Nitrogen Containing Coating (e.g., Metal Nitride, Etc.) Patents (Class 427/255.394)
  • Patent number: 6555183
    Abstract: A method of forming thick titanium nitride films with low resistivity. Using a thermal chemical vapor deposition reaction between ammonia (NH3) and titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), a titanium nitride film is formed at a temperature of less than about 600° C., and an NH3:TiCl4 ratio greater than about 5. The deposited TiN film is then treated in a hydrogen-containing plasma such as that generated from molecular hydrogen (H2). This results in a thick titanium nitride film with low resistivity and good step coverage. The deposition and plasma treatment steps may be repeated for additional cycles to form a thick, composite titanium nitride film of desired thickness, which is suitable for use in plug fill or capacitor structure applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shulin Wang, Ming Xi, Zvi Lando, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 6548402
    Abstract: A method of forming a titanium nitride (TiN) layer using a reaction between ammonia (NH3) and titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). In one embodiment, an NH3:TiCl4 ratio of about 8.5 is used to deposit a TiN layer at a temperature of about 500° C. at a pressure of about 20 torr. In another embodiment, a composite TiN layer is formed by alternately depositing TiN layers of different thicknesses, using process conditions having different NH3:TiCl4 ratios. In one preferred embodiment, a TiN layer of less than about 20 Å is formed at an NH3:TiCl4 ratio of about 85, followed by a deposition of a thicker TiN layer at an NH3:TiCl4 ratio of about 8.5. By repeating the alternate film deposition using the two different process conditions, a composite TiN layer is formed. This composite TiN layer has an improved overall step coverage and reduced stress, compared to a standard TiN process, and is suitable for small geometry plug fill applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shulin Wang, Ming Xi, Frederick Wu, Ramanujapuram A. Srinivas, Yehuda Demayo, Zvi Lando, Mei Chang, Russell C. Ellwanger
  • Patent number: 6541079
    Abstract: A method of forming a layer of oxide or oxynitride upon a substrate including first placing a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface in a high vacuum chamber and then exposing the upper surface to a beam of atoms or molecules, or both, of oxygen or nitrogen or a combination of same at a temperature sufficient to form a reacted layer on the upper surface of said substrate wherein said layer has a chemical composition different from the chemical composition of said substrate. The reacted upper layer is then exposed simultaneously in the chamber to atomic or molecular beams of oxygen, nitrogen or both and to a beam of metal atoms or metal molecules selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Zr, La, Y, Sc, Sr, Ba, Ti, Ta, W, Cr, Zr, Ca, Mg, Be, Pr, Nd and Hf to form a metal oxide, a metal nitride or a metal oxynitride layer in said layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nestor A. Bojarczuk, Jr., Eduard A. Cartier, Supratik Guha
  • Patent number: 6531192
    Abstract: A process for depositing titanium nitride films containing less than 5% carbon impurities and less than 10% oxygen impurities by weight via chemical vapor deposition is disclosed. Sheet resistance of the deposited films is generally within a range of about 1 to 10 ohms per square. The deposition process takes place in a deposition chamber that has been evacuated to less than atmospheric pressure and utilizes the organo-metallic compound tertiary-butyltrisdimethylamido-titanium and a nitrogen source as precursors. The deposition temperature, which is dependent on the nitrogen source, is within a range of 350° C. to 700° C. The low end of the temperature range utilizes nitrogen-containing gases such as diatomic nitrogen, ammonia, hydrazine, amides and amines which have been converted to a plasma. The higher end of the temperature range relies on thermal decomposition of the nitrogen source for the production of reaction-sustaining radicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6506457
    Abstract: The present methods provide an amorphous, conformal, protective, abrasion-resistant, lubricious fluoropolymer coating on to a polymer substrate via a gas plasma deposition method. The coating method, according to one embodiment of the method, involves generating a gas plasma by introducing a mixture of a fluorinated gas monomer and a hydrocarbon gas into an energetic ion field, such as an ion beam or the field produced by a radio-frequency source. The fluorinated gas monomer is selected from the group consisting of CF.sub.4, C.sub.2 F.sub.4, C.sub.2 F.sub.6, CF.sub.3.sub.2CO, CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 and mixtures of the foregoing. The hydrocarbon gas is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 H.sub.2, C.sub.2 H.sub.4, C.sub.2 H.sub.6, and H.sub.2 and mixtures of the foregoing. The polymer substrate is exposed to the foregoing gas plasma for sufficient time to achieve the desired coating thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Hum
  • Patent number: 6503557
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coated glass substrate, covered with at least one thin layer based on silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride. The thin layer contains the elements Si, O, N, C in the following atomic percentages: Si: from 30 to 60%, N: from 10 to 56%, O: from 1 to 40%, C: from 1 to 40%. The invention also relates to the process for obtaining the coated glass substrate using a gas-phase pyrolysis technique, and to its applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventor: Laurent Joret
  • Patent number: 6503561
