Abstract:
Methods of forming self-aligned structures on patterned substrates are described. The methods may be used to form metal lines or vias without the use of a separate photolithography pattern definition operation. Self-aligned contacts may be produced regardless of the presence of spacer elements. The methods include directionally ion-implanting a gapfill portion of a gapfill silicon oxide layer to implant into the gapfill portion without substantially ion-implanting the remainder of the gapfill silicon oxide layer (the sidewalls). Subsequently, a remote plasma is formed using a fluorine-containing precursor to etch the patterned substrate such that the gapfill portions of silicon oxide are selectively etched relative to other exposed portions exposed parallel to the ion implantation direction. Without ion implantation, the etch operation would be isotropic owing to the remote nature of the plasma excitation during the etch process.
Abstract:
Methods for forming fin structure with desired materials formed on different locations of the fin structure using a selective deposition process for three dimensional (3D) stacking of fin field effect transistor (FinFET) for semiconductor chips are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a structure with desired materials on a substrate includes forming a patterned self-assembled monolayer on a circumference of a structure formed on a substrate, wherein the patterned self-assembled monolayer includes a treated layer formed among a self-assembled monolayer, and performing an atomic layer deposition process to form a material layer predominantly on the self-assembled monolayer from the patterned self-assembled monolayer.
Abstract:
Methods are described for forming and treating 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 temperatures. The initially-flowable silicon-carbon-and-nitrogen-containing layer is ion implanted to increase etch tolerance, prevent shrinkage, adjust film tension and/or adjust electrical characteristics. Ion implantation may also remove components which enabled the flowability, but are no longer needed after deposition. Some treatments using ion implantation have been found to decrease the evolution of properties of the film upon exposure to atmosphere.
Abstract:
A flash memory device and methods of forming a flash memory device are provided. In one version, the flash memory device includes a doped silicon nitride layer having a dopant comprising carbon, boron or oxygen. The doped silicon nitride layer generates a higher number and higher concentration of nitrogen and silicon dangling bonds in the layer and provides an increase in charge holding capacity and charge retention time of the unit cell of a non-volatile memory device.
Abstract:
This disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device layer and associated memory cell structures. By performing a surface treatment process (such as ion bombardment) of a semiconductor device layer to create defects having a deliberate depth profile, one may create multistable memory cells having more consistent electrical parameters. For example, in a resistive-switching memory cell, one may obtain a tighter distribution of set and reset voltages and lower forming voltage, leading to improved device yield and reliability. In at least one embodiment, the depth profile is selected to modulate the type of defects and their influence on electrical properties of a bombarded metal oxide layer and to enhance uniform defect distribution.
Abstract:
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatuses that are adapted to form a high quality dielectric gate layer on a substrate. Embodiments contemplate a method wherein a metal plasma treatment process is used in lieu of a standard nitridization process to form a high dielectric constant layer on a substrate. Embodiments further contemplate an apparatus adapted to "implant" metal ions of relatively low energy in order to reduce ion bombardment damage to the gate dielectric layer, such as a silicon dioxide layer and to avoid incorporation of the metal atoms into the underlying silicon. In general, the process includes the steps of forming a high-k dielectric and then terminating the surface of the deposited high-k material to form a good interface between the gate electrode and the high-k dielectric material.
Abstract:
A semiconductor device (80,85) including semiconductor material (35,40) having a bend and a trench feature formed at the bend, and a gate structure (45,50) at least partially disposed in the trench feature. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure including forming a semiconductor material with a trench feature over a layer, forming a gate structure at least partially in the trench feature, and bending the semiconductor material such that stress is induced in the semiconductor material in an inversion channel region of the gate structure.
Abstract:
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatuses that are adapted to form a high quality dielectric gate layer on a substrate. Embodiments contemplate a method wherein a metal plasma treatment process is used in lieu of a standard nitridization process to form a high dielectric constant layer on a substrate. Embodiments further contemplate an apparatus adapted to "implant" metal ions of relatively low energy in order to reduce ion bombardment damage to the gate dielectric layer, such as a silicon dioxide layer and to avoid incorporation of the metal atoms into the underlying silicon. In general, the process includes the steps of forming a high-k dielectric and then terminating the surface of the deposited high-k material to form a good interface between the gate electrode and the high-k dielectric material.
Abstract:
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatuses that are adapted to form a high quality dielectric gate layer on a substrate. Embodiments contemplate a method wherein a metal plasma treatment process is used in lieu of a standard nitridization process to form a high dielectric constant layer on a substrate. Embodiments further contemplate an apparatus adapted to "implant" metal ions of relatively low energy in order to reduce ion bombardment damage to the gate dielectric layer, such as a silicon dioxide layer and to avoid incorporation of the metal atoms into the underlying silicon. In general, the process includes the steps of forming a high-k dielectric and then treating the deposited material to form a good interface between the gate electrode and the high-k dielectric material. Embodiments also provide a cluster tool that is adapted to form a high-k dielectric material, terminate the surface of the high-k dielectric material, perform desirable post treatment steps, and form a gate layers.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a semiconductor structure having at least one CMOS device in which the Miller capacitances, i-e., overlap capacitances, are reduced and the drive current is improved. The inventive structure includes a semiconductor substrate having at least one overlaying gate conductor, each of the at least one overlaying gate conductors has vertical edges; a first gate oxide located beneath the at least one overlaying gate conductor, the first gate oxide not extending beyond the vertical edges of the at least overlaying gate conductor; and a second gate oxide located beneath at least a portion of the at one overlaying gate conductor. In accordance with the present invention, the first gate oxide and the second gate oxide are selected from high k oxide-containing materials and low k oxide-containing materials, and the first gate oxide is higher k than the second gate oxide or vice-versa.