Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing slurry and method for using the slurry for polishing copper, barrier material and dielectric material that includes a first and second slurry. The first slurry has a high removal rate on copper and a low removal rate on barrier material. The second slurry has a high removal rate on barrier material and a low removal rate on copper and dielectric material. The first and second slurries can include silica particles, an oxidizing agent, a corrosion inhibitor, and a cleaning agent.

Abstract: A post-etch residue cleaning composition for cleaning ashed or unashed aluminum/SiN/Si post-etch residue from small dimensions on semiconductor substrates. The cleaning composition contains supercritical CO2 (SCCO2), alcohol, fluoride source, an aluminum ion complexing agent and, optionally, corrosion inhibitor. Such cleaning composition overcomes the intrinsic deficiency of SCCO2 as a cleaning reagent, viz., the non-polar character of SCCO2 and its associated inability to solubilize species such as inorganic salts and polar organic compounds that are present in the post-etch residue and that must be removed from the semiconductor substrate for efficient cleaning. The cleaning composition enables damage-free, residue-free cleaning of substrates having ashed or unashed aluminum/SiN/Si post-etch residue thereon.

Abstract: Drying of patterned wafers is achieved in a manner effecting removal of water from the patterned wafers without collapse or deterioration of the pattern structures thereof. The drying is carried out in one aspect of the invention with a composition containing supercritical fluid, and at least one water-reactive agent that chemically reacts with water to form reaction product(s) more soluble in the supercritical fluid than water. Various methodologies are described for use of supercritical fluids to dry patterned wafers, which avoid the (low water solubility) deficiency of supercritical fluids such as supercritical CO2.

Abstract: An aqueous-based composition and process for removing photoresist and/or bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) material from a substrate having such material(s) thereon. The aqueous-based composition includes a quaternary ammonium base, at least one co-solvent, and optionally a chelator. The composition achieves high-efficiency removal of photoresist and/or BARC material in the manufacture of integrated circuitry without adverse effect on metal species on the substrate, such as copper, and without damage to SiOC-based dielectric materials employed in the semiconductor architecture.

Abstract: A photoresist cleaning composition for removing photoresist and ion implanted photoresist from semiconductor substrates. The cleaning composition contains supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) and alcohol for use in removing photoresist that is not ion-implanted. When the photoresist has been subjected to ion implantation, the cleaning composition additionally contains a fluorine ion source. Such cleaning composition overcomes the intrinsic deficiency of SCCO2 as a cleaning reagent, viz., the non-polar character of SCCO2 and its associated inability to solubilize species such as inorganic salts and polar organic compounds that are present in the photoresist and that must be removed from the semiconductor substrate for efficient cleaning. The cleaning composition enables damage-free, residue-free cleaning of substrates having photoresist or ion implanted photoresist thereon.

Abstract: A cleaning composition for cleaning particulate contamination from small dimensions on microelectronic device substrates. The cleaning composition contains dense CO2 (preferably supercritical CO2 (SCCO2)), alcohol, fluoride source, anionic surfactant source, non-ionic surfactant source, and optionally, hydroxyl additive. Such cleaning composition overcomes the intrinsic deficiency of SCCO2 as a cleaning reagent, viz., the non-polar character of SCCO2 and its associated inability to solubilize species such as inorganic salts and polar organic compounds that are present in particulate contamination on wafer substrates and that must be removed from the microelectronic device substrate for efficient cleaning. The cleaning composition enables damage-free, residue-free cleaning of substrates having particulate contamination on Si/SiO2 substrates.

Abstract: Tantalum precursors useful in depositing tantalum nitride or tantalum oxides materials on substrates, by processes such as chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition. The precursors are useful in forming tantalum-based diffusion barrier layers on microelectronic device structures featuring copper metallization and/or ferroelectric thin films.

Abstract: Copper (I) amidinate precursors for forming copper thin films in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and a method of depositing the copper (I) amidinate precursors on substrates using chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition processes.

Abstract: Copper (I) amidinate precursors for forming copper thin films in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and a method of depositing the copper (I) amidinate precursors on substrates using chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition processes.

Abstract: A delivery system for vaporizing and delivering vaporized solid and liquid precursor materials at a controlled rate having particular utility for semiconductor manufacturing applications. The system includes a vaporization vessel, a processing tool and a connecting vapor line therebetween, where the system further includes an input flow controller and/or an output flow controller to provide a controlled delivery of a vaporizable source material to the vaporization vessel and a controlled flow rate of vaporized source material to the processing tool.