    Abstract: The present invention is a composition for deposition of a mixed metal or metal compound layer, comprising a solventless mixture of at least two metal-ligand complex precursors, wherein the mixture is liquid at ambient conditions and the ligands are the same and are selected from the group consisting of alkyls, alkoxides, halides, hydrides, amides, imides, azides cyclopentadienyls, carbonyls, and their fluorine, oxygen and nitrogen substituted analogs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihide Senzaki, David Allen Roberts, John Anthony Thomas Norman, Arthur Kenneth Hochberg
  • Publication number: 20030003230
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film includes the steps of loading a substrate into a reaction chamber, and terminating the surface of the substrate loaded into the reaction chamber by a specific atom. A first reactant is chemically adsorbed on the terminated substrate by injecting the first reactant into the reaction chamber including the terminated substrate. After removing the first reactant physically adsorbed into the terminated substrate, a solid thin film is formed through chemical exchange or reaction of the chemically adsorbed first reactant and a second reactant by injecting the second reactant into the reaction chamber. According to the thin film manufacturing method according to the present invention, it is possible to grow a thin film on the substrate in a state in which the no or little impurities and physical defects are generated in the thin film and interface of the thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Yeong-kwan Kim, Sang-in Lee, Chang-soo Park, Sang-min Lee
  • Publication number: 20020197403
    Abstract: A method for chemical vapor deposition of a TiSixNy film onto a substrate wherein x is greater than zero and no greater than about 5, and y is greater than zero and no greater than about 7, including introducing into a deposition chamber: (i) a substrate; (ii) a source precursor comprising titanium in a vapor state having the formula (I):
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Gelest, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry C. Arkles, Alain E. Kaloyeros
  • Patent number: 6491978
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a metal and/or metal nitride layer on a substrate by the thermal or plasma enhanced disassociation of an organometallic precursor having the formula of (Cp(R)n)xM(CO)y−x, in the presence of a processing gas, such as argon, hydrogen, or ammonia. In one embodiment the metal or metal nitride film is deposited at a pressure of less than about 20 Torr. The deposited metal or metal nitride layer may then be exposed to a plasma to remove contaminants, densify the layer, and reduce layer resistivity. The layer is useful as a liner or barrier layer for conducting metals and high dielectric constant materials in integrated circuit manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Jagadish Kalyanam
  • Publication number: 20020176993
    Abstract: A high temperature substrate having improved properties. The substrate is a polymer substrate having a glass transition temperature greater than about 120° C., and at least one first barrier stack adjacent to the polymer substrate. The barrier stack includes at least one first barrier layer and at least one first polymer layer. A method for making the high temperature substrate with improved properties is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: GORDON L GRAFF, MARK E GROSS, MING K SHI, MICHAEL G HALL, PETER M MARTIN, ERIC S MAST
  • Patent number: 6486083
    Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method including a step of forming, by thermal chemical vapor deposition, silicon nitride films on a plurality of substrates vertically stacked in a vertical reaction tube having an inner wall. Bis tertiary butyl amino silane and NH3 flows into the vertical reaction tube and flows vertically from one end of the plurality of substrates to an opposing end of the plurality of substrates without flowing into the vertical reaction tube through the inner wall at a height between the one end and the opposing end of the plurality of substrates. The silicon nitride films are formed on the plurality of substrates in a state in which a distance “a” between adjacent substrates of the plurality of substrates and a distance “b” between edges of the plurality of substrates and the inner wall of the vertical reaction tube are maintained substantially equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Mizuno, Kiyohiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 6482476
    Abstract: A low temperature, high growth rate plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process is demonstrated for ceramic coatings on metal, alloy and ceramic substrates. The deposition process is carried out at low temperatures (<350-degC.) to prevent the bulk substrate properties from being adversely affected. The substrates are treated with gas surface hardening processes before deposition. Bonding strength (adhesion) between the coating and the substrate is improved by combining surface heat treating processes with the coating processes. Hard ceramic-solid lubricant composite coatings are used for fuel injector components, hydraulic valve components, and other wear parts. Metal-releasing agents are used to improve deposition efficiency. Electron cyclotron resonance mechanism and electromagnetic radiation are used to improve bonding strength, growth rate, coating uniformity, film smoothness and other film qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Shengzhong Frank Liu
  • Patent number: 6468604
