公开(公告)号：US10094486B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-09

申请号：US14932384

申请日：2015-11-04

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Ramprakash Sankarakrishnan ,  Dale R. Du Bois ,  Ganesh Balasubramanian ,  Karthik Janakiraman ,  Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez ,  Thomas Nowak ,  Visweswaren Sivaramakrishnan ,  Hichem M'Saad

IPC: F16K31/08 ,  F16K1/22 ,  F16K31/06 ,  B08B5/00 ,  C23C16/44 ,  C23C16/455 ,  B08B7/00

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a process chamber are provided. In one embodiment, a process chamber is provided that includes a remote plasma source and a process chamber having at least two processing regions. Each processing region includes a substrate support assembly disposed in the processing region, a gas distribution system configured to provide gas into the processing region above the substrate support assembly, and a gas passage configured to provide gas into the processing region below the substrate support assembly. A first gas conduit is configured to flow a cleaning agent from the remote plasma source through the gas distribution assembly in each processing region while a second gas conduit is configured to divert a portion of the cleaning agent from the first gas conduit to the gas passage of each processing region.

公开(公告)号：US20170372919A1

公开(公告)日：2017-12-28

申请号：US15630479

申请日：2017-06-22

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Pramit Manna ,  Abhijit Basu Mallick ,  Karthik Janakiraman

IPC: H01L21/321 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/3205

CPC classification number: H01L21/32115 ,  H01L21/02126 ,  H01L21/0214 ,  H01L21/02164 ,  H01L21/02167 ,  H01L21/0217 ,  H01L21/02211 ,  H01L21/02274 ,  H01L21/02348 ,  H01L21/32053 ,  H01L21/32055

Abstract: Methods for seam-less gapfill comprising forming a flowable film by PECVD and curing the flowable film to solidify the film. The flowable film can be formed using a higher order silane and plasma. A UV cure, or other cure, can be used to solidify the flowable film.

公开(公告)号：US20250037996A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-30

申请号：US18913024

申请日：2024-10-11

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Qinghua Zhao ,  Rui Cheng ,  Ruiyun Huang ,  Dong Hyung Lee ,  Aykut Aydin ,  Karthik Janakiraman

IPC: H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/3205

Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include providing a silicon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing material on the substrate. The silicon-containing material may extend within the one or more recessed features along the substrate and a seam or void may be defined by the silicon-containing material within at least one of the one or more recessed features along the substrate. The methods may also include treating the silicon-containing material with a hydrogen-containing gas, such as plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing gas, which may cause a size of the seam or void to be reduced.

公开(公告)号：US12205818B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-21

申请号：US18606060

申请日：2024-03-15

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Yi Yang ,  Krishna Nittala ,  Rui Cheng ,  Karthik Janakiraman ,  Diwakar Kedlaya ,  Zubin Huang ,  Aykut Aydin

IPC: H01L21/033 ,  C23C16/38

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology include semiconductor processing methods to make boron-and-silicon-containing layers that have a changing atomic ratio of boron-to-silicon. The methods may include flowing a silicon-containing precursor into a substrate processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber, and also flowing a boron-containing precursor and molecular hydrogen (H2) into the substrate processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The boron-containing precursor and the H2 may be flowed at a boron-to-hydrogen flow rate ratio. The flow rate of the boron-containing precursor and the H2 may be increased while the boron-to-hydrogen flow rate ratio remains constant during the flow rate increase. The boron-and-silicon-containing layer may be deposited on a substrate, and may be characterized by a continuously increasing ratio of boron-to-silicon from a first surface in contact with the substrate to a second surface of the boron-and-silicon-containing layer furthest from the substrate.

公开(公告)号：US12131913B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-29

申请号：US18206037

申请日：2023-06-05

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Krishna Nittala ,  Sarah Michelle Bobek ,  Kwangduk Douglas Lee ,  Ratsamee Limdulpaiboon ,  Dimitri Kioussis ,  Karthik Janakiraman

IPC: H01L21/308 ,  H01L21/3065 ,  H01L21/324 ,  H01L21/67

CPC classification number: H01L21/3081 ,  H01L21/3065 ,  H01L21/324 ,  H01L21/67069 ,  H01L21/67115 ,  H01L21/67207

Abstract: Aspects generally relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for processing substrates using one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers. In one aspect, film stress is altered while facilitating enhanced etch selectivity. In one implementation, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers onto the substrate, and conducting a rapid thermal anneal operation on the substrate after depositing the one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers. The rapid thermal anneal operation lasts for an anneal time that is 60 seconds or less. The rapid thermal anneal operation includes heating the substrate to an anneal temperature that is within a range of 600 degrees Celsius to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The method includes etching the substrate after conducting the rapid thermal anneal operation.

公开(公告)号：US20240266171A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-08

申请号：US18606060

申请日：2024-03-15

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Yi Yang ,  Krishna Nittala ,  Rui Cheng ,  Karthik Janakiraman ,  Diwakar Kedlaya ,  Zubin Huang ,  Aykut Aydin

IPC: H01L21/033 ,  C23C16/38

CPC classification number: H01L21/0337 ,  C23C16/38 ,  H01L21/0332

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology include semiconductor processing methods to make boron-and-silicon-containing layers that have a changing atomic ratio of boron-to-silicon. The methods may include flowing a silicon-containing precursor into a substrate processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber, and also flowing a boron-containing precursor and molecular hydrogen (H2) into the substrate processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The boron-containing precursor and the H2 may be flowed at a boron-to-hydrogen flow rate ratio. The flow rate of the boron-containing precursor and the H2 may be increased while the boron-to-hydrogen flow rate ratio remains constant during the flow rate increase. The boron-and-silicon-containing layer may be deposited on a substrate, and may be characterized by a continuously increasing ratio of boron-to-silicon from a first surface in contact with the substrate to a second surface of the boron-and-silicon-containing layer furthest from the substrate.

