Abstract: Methods disclosed herein provide apparatus and method for applying an electric field and/or a magnetic field to a photoresist layer without air gap intervention during photolithography processes.

Abstract: Forming a 3D topology by forming a monolayer of nano-particles on a stainless steel surface, masking the stainless steel surface forming at least one unmasked regions, the unmasked region having an average density of nano-particles less than a critical average density, and introducing a plurality of exogenous atoms into the stainless steel surface only in the unmasked regions, the exogenous atoms causing the associated metal lattice to expand and harden and have an increase corrosion resistance, thereby selectively forming a 3D topology on the stainless steel surface.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fin structure of a semiconductor device. An exemplary fin structure for a semiconductor device comprises a lower portion protruding from a major surface of a substrate, wherein the lower portion comprises a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant; an upper portion having an interface with the lower portion, wherein the upper portion comprises a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant different from the first lattice constant; a first pair of notches lower than the interface and extending into opposite sides of the lower portion, wherein each first notch have a first width; and a second pair of notches extending into opposite sides of the interface, wherein each second notch have a second width greater than the first width.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, methods of using one or more small spot showerhead apparatus to deposit materials using CVD, PECVD, ALD, or PEALD on small spots in a site isolated, combinatorial manner are described. The small spot showerheads may be configured within a larger combinatorial showerhead to allow multi-layer film stacks to be deposited in a combinatorial manner.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer using a high density plasma oxidation process. The dielectric layer is on a storage layer and the thickness of the storage layer is reduced during the high density plasma oxidation process.

Abstract: A semiconductor package and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor package includes a first substrate including a first pad, a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate and where a second pad is formed to face the first pad, a first bump electrically connecting the first pad to the second pad, and a second bump mechanically connecting the first substrate to the second substrate is disposed between the first substrate where the first pad is not formed and the second substrate where the second pad is not formed. A coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the second bump is smaller than that of the first bump.

Abstract: A method for forming an oxide layer on a substrate is described, wherein a plasma is generated adjacent to at least one surface of the substrate by means of microwaves from a gas containing oxygen, wherein the microwaves are coupled into the gas by a magnetron via at least one microwave rod, which is arranged opposite to the substrate and comprises an outer conductor and an inner conductor. During the formation of the oxide layer, the mean microwave power density is set to P=0.8-10 W/cm2, the plasma duration is set to t=0.1 to 600 s, the pressure is set to p=2.67-266.64 Pa (20 to 2000 mTorr) and a distance between substrate surface and microwave rod is set to d=5-120 mm. The above and potentially further process conditions are matched to each other such that the substrate is held at a temperature below 200° C. and an oxide growth is induced on the surface of the substrate facing the plasma.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for processing an object to be processed using a plasma. The apparatus includes a processing chamber defining a processing cavity for containing an object to be processed and a process gas therein, a microwave radiating antenna having a microwave radiating surface for radiating a microwave in order to excite a plasma in the processing cavity, and a dielectric body provided so as to be opposed to the microwave radiating surface, in which the distance D between the microwave radiating surface and a surface of the dielectric body facing away from the microwave radiating surface, which is represented with the wavelength of the microwave being a distance unit, is determined to be in the range satisfying the inequality 0.7×n/4?D?1.3×n/4 (n being a natural number).

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, methods of using one or more small spot showerhead apparatus to deposit materials using CVD, PECVD, ALD, or PEALD on small spots in a site isolated, combinatorial manner are described. The small spot showerheads may be configured within a larger combinatorial showerhead to allow multi-layer film stacks to be deposited in a combinatorial manner.

