Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a doped aluminum nitride hardmask and a method of making a doped aluminum nitride hardmask. By adding a small amount of dopant, such as oxygen, when forming the aluminum nitride hardmask, the wet etch rate of the hardmask can be significantly reduced. Additionally, due to the presence of the dopant, the grain size of the hardmask is reduced compared to a non-doped aluminum nitride hardmask. The reduced grain size leads to smoother features in the hardmask which leads to more precise etching of the underlying layer when utilizing the hardmask.
Abstract:
Methods for forming interconnect structures are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for forming an interconnect on a substrate may include depositing a material atop an upper surface of the substrate and atop one or more surfaces of a feature disposed in the substrate by a first deposition process that deposits the material at a faster rate on the upper surface than on a bottom surface of the feature; depositing the material atop the upper surface of the substrate and atop one or more surfaces of the feature by a second deposition process that deposits the material at a greater rate on the bottom surface of the feature than on the upper surface of the substrate; and heating the deposited material to draw the deposited material towards the bottom surface of the feature to at least partially fill the feature with the deposited material.
Abstract:
Apparatus for improved particle reduction are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus may include a process kit shield comprising a one-piece metal body having an upper portion and a lower portion and having an opening disposed through the one-piece metal body, wherein the upper portion includes an opening-facing surface configured to be disposed about and spaced apart from a target of a physical vapor deposition chamber and wherein the opening-facing surface is configured to limit particle deposition on an upper surface of the upper portion of the one-piece metal body during sputtering of a target material from the target of the physical vapor deposition chamber.
Abstract:
Target assemblies and PVD chambers including target assemblies are disclosed. The target assembly includes a target that has a concave shaped target. When used in a PVD chamber, the concave target provides more radially uniform deposition on a substrate disposed in the sputtering chamber.
Abstract:
A fabrication method and a product for the deposition of a conductive barrier or other liner layer in a vertical electrical interconnect structure. One embodiment includes within a hole (88) through a dielectric layer (86) a barrier layer (132) of RuTaN, an adhesion layer (112) of RuTa, and a copper seed layer (114) forming a liner for electroplating of copper. The ruthenium content is preferably greater than 50 at% and more preferably at least 80 at% but less than 95 at%. The barrier and adhesion layers may both be sputter deposited. Other platinum-group elements substitute for the ruthenium and other refractory metals substitute for the tantalum. Aluminum alloying into RuTa (192, 194) when annealed presents a moisture barrier. Copper contacts (232, 238) include different alloying fractions of RuTa to shift the work function to the doping type of the silicon (216, 218).
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for depositing thin films having high thickness uniformity and low resistivity are provided herein. In some embodiments, a magnetron assembly includes a shunt plate, the shunt plate rotatable about an axis, an inner closed loop magnetic pole coupled to the shunt plate, and an outer closed loop magnetic pole coupled the shunt plate, wherein an unbalance ratio of a magnetic field strength of the outer closed loop magnetic pole to a magnetic field strength of the inner closed loop magnetic pole is less than about 1. In some embodiments, the ratio is about 0.57. In some embodiments, the shunt plate and the outer close loop magnetic pole have a cardioid shape. A method utilizing RF and DC power in combination with the inventive magnetron assembly is also disclosed.
Abstract:
Embodiments described herein provide a semiconductor device and methods and apparatuses of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a source and drain region and a gate electrode stack on the substrate between the source and drain regions. The gate electrode stack includes a conductive film layer on a gate dielectric layer, a refractory metal nitride film layer on the conductive film layer, a silicon-containing film layer on the refractory metal nitride film layer, and a tungsten film layer on the silicon-containing film layer. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, wherein the substrate includes a source and drain region, a gate dielectric layer between the source and drain regions, and a conductive film layer on the gate dielectric layer. The method also includes depositing a refractory metal nitride film layer on the conductive film layer, depositing a silicon-containing film layer on the refractory metal nitride film layer, and depositing a tungsten film layer on the silicon-containing film layer.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for depositing metal on a patterned substrate are provided. A metal layer is formed in a physical vapor deposition process having a first energy. A second physical vapor deposition process is performed on the metal layer, using a second energy, wherein deposition interacts with brittle and plastic surface modification processes to form a substantially conformal metal layer on the substrate.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for depositing metal on a patterned substrate are provided. A metal layer is formed in a physical vapor deposition process having a first energy. A second physical vapor deposition process is performed on the metal layer, using a second energy, wherein deposition interacts with brittle and plastic surface modification processes to form a substantially conformal metal layer on the substrate.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for selectively controlling deposition rate of conductive material during an electroplating process. Dopants are predominantly incorporated into a conductive seed layer on field regions of a substrate prior to filling openings in the field regions by electroplating. A substrate is positioned in one or more processing chambers, and barrier and conductive seed layers formed. A dopant precursor is provided to the chamber and ionized, with or without voltage bias. The dopant predominantly incorporates into the conductive seed layer on the field regions. Electrical conductivity of the conductive seed layer on the field regions is reduced relative to that of the conductive seed layer in the openings, resulting in low initial deposition rate of metal on the field regions during electroplating, and little or no void formation in the metal deposited in the openings.