Patent ID: 8975152
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a layer of dielectric material on a patterned semiconductor substrate, the method comprising: etching a plurality of trenches on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the plurality of trenches includes two trenches that are of unequal width and are located adjacent to each other such that an unetched portion of the substrate separates the two trenches of unequal width; forming a layer of dielectric material on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the dielectric material forms a layer in the trenches located adjacent to each other of substantially equivalent height on both sides of the unetched portion of the substrate separating the two trenches; and densifying the layer of dielectric material, wherein the densified dielectric within the two trenches of unequal width exerts substantially equal stress on the unetched portion of the substrate; wherein the densifying comprises: curing the dielectric material in an ozone (0 annealing the cured dielectric material in a steam environment; wherein the forming of the dielectric layer further comprises: flowing a nitrogen-containing precursor into a semiconductor deposition chamber in which the etched semiconductor substrate resides; and flowing a silicon-containing precursor into the deposition chamber to come into contact with the nitrogen-containing precursor over the etched semiconductor substrate.