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a titanium nitride thin film at the surface of a substrate the chemical vapor deposition method (CVD method) includes supplying trakisdialkylamino titanium (TDAAT and ammonia into a reaction vessel, and heating it a prescribed temperature under a low pressure of less than 100 Pa total pressure, wherein the partial pressure PTDAAT of the source-material gas is set in a range of 0<PNH3/PTDAAT<10 with respect to the partial pressure PNH3 of the added ammonia gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoki Tobe, Hiroshi Doi, Atsushi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 6465052
    Abstract: A method for producing a nano-porous coating onto a substrate, including the steps of: (a) operating a twin-wire arc nozzle to heat and at least partially vaporize two wires of a metal for providing a stream of nanometer-sized vapor clusters of the metal into a chamber in which the substrate is disposed; (b) injecting a stream of reactive gas into the chamber to impinge upon the stream of metal vapor clusters and exothermically react therewith to produce substantially nanometer-sized metal compound or ceramic clusters; (c) operating heat treatment devices to heat treat the metal compound or ceramic clusters so that a non-zero proportion of the clusters is in a solid state when impinging upon the substrate; and (d) directing the metal compound or ceramic clusters to impinge and deposit onto the substrate for forming the nano-porous coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: L. W. Wu
  • Patent number: 6461675
    Abstract: Adhesion of a copper film, such as a copper interconnect, to a substrate underlayer, such as a substrate diffusion barrier, is enhanced with adhesion promotion techniques. The adhesion promotion techniques can repair the interface of the copper film and the substrate to enhance adhesion of the copper film for high-yield formation of inlaid copper metal lines and plugs. For instance, thermal annealing of a seed layer, including a copper seed layer, an alloy seed layer or a reactant seed layer, can repair contamination at the interface of the seed layer and the substrate. Alternatively, the adhesion promotion techniques can avoid contamination of the interface by depositing an inert seed layer, such as a noble (e.g., platinum) or passivated metal seed layer, or by depositing the seed layer under predetermined conditions that minimize contamination of the interface, and then depositing a bulk copper layer under predetermined conditions that maximize throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: CVC Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajit P. Paranjpe, Mehrdad M. Moslehi, Lino A. Velo, Thomas R. Omstead, David R. Campbell, Sr., Zeming Liu, Guihua Shang
  • Patent number: 6458701
    Abstract: A method for forming a metal layer located over a metal underlayer of a semiconductor device, using a metal halogen gas. The method involves supplying a predetermined reaction gas into a reaction chamber for a predetermined period of time prior to deposition of the metal layer. The reaction gas has a higher reactivity with an active halogen element of a metal halogen gas supplied to form the metal layer, compared to a metal element of the metal halogen gas. As the metal halogen gas is supplied into the reaction chamber, the reaction gas reacts with the halogen radicals of the metal halogen gas, so that the metal underlayer is protected from being contaminated by impurities containing the halogen radicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-sook Chae, Sang-bom Kang, Gil-heyun Choi, In-sang Jeon
  • Patent number: 6451388
    Abstract: A Ti film is formed by chemical vapor deposition in holes formed in an insulating film formed on a Si substrate or on a Si film formed on a Si substrate by a method comprising the steps of: loading a Si substrate into a film forming chamber; evacuating the chamber at a predetermined vacuum; supplying TiCl4 gas, H2 gas, Ar gas and SiH4 gas into the film forming chamber; and producing a plasma in the film forming chamber to deposit a Ti film in the holes formed in the insulating film. The Si substrate is heated at a temperature of from 550 to 700° C. during the deposition of the Ti film, and the flow rates of the processing gases are regulated so that Si-to-insulator selectivity is not less than one. This method enables formation of a Ti film on a Si base at positions of holes in an insulating layer, with a good morphology of the interface between the Si base and the Ti film and with a good step coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kunihiro Tada, Hayashi Otsuki
  • Patent number: 6451692
    Abstract: Chemical vapor deposition methods utilizing preheating of one or more of the reactant gases used to form deposited layers, chemical vapor deposition systems to perform the methods, and apparatus containing deposited layers produced using the methods. The reactant gases contain at least one chemical vapor deposition precursor. Heating one or more of the reactant gases prior to introduction to the reaction chamber may be used to improve physical characteristics of the resulting deposited layer, to improve the physical characteristics of the underlying substrate and/or to improve the thermal budget available for subsequent processing. One example includes the formation of a titanium nitride layer with reactant gases containing the precursors of titanium tetrachloride and ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Garo J. Derderian, Gordon Morrison
  • Patent number: 6444265
    Abstract: In a method for producing a titanium monophosphide layer, a carrier is first placed in a reactor. Thereafter, a TiN layer is deposited on the carrier by supplying TiCl4 ad NH3 into the reactor. The TiN layer is annealed immediately after deposition of the TiN layer while PH3 is supplied to the reactor, in order to form the titanium monophosphide layer on the TiN layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forchung E.V.
