Patents by Inventor Xi CEN
Xi CEN 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).
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Publication number: 20250038051Abstract: A structure is provided including a substrate and a tungsten-containing layer. The tungsten-containing layer includes a nucleation layer disposed on the substrate and a bulk layer is disposed over the nucleation layer. The nucleation layer includes tungsten and the bulk layer includes about 0.1% to about 20% atomic molybdenum. The tungsten-containing layer includes a film stress of about 350 MPa to about 450 MPa.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Xi CEN, Kai WU, Dixiong WANG, Yi LUO
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Patent number: 12191198Abstract: Apparatus and methods to provide electronic devices comprising tungsten film stacks are provided. A tungsten liner formed by physical vapor deposition is filled with a tungsten film formed by chemical vapor deposition directly over the tungsten liner.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Feihu Wang, Joung Joo Lee, Xi Cen, Zhibo Yuan, Wei Lei, Kai Wu, Chunming Zhou, Zhebo Chen
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Patent number: 12159804Abstract: A structure is provided including a substrate and a tungsten-containing layer. The tungsten-containing layer includes a nucleation layer disposed on the substrate and a bulk layer is disposed over the nucleation layer. The nucleation layer includes tungsten and the bulk layer includes about 0.1% to about 20% atomic molybdenum. The tungsten-containing layer includes a film stress of about 350 MPa to about 450 MPa.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Xi Cen, Kai Wu, Dixiong Wang, Yi Luo
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Publication number: 20240371654Abstract: A method of filling a feature in a semiconductor structure with metal includes depositing a metal cap layer on a bottom surface of a feature formed within a dielectric layer and top surfaces of the dielectric layer, partially filling the feature from the bottom surface with a flowable polymer layer, performing a metal pullback process to remove the metal cap layer on the top surfaces of the dielectric layer selectively to the dielectric layer, wherein the metal pullback process includes a first etch process including a chemical etch process using molybdenum hexafluoride (MoF6) to remove the metal cap layer selectively to the dielectric layer, and a second etch process to remove residues on etched surfaces of the dielectric layer, removing the flowable polymer layer, pre-cleaning a surface of the metal cap layer, and filling the feature from the surface of the metal cap layer with metal fill material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2023Publication date: November 7, 2024Inventors: Qihao ZHU, Chi Hong CHING, Liqi WU, Tsungjui LIU, Gaurav THAREJA, Xinke WANG, Feng Q. LIU, Xi CEN, Kai WU, Yixiong YANG, Yuanhung LIU, Jiang LU, Rongjun WANG, Xianmin TANG
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Patent number: 12094773Abstract: Method for forming tungsten gap fill on a structure, including high aspect ratio structures includes depositing a tungsten liner in the structure using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process with high ionization and an ambient gas of argon or krypton. The PVD process is performed at a temperature of approximately 20 degrees Celsius to approximately 300 degrees Celsius. The method further includes treating the structure with a nitridation process and depositing bulk fill tungsten into the structure using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a seam suppressed boron free tungsten fill. The CVD process is performed at a temperature of approximately 300 degrees Celsius to approximately 500 degrees Celsius and at a pressure of approximately 5 Torr to approximately 300 Torr.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2022Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Xi Cen, Kai Wu, Min Heon, Wei Min Chan, Tom Ho Wing Yu, Peiqi Wang, Ju Ik Kang, Feihu Wang, Nobuyuki Sasaki, Chunming Zhou
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Publication number: 20240282631Abstract: A method of filling a via having a necking point includes performing a pre-clean process to remove residues from an exposed surface of a metal layer at a bottom of a via and recover inner surfaces of the via, wherein the via is formed within a dielectric layer and has a necking point protruding within the via, performing a selective deposition process to partially fill the via with metal fill material from the exposed surface of the metal layer below the necking point, performing a liner deposition process to form a liner layer on exposed inner surfaces of the via, and performing a metal fill process to fill the via with the metal fill material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2024Publication date: August 22, 2024Inventors: Xi CEN, Kai WU, Yao XU, Yang LI, Meng ZHU, Insu HA, Jianqiu GUO, Chao LI, Rongjun WANG, Xianmin TANG
