Patents by Inventor Steven C. H. Hung

Steven C. H. Hung 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: 12288717
    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 comprises 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 an anneal process, e.g., a hydrogen high-pressure anneal. The formation of the metal cap on the metal minimizes parasitic adsorption of hydrogen by the underlying metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas D. Nemani, Yixiong Yang, Susmit Singha Roy, Nikolaos Bekiaris
  • Patent number: 12249511
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes annealing a surface of a substrate in an ambient of hydrogen to smooth the surface, pre-cleaning the surface of the substrate, depositing a high-? dielectric layer on the pre-cleaned surface of the substrate, performing a re-oxidation process to thermally oxidize the surface of the substrate; performing a plasma nitridation process to insert nitrogen atoms in the deposited high-? dielectric layer, and performing a post-nitridation anneal process to passivate chemical bonds in the plasma nitridated high-? dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. H. Hung, Lin Dong, Benjamin Colombeau, Johanes F. Swenberg, Linlin Wang
  • Patent number: 12230688
    Abstract: A metal gate stack on a substrate comprises: an interfacial layer on the substrate; a high-? metal oxide layer on the interfacial layer, the high-? metal oxide layer comprising a dipole region adjacent to the interfacial layer, the dipole region comprising niobium (Nb); a high-? metal oxide capping layer on the high-? metal oxide layer; a positive metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) work function material above the high-? metal oxide capping layer; and a gate electrode above the PMOS work function material. The dipole region is formed by driving Nb species of a Nb-based film into the high-? metal oxide layer to form a dipole region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Srinivas Gandikota, Steven C. H. Hung, Mandyam Sriram, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang
  • Patent number: 12183798
    Abstract: A method of forming a gate stack structure includes forming a dipole metal layer on a high-? gate dielectric layer on a semiconductor structure formed on a substrate, annealing the dipole metal layer, and removing the dipole metal layer. The dipole metal layer comprises dopants in the high-? gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. H. Hung, Benjamin Colombeau, Myungsun Kim, Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang, Jacqueline Samantha Wrench, Yong Yang
  • Publication number: 20240379349
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes pre-cleaning a surface of a substrate, forming an interfacial layer on the pre-cleaned surface of the substrate, depositing a high-? dielectric layer on the interfacial layer, performing a plasma nitridation process to insert nitrogen atoms in the deposited high-? dielectric layer, and performing a post-nitridation anneal process to passivate chemical bonds in the plasma nitridated high-? dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Steven C. H. HUNG, Johanes F. SWENBERG, Malcolm J. BEVAN
  • Publication number: 20240365551
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor structures may include a substrate. The structures may include a first layer of silicon-and-oxygen-containing material overlying the substrate. The structures may include a second layer of silicon-and-oxygen-containing material. The structures may include a first layer of metal-and-oxygen-containing material between the first layer of silicon-and-oxygen-containing material and the second layer of silicon-and-oxygen-containing material. The first layer of metal-and-oxygen-containing material may include a first metal. The structures may include a second layer of metal-and-oxygen-containing material disposed within the first layer of metal-and-oxygen-containing material. The second layer of metal-and-oxygen-containing material may include a second metal. The structures may include a gate disposed within the second layer of metal-and-oxygen-containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Seok Kang, Steven C. H. Hung, Hsueh Chung Chen, Naomi Yoshida, Sung-Kwan Kang, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan
  • Publication number: 20240339318
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes performing a first deposition process to deposit a first high-K dielectric layer on a surface of a substrate, performing an interface formation process to form an interfacial layer on the surface of the substrate, performing a second deposition process to deposit a second high-K dielectric layer on the interfacial layer, performing a plasma nitridation process to insert nitrogen atoms in the first high-K dielectric layer and the second high-K dielectric layer, and performing an anneal process to passivate chemical bonds in the first high-K dielectric layer and the second high-K dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Steven C. H. HUNG, Theresa Kramer GUARINI, Johanes F. SWENBERG
  • Patent number: 12112951
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing and processing semiconductor devices (i.e., electronic devices) are described. Embodiments of the disclosure advantageously provide electronic devices which comprise an integrated dipole region to meet reduced thickness and lower thermal budget requirements. The electronic devices described herein comprise a source region, a drain region, and a channel separating the source region and the drain region, and a dipole region having an interfacial layer, a metal film substantially free of non-metal atoms on the interfacial layer, and a high-? dielectric layer on the metal film. In some embodiments, the dipole region of the electronic devices comprises an interfacial layer, a high-? dielectric layer on the interfacial layer, and a metal film on the high-? dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the methods comprise annealing the substrate to drive particles of metal from the metal film into one or more of the interfacial layer or the high-? dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang, Steven C. H. Hung, Tianyi Huang, Seshadri Ganguli
  • Patent number: 12100595
    Abstract: A sacrificial sealing layer is formed on a high-? metal gate (HKMG) stack to suppress oxidants, e.g., oxygen and water, from impacting the metal gate stack, thus preserving the device EOT. The method integrated processes that include forming an interfacial layer on the substrate; forming a high-? metal oxide layer on the interfacial layer, the high-? metal oxide layer comprising a dipole region adjacent to the interfacial layer, the dipole region; depositing a capping layer on the high-? metal oxide layer; and forming a sacrificial sealing layer on the capping layer. The dipole region is formed by driving a dopant species, e.g., zinc (Zn), vanadium (V), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), ruthenium (Ru), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr), aluminum (Al), niobium (Nb), or mixtures thereof, of a dipole film into the high-? metal oxide layer to form a dipole region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Jianqiu Guo, Seshadri Ganguli, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20240266163