    Inventors: Barbara Fröschle, Roland Leutenecker, Peter Ramm
  • Patent number: 6440495
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of depositing ruthenium films on a substrate via liquid source chemical vapor deposition wherein the source material is liquid at room temperature and utilizing process conditions such that deposition of the ruthenium films occurs at a temperature in the kinetic-limited temperature regime. Also provided is a method of depositing a thin ruthenium film on a substrate by liquid source chemical vapor deposition using bis-(ethylcyclopentadienyl) ruthenium by vaporizing the bis-(ethylcyclopentadienyl) ruthenium at a vaporization temperature of about 100-300° C. to form a CVD source material gas, providing an oxygen source reactant gas and forming a thin ruthenium film on a substrate in a reaction chamber using the CVD source material gas and the oxygen source reactant gas at a substrate temperature of about 100-500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Wade, Elaine Pao, Yaxin Wang, Jun Zhao
  • Patent number: 6440505
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of treating sodalime glass surfaces for deposition of silicon nitride and methods of forming field emission display devices. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of treating a sodalime glass surface for deposition of silicon nitride comprising: a) cleaning a surface of the glass with detergent; and b) contacting the cleaned surface with a solution comprising a strong oxidant to remove non-silicon-dioxide materials from the surface and from a zone underlying and proximate the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kanwal K. Raina
  • Patent number: 6436847
    Abstract: A first electrode and a doped oxide layer laterally proximate thereof are provided over a substrate. A silicon nitride layer is formed over both the doped oxide layer and the first electrode to a thickness of no greater than 80 Angstroms over at least the first electrode by low pressure chemical vapor deposition at a pressure of at least 1 Torr, a temperature of less than 700° C. and using feed gases comprising a silicon hydride and ammonia. The substrate with silicon nitride layer is exposed to oxidizing conditions comprising at least 700° C. to form a silicon dioxide layer over the silicon nitride layer, with the thickness of silicon nitride over the doped oxide layer being sufficient to shield oxidizable substrate material beneath the doped oxide layer from oxidizing during the exposing. A second electrode is formed over the silicon dioxide layer and the first electrode. In another implementation, a layer comprising undoped oxide is formed over a doped oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Randhir P. S. Thakur
  • Patent number: 6432480
    Abstract: The invention consists of a coated metallic component which exhibits improved wear and pitting resistance, and a method for making the invention. A metallic component is coated with a functionally gradient material utilizing both a non-oxide containing coating and boron oxide coating. This invention is useful for rolling and sliding contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ajayi O. Oyelayo, Michael H. Haselkorn
  • Patent number: 6432479
    Abstract: Method for passivating a layer of titanium that has been deposited on a substrate in a reaction chamber to coat the titanium thereby reducing the likelihood of contamination by byproducts of the deposition process or ambient oxygen or similar reactants. The method includes adding a flow of hydrogen and a flow of nitrogen to the chamber. The flows of hydrogen and nitrogen are approximately 800 sccm and continue for approximately 10-30 seconds respectively. The method may further comprise the step of forming a nitrogen plasma in the chamber for approximately 10 seconds wherein such case the flows of hydrogen and nitrogen continue for approximately 8 seconds respectively. The plasma is formed by applying RF power to an electrode located within said chamber or by a remote plasma source and channeled to said reactor chamber. Alternately, the passivation layer may be formed just by using a nitrogen plama alone for approximately 10-30 seconds at the same RF power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mei Chang, Ramanujapuram A. Srinivas, Li Wu
  • Patent number: 6426117
    Abstract: A method for forming a three-component film containing metal, silicon and nitrogen for use in semiconductor devices on a substrate. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: preparing separate reactive gases each including at least one selected from the group consisting of a gaseous metal compound, a gaseous silicon compound and an ammonia gas under conditions such that the gaseous meta compound and the ammonia gas does not form a mixture; determining a sequential gas supply cycle of the reactive gases so that supplies of the gaseous metal compound, the gaseous silicon compound and the ammonia gas are each included at least once within one gas supply cycle; and applying the reactive gases to the substrate by repeating the gas supply cycle at least once. According to the present invention, a three-component nitride film can be formed with a uniform thickness despite unevenness of a semiconductor substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Genitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung Soo Yi, Won Yong Koh, Sang Won Kang
