Abstract: Methods for forming a film stack comprising a hardmask layer and etching such hardmask layer to form features in the film stack are provided. The methods described herein facilitate profile and dimension control of features through a proper profile management scheme formed in the film stack. In one or more embodiments, a method for etching a hardmask layer includes forming a hardmask layer on a substrate, where the hardmask layer contains a metal-containing material containing a metal element having an atomic number greater than 28, supplying an etching gas mixture to the substrate, and etching the hardmask layer exposed by a photoresist layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for backside stress engineering of substrates to combat film stresses and bowing issues. In one embodiment, a method of depositing a film layer on a backside of a substrate is provided. The method includes flipping a substrate at a factory interface so that the backside of the substrate is facing up, and transferring the flipped substrate from the factory interface to a physical vapor deposition chamber to deposit a film layer on the backside of the substrate. In another embodiment, an apparatus for depositing a backside film layer on a backside of a substrate, which includes a substrate supporting surface configured to support the substrate at or near the periphery of the substrate supporting surface without contacting an active region on a front side of the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for reducing particle formation in physical vapor deposition (PVD) chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of reducing particle formation in a PVD chamber includes: performing a plurality of first deposition processes on a corresponding series of substrates disposed on a substrate support in the PVD chamber, wherein the PVD chamber includes a cover ring disposed about the substrate support and having a texturized outer surface, and wherein a silicon nitride (SiN) layer having a first thickness is deposited onto the texturized outer surface during each of the plurality of first deposition processes; and performing a second deposition process on the cover ring between subsets of the plurality of first deposition processes to deposit an amorphous silicon layer having a second thickness onto an underlying silicon nitride (SiN) layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of this application provide a photovoltaic power conversion apparatus. The photovoltaic power conversion apparatus includes a first housing, a power component, at least one second housing, and at least one wiring terminal. The first housing forms a first accommodation cavity, and the power component is fixedly disposed in the first accommodation cavity. The at least one of the second housing forms a second accommodation cavity, and the at least one second housing is disposed outside a connection area of a first side wall of the first housing by using an installation wall. The wiring terminal sealingly penetrates through a part of the connection area of the first side wall, a first end of the wiring terminal is located in the first accommodation cavity, and a second end of the wiring terminal is located in the second accommodation cavity.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for reducing particle formation in physical vapor deposition (PVD) chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of reducing particle formation in a PVD chamber includes: performing a plurality of first deposition processes on a corresponding series of substrates disposed on a substrate support in the PVD chamber, wherein the PVD chamber includes a cover ring disposed about the substrate support and having a texturized outer surface, and wherein a silicon nitride (SiN) layer having a first thickness is deposited onto the texturized outer surface during each of the plurality of first deposition processes; and performing a second deposition process on the cover ring between subsets of the plurality of first deposition processes to deposit an amorphous silicon layer having a second thickness onto an underlying silicon nitride (SiN) layer.

Abstract: A physical vapor deposition system includes a chamber, three target supports to targets, a movable shield positioned having an opening therethrough, a workpiece support to hold a workpiece in the chamber, a gas supply to deliver nitrogen gas and an inert gas to the chamber, a power source, and a controller. The controller is configured to move the shield to position the opening adjacent each target in turn, and at each target cause the power source to apply power sufficient to ignite a plasma in the chamber to cause deposition of a buffer layer, a device layer of a first material that is a metal nitride suitable for use as a superconductor at temperatures above 8° K on the buffer layer, and a capping layer, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a case having a thermal barrier layer for a single cell. The composite case comprises a substrate and a double-layer structure coating on the substrate, wherein the double-layer structure coating includes an inner layer containing an aerogel material which has a ultra-low thermal conductivity, and an outer layer containing a barrier material which may prevent an electrolyte solvent from permeating into the inner layer. According to the present invention, the composite case can preserve cases in a prismatic or pouch cell from melting when cell goes to thermal runaway.

Abstract: Embodiments of a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process chamber includes a chamber body having an interior volume, a substrate support disposed in the interior volume, a target disposed within the interior volume and opposing the substrate support, a process shield disposed in the interior volume and having an upper portion surrounding the target and a lower portion surrounding the substrate support, the upper portion having an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the target to define a gap between the process shield and the target, and a gas inlet to provide a gas to the interior volume through the gap or across a front opening of the gap to substantially prevent particles from the interior volume from entering the gap during use.

