih Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 10854461
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a metal film without the use of a barrier layer are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise forming an amorphous nucleation layer comprising one or more of silicon or boron and forming a metal layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yihong Chen, Yong Wu, Chia Cheng Chin, Srinivas Gandikota, Kelvin Chan
  • Patent number: 10851454
    Abstract: A method of forming conformal amorphous metal films is disclosed. A method of forming crystalline metal films with a predetermined orientation is also disclosed. An amorphous nucleation layer is formed on a substrate surface. An amorphous metal layer is formed from the nucleation layer by atomic substitution. A crystalline metal layer is deposited on the amorphous metal layer by atomic layer deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Wu, Srinivas Gandikota, Abhijit Basu Mallick
  • Patent number: 10854511
    Abstract: Methods for forming 3D-NAND devices comprising recessing a poly-Si layer to a depth below a spaced oxide layer. A liner is formed on the spaced oxide layer and not on the recessed poly-Si layer. A metal layer is deposited in the gaps on the liner to form wordlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yihong Chen, Yong Wu, Chia Cheng Chin, Xinliang Lu, Srinivas Gandikota, Ziqing Duan, Abhijit Basu Mallick
  • Publication number: 20200373200
    Abstract: A method of forming an electronic device is disclosed. The method comprises forming depositing a metal on a substrate, the metal comprising one or more of copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), or tantalum (Ta). A metal cap is deposited on the metal, the metal cap comprising one or more of molybdenum (Mo), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), osmium (Os), platinum (Pt), or gold (Au). The substrate is then exposed to a hydrogen high-pressure anneal. The formation of the metal cap on the metal minimizes parasitic adsorption of hydrogen by the underlying metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Steven C.H. Hung, Srinivas D. Nemani, Yixiong Yang, Susmit Singha Roy, Nikolaos Bekiaris
  • Publication number: 20200373318
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory structures are discussed. Specifically, methods of forming 3D NAND devices are discussed. Some embodiments form memory structures with a metal nitride barrier layer, an ?-tungsten layer, and a bulk metal material. The barrier layer comprises a TiXN or TaXN material, where X comprises a metal selected from one or more of aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), tungsten (W), lanthanum (La), yttrium (Yt), strontium (Sr), or magnesium (Mg).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Yong Wu, Wei V. Tang, Srinivas Gandikota, Yongjing Lin, Karla M. Barnal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen
  • Publication number: 20200373404
    Abstract: Methods of forming and processing semiconductor devices are described. Certain embodiments related to electronic devices which comprise a dipole region having an interlayer dielectric, a high-? dielectric material, and a dipole layer. The dipole layer comprises one or more of titanium lanthanum nitride (TiLaN), titanium yttrium nitride (TiYN), titanium strontium nitride (TiSrN), titanium magnesium nitriride (TiMgN, titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium oxynitride (HfON), hafnium oxycarbide (HfOC), hafnium carbide aluminum (HfCAl), hafnium aluminum nitride (HfAlN), or hafnium carbonitride (HfCN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M. Bernal Ramos, Luping Li, Shih Chung Chen, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Steven C.H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota, Naomi Yoshida, Lin Dong
  • Publication number: 20200357616
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a processing chamber used to perform a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process and methods of depositing multi-compositional films. The processing chamber may include: an improved RF feed configuration to reduce any standing wave effects; an improved magnetron design to enhance RF plasma uniformity, deposited film composition and thickness uniformity; an improved substrate biasing configuration to improve process control; and an improved process kit design to improve RF field uniformity near the critical surfaces of the substrate. The method includes forming a plasma in a processing region of a chamber using an RF supply coupled to a multi-compositional target, translating a magnetron relative to the multi-compositional target, wherein the magnetron is positioned in a first position relative to a center point of the multi-compositional target while the magnetron is translating and the plasma is formed, and depositing a multi-compositional film on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Adolph Miller ALLEN, Lara HAWRYLCHAK, Zhigang XIE, Muhammad M. RASHEED, Rongjun WANG, Xianmin TANG, Zhendong LIU, Tza-Jing GUNG, Srinivas GANDIKOTA, Mei CHANG, Michael S. COX, Donny YOUNG, Kirankumar SAVANDAIAH, Zhenbin GE
  • Publication number: 20200335334
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a metal film on a doped amorphous silicon layer as a nucleation layer and/or a glue layer on a substrate. Some embodiments further comprise the incorporation of a glue layer to increase the ability of the doped amorphous silicon layer and metal layer to stick to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Rui Cheng, Yihong Chen, Yong Wu, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Patent number: 10811303