  • Publication number: 20020094378
    Abstract: A corrosion resistant component of semiconductor processing equipment such as a plasma chamber includes a carbonitride containing surface and process for manufacture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Robert J. O'Donnell, John E. Daugherty, Christopher C. Chang
  • Patent number: 6420092
    Abstract: A low dielectric constant nanotube, which can be used in the damascene process, and the fabrication method for a non-selective and a selective nanotube thin film layer are described. The non-selective deposition of the nanotube thin film layer includes forming a catalytic layer on the substrate followed by chemical vapor depositing a nanotube thin film layer on the catalytic layer. The selective deposition of the nanotube thin film layer includes forming a catalytic layer on the substrate followed by patterning the catalytic layer. A patterned photoresist layer can also form on the substrate, followed by forming multiple of catalytic layers on the photoresist layer and on the exposed substrate respectively. The photoresist layer and the overlying catalytic layer are removed. Thereafter, a nanotube layer is formed on the patterned catalytic layer by chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventors: Cheng-Jer Yang, Fu-Kuo Tan-Tai, Huang-Chung Cheng
  • Patent number: 6419984
    Abstract: Several modifications have been made to the LPCVD equipment of the prior art in order to reduce the amount of particulate contamination. A bypass vent has been added in parallel with the main vacuum exhaust gate valve. Said bypass vent is left open during loading and unloading of the system with wafers that are to be processed, thereby ensuring a steady flow of air away from them at all times. Additionally, the section of the vacuum line immediately adjacent to the reaction chamber is heated. An example of the application of said modified equipment to LPCVD is provided as well as test results that illustrate the efficacy of the new equipment and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Hui-Hua Chang
  • Publication number: 20020086111
    Abstract: A method of forming a refractory metal nitride layer for integrated circuit fabrication is disclosed. In one embodiment, the refractory metal nitride layer is formed by chemisorbing monolayers of a hydrazine-based compound and one or more refractory metal compounds onto a substrate. In an alternate embodiment, the refractory metal nitride layer has a composite structure, which is composed of two or more refractory metals. The composite refractory metal nitride layer is formed by sequentially chemisorbing monolayers of a hydrazine-based compound and two or more refractory metal compounds on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Jeong Soo Byun, Alfred Mak
  • Patent number: 6410433
    Abstract: A thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum nitride (TaNx) films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors and nitrogen is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas containing nitrogen to deposit a TaNx a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited TaNx film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Johannes F. M. Westendorp
  • Patent number: 6410432
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for depositing high quality conformal tantalum/tantalum nitride (Ta/TaNx) bilayer films from inorganic tantalum pentahalide (TaX5) precursors and nitrogen is described. The inorganic tantalum halide precursors are tantalum pentafluoride (TaF5), tantalum pentachloride (TaCl5) and tantalum pentabromide (TaBr5). A TaX5 vapor is delivered into a heated reaction chamber. The vapor is combined with a process gas to deposit a Ta film and a process gas containing nitrogen to deposit a TaNx film on a substrate that is heated to 300° C.-500° C. The deposited Ta/TaNx bilayer film is useful for integrated circuits containing copper films, especially in small high aspect ratio features. The high conformality of these films is superior to films deposited by PVD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: John J. Hautala, Johannes F. M. Westendorp
  • Publication number: 20020076479
