Abstract: A method of processing a substrate by omitting a photolithographic process is disclosed. The method includes forming at least one layer on a stepped structure having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that connects the upper surface to the lower surface, selectively densifying portions of the at least one layer respectively on the upper surface and the lower surface via asymmetric plasma application, and performing an isotropic etching process on the at least one layer. During the isotropic etching process, the portion of the at least one layer formed on the upper surface is separated from the portion of the at least one layer formed on the lower surface.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate by omitting a photolithographic process is disclosed. The method includes forming at least one layer on a stepped structure having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that connects the upper surface to the lower surface, selectively densifying portions of the at least one layer respectively on the upper surface and the lower surface via asymmetric plasma application, and performing an isotropic etching process on the at least one layer. During the isotropic etching process, the portion of the at least one layer formed on the upper surface is separated from the portion of the at least one layer formed on the lower surface.

Abstract: A substrate processing method includes stacking a plurality of stack structures each including an insulating layer and a sacrificial layer, on one another. The method also includes generating a stair structure by etching the stack structures and generating a separation layer on a side surface of the stair structure. The method further includes removing the sacrificial layer and generating conductive word line structures in spaces from which the sacrificial layer is removed. The separation layer is provided between the conductive word line structures.

Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing method that may prevent the non-uniformity of the thickness of landing pads deposited on each step in the process of selectively depositing a landing pad in a vertical NAND device having a stepped structure. The substrate processing method includes stacking, a plurality of times, a stack structure including an insulating layer and a sacrificial layer and etching the stack structure to form a stepped structure having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface connecting the upper surface and the lower surface. The method also includes forming a barrier layer on the stepped structure, forming a mask layer on the barrier layer and exposing at least a portion of the barrier layer by etching at least a portion of the mask layer with a first etching solution The method further includes etching the exposed barrier layer with a second etching solution and etching the mask layer with a third etching solution.

Abstract: Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after the dopant source layer is uniformly deposited on a channel layer of the device with the 3-dimensional vertical structure by the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) method, the deposited dopant source layer is heat-treated so that the dopants are diffused into the channel layer to function as charge carriers, thereby preventing the charges in the channel layer from being reduced. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the diffusion speed and concentration of the dopant may be controlled by forming the barrier layer between the channel layer and the dopant source layer.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate by omitting a photolithographic process is disclosed. The method includes forming at least one layer on a stepped structure having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that connects the upper surface to the lower surface, selectively densifying portions of the at least one layer respectively on the upper surface and the lower surface via asymmetric plasma application, and performing an isotropic etching process on the at least one layer. During the isotropic etching process, the portion of the at least one layer formed on the upper surface is separated from the portion of the at least one layer formed on the lower surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after the dopant source layer is uniformly deposited on a channel layer of the device with the 3-dimensional vertical structure by the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) method, the deposited dopant source layer is heat-treated so that the dopants are diffused into the channel layer to function as charge carriers, thereby preventing the charges in the channel layer from being reduced. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the diffusion speed and concentration of the dopant may be controlled by forming the barrier layer between the channel layer and the dopant source layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after the dopant source layer is uniformly deposited on a channel layer of the device with the 3-demensional vertical structure by the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) method, the deposited dopant source layer is heat-treated so that the dopants are diffused into the channel layer to function as charge carriers, thereby preventing the charges in the channel layer from being reduced. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the diffusion speed and concentration of the dopant may be controlled by forming the barrier layer between the channel layer and the dopant source layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after the dopant source layer is uniformly deposited on a channel layer of the device with the 3-demensional vertical structure by the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) method, the deposited dopant source layer is heat-treated so that the dopants are diffused into the channel layer to function as charge carriers, thereby preventing the charges in the channel layer from being reduced. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the diffusion speed and concentration of the dopant may be controlled by forming the barrier layer between the channel layer and the dopant source layer.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate to enable selective doping without a photolithography process is provided. The method includes forming a diffusion barrier on the substrate having a patterned structure using plasma deposition method, removing the diffusion barrier except for part of the diffusion barrier using wet etching, forming a diffusion source layer on the patterned structure and the part of the diffusion barrier, and applying energy to the diffusion source layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing method includes depositing a low-k dielectric layer, forming a trench in the low-k dielectric layer, forming a barrier layer in the trench, filling a metal on the barrier layer, planarizing the metal, and forming a capping layer on the planarized metal, wherein the capping layer includes at least two layers.