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Publication number: 20240266215Abstract: A method of forming a structure on a substrate, includes forming a nucleation layer within an opening of the substrate within a processing chamber. The method further includes forming a passivation layer on at least a portion of the nucleation layer by introducing radical treatment into the processing chamber. The method further includes forming a tungsten fill layer within the opening over the passivation layer and the nucleation layer, wherein the tungsten fill layer is formed by a plurality of treatment cycles. Each treatment cycle includes pulsing a first gas at the substrate for a pulse time duration while concurrently flowing a second gas over the substrate, and purging the first gas and the second gas by flowing a purge gas over the substrate for a purge time duration.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2023Publication date: August 8, 2024Inventors: Xi CEN, Yang LI, Kai WU, Mehran BEHDJAT, Jallepally RAVI
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Publication number: 20240258109Abstract: A method of forming a structure on a substrate includes forming an adhesion layer on a substrate. The method further includes forming a tungsten containing layer in-situ with the adhesion layer. The tungsten containing layer is formed by a one-time soak process including soaking the substrate once, and only once, in a first gas, purging the first gas, and soaking the substrate once, and only once, in a second gas. The method further includes removing the tungsten containing layer from the adhesion layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2023Publication date: August 1, 2024Inventors: Xi CEN, Kai WU, Min-Han LEE, Yang LI, Cheng CHENG, Zhixiu LIANG
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Publication number: 20240209500Abstract: Embodiments herein are generally directed to electronic device manufacturing and, more particularly, to systems and methods for forming substantially void-free and seam-free tungsten features in a semiconductor device manufacturing scheme. In one embodiment, a substrate processing system features a processing chamber and a gas delivery system fluidly coupled to the processing chamber. The gas delivery system includes a first radical generator for use in a differential inhibition treatment process and a second radical generator for use in a chamber clean process.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: June 27, 2024Inventors: Xi CEN, Wei Min CHAN, Kai WU, Peiqi WANG, Mingrui ZHAO, Michael C. KUTNEY, Kazuya DAITO, Harpreet SINGH
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Patent number: 12014956Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods for forming a bottom-up tungsten gapfill. Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods for reducing the deposition rate of tungsten by chemical vapor deposition. A molybdenum halide precursor is added to a tungsten halide precursor and a reductant. The co-flow of tungsten halide and molybdenum halide demonstrates either reduced or eliminated tungsten growth.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xi Cen, Kai Wu
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Publication number: 20240162089Abstract: A method of forming a structure on a substrate that includes forming a tungsten nucleation layer within at least one opening within a multi-tier portion of a substrate. The method includes exposing the nucleation layer to a nitrogen-containing gas to inhibit growth of the nucleation layer at narrow points within the at least one opening. The method includes exposing the at least one opening of the substrate to the tungsten-containing precursor gas to form a fill layer over the nucleation layer within the at least one opening. The method includes exposing the at least one opening to a molybdenum-containing gas to remove a tungsten nitride layer from the tungsten fill layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2022Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Dixiong WANG, Xi CEN, Kai WU, Peiqi WANG, Yang LI
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Publication number: 20240047268Abstract: A method of forming a structure on a substrate includes forming a tungsten nucleation layer within at least one opening within a multi-tier portion of a substrate. The method includes exposing the nucleation layer a nitrogen-containing gas to inhibit growth of the nucleation layer at narrow portions within the at least one opening. The method includes exposing the at least one opening to the tungsten-containing precursor gas to form a fill layer over the nucleation layer within the at least one opening. The method includes exposing the at least one opening of the substrate to the nitrogen-containing gas or a nitrogen-containing plasma to inhibit growth of portions of the fill layer along the at least one opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Peiqi WANG, Xi CEN, Dixiong WANG, Mingrui ZHAO, Yang LI, Kai WU
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Publication number: 20240014072Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device structure includes forming a nucleation layer within at least one feature. The method includes exposing the nucleation layer to a nitrogen plasma treatment. The nitrogen plasma treatment preferentially treats the top field and sidewalls while leaving the bottom surface substantially untreated to encourage bottom up metal growth.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Tsung-Han YANG, Zhimin QI, Yongqian GAO, Rongjun WANG, Yi XU, Yu LEI, Xingyao GAO, Chih-Hsun HSU, Xi CEN, Wei LEI, Shiyu YUE, Aixi ZHANG, Kai WU, Xianmin TANG