公开(公告)号：US20240038833A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-01

申请号：US18222086

申请日：2023-07-14

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Fredrick Fishburn ,  Tomohiko Kitajima ,  Qian Fu ,  Srinivas Guggilla ,  Hang Yu ,  Jun Feng ,  Shih Chung Chen ,  Lakmal C. Kalutarage ,  Jayden Potter ,  Karthik Janakiraman ,  Deenesh Padhi ,  Yifeng Zhou ,  Yufeng Jiang ,  Sung-Kwan Kang

IPC: H10B12/00

CPC classification number: H01L28/91 ,  H01L28/92 ,  H10B12/03 ,  H10B12/30

Abstract: Memory devices and methods of forming memory devices are described. Methods of forming electronic devices are described where carbon is used as the removable mold material for the formation of a DRAM capacitor. A dense, high-temperature (500° C. or greater) PECVD carbon material is used as the removable mold material, e.g., the core material, instead of oxide. The carbon material can be removed by isotropic etching with exposure to radicals of oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), hydrogen (H2), ammonia (NH3), and combinations thereof.

公开(公告)号：US11791136B2

公开(公告)日：2023-10-17

申请号：US17240695

申请日：2021-04-26

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Sanjeev Baluja ,  Yi Yang ,  Truong Nguyen ,  Nattaworn Boss Nunta ,  Joseph F. Aubuchon ,  Tuan Anh Nguyen ,  Karthik Janakiraman

IPC: H01J37/32 ,  C23C16/455 ,  C23C16/40 ,  C23C16/50 ,  C23C16/52 ,  C23C16/44 ,  C23C16/509

CPC classification number: H01J37/32449 ,  C23C16/401 ,  C23C16/4401 ,  C23C16/4557 ,  C23C16/45512 ,  C23C16/45561 ,  C23C16/45565 ,  C23C16/50 ,  C23C16/5096 ,  C23C16/52 ,  H01J37/3244 ,  H01J37/32522 ,  C23C16/45574 ,  H01J2237/3321 ,  H01J2237/3323

Abstract: In one embodiment, at least a processing chamber includes a perforated lid, a gas blocker disposed on the perforated lid, and a substrate support disposed below the perforated lid. The gas blocker includes a gas manifold, a central gas channel formed in the gas manifold, a first gas distribution plate comprising an inner and outer trenches surrounding the central gas channel, a first and second gas channels formed in the gas manifold, the first gas channel is in fluid communication with a first gas source and the inner trench, and the second gas channel is in fluid communication with the first gas source and the outer trench, a second gas distribution plate, a third gas distribution plate disposed below the second gas distribution plate, and a plurality of pass-through channels disposed between the second gas distribution plate and the third gas distribution plate. The second gas distribution plate includes a plurality of through holes formed through a bottom of the second gas distribution plate, a central opening in fluid communication with the central gas channel, and a recess region formed in a top surface of the second gas distribution plate, and the recess region surrounds the central opening.

公开(公告)号：US11694902B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-04

申请号：US17179103

申请日：2021-02-18

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Krishna Nittala ,  Sarah Michelle Bobek ,  Kwangduk Douglas Lee ,  Ratsamee Limdulpaiboon ,  Dimitri Kioussis ,  Karthik Janakiraman

IPC: H01L21/308 ,  H01L21/324 ,  H01L21/67 ,  H01L21/3065

CPC classification number: H01L21/3081 ,  H01L21/3065 ,  H01L21/324 ,  H01L21/67069 ,  H01L21/67115 ,  H01L21/67207

Abstract: Aspects generally relate to methods, systems, and apparatus for processing substrates using one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers. In one aspect, film stress is altered while facilitating enhanced etch selectivity. In one implementation, a method of processing a substrate includes depositing one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers onto the substrate, and conducting a rapid thermal anneal operation on the substrate after depositing the one or more amorphous carbon hardmask layers. The rapid thermal anneal operation lasts for an anneal time that is 60 seconds or less. The rapid thermal anneal operation includes heating the substrate to an anneal temperature that is within a range of 600 degrees Celsius to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The method includes etching the substrate after conducting the rapid thermal anneal operation.

公开(公告)号：US20230146981A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-11

申请号：US18093648

申请日：2023-01-05

Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.

Inventor： Rui Cheng ,  Diwakar Kedlaya ,  Karthik Janakiraman ,  Gautam K. Hemani ,  Krishna Nittala ,  Alicia J. Lustgraaf ,  Zubin Huang ,  Brett Spaulding ,  Shashank Sharma ,  Kelvin Chan

IPC: H01L21/02 ,  C23C16/24 ,  C23C16/50

CPC classification number: H01L21/0262 ,  H01L21/02532 ,  C23C16/24 ,  H01L21/02664 ,  C23C16/50 ,  H01L21/02592

Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include flowing a silicon-containing precursor into a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be housed within the processing region, and the substrate may be maintained at a temperature below or about 450° C. The methods may include striking a plasma of the silicon-containing precursor. The methods may include forming a layer of amorphous silicon on a semiconductor substrate. The layer of amorphous silicon as-deposited may be characterized by less than or about 3% hydrogen incorporation.