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the conditions during chemical vapor deposition. First, a first substrate is provided. A first oxide layer is formed over the first substrate and then a first silicon nitride layer is deposited over the first oxide layer under a set of depositing conditions. The first silicon nitride layer is removed so that the remaining first oxide layer can serve as a first measuring oxide layer. The interface trap density of the first measuring oxide layer is measured to obtain a first interface trap density. A second substrate is provided. A second oxide layer is formed over the second substrate. After setting the depositing conditions identical to the set of depositing conditions for depositing the first silicon nitride layer over the first substrate, a second silicon nitride layer is deposited over the second oxide layer. The second silicon nitride layer is performed under an actual set of depositing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Tzung-Hua Ying, Tang Yu, Jumn-Min Fan
  • Patent number: 6406540
    Abstract: This invention provides a process and apparatus for producing products of M-nitride materials wherein M=gallium (GaN), aluminum (AlN), indium (InN), germanium (GeN), zinc (ZnN) and ternary nitrides and alloys such as zinc germanium nitride or indium aluminum gallium nitride. This process and apparatus produce either free-standing single crystals, or deposit layers on a substrate by epitaxial growth or polycrystalline deposition. Also high purity M-nitride powders may be synthesized. The process uses an ammonium halide such as ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide or ammonium iodide and a metal to combine to form the M-nitride which deposits in a cooler region downstream from and/or immediately adjacent to the reaction area. High purity M-nitride can be nucleated from the vapor to form single crystals or deposited on a suitable substrate as a high density material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Meckie T. Harris, Michael J. Suscavage, David F. Bliss, John S. Bailey, Michael Callahan
  • Publication number: 20020064598
    Abstract: A method of forming a titanium nitride (TiN) layer using a reaction between ammonia (NH3) and titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). In one embodiment, an NH3:TiCl4 ratio of about 8.5 is used to deposit a TiN layer at a temperature of about 500° C. at a pressure of about 20 torr. In another embodiment, a composite TiN layer is formed by alternately depositing TiN layers of different thicknesses, using process conditions having different NH3:TiCl4 ratios. In one preferred embodiment, a TiN layer of less than about 20 Å is formed at an NH3:TiCl4 ratio of about 85, followed by a deposition of a thicker TiN layer at an NH3:TiCl4 ratio of about 8.5. By repeating the alternate film deposition using the two different process conditions, a composite TiN layer is formed. This composite TiN layer has an improved overall step coverage and reduced stress, compared to a standard TiN process, and is suitable for small geometry plug fill applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: SHULIN WANG, MING XI, FREDERICK WU, RAMANUJAPURAM A. SRINIVAS, YEHUDA DEMAYO, ZVI LANDO, MEI CHANG, RUSSELL C. ELLWANGER
  • Patent number: 6391803
    Abstract: An atomic layer deposition method of forming a solid thin film layer containing silicon. A substrate is loaded into a chamber. A first portion of a first reactant is chemisorbed onto the substrate, and a second portion of the first reactant is physisorbed onto the substrate. The physisorbed portion is purged from the substrate and the chamber. A second reactant is injected into the chamber. A first portion is chemically reacted with the chemisorbed first reactant to form a silicon-containing solid on the substrate. The first reactant is preferably Si[N(CH3)2]4, SiH[N(CH3)2]3, SiH2[N(CH3)2]2 or SiH3[N(CH3)2]. The second reactant is preferably activated NH3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong-Kwan Kim, Young-Wook Park, Seung-Hwan Lee
  • Publication number: 20020058108
    Abstract: A method is provided for pre-treating reactor parts, comprising quartz or silicon, in use in chemical vapor deposition reactors. Applying the pre-treatment prior to deposition increases the cumulative deposited film thickness that can be received by the reactor parts before contamination of wafers processed in said reactors exceeds acceptable limits. The pre-treatment comprises nitridation of the surface of the reactor part, such as by heating the reactor part to a temperature of at least 800° C. and exposing the reactor part to a nitrogen-containing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Gerrit ten Bolscher, Frank Huussen
  • Publication number: 20020051847
    Abstract: A process for depositing titanium nitride films containing less than 5% carbon impurities and less than 10% oxygen impurities by weight via chemical vapor deposition is disclosed. Sheet resistance of the deposited films is generally be within a range of about 1 to 10 ohms per square. The deposition process takes place in a deposition chamber that has been evacuated to less than atmospheric pressure and utilizes the organo-metallic compound tertiary-butyltris-dimethylamido-titanium and a nitrogen source as precursors. The deposition temperature, which is dependent on the nitrogen source, is within a range of 350° C. to 700° C. The low end of the temperature range utilizes nitrogen-containing gases such as diatomic nitrogen, ammonia, hydrazine, amides and amines which have been converted to a plasma. The higher end of the temperature range relies on thermal decomposition of the nitrogen source for the production of reaction-sustaining radicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Salman Akram