Abstract: A substrate supporting plate that may prevent deposition on a rear surface of a substrate and may easily unload the substrate. The substrate supporting plate may include a substrate mounting portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the substrate mounting portion. An edge portion of a top surface of the substrate mounting portion may be anodized. A central portion of the top surface of the substrate mounting portion may not be anodized.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a 4-way valve with improved purge efficiency by improving a gas valve system by preventing dead volume from occurring are provided. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber in which a substrate is processed to fabricate a semiconductor device; a first processing gas supply pipe supplying a first processing gas into the reaction chamber; a 4-way valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet and installed at the first processing gas supply pipe such that the first inlet and the first outlet are connected to the first processing gas supply pipe; a second processing gas supply pipe connected to the second inlet of the 4-way valve to supply a second processing gas; a bypass connected to the second outlet of the 4-way valve; and a gate valve installed at the bypass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a 4-way valve with improved purge efficiency by improving a gas valve system by preventing dead volume from occurring are provided. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber in which a substrate is processed to fabricate a semiconductor device; a first processing gas supply pipe supplying a first processing gas into the reaction chamber; a 4-way valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet and installed at the first processing gas supply pipe such that the first inlet and the first outlet are connected to the first processing gas supply pipe; a second processing gas supply pipe connected to the second inlet of the 4-way valve to supply a second processing gas; a bypass connected to the second outlet of the 4-way valve; and a gate valve installed at the bypass.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a thin film having a target thickness T on a substrate by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. The method includes n processing conditions each having a film growth rate that is different from the others, and determining a1 to an that are cycles of a first processing condition to an n-th processing condition so that a value of |T?(a1×G1+a2×G2+ . . . +an×Gn)| is less than a minimum value among G1, G2, . . . , and Gn, where n is 2 or greater integer, G1, . . . , and Gn respectively denote a first film growth rate that is a film growth rate of the first processing condition, . . . and an n-th film growth rate that is a film growth rate of the n-th processing condition, and the film growth rate denotes a thickness of a film formed per a unit cycle in each of the processing conditions. The film forming method may precisely and uniformly control a thickness of the thin film when an ALD is performed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a 4-way valve with improved purge efficiency by improving a gas valve system by preventing dead volume from occurring are provided. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber in which a substrate is processed to fabricate a semiconductor device; a first processing gas supply pipe supplying a first processing gas into the reaction chamber; a 4-way valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet and installed at the first processing gas supply pipe such that the first inlet and the first outlet are connected to the first processing gas supply pipe; a second processing gas supply pipe connected to the second inlet of the 4-way valve to supply a second processing gas; a bypass connected to the second outlet of the 4-way valve; and a gate valve installed at the bypass.

Abstract: Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after the dopant source layer is uniformly deposited on a channel layer of the device with the 3-demensional vertical structure by the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) method, the deposited dopant source layer is heat-treated so that the dopants are diffused into the channel layer to function as charge carriers, thereby preventing the charges in the channel layer from being reduced. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the diffusion speed and concentration of the dopant may be controlled by forming the barrier layer between the channel layer and the dopant source layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a silicon germanium oxide thin film on a substrate in a reaction space may be performed using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The process may include at least one cycle comprising a germanium oxide deposition sub-cycle and a silicon oxide deposition sub-cycle. The germanium oxide deposition sub-cycle may include contacting the substrate with a germanium reactant, removing excess germanium reactant, and contacting the substrate with a first oxygen reactant. The silicon oxide deposition sub-cycle may include contacting the substrate with a silicon reactant, removing excess silicon reactant, and contacting the substrate with a second oxygen reactant. The films of the present disclosure exhibit desirable etch rates relative to thermal oxide. Depending on the films' composition, the etch rates may be higher or lower than the etch rates of thermal oxide.

Abstract: A lateral flow atomic layer deposition device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention eliminates a gas flow control plate in a conventional lateral flow atomic layer deposition device and controls shapes of a gas input part and a gas output part in a reactor cover to make a gas flow path to a center of a substrate shorter than a gas flow path to an edge of the substrate and thereby increase the amount of gas per unit area flowing to the center of the substrate. Therefore, film thickness in the center of the substrate in the lateral flow reactor increases.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a 4-way valve with improved purge efficiency by improving a gas valve system by preventing dead volume from occurring are provided. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber in which a substrate is processed to fabricate a semiconductor device; a first processing gas supply pipe supplying a first processing gas into the reaction chamber; a 4-way valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet and installed at the first processing gas supply pipe such that the first inlet and the first outlet are connected to the first processing gas supply pipe; a second processing gas supply pipe connected to the second inlet of the 4-way valve to supply a second processing gas; a bypass connected to the second outlet of the 4-way valve; and a gate valve installed at the bypass.