Abstract: An arrangement for measuring process parameters within a processing chamber is provided. The arrangement includes a probe arrangement disposed in an opening of an upper electrode. Probe arrangement includes a probe head, which includes a head portion and a flange portion. The arrangement also includes an o-ring disposed between the upper electrode and the flange portion. The arrangement further includes a spacer made of an electrically insulative material positioned between the head portion and the opening of the upper electrode to prevent the probe arrangement from touching the upper electrode. The spacer includes a disk portion configured for supporting an underside of the flange portion. The spacer also includes a hollow cylindrical portion configured to encircle the head portion. The spacer forms a right-angled path between the o-ring and an opening to the processing chamber to prevent direct line-of-sight path between the o-ring and the opening to the processing chamber.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for processing an object to be processed using a plasma. The apparatus includes a processing chamber defining a processing cavity for containing an object to be processed and a process gas therein, a microwave radiating antenna having a microwave radiating surface for radiating a microwave in order to excite a plasma in the processing cavity, and a dielectric body provided so as to be opposed to the microwave radiating surface, in which the distance D between the microwave radiating surface and a surface of the dielectric body facing away from the microwave radiating surface, which is represented with the wavelength of the microwave being a distance unit, is determined to be in the range satisfying the inequality 0.7×n/4?D?1.3×n/4 (n being a natural number).

Abstract: Provided are a bonded structure by a lead-free solder and an electronic article comprising the bonded structure. The bonded structure has a stable bonding interface with respect to a change in process of time, an enough strength and resistance to occurrence of whiskers while keeping good wettability of the solder. In the bonded structure, a lead-free Sn—Ag—Bi alloy solder is applied to an electrode through an Sn—Bi alloy layer. The Sn—Bi alloy, preferably, comprises 1 to 20 wt % Bi in order to obtain good wettability of the solder. In order to obtain desirable bonding characteristics having higher reliability in the invention, a copper layer is provided under the Sn—Bi alloy layer thereby obtaining an enough bonding strength.

Abstract: A silicon compound gas, an oxidizing gas, and a rare gas are supplied into a chamber (2) of a plasma processing apparatus (1). A microwave is supplied into the chamber (2), and a silicon oxide film is formed on a target substrate with plasma generated by the microwave. A partial pressure ratio of the rare gas is 10% or more of a total gas pressure of the silicon compound gas, the oxidizing gas, and the rare gas, and an effective flow ratio of the silicon compound gas and the oxidizing gas (oxidizing gas/silicon compound gas) is not less than 3 but not more than 11.

Abstract: The invention relates to a finishing method for a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate that includes an oxide layer buried between an active silicon layer and a support layer of silicon. The method includes applying the following steps in succession: a first rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of the SOI substrate; a sacrificial oxidation of the active silicon layer of the substrate conducted to remove a first oxide thickness; a second RTA of the substrate; and a second sacrificial oxidation of the active silicon layer conducted to remove a second oxide thickness that is thinner than the first oxide thickness.

Abstract: The formation of a gap-filling silicon oxide layer with reduced volume fraction of voids is described. The deposition involves the formation of an oxygen-rich less-flowable liner layer before an oxygen-poor more-flowable gapfill layer. However, the liner layer is deposited within the same chamber as the gapfill layer. The liner layer and the gapfill layer may both be formed by combining a radical component with an unexcited silicon-containing precursor (i.e. not directly excited by application of plasma power). The liner layer has more oxygen content than the gapfill layer and deposits more conformally. The deposition rate of the gapfill layer may be increased by the presence of the liner layer. The gapfill layer may contain silicon, oxygen and nitrogen and be converted at elevated temperature to contain more oxygen and less nitrogen. The presence of the gapfill liner provides a source of oxygen underneath the gapfill layer to augment the gas phase oxygen introduced during the conversion.

Abstract: A plasma processing method performs a plasma oxidation on a substrate, on which a trench is formed after an oxide film is formed, by using a plasma processing apparatus for plasma-processing an object by using microwave plasma. In the plasma processing method, the substrate is mounted on a mounting table to which an ion attraction high frequency voltage is applied, and the plasma oxidation is performed while applying the ion attraction high frequency voltage to the substrate. Further, a process gas used in the plasma oxidation is a mixture of a rare gas having smaller atomic weight than that of argon gas, and oxygen gas, and the plasma processing is performed at a pressure of 6.7 to 133 Pa in a depressurized chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for plasma deposition of thin film photovoltaic materials at microwave frequencies. The apparatus avoids unintended deposition on windows or other microwave transmission elements that couple microwave energy to deposition species. The apparatus includes a microwave applicator with one or more conduits passing therethrough that carry deposition species. The applicator transfers microwave energy to the deposition species to activate or energize them to a reactive state. The conduits physically isolate deposition species that would react or otherwise combine to form a thin film material at the point of microwave power transfer and deliver the microwave-excited species to a deposition chamber. One or more supplemental material streams may be delivered directly to the deposition chamber without passing through the microwave applicator and may combine with deposition species exiting the one or more conduits to form a thin film material.