    Abstract: Methods for seam-less gapfill comprising sequentially depositing a film with a seam, reducing the height of the film to remove the seam and repeating until a seam-less film is formed. Some embodiments include optional film doping and film treatment (e.g., ion implantation and annealing).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Pramit Manna, Ludovic Godet, Rui Cheng, Erica Chen, Ziqing Duan, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20200279772
    Abstract: Methods of producing a self-aligned structure are described. The methods comprise forming a metal-containing film in a substrate feature and silicidizing the metal-containing film to form a self-aligned structure comprising metal silicide. In some embodiments, the rate of formation of the self-aligned structure is controlled. In some embodiments, the amount of volumetric expansion of the metal-containing film to form the self-aligned structure is controlled. Methods of forming self-aligned vias are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Susmit Singha Roy, Srinivas Gandikota, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Amrita B. Mullick
  • Patent number: 10763090
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a processing chamber used to perform a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process and methods of depositing multi-compositional films. The processing chamber may include: an improved RF feed configuration to reduce any standing wave effects; an improved magnetron design to enhance RF plasma uniformity, deposited film composition and thickness uniformity; an improved substrate biasing configuration to improve process control; and an improved process kit design to improve RF field uniformity near the critical surfaces of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Adolph Miller Allen, Lara Hawrylchak, Zhigang Xie, Muhammad M. Rasheed, Rongjun Wang, Xianmin Tang, Zhendong Liu, Tza-Jing Gung, Srinivas Gandikota, Mei Chang, Michael S. Cox, Donny Young, Kirankumar Savandaiah, Zhenbin Ge
  • Patent number: 10741435
    Abstract: Methods comprising forming a film on at least one feature of a substrate surface are described. The film is expanded to fill the at least one feature and cause growth of the film from the at least one feature. Methods of forming self-aligned vias are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Susmit Singha Roy, Yihong Chen, Kelvin Chan, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Srinivas Gandikota, Pramit Manna
  • Publication number: 20200243341
    Abstract: In-situ methods for depositing a metal film without the use of a barrier layer are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise forming an amorphous nucleation layer comprising one or more of silicon or boron and forming a metal layer on the nucleation layer. These processes are performed without an air break between processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Wu, Wei V. Tang, Jianqiu Guo, Wenyi Liu, Yixiong Yang, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Mandyam Sriram, Srinivas Gandikota, Yumin He
  • Publication number: 20200227275
    Abstract: Processing methods to etch metal oxide films with less etch residue are described. The methods comprise etching a metal oxide film with a metal halide etchant, and exposing the etch residue to a reductant to remove the etch residue. Some embodiments relate to etching tungsten oxide films. Some embodiments utilize tungsten halides to etch metal oxide films. Some embodiments utilize hydrogen gas as a reductant to remove etch residues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Amrita B. Mullick, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Srinivas Gandikota, Susmit Singha Roy, Yingli Rao, Regina Freed, Uday Mitra
  • Patent number: 10699946
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a metal layer in a feature definition of a semiconductor device are provided. In one implementation, a method for depositing a metal layer for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises performing a cyclic metal deposition process to deposit a metal layer on a substrate and annealing the metal layer disposed on the substrate. The cyclic metal deposition process comprises exposing the substrate to a deposition precursor gas mixture to deposit a portion of the metal layer on the substrate, exposing the portion of the metal layer to either a plasma treatment process or hydrogen annealing process and repeating the exposing the substrate to a deposition precursor gas mixture and exposing the portion of the metal layer to either a plasma treatment process or hydrogen annealing process until a predetermined thickness of the metal layer is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Bhushan N. Zope, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Bo Zheng, Yu Lei, Xinyu Fu, Srinivas Gandikota, Sang Ho Yu, Mathew Abraham
  • Patent number: 10699952
    Abstract: Methods comprising depositing a film material to form an initial film in a trench in a substrate surface are described. The film is treated to expand the film to grow beyond the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Atashi Basu, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Ziqing Duan, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20200194304
    Abstract: Processing methods to form self-aligned high aspect ratio features are described. The methods comprise depositing a metal film on a structured substrate, volumetrically expanding the metal film, depositing a second film between the expanded pillars and optionally recessing the pillars and repeating the process to form the high aspect ratio features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Susmit Singha Roy, Praburam Gopalraja, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Srinivas Gandikota