Abstract: A method of passivating a CMP composition by dilution and determining the relationship between the extent of dilution and the static etch rate of copper. Such relationship may be used to control the CMP composition during the CMP polish to minimize the occurrence of dishing or other adverse planarization deficiencies in the polished copper, even in the presence of substantial levels of copper ions in the CMP composition and at the copper/CMP composition interface.

Abstract: A CMP composition containing 5-aminotetrazole, e.g., in combination with oxidizing agent, chelating agent, abrasive and solvent and a method of use. Such CMP composition may be diluted during the CMP polish to minimize the occurrence of dishing or other adverse planarization deficiencies in the polished copper, even in the presence of substantial levels of copper ions in the CMP composition and at the copper/CMP composition interface during CMP processing.

Abstract: A gas detector and process for detecting a fluorine-containing species in a gas containing same, e.g., an effluent of a semiconductor processing tool undergoing etch cleaning with HF, NF3, etc. The detector in a preferred structural arrangement employs a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based device structure and/or a free-standing metal element that functions as a sensing component and optionally as a heat source when elevated temperature sensing is required. The free-standing metal element can be fabricated directly onto a standard chip carrier/device package so that the package becomes a platform of the detector.

Abstract: A method and composition for removing a bottom anti-reflection coating (BARC) layer from semiconductor substrates having such BARC layers is described. The removal composition includes a supercritical fluid, a co-solvent, an etchant and a surfactant. Such removal compositions overcome the intrinsic deficiency of SCCO2 as a removal reagent, viz., the non-polar character of SCCO2 and its associated inability to solubilize species such as inorganic salts and polar organic compounds that must be removed from the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An optical disk based gas-sensing and storage system for sensing toxic gas species or environmental contaminants and recording such events on an optical data storage disk. The system includes a gas-retaining unit having an internal cavity for retaining a gaseous sample potentially comprising a gas species of interest, an optical storage disk arranged for contact with the gaseous sample in the gas-retaining unit, wherein the optical data storage disk includes a gas-sensing medium that exhibits a physical and/or chemical property change when exposed to the gas species of interest thereby generating optically readable signals, and a laser energy source positioned to irradiate the optical data storage disk to detect and/or enhance changes in chemical and/or physical properties of the gas-sensing medium and record optically readable signals.

Abstract: A gas detector and process for detecting a fluorine-containing species in a gas containing same, e.g., an effluent of a semiconductor processing tool undergoing etch cleaning with HF, NF3, etc. The detector in a preferred structural arrangement employs a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based device structure and/or a free-standing metal element that functions as a sensing component and optionally as a heat source when elevated temperature sensing is required. The free-standing metal element can be fabricated directly onto a standard chip carrier/device package so that the package becomes a platform of the detector.

Abstract: A gas detector and process for detecting a fluorine-containing species in a gas containing same, e.g., an effluent of a semiconductor processing tool undergoing etch cleaning with HF, NF3, etc. The detector in a preferred structural arrangement employs a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based device structure and/or a free-standing metal element that functions as a sensing component and optionally as a heat source when elevated temperature sensing is required. The free-standing metal element can be fabricated directly onto a standard chip carrier/device package so that the package becomes a platform of the detector.

Abstract: A composition and process for removing photoresist and/or sacrificial anti-reflective coating (SARC) materials from a substrate having such material(s) thereon. The composition includes a base component, such as a quaternary ammonium base in combination with an alkali or alkaline earth base, or alternatively a strong base in combination with an oxidant. The composition may be utilized in aqueous medium, e.g., with chelator, surfactant, and/or co-solvent species, to achieve high-efficiency removal of photoresist and/or SARC materials in the manufacture of integrated circuitry, without adverse effect on metal species on the substrate, such as copper, aluminum and/or cobalt alloys, and without damage to SiOC-based dielectric materials employed in the semiconductor architecture.

Abstract: A method and composition for removing silicon-containing particulate material, such as silicon nitrides and silicon oxides, from patterned Si/SiO2 semiconductor wafer surfaces is described. The composition includes a supercritical fluid (SCF), an etchant species, a co-solvent, a surface passivator, a binder, deionized water, and optionally a surfactant. The SCF-based compositions substantially remove the contaminating particulate material from the wafer surface prior to subsequent processing, thus improving the morphology, performance, reliability and yield of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A multi-step method for depositing ruthenium thin films having high conductivity and superior adherence to the substrate is described. The method includes the deposition of a ruthenium nucleation layer followed by the deposition of a highly conductive ruthenium upper layer. Both layers are deposited using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) employing low deposition rates.