Abstract: Plasma assisted low temperature radical oxidation is described. The oxidation is selective to metals or metal oxides that may be present in addition to the silicon being oxidized. Selectivity is achieved by proper selection of process parameters, mainly the ratio of H2 to O2 gas. The process window may be enlarged by injecting H2O steam into the plasma, thereby enabling oxidation of silicon in the presence of TiN and W, at relatively low temperatures. Selective oxidation is improved by the use of an apparatus having remote plasma and flowing radicals onto the substrate, but blocking ions from reaching the substrate.

Abstract: Methods of filling cavities or trenches. More specifically, methods of filling a cavity or trench in a semiconductor layer are provided. The methods include depositing a first dielectric layer into the trench by employing a conformal deposition process. Next, the first dielectric layer is etched to create a recess in the trench within the first dielectric layer. The recesses are then filled with a second dielectric layer by employing a high density plasma deposition process. The techniques may be particularly useful in filling cavities and trenches having narrow widths and/or high aspect ratios.

Abstract: A method for forming dielectric films including metal nitride silicate on a silicon substrate, comprises a first step of depositing a film containing metal and silicon on a silicon substrate in a non-oxidizing atmosphere using a sputtering method; a second step of forming a film containing nitrogen, metal and silicon by nitriding the film containing metal and silicon; and a third step of forming a metal nitride silicate film by oxidizing the film containing nitrogen, metal and silicon.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer using a high density plasma oxidation process. The dielectric layer is on a storage layer and the thickness of the storage layer is reduced during the high density plasma oxidation process.

Abstract: A selective oxidation process is performed on a gate electrode in a plasma processing apparatus 100. A wafer W with the gate electrode formed thereon is placed on a susceptor 2 within a chamber 1. Ar gas, H2 gas, and O2 gas are supplied from an Ar gas supply source 17, an H2 gas supply source 18, and an O2 gas supply source 19 in a gas supply system 16 through a gas feed member 15 into the chamber 1. At this time, a flow rate ratio H2/O2 of H2 gas relative to O2 gas is set to be 1.5 or more and 20 or less, preferably to be 4 or more, and more preferably to be 8 or more. Further, the pressure inside the chamber is set to be 3 to 700 Pa, such as 6.7 Pa (50 mTorr).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for plasma deposition of thin film photovoltaic materials at microwave frequencies. The apparatus avoids deposition on windows or other microwave transmission elements that couple microwave energy to deposition species. The apparatus includes a microwave applicator with conduits passing therethrough that carry deposition species. The applicator transfers microwave energy to the deposition species to transform them to a reactive state conducive to formation of a thin film material. The conduits physically isolate deposition species that would react to form a thin film material at the point of microwave power transfer. The deposition species are separately energized and swept away from the point of power transfer to prevent thin film deposition. The invention allows for the ultrafast formation of silicon-containing amorphous semiconductors that exhibit high mobility, low porosity, little or no Staebler-Wronski degradation, and low defect concentration.

Abstract: A plasma oxidizing method in which a plasma is produced in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus under a processing condition that the proportion of oxygen in the processing gas is 20% or more and the processing pressure is 400 to 1333 Pa, and silicon exposed from the surface of an object to be processed is oxidized by the plasma to form a silicon oxide film.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a stacked layer including a tungsten layer, forming a hard mask pattern over the stacked layer, and oxidizing a surface of the hard mask pattern to form a stress buffer layer. A portion of the stacked layer uncovered by the hard mask pattern is removed using the hard mask pattern and the stress buffer layer as an etch mask, thereby forming a first resultant structure. A capping layer is formed over the first resultant structure, the capping layer is etched to retain the capping layer on sidewalls of the first resultant structure, and the remaining portion of the stacked layer uncovered by the hard mask pattern is removed.