    Abstract: A method of forming a high-? dielectric cap layer on a semiconductor structure formed on a substrate includes depositing the high-? dielectric cap layer on the semiconductor structure, depositing a sacrificial silicon cap layer on the high-? dielectric cap layer, performing a post cap anneal process to harden and densify the as-deposited high-? dielectric cap layer, and removing the sacrificial silicon cap layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Srinivas GANDIKOTA, Yixiong YANG, Jacqueline Samantha WRENCH, Yong YANG, Steven C. H. HUNG
  • Patent number: 12051734
    Abstract: Metal gate stacks and integrated methods of forming metal gate stacks are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise NbN as a PMOS work function material at a thickness in a range of greater than or equal to 5 ? to less than or equal to 50 ?. The PMOS work function material comprising NbN has an effective work function of greater than or equal to 4.75 eV. Some embodiments comprise HfO2 as a high-? metal oxide layer. Some embodiments provide improved PMOS bandedge performance evidenced by improved flatband voltage. Some embodiments exclude transition metal niobium nitride materials as work function materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Steven C. H. Hung, Mandyam Sriram, Jacqueline S. Wrench, Yixiong Yang, Yong Yang
  • Publication number: 20240234133
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes performing a pre-treatment process, including annealing a surface of a substrate in a hydrogen (H2) ambient, performing an interfacial formation process, including thermally oxidizing the pre-treated surface of the substrate to form an interfacial layer, and performing a post-treatment process, including annealing a surface of the formed interfacial layer in an ammonia (NH3) ambient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Steven C. H. HUNG, Theresa Kramer GUARINI, Johanes F. SWENBERG
  • Patent number: 12020982
    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 comprises 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 an anneal process, e.g., a hydrogen high-pressure anneal. The formation of the metal cap on the metal minimizes parasitic adsorption of hydrogen by the underlying metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas D. Nemani, Yixiong Yang, Susmit Singha Roy, Nikolaos Bekiaris
  • Patent number: 11996455
    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 aluminum nitride (TiAlN), titanium tantalum nitride (TiTaN), titanium oxide (TiO), tantalum oxide (TaO), and titanium aluminum carbide (TiAlC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjing Lin, Karla M Bernal Ramos, Shih Chung Chen, Yixiong Yang, Lin Dong, Steven C. H. Hung, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Patent number: 11961734
    Abstract: A method of forming a high-? dielectric cap layer on a semiconductor structure formed on a substrate includes depositing the high-? dielectric cap layer on the semiconductor structure, depositing a sacrificial silicon cap layer on the high-? dielectric cap layer, performing a post cap anneal process to harden and densify the as-deposited high-? dielectric cap layer, and removing the sacrificial silicon cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang, Jacqueline Samantha Wrench, Yong Yang, Steven C. H. Hung
  • Patent number: 11955332
    Abstract: A method of forming a high-? dielectric cap layer on a semiconductor structure formed on a substrate includes depositing the high-? dielectric cap layer on the semiconductor structure, depositing a sacrificial silicon cap layer on the high-? dielectric cap layer, performing a post cap anneal process to harden and densify the as-deposited high-? dielectric cap layer, and removing the sacrificial silicon cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Gandikota, Yixiong Yang, Jacqueline Samantha Wrench, Yong Yang, Steven C. H. Hung
  • Patent number: 11923441
    Abstract: Described is a method of manufacturing a gate-all-around electronic device. The method includes forming a thermal oxide layer though an enhanced in situ steam generation process in combination with atomic layer deposition of a low-? layer. The thin thermal oxide layer passivates the interface between the silicon layer and the dielectric layer of the GAA. A passivation process after the deposition of the low-? layer reduces the bulk trap and enhances the breakdown performance of the GAA transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. H. Hung, Benjamin Colombeau, Andy Lo, Byeong Chan Lee, Johanes F. Swenberg, Theresa Kramer Guarini, Malcolm J. Bevan
  • Patent number: 11888045
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 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: 20230402291
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a threshold voltage in a field-effect-transistor (FET) device includes performing a deposition process to deposit a diffusion barrier layer over a gate dielectric layer in a first region, a second region, and a third region of a semiconductor structure, performing a first patterning process to remove a portion of the deposited diffusion layer in the first region, performing a second patterning process to partially remove a portion of the deposited diffusion barrier layer in the second region, performing a dipole layer deposition process to deposit a dipole layer over the gate dielectric layer in the first region, and the diffusion barrier layer in the second region and in the third region, and performing an annealing process to drive dipole dopants from the dipole layer into the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Steven C. H. HUNG, Yixiong YANG, Tianyi HUANG, Srinivas GANDIKOTA
  • Publication number: 20230377901
    Abstract: A method of forming a structure on a substrate is provided. The method includes depositing a dipole dopant containing (DDC) layer including a dipole dopant on a first and second region of a dielectric layer (DL) of the substrate. A hardmask (HM) is deposited over the DDC deposited on the first and the second regions. A patterned photoresist layer (PR) is formed over the HM. The PR includes a first portion that is positioned over the first region and an opening that is positioned to expose a portion of the HM that is disposed over the second region of the substrate. The HM and DDC within the second region are etched and at least a portion of the DL is exposed within the second region. The PR is removed and the substrate is annealed to diffuse the dipole dopant into a portion of the DL disposed in the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. H. HUNG, Srinivas GANDIKOTA, Yixiong YANG, Yong YANG