Abstract:
A photographic mask is provided in the present disclosure. The photographic mask includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) base and a stepped opening formed in the SOI base. The SOI base includes a silicon substrate, a median layer and a silicon layer, the median layer is arranged between the insulator substrate and the insulator layer. The stepped opening includes a first opening portion and a second opening portion, the first opening portion penetrates through the silicon layer and has a first opening area; the second opening portion at least penetrates through the silicon substrate and is aligned with the first opening portion. The second opening portion has a second opening area greater than the first opening area of the first opening portion. The present disclosure further provides a method for making a photographic mask.
Abstract:
Methods of performing a wet oxidation process on a silicon containing dielectric material filling within trenches or vias defined within a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a dielectric material on a substrate includes forming a dielectric material on a substrate by a flowable CVD process, curing the dielectric material disposed on the substrate, performing a wet oxidation process on the dielectric material disposed on the substrate, and forming an oxidized dielectric material on the substrate.
Abstract:
Methods of performing a wet oxidation process on a silicon containing dielectric material filling within trenches or vias defined within a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a dielectric material on a substrate includes forming a dielectric material on a substrate by a flowable CVD process, curing the dielectric material disposed on the substrate, performing a wet oxidation process on the dielectric material disposed on the substrate, and forming an oxidized dielectric material on the substrate.
Abstract:
A method of etching silicon-and-carbon-containing material is described and includes a SiConi™ etch in combination with a flow of reactive oxygen. The reactive oxygen may be introduced before the SiConi™ etch reducing the carbon content in the near surface region and allowing the SiConi™ etch to proceed more rapidly. Alternatively, reactive oxygen may be introduced during the SiConi™ etch further improving the effective etch rate.
Abstract:
Methods are described for forming and curing a flowable silicon-carbon-and-nitrogen-containing layer on a semiconductor substrate. The silicon and carbon constituents may come from a silicon and carbon containing precursor while the nitrogen may come from a nitrogen-containing precursor that has been activated to speed the reaction of the nitrogen with the silicon-and-carbon-containing precursor at lower deposition chamber temperatures. The initially-flowable silicon-carbon-and-nitrogen-containing layer is treated to remove components which enabled the flowability, but are no longer needed after deposition. Removal of the components increases etch resistance in order to allow the gapfill silicon-carbon-and-nitrogen-containing layer to remain intact during subsequent processing. The treatments have been found to decrease the evolution of properties of the film upon exposure to atmosphere.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a dielectric layer are described. The methods include the steps of mixing a silicon-containing precursor with a plasma effluent, and depositing a silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer on a substrate. The silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer is converted to a silicon-and-oxygen-containing layer by curing in an ozone-containing atmosphere in the same substrate processing region used for depositing the silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer. Another silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer may be deposited on the silicon-and-oxygen-containing layer and the stack of layers may again be cured in ozone all without removing the substrate from the substrate processing region. After an integral multiple of dep-cure cycles, the conversion of the stack of silicon-and-oxygen-containing layers may be annealed at a higher temperature in an oxygen-containing environment.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a dielectric layer are described. The methods include the steps of mixing a silicon-containing precursor with a plasma effluent, and depositing a silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer on a substrate. The silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer is converted to a silicon-and-oxygen-containing layer by curing in an ozone-containing atmosphere in the same substrate processing region used for depositing the silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer. Another silicon-and-nitrogen-containing layer may be deposited on the silicon-and-oxygen-containing layer and the stack of layers may again be cured in ozone all without removing the substrate from the substrate processing region. After an integral multiple of dep-cure cycles, the conversion of the stack of silicon-and-oxygen-containing layers may be annealed at a higher temperature in an oxygen-containing environment.
Abstract:
A method of etching silicon-and-carbon-containing material is described and includes a SiConi™ etch in combination with a flow of reactive oxygen. The reactive oxygen may be introduced before the SiConi™ etch reducing the carbon content in the near surface region and allowing the SiConi™ etch to proceed more rapidly. Alternatively, reactive oxygen may be introduced during the SiConi™ etch further improving the effective etch rate.
Abstract:
A method of forming a silicon oxide layer on a substrate. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a first silicon oxide layer overlying at least a portion of the substrate, the first silicon oxide layer including residual water, hydroxyl groups, and carbon species. The method further includes exposing the first silicon oxide layer to a plurality of silicon-containing species to form a plurality of amorphous silicon components being partially intermixed with the first silicon oxide layer. Additionally, the method includes annealing the first silicon oxide layer partially intermixed with the plurality of amorphous silicon components in an oxidative environment to form a second silicon oxide layer on the substrate. At least a portion of amorphous silicon components are oxidized to become part of the second silicon oxide layer and unreacted residual hydroxyl groups and carbon species in the second silicon oxide layer are substantially removed.