Abstract: A plasma oxidation process is performed to form a silicon oxide film on the surface of a target object by use of plasma with an O(1D2) radical density of 1×1012 [cm?3] or more generated from a process gas containing oxygen inside a process chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. During the plasma oxidation process, the O(1D2) radical density in the plasma is measured by a VUV monochromator 63, and a correction is made to the plasma process conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a silicon oxide film, with a substantially uniform film thickness and without being so influenced by dense sites and scattered sites in a pattern provided on an object to be processed, while keeping advantageous points of a plasma oxidation process performed under a lower-pressure and lower-oxygen-concentration condition. In this method, plasma of a processing gas is applied to a surface of the object having a concavo-convex pattern, in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, so as to oxidize silicon on the surface of the object, thereby forming the silicon oxide film. The plasma is generated under the condition that a ratio of oxygen in the processing gas is within a range of 0.1% to 10% and pressure is within a range of 0.133 Pa to 133.3 Pa.

Abstract: The application of oxynitriding treatment to electronic appliances involve the problem that N2 ions are formed to thereby damage any oxynitride film. It is intended to provide a method of plasma treatment capable of realizing high-quality oxynitriding and to provide a process for producing an electronic appliance in which use is made of the method of plasma treatment. There is provided a method of plasma treatment, comprising generating plasma with a gas for plasma excitation and introducing a treating gas in the plasma to thereby treat a treatment subject, wherein the treating gas contains nitrous oxide gas, this nitrous oxide gas introduced in a plasma of <2.24 eV electron temperature, so that the generation of ions tending to damage any insulating film is reduced to thereby realize high-quality oxynitriding. Further, there is provided a process for producing an electronic appliance in which use is made of the method of plasma treatment.

Abstract: A plasma oxidizing method includes a step of placing an object to be processed and having a surface containing silicon on a susceptor disposed in a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus, a step of producing a plasma from a processing gas containing oxygen in the processing vessel, a step of supplying high-frequency electric power to the susceptor and applying a high-frequency bias to the object to be processed when the plasma is produced, and a step of forming a silicon oxide film by oxidizing silicon in the surface of the object to be processed by the plasma.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a gate insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; forming, on the gate insulating film, a multilayered structure including at least a polysilicon layer and a metal layer containing a refractory metal; forming a gate electrode by etching the multilayered structure; and performing a plasma process by a plasma processing apparatus, which is configured to supply microwaves into a process chamber from a planar antenna including a plurality of slots and thereby to generate plasma, at a process pressure of 133.3 to 1,333 Pa and a process temperature of 250 to 800° C. by using a process gas containing at least hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, thereby selectively oxidizing the polysilicon layer in the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a gate dielectric of a field effect transistor is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of removing a native oxide layer, forming an oxide layer, forming a gate dielectric layer over the oxide layer, oxidizing the gate dielectric layer, and annealing the layers and underlying thermal oxide/silicon interface. Optionally, the oxide layer may be nitridized prior to forming the gate dielectric layer. Optionally, the gate dielectric layer may be nitridized prior to oxidizing the gate dielectric layer. In one embodiment, at least portions of the method are performed using processing reactors arranged on a cluster tool.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an insulating film, which is used as an insulating film used for a semiconductor integrated circuit, whose reliability can be ensured even though it has small thickness, is provided. In particular, a method for manufacturing a high-quality insulating film over a substrate having an insulating surface, which can be enlarged, at low substrate temperature, is provided. A monosilane gas (SiH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and a rare gas are introduced into a chamber to generate high-density plasma at a pressure higher than or equal to 10 Pa and lower than or equal to 30 Pa so that an insulating film is formed over a substrate having an insulating surface. After that, the supply of a monosilane gas is stopped, and nitrous oxide (N2O) and a rare gas are introduced without exposure to the air to perform plasma treatment on a surface of the insulating film.

Abstract: A silicon oxide film is formed in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus by performing oxidation process, by using plasma to a processing object having a patterned irregularity, wherein the plasma is generated while high-frequency power is supplied to a mount table under the conditions that the oxygen content in a process gas is not less than 0.5% and less than 10% and the process pressure is 1.3 to 665 Pa.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of the present invention includes the steps of forming a first insulating film over a substrate, forming a semiconductor film over the first insulating film, oxidizing or nitriding the semiconductor film by conducting a plasma treatment to the semiconductor film under a condition of an electron density of 1×1011 cm?3 or more and 1×1013 cm?3 or less and an electron temperature of 0.5 eV or more and 1.5 eV or less, using a high frequency wave, forming a second insulating film to cover the semiconductor film, forming a gate electrode over the second insulating film, forming a third insulating film to cover the gate electrode, and forming a conductive film over the third insulating film.

