Abstract:
This invention provides a conductive aluminum film and method of forming the same, wherein a non-conductive impurity is incorporated into the aluminum film. In one embodiment, the introduction of nitrogen creates an aluminum nitride subphase which pins down hillocks in the aluminum film to maintain a substantially smooth surface. The film remains substantially hillock-free even after subsequent thermal processing. The aluminum nitride subphase causes only a nominal increase in resistivity (resistivities remain below about 12 μΩ-cm), thereby making the film suitable as an electrically conductive layer for integrated circuit or display devices.
Abstract:
Aluminum-containing films having an oxygen content within the films. The aluminum-containing film is formed by introducing hydrogen gas along with argon gas into a sputter deposition vacuum chamber during the sputter deposition of aluminum or aluminum alloys onto a semiconductor substrate. The aluminum-containing film so formed is hillock-free and has low resistivity, relatively low roughness compared to pure aluminum, good mechanical strength, and low residual stress.
Abstract:
Improved field emission display includes a buffer layer of copper, aluminum, silicon nitride or doped or undoped amorphous, poly, or microcrystalline silicon located between a chromium gate electrode and associated dielectric layer in a cathode assembly. The buffer layer substantially reduces or eliminates the occurrence of an adverse chemical reaction between the chromium gate electrode and dielectric layer.
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. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of treating a sodalime glass surface region for deposition of silicon nitride comprising: a) providing a sodalime glass surface region having a first concentration of an undesired chemical; b) contacting the sodalime glass surface region with a detergent solution; c) agitating the detergent solution across the sodalime glass surface region; d) removing the detergent solution from the surface region; e) after removing the detergent solution, contacting the sodalime glass surface region with a sulfuric acid solution; and f) removing the sulfuric acid solution from the sodalime glass surface region; wherein, after removing the sulfuric acid solution, the sodalime glass surface region comprises less than the first concentration of the undesired chemical.
Abstract:
A field emission device is disclosed having a buffer layer positioned between an underlying cathode conductive layer and an overlying resistor layer. The buffer layer consists of substantially undoped amorphous silicon. Any pinhole defects or discontinuities that extend through the resistor layer terminate at the buffer layer, thereby preventing the problems otherwise caused by pinhole defects. In particular, the buffer layer prevents breakdown of the resistor layer, thereby reducing the possibility of short circuiting. The buffer layer further reduces the risk of delamination of various layers or other irregularities arising from subsequent processing steps. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the field emission device having the buffer layer.
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. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of treating a sodalime glass surface region for deposition of silicon nitride comprising: a) providing a sodalime glass surface region having a first concentration of an undesired chemical; b) contacting the sodalime glass surface region with a detergent solution; c) agitating the detergent solution across the sodalime glass surface region; d) removing the detergent solution from the surface region; e) after removing the detergent solution, contacting the sodalime glass surface region with a sulfuric acid solution; and f) removing the sulfuric acid solution from the sodalime glass surface region; wherein, after removing the sulfuric acid solution, the sodalime glass surface region comprises less than the first concentration of the undesired chemical.
Abstract:
Described herein is a resistor layer for use in field emission display devices and the like, and its method of manufacture. The resistor layer is an amorphous silicon layer doped with nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen concentration in the resistor layer is preferably between about 5 and 15 atomic percent. The presence of nitrogen and phosphorus in the silicon prevents diffusion of Si atoms into metal conductive layers such as aluminum, even up to diffusion and packaging temperatures. The nitrogen and phosphorus also prevent defects from forming at the boundary between the resistor layer and metal conductor. This leads to better control over shorting and improved resistivity in the resistor.
Abstract:
Improved field emission display includes a buffer layer of copper, aluminum, silicon nitride or doped or undoped amorphous, poly, or microcrystalline silicon located between a chromium gate electrode and associated dielectric layer in a cathode assembly. The buffer layer substantially reduces or eliminates the occurrence of an adverse chemical reaction between the chromium gate electrode and dielectric layer.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes microelectronic substrate assemblies, and methods for making and using such substrate assemblies in mechanical and chemical-mechanical planarizing processes. A microelectronic substrate assembly is fabricated in accordance with one aspect of the invention by forming a critical layer in a film stack on the substrate and manipulating the critical layer to have a low compression internal stress. The critical layer, more specifically, is a layer that is otherwise in a tensile state or a high compression state without being manipulated to control the internal stress in the critical layer to be in a low compression state. The stress in the critical layer can be manipulated by changing the chemistry, temperature or energy level of the process used to deposit or otherwise form the critical layer. The stress in the critical layer can also be manipulated using heat treatments and other processes. A critical layer composed of chromium, for example, can be manipulated by sputtering chromium in an argon/nitrogen atmosphere instead of solely an argon atmosphere to impart stress controlling elements (nitrogen molecules) into the chromium for producing a low compression chromium layer.
Abstract:
Aluminum-containing films having an oxygen content within the films. The aluminum-containing film is formed by introducing hydrogen gas along with argon gas into a sputter deposition vacuum chamber during the sputter deposition of aluminum or aluminum alloys onto a semiconductor substrate. The aluminum-containing film so formed is hillock-free and has low resistivity, relatively low roughness compared to pure aluminum, good mechanical strength, and low residual stress.