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Patent number: 11859277Abstract: Methods of depositing a metal film are discussed. A metal film is formed on the bottom of feature having a metal bottom and dielectric sidewalls. Formation of the metal film comprises exposure to a metal precursor and an alkyl halide catalyst while the substrate is maintained at a deposition temperature. The metal precursor has a decomposition temperature above the deposition temperature. The alkyl halide comprises carbon and halogen, and the halogen comprises bromine or iodine.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xi Cen, Kai Wu, Seshadri Ganguli, Xinming Zhang, Norman L. Tam, Abhilash Mayur
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Patent number: 11798845Abstract: Method for forming tungsten gap fill on a structure, including high aspect ratio structures includes depositing a tungsten liner in the structure using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process with high ionization and an ambient gas of argon or krypton. The PVD process is performed at a temperature of approximately 20 degrees Celsius to approximately 300 degrees Celsius. The method further includes treating the structure with a nitridation process and depositing bulk fill tungsten into the structure using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to form a seam suppressed boron free tungsten fill. The CVD process is performed at a temperature of approximately 300 degrees Celsius to approximately 500 degrees Celsius and at a pressure of approximately 5 Torr to approximately 300 Torr.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Xi Cen, Kai Wu, Min Heon, Wei Min Chan, Tom Ho Wing Yu, Peiqi Wang, Ju Ik Kang, Feihu Wang, Nobuyuki Sasaki, Chunming Zhou
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Publication number: 20230317458Abstract: A method of forming an interconnect structure over a substrate includes forming a nucleation layer over a surface of the substrate. The surface of the substrate comprises a plurality of openings, and the process of forming the nucleation layer includes (a) exposing the substrate to a tungsten-containing precursor gas to form a tungsten-containing layer over a surface of each of the plurality of openings, (b) exposing the formed tungsten-containing layer to an etchant gas, wherein exposing the tungsten-containing layer to the etchant gas etches at least a portion of the tungsten-containing layer disposed at a top region of each of the plurality of openings, and repeating (a) and (b) one or more times. The method further includes forming a bulk layer over the formed nucleation layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2022Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Kai WU, Xi CEN, Dixiong WANG, Yang LI, Peiqi WANG
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Patent number: 11776806Abstract: Methods for pre-cleaning substrates having metal and dielectric surfaces are described. The substrate is exposed to a strong reductant to remove contaminants from the metal surface and damage the dielectric surface. The substrate is then exposed to an oxidation process to repair the damage to the dielectric surface and oxidize the metal surface. The substrate is then exposed to a weak reductant to reduce the metal oxide to a pure metal surface without substantially affecting the dielectric surface. Processing tools and computer readable media for practicing the method are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Xi Cen, Yakuan Yao, Yiming Lai, Kai Wu, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, David T. Or, Kevin Kashefi, Yu Lei, Lin Dong, He Ren, Yi Xu, Mehul Naik, Hao Chen, Mang-Mang Ling
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Publication number: 20230290679Abstract: A structure is provided including a substrate and a tungsten-containing layer. The tungsten-containing layer includes a nucleation layer disposed on the substrate and a bulk layer is disposed over the nucleation layer. The nucleation layer includes tungsten and the bulk layer includes about 0.1% to about 20% atomic molybdenum. The tungsten-containing layer includes a film stress of about 350 MPa to about 450 MPa.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Xi CEN, Kai WU, Dixiong WANG, Yi LUO
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Patent number: 11680312Abstract: Methods of depositing a metal film with high purity are discussed. A catalyst enhanced CVD process is utilized comprising an alkyl halide catalyst soak and a precursor exposure. The precursor comprises a metal precursor having the general formula (I): M-L1(L2)y, wherein M is a metal, L1 is an aromatic ligand, L2 is an aliphatic ligand, and y is a number in the range of from 2 to 8 to form a metal film on the substrate surface, wherein the L2 comprises 1,5-hexdiene, 1,4-hexadiene, and less than 5% of 1,3-hexadiene. Selective deposition of a metal film with high purity on a metal surface over a dielectric surface is described.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Byunghoon Yoon, Seshadri Ganguli, Xi Cen
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Patent number: D1066440Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yang Li, Xi Cen, Kai Wu, Min-Han Lee, Mehran Behdjat