Abstract: A plasma oxidizing method in which a plasma is produced in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus under a processing condition that the proportion of oxygen in the processing gas is 20% or more and the processing pressure is 400 to 1333 Pa, and silicon exposed from the surface of an object to be processed is oxidized by the plasma to form a silicon oxide film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a silicon oxide film, with a substantially uniform film thickness and without being so influenced by dense sites and scattered sites in a pattern provided on an object to be processed, while keeping advantageous points of a plasma oxidation process performed under a lower-pressure and lower-oxygen-concentration condition. In this method, plasma of a processing gas is applied to a surface of the object having a concavo-convex pattern, in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, so as to oxidize silicon on the surface of the object, thereby forming the silicon oxide film. The plasma is generated under the condition that a ratio of oxygen in the processing gas is within a range of 0.1% to 10% and pressure is within a range of 0.133 Pa to 133.3 Pa.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a silicon oxide film, with a substantially uniform film thickness and without being so influenced by dense sites and scattered sites in a pattern provided on an object to be processed, while keeping advantageous points of a plasma oxidation process performed under a lower-pressure and lower-oxygen-concentration condition. In this method, plasma of a processing gas is applied to a surface of the object having a concavo-convex pattern, in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, so as to oxidize silicon on the surface of the object, thereby forming the silicon oxide film. The plasma is generated under the condition that a ratio of oxygen in the processing gas is within a range of 0.1% to 10% and pressure is within a range of 0.133 Pa to 133.3 Pa.

Abstract: An insulating film is formed as a pore-wall protective film (103) on pore walls in a porous layer (102) by the use of a mixed gas plasma of a noble gas and an insulating film forming gas generated by microwave excitation. As a result, the pore-wall protective film can have film properties as a protective film.

Abstract: A silicon oxide film forming method includes a step of placing an object to be processed and having a surface having a projecting/recessed pattern and containing silicon in a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus, a step of producing a plasma from a processing gas containing oxygen at a proportion of 5 to 20% under a processing pressure of 267 to 400 Pa in the processing vessel, and a step of forming a silicon oxide film by oxidizing silicon in the surface of the object to be processed by the plasma.

Abstract: A plasma oxidizing method includes a step of placing an object to be processed and having a surface containing silicon on a susceptor disposed in a processing vessel of a plasma processing apparatus, a step of producing a plasma from a processing gas containing oxygen in the processing vessel, a step of supplying high-frequency electric power to the susceptor and applying a high-frequency bias to the object to be processed when the plasma is produced, and a step of forming a silicon oxide film by oxidizing silicon in the surface of the object to be processed by the plasma.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is produced by providing a reaction chamber with a substrate and sequentially repeating steps of: supplying a first kind of gas into the reaction chamber, exhausting the first kind of gas from the reaction chamber, supplying a second kind of gas into the reaction chamber, and exhausting the second kind of gas from the reaction chamber to process the substrate disposed in the reaction chamber. The first kind of gas is pre-reserved in an intermediate portion of a supply path through which the first kind of gas flows, and is supplied into the reaction chamber with exhaust of the reaction chamber being substantially stopped.