  • Patent number: 6379748
    Abstract: Tantalum and titanium source reagents are described, including tantalum amide and tantalum silicon nitride precursors for the deposition of tantalum nitride material on a substrate by processes such as chemical vapor deposition, assisted chemical vapor deposition, ion implantation, molecular beam epitaxy and rapid thermal processing. The precursors may be employed to form diffusion barrier layers on microelectronic device structures enabling the use of copper metallization and ferroelectric thin films in device construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Gautam Bhandari, Thomas H. Baum
  • Patent number: 6372301
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides a method for stabilizing a halogen-doped silicon oxide film, particularly a fluorinated silicon oxide film. The invention also provides a method for preventing loosely bonded halogen atoms from reacting with components of the barrier layer during subsequent processing of the substrate. The invention provides a hydrogen plasma treatment of the halogen-doped silicon oxide film without subjecting the substrate to a heated environment that may damage the substrate and the structures formed on the substrate. The invention also improves the adhesion strength between the halogen-doped silicon oxide film and the barrier layer. Furthermore, the hydrogen plasma treatment can be practiced in a variety of plasma processing chambers of an integrated process sequence, including pre-clean chambers, physical vapor deposition chambers, chemical vapor deposition chambers, etch chambers and other plasma processing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Murali Narasimhan, Vikram Pavate, Kenny King-Tai Ngan, Xiangbing Li
  • Publication number: 20020040847
    Abstract: A method of forming an insulation film includes the steps of forming an insulation film on a substrate, and modifying a film quality of the insulation film by exposing the insulation film to atomic state oxygen O* or atomic state hydrogen nitride radicals NH* formed with plasma that uses Kr or Ar as inert gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Shigetoshi Sugawa
  • Patent number: 6365231
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical vapor deposition using, as feed gases, a silicon compound and hydrazine or a derivative thereof, or a compound containing both silicon and nitrogen, and a process and a system useful for chemical vapor deposition growth, in which a chlorinated silane compound and ammonia, feed gases, are preliminarily reacted with each other, and the resulting reaction gas mixture from which the ammonium halide produced by the preliminary reaction has been eliminated is fed to form a thin film on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuusuke Sato, Takashi Kataoka, Naoki Tamaoki, Toshimitsu Ohmine
  • Publication number: 20020028291
    Abstract: A hydrogen chloride gas and an ammonia gas are introduced with a carrier gas into a reactor in which a substrate and at least an aluminum metallic material through conduits. Then, the hydrogen gas and the ammonia gas are heated by heaters, and thus, a III-V nitride film including at least Al element is epitaxially grown on the substrate by using a Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy method. The whole of the reactor is made of an aluminum nitride material which does not suffer from the corrosion of an aluminum chloride gas generated by the reaction of an aluminum metallic material with a hydrogen chloride gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shibata, Keiichiro Asai, Mitsuhiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20020025378
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating the surface of tools made of tool steel, wherein primary carbides are embedded in the tool steel matrix. The thickness of the primary carbides disposed near the surface can be reduced by forming a surface which has point-wise recess; alternatively, the primary carbides can be completely removed. A hard material layer is deposited on this surface. The invention also describes tools made of tool steel, wherein primary carbides are embedded in the tool steel matrix. The primary carbides are significantly recessed, and a hard material layer is deposited thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Klaus Keller, Fritz Koch
  • Patent number: 6348412