Abstract: Embodiments of process shield for use in process chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process shield for use in a process chamber includes: an annular body having an upper portion and a lower portion extending downward and radially inward from the upper portion, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of annular trenches on an upper surface thereof and having a plurality of slots disposed therebetween to fluidly couple the plurality of annular trenches, wherein one or more inlets extend from an outer surface of the annular body to an outermost trench of the plurality of annular trenches.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnect structure for semiconductor devices is described. The method comprises depositing an etch stop layer on a substrate by physical vapor deposition followed by in situ deposition of a metal layer on the etch stop layer. The in situ deposition comprises flowing a plasma processing gas into the chamber and exciting the plasma processing gas into a plasma to deposit the metal layer on the etch stop layer on the substrate. The substrate is continuously under vacuum and is not exposed to ambient air during the deposition processes.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate disposed atop a substrate support in a physical vapor deposition process chamber includes: (a) forming a plasma from a process gas within a processing region of the physical vapor deposition chamber, wherein the process gas comprises an inert gas and a hydrogen-containing gas to sputter silicon from a surface of a target within the processing region of the physical vapor deposition chamber; and (b) depositing an amorphous silicon layer atop a first layer on the substrate, wherein adjusting the flow rate of the hydrogen containing gas tunes the optical properties of the deposited amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnect structure for semiconductor devices is described. The method comprises depositing an etch stop layer on a substrate by physical vapor deposition followed by in situ deposition of a metal layer on the etch stop layer. The in situ deposition comprises flowing a plasma processing gas into the chamber and exciting the plasma processing gas into a plasma to deposit the metal layer on the etch stop layer on the substrate. The substrate is continuously under vacuum and is not exposed to ambient air during the deposition processes.

Abstract: A superconducting device includes a substrate, a metal oxide or metal oxynitride seed layer on the substrate, and a metal nitride superconductive layer disposed directly on the seed layer. The seed layer is an oxide or oxynitride of a first metal, and the superconductive layer is a nitride of a different second metal.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a device including a superconductive layer includes depositing a seed layer on a substrate at a first temperature, the seed layer being a nitride of a first metal, reducing the temperature of the substrate to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, increasing the temperature of the substrate to a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature to form a modified seed layer, and depositing a metal nitride superconductive layer directly on the modified seed layer at the third temperature, the superconductive layer being a nitride of a different second metal.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a device including a superconductive layer includes depositing a seed layer on a substrate, exposing the seed layer to an oxygen-containing gas or plasma to form a modified seed layer, and after exposing the seed layer to the oxygen-containing gas or plasma depositing a metal nitride superconductive layer directly on the modified seed layer. The seed layer is a nitride of a first metal, and the superconductive layer is a nitride of a different second metal.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a battery module. The electrical connection between a first electrode of a first battery and a second electrode of a second battery can be realized by setting a jumper electrode connector, thereby facilitating realization of connection relationship of multiple batteries. Moreover, an insulating structure is provided between the jumper electrode connector and the battery. Also, the jumper electrode connector includes a first through hole, the orthographic projection of the first through hole and the orthographic projection of the explosion-proof valve at least partially overlap each other, and the orthographic projection of the first through hole overlaps the orthographic projection of the insulating structure.

Abstract: A battery module includes a jumper electrode connector a neighbor electrode connector, and batteries. The jumper electrode connector is configured for the electrical connection between the batteries arranged at intervals, and the neighbor is configured for the electrical connection between the adjacent batteries, thereby realizing the connection relationship of the batteries in the battery module. The jumper electrode connector is formed with a notch in a first direction and toward an outside of the battery module, and the neighbor electrode connector is arranged in the notch.

Abstract: Provided are a polymer containing S,S-dioxide-dibenzothiophene in backbone chain with content-adjustable triarylamine end groups, and a preparation method and an application thereof. Triarylamines hole-transport small molecules are introduced into the polymer end group, and a content of the triarylamine end groups can be adjusted by controlling a polymer molecular weight, so that the polymer has better electron-transport and hole-transport capabilities, and charge carrier transport can be balanced, so that more exciton recombination takes place effectively, thus improving the luminous efficiency and stability of the polymer. The polymer is prepared by a Suzuki polymerization reaction and does not require synthesis of new monomers. The polymer material is used for preparing highly effective and stable monolayer devices, and is dissolved directly in an organic solvent, then spin-coated, ink-jet printed, or printed to form a film.

Abstract: In a method of charging a battery, a charging control device obtains a battery parameter that includes an electrode parameter of the battery and one or more of a structure parameter, a manufacturing process parameter, an electrical parameter, an electrolyte parameter, a diaphragm parameter, and a thermophysical parameter of the battery. The charging control device inputs the battery parameter input into a battery model represented by an ordinary differential equation to obtain a safe charging boundary value of the battery in n cycles, where n is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N, N is a cycle life of the battery, and the n cycles refer to n cycles selected from 0 to N cycles. The safe charging boundary value is a maximum charging current in which no lithium plating occurs on the battery in different states of charge SOCs and at different temperatures.