Abstract: A plasma oxidation process is performed to form a silicon oxide film on the surface of a target object by use of plasma with an O(1D2) radical density of 1×1012 [cm?3] or more generated from a process gas containing oxygen inside a process chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. During the plasma oxidation process, the O(1D2) radical density in the plasma is measured by a VUV monochromator 63, and a correction is made to the plasma process conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a gate insulating film comprising an oxidation step wherein a silicon oxide film is formed by having an oxygen-containing plasma act on silicon in the surface of an object to be processed in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. The processing temperature in the oxidation step is more than 600° C. and not more than 1000° C., and the oxygen-containing plasma is formed by introducing an oxygen-containing processing gas containing at least a rare gas and an oxygen gas into the process chamber while introducing a high frequency wave or microwave into the process chamber through an antenna.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating an oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate are provided herein. The oxide layer may be formed over an entire structure disposed on the substrate, or selectively formed on a non-metal containing layer with little or no oxidation of an exposed metal-containing layer. The methods disclosed herein may be performed in a variety of process chambers, including but not limited to decoupled plasma oxidation chambers, rapid and/or remote plasma oxidation chambers, and/or plasma immersion ion implantation chambers. In some embodiments, a method may include providing a substrate comprising a metal-containing layer and non-metal containing layer; and forming an oxide layer on an exposed surface of the non-metal containing layer by exposing the substrate to a plasma formed from a process gas comprising a hydrogen-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and at least one of a supplemental oxygen-containing gas or a nitrogen-containing gas.

Abstract: A low k interlevel dielectric layer fabrication method includes providing a substrate having integrated circuitry at least partially formed thereon. An oxide comprising interlevel dielectric layer comprising carbon and having a dielectric constant no greater than 3.5 is formed over the substrate. After forming the carbon comprising dielectric layer, it is exposed to a plasma comprising oxygen effective to reduce the dielectric constant to below what it was prior to said exposing. A low k interlevel dielectric layer fabrication method includes providing a substrate having integrated circuitry at least partially formed thereon. In a chamber, an interlevel dielectric layer comprising carbon and having a dielectric constant no greater than 3.5 is plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited over the substrate at subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method for preparing an oxynitride film on a substrate comprising forming the oxynitride film by exposing a surface of the substrate to oxygen radicals and nitrogen radicals formed by plasma induced dissociation of a process gas comprising nitrogen and oxygen using plasma based on microwave irradiation via a plane antenna member having a plurality of slits.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus 100 of the RLSA type includes a planar antenna with a plurality of slots formed therein, by which microwaves are supplied into a process chamber to generate plasma. In this apparatus, poly-silicon oxidation is performed at a pressure of 67 to 667 Pa inside the chamber, a temperature of 300 to 600° C., and a microwave power of 1,000 to 3,500 W, while a process gas containing Ar gas at a rate of 100 to 2,000 mL/min and O2 gas at a rate of 1 to 500 mL/min is used with O2 gas/Ar gas ratio set to be 0.5 to 5%.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of the present invention includes the steps of forming a first insulating film over a substrate, forming a semiconductor film over the first insulating film, oxidizing or nitriding the semiconductor film by conducting a plasma treatment to the semiconductor film under a condition of an electron density of 1×1011 cm?3 or more and 1×1013 cm?3 or less and an electron temperature of 0.5 eV or more and 1.5 eV or less, using a high frequency wave, forming a second insulating film to cover the semiconductor film, forming a gate electrode over the second insulating film, forming a third insulating film to cover the gate electrode, and forming a conductive film over the third insulating film.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with high reliability, at low cost, in which an element forming layer having a thin film transistor and the like provided over a substrate is peeled from the substrate, so that a semiconductor device is manufactured. According to the invention, a metal film is formed over a substrate, a plasma treatment is performed to the metal film in a dinitrogen monoxide atmosphere to form a metal oxide film over the metal film, a first insulating film is formed continuously without being exposed to the air, an element forming layer is formed over the first insulating film, and the element forming layer is peeled from the substrate, so that a semiconductor device is manufactured.

Abstract: A dielectric film wherein N in the state of an Si3=?N bonding is present in a concentration of 3 atomic % or more in the surface side of an oxide film and also is present in a concentration of 0.1 atomic % or less in the interface side of the oxide film can achieve the prevention of the B diffusion and also the prevention of the deterioration of the NBTI resistance in combination. When the Ar/N2 radical nitridation is used, it is difficult for the resultant oxide film to satisfy the condition wherein N in the above bonding state is present in a concentration of 3 atomic % or more in the surface side of an oxide film and simultaneously is present in a concentration of 0.1 atomic % or less in the interface side of the oxide film, whereas, the above distribution of the N concentration can be achieved by using any of the gas combinations of Xe/N2, Kr/N2, Ar/NH3, Xe/NH3, Kr/NH3, Ar/N2/H2, Xe/N2/H2 and Kr/N2/H2.