    Abstract: Multi-metallic films are prepared from multi-metallic mixtures of metalloamide compounds. The mixtures are subjected to vaporization to form a multi-metallic vapor having defined and controllable stoichiometry. The multi-metallic vapor is then transferred to a chemical vapor deposition chamber, with or without the presence of a reactant gas, to form the multi-metallic film. Multi-metallic nitride, oxide, sulfide, boride, silicide, germanide, phosphide, arsenide, selenide, telluride, etc. films may be prepared by appropriate choice of metalloamide compounds and reactant gas(es).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian A. Vaartstra
  • Publication number: 20020015791
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a titanium nitride thin film at the surface of a substrate by the chemical vapor deposition method (CVD method) includes supplying tetrakisdialkylamino titanium (TDAAT and ammonia into a reaction vessel, and heating it to a prescribed temperature under a low pressure of less than 100 Pa total pressure, wherein the partial pressure PTDAAT of the source-material gas is set in a range of 0<PNH3/PTDAAT<10 with respect to the partial pressure PNH3 of the added ammonia gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Ryoki Tobe, Hiroshi Doi, Atsushi Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20020015866
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of growing a nitride semiconductor layer by molecular beam epitaxy comprising the steps of: a) heating a GaN substrate (S) disposed in a growth chamber (10) to a substrate temperature of at least 850° C.; and b) growing a nitride semiconductor layer on the GaN substrate by molecular beam epitaxy at a substrate temperature of at least 850° C., ammonia gas being supplied to the growth chamber (10) during the growth of the nitride semiconductor layer; wherein the method comprises the further step of commencing the supply ammonia gas to the growth chamber during step (a), before the substrate temperature has reached 800° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Stewart Edward Hooper, Jonathan Heffernan, Jennifer Mary Barnes, Alistair Henderson Kean
  • Publication number: 20020006468
    Abstract: Adhesion of a copper film, such as a copper interconnect, to a substrate underlayer, such as a substrate diffusion barrier, is enhanced with adhesion promotion techniques. The adhesion promotion techniques can repair the interface of the copper film and the substrate to enhance adhesion of the copper film for high-yield formation of inlaid copper metal lines and plugs. For instance, thermal annealing of a seed layer, including a copper seed layer, an alloy seed layer or a reactant seed layer, can repair contamination at the interface of the seed layer and the substrate. Alternatively, the adhesion promotion techniques can avoid contamination of the interface by depositing an inert seed layer, such as a noble (e.g., platinum) or passivated metal seed layer, or by depositing the seed layer under predetermined conditions that minimize contamination of the interface, and then depositing a bulk copper layer under predetermined conditions that maximize throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: AJIT P. PARANJPE, MEHRDAD M. MOSLEHI, LINO A. VELO, THOMAS R. OMSTEAD, DAVID R. CAMPBELL, ZEMING LIU, GUIHUA SHANG
  • Patent number: 6338879
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solid lubricant film for cutting tools, having a hard material layer positioned on a tool steels, high-speed steels or cemented carbide substrate, includes the steps of: depositing on the hard material layer a solid lubricant oxide layer (MOX :0.2≦×<2) where the metal M is selected from Si, Zr, Ni, Fe, Co, Cr or combinations thereof. The thickness (t) of the solid lubricant oxide layer is 0.01 &mgr;m≦t<3.0 &mgr;m. The solid lubricant oxide film is deposited on the harden layer by heating a vacuum ion-plating chamber to a temperature of between from 150° C. to 450° C., and depositing on the coated cutting tool the solid lubricant oxide layer by an ion-plating. A negative bias charge is applied using a direct current of from −15 V to −1000 V or a high frequency alternating current equivalent to an effective negative bias charge of the direct current of from −15 V to −1000 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp.
    Inventor: Manabu Yasuoka
  • Patent number: 6338874
    Abstract: Multilayer deposition of thin films onto glass substrates to form thin film transistors can be carried out in the same chamber under similar reaction conditions at high deposition rates. We have found that sequential thin layers of silicon nitride and amorphous silicon can be deposited in the same chamber by chemical vapor deposition using pressure of at least 0.5 Torr and substrate temperatures of about 250-370° C. Subsequently deposited different thin films can also be deposited in separate chemical vapor deposition chambers which are part of a single multichamber vacuum system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kam S. Law, Robert Robertson, Pamela Lou, Marc Michael Kollrack, Angela Lee, Dan Maydan