Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods are described for forming UV-treated, low-? dielectric films. The methods may include flowing deposition precursors into a substrate processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The deposition precursors may include a silicon-and-carbon-containing precursor. The methods may further include generating a deposition plasma from the deposition precursors within the substrate processing region, and depositing a silicon-and-carbon-containing material on the substrate from plasma effluents of the deposition plasma. The as-deposited silicon-and-carbon-containing material may be characterized by greater than or about 5% hydrocarbon groups. The methods may still further include exposing the deposited silicon-and-carbon-containing material to ultraviolet light. The exposed silicon-and-carbon-containing material may be characterized by less than or about 2% hydrocarbon groups.

Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods are described for forming UV-treated, low-? dielectric films. The methods may include flowing deposition precursors into a substrate processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The deposition precursors may include a silicon-and-carbon-containing precursor. The methods may further include generating a deposition plasma from the deposition precursors within the substrate processing region, and depositing a silicon-and-carbon-containing material on the substrate from plasma effluents of the deposition plasma. The as-deposited silicon-and-carbon-containing material may be characterized by greater than or about 5% hydrocarbon groups. The methods may still further include exposing the deposited silicon-and-carbon-containing material to ultraviolet light. The exposed silicon-and-carbon-containing material may be characterized by less than or about 2% hydrocarbon groups.

Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods to clean a substrate processing chamber are described. The methods may include depositing a dielectric film on a first substrate in a substrate processing chamber, where the dielectric film may include a silicon-carbon-oxide. The first substrate having the dielectric film may be removed from the substrate processing chamber, and the dielectric film may be deposited on at least one more substrate in the substrate processing chamber. The at least one more substrate may be removed from the substrate processing chamber after the dielectric film is deposited on the substrate. Etch plasma effluents may flow into the substrate processing chamber after the removal of a last substrate having the dielectric film. The etch plasma effluents may include greater than or about 500 sccm of NF3 plasma effluents, and greater than or about 1000 sccm of O2 plasma effluents.

Abstract: Embodiments of the semiconductor processing methods to form low-? films on semiconductor substrates are described. The processing methods may include flowing deposition precursors into a substrate processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The deposition precursors may include a silicon-containing precursor that has at least one vinyl group. The methods may further include generating a deposition plasma in the substrate processing region from the deposition precursors. A silicon-and-carbon-containing material, characterized by a dielectric constant (? value) less than or about 3.0, may be deposited on the substrate from plasma effluents of the deposition plasma.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide multi-layer dielectric stack configurations that are resistant to plasma damage. Methods are disclosed for the deposition of thin protective low dielectric constant layers upon bulk low dielectric constant layers to create the layer stack. As a result, the dielectric constant of the multi-layer stack is unchanged during and after plasma processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a low K dielectric film with one or more features is disclosed herein. A method of forming a dielectric layer can include positioning a substrate in a processing chamber, delivering a deposition gas to the processing chamber, depositing a dense organosilicon layer using the deposition gas on the surface of the substrate, the dense organosilicon layer comprising a porogenic carbon, transferring a pattern into the dense organosilicon layer, forming a pore-forming plasma from a reactant gas, exposing the dense organosilicon layer to the pore-forming plasma to create a porous organosilicon layer, wherein the pore-forming plasma removes at least a portion of the porogenic carbon and exposing the porous organosilicon layer to a desiccating post treatment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide multi-layer dielectric stack configurations that are resistant to plasma damage. Methods are disclosed for the deposition of thin protective low dielectric constant layers upon bulk low dielectric constant layers to create the layer stack. As a result, the dielectric constant of the multi-layer stack is unchanged during and after plasma processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a low K dielectric film with one or more features is disclosed herein. A method of forming a dielectric layer can include positioning a substrate in a processing chamber, delivering a deposition gas to the processing chamber, depositing a dense organosilicon layer using the deposition gas on the surface of the substrate, the dense organosilicon layer comprising a porogenic carbon, transferring a pattern into the dense organosilicon layer, forming a pore-forming plasma from a reactant gas, exposing the dense organosilicon layer to the pore-forming plasma to create a porous organosilicon layer, wherein the pore-forming plasma removes at least a portion of the porogenic carbon and exposing the porous organosilicon layer to a desiccating post treatment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a film stack and method for depositing an adhesive layer for a low dielectric constant bulk layer without the need for an initiation layer. A film stack for use in a semiconductor device comprises of a dual layer low-K dielectric deposited directly on an underlying layer. The dual low-K dielectric consists of an adhesive layer deposited without a carbon free initiation layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a film stack and method for depositing an adhesive layer for a low dielectric constant bulk layer without the need for an initiation layer. A film stack for use in a semiconductor device comprises of a dual layer low-K dielectric deposited directly on an underlying layer. The dual low-K dielectric consists of an adhesive layer deposited without a carbon free initiation layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to the formation of microelectronic structures. Low k dielectric materials need to exhibit a dielectric constant of less than about 2.6 for the next technology node of 32 nm. The present invention enables the formation of semiconductor devices which make use of such low k dielectric materials while providing an improved flexural and shear strength integrity of the microelectronic structure as a whole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming low-k dielectric layers that include air gaps is provided. In one embodiment, a method of processing a substrate is provided. The method comprises disposing a substrate within a processing region, reacting an organosilicon compound, with an oxidizing gas, and a porogen providing precursor in the presence of a plasma to deposit a porogen containing low-k dielectric layer comprising silicon, oxygen, and carbon on the substrate, depositing a porous dielectric capping layer comprising silicon, oxygen and carbon on the porogen containing low-k dielectric layer, and ultraviolet (UV) curing the porogen containing low-k dielectric layer and the porous dielectric capping layer to remove at least a portion of the porogen from the porogen containing low-k dielectric layer through the porous dielectric capping layer to convert the porogen containing low-k dielectric layer to a porous low-k dielectric layer having air gaps.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to the formation of microelectronic structures. Low k dielectric materials need to exhibit a dielectric constant of less than about 2.6 for the next technology node of 32 nm. The present invention enables the formation of semiconductor devices which make use of such low k dielectric materials while providing an improved flexural and shear strength integrity of the microelectronic structure as a whole.