Source: http://www.google.fr/patents/US7972663?hl=fr
Timestamp: 2013-12-06 05:53:38
Document Index: 576369602

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 04814210', 'Application No. 03814209', 'Application No. 03813046', 'art 2', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 200380107849', 'Application No. 200480038017', 'Application No. 200480038017', 'Application No. 200480038017', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 200380107849']

Brevet US7972663 - Method and apparatus for forming a high quality low temperature silicon ... - Google�BrevetsRecherche Images Maps Play YouTube Actualit�s Gmail Drive Plus » Recherche avanc�e dans les brevets | Connexion Recherche avanc�e dans les brevets BrevetsA method of forming a silicon nitride layer is described. According to the present invention, a silicon nitride layer is deposited by thermally decomposing a silicon/nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas at low deposition temperatures (e.g.,...http://www.google.fr/patents/US7972663?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US7972663 - Method and apparatus for forming a high quality low temperature silicon nitride layer Num�ro de publicationUS7972663 B2Type de publicationOctroi Num�ro de demandeUS 10/741,417 Date de publication5 juil. 2011 Date de d�p�t19 d�c. 2003 Date de priorit�20 d�c. 2002Autre r�f�rence de publicationCN1898409A, CN1898409B, EP1713952A2, US20040194706, US20100029094, WO2005066386A2, WO2005066386A3 Num�ro de publication10741417, 741417, US 7972663 B2, US 7972663B2, US-B2-7972663, US7972663 B2, US7972663B2 InventeursShulin Wang, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Aihua (Steven) Chen Cessionnaire d'origineApplied Materials, Inc.Citations de brevets (60), Citations hors brevets (40), Classifications (39), �v�nements juridiques (2) Liens externes: USPTO, Cession USPTO, EspacenetMethod and apparatus for forming a high quality low temperature silicon nitride layerUS 7972663 B2 R�sum� A method of forming a silicon nitride layer is described. According to the present invention, a silicon nitride layer is deposited by thermally decomposing a silicon/nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas at low deposition temperatures (e.g., less than 550� C.) to form a silicon nitride layer. The thermally deposited silicon nitride layer is then treated with hydrogen radicals to form a treated silicon nitride layer.
thermally decomposing a silicon and nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas to deposit a silicon nitride layer on a surface of the substrate, wherein the silicon containing source gas or the silicon and nitrogen containing source gas comprises a compound having bonds selected from the group of Si�Si, N═N, N�N, or combinations thereof and the silicon nitride layer has a first hydrogen atomic percent of greater than 15 atomic percent; and
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicon nitride layer is treated with hydrogen radicals at a flux between 5�1015 atoms/cm2−1�1017 atoms/cm2.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal decomposition temperature is less than 500� C.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicon containing source gas or the silicon and nitrogen containing source gas comprises a compound selected from the group having the structures of R2N�Si(R′2)�Si(R′2)�NR2, R3�Si�N3, R′3�Si�NR�NR2, wherein R and R′ comprise one or more functional groups selected from the group of a halogen, an organic group having one or more double bonds, an organic group having one or more triple bonds, an aliphatic alkyl group, a cyclical alkyl group, an aromatic group, an organosilicon group, an alkyamino group, or a cyclic group containing N or Si, and combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicon nitride deposited layer is treated with hydrogen radicals at a temperature between 450� C. and 600� C.
depositing a silicon nitride layer by thermally decomposing a silicon and nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas at a temperature of less than 550� C. and at a deposition rate of greater than 100 Å per minute to a thickness of less than 150 Å and the deposited silicon nitride layer has a first hydrogen atomic percent of greater than 15 atomic percent; and
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the deposited silicon nitride layer is treated with hydrogen radicals having a flux of between 5�1015 atoms/cm2−1 �1017 atoms/cm2.
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/435,813, filed Dec. 20, 2002, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,467, filed Dec. 20, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,792 all of which are herein incorporated by reference.
One material used in the formation of transistors is silicon nitride. Silicon nitride thin layers are conventionally deposited by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in semiconductor fabrication processes. For example, silicon nitride layers are used as spacer layers, etch stops, as well as capacitor and interlayer dielectrics. However, present techniques of forming high quality silicon nitride layers in a single wafer reactor utilizing thermal chemical vapor deposition require high deposition temperatures of greater than 750� C. and/or have reduced deposition rates at reduced temperatures, and can result in no appreciable deposition of silicon nitride for transistor fabrication.
Additionally, when silicon nitride layers are deposited at reduced temperatures or at high deposition rates with current processes and precursors, the quality of the layer is generally less than desirable. For example, current silicon nitride precursors including silane, dichlorosilane, disilane, bis-tertbutylaminosilane (BTBAS), and hexachlorodisilane have produced layers with less than desired layer quality, such as low density and high hydrogen content. Disilane and hexachlorodisilane have weak Si�Si bond which allows for acceptable deposition rates, but when used with a nitrogen source such as ammonia either lead to poor film quality (low density and high hydrogen content for both, and poor step coverage and microloading for disilane) or almost unmanageable particle generation (for hexachlorodisilane).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to methods of forming dielectric layer for transistor, such as a silicon nitride layer. According to the present invention, a silicon nitride layer is deposited by thermally decomposing a silicon/nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas at reduced deposition temperatures to form a silicon nitride layer. The precursors comprise compounds having Si�N bonds, Si�Cl bonds, or both bonds. The thermally deposited silicon nitride layer is then exposed to hydrogen radicals to form a treated silicon nitride layer. Precursors having one or more Si�Si, N�N or N═N bonds are used to deposit the silicon nitride layer at reduced temperatures.
In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for processing a substrate including heating a substrate to a temperature of 550� C. or less, thermally decomposing a silicon and nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas to deposit a silicon nitride layer on a surface of the substrate, and exposing the silicon nitride layer to hydrogen radicals.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for forming a silicon nitride layer including depositing a silicon nitride layer by thermally decomposing a silicon and nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas at a temperature of less than 550� C. and at a deposition rate of greater than 100 Å per minute to a thickness of less than 150 Å and exposing the deposited silicon nitride layer to hydrogen radicals formed by plasma decomposition of a hydrogen containing gas.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for forming a silicon nitride layer including a substrate support located in a chamber for holding a substrate, a heater for heating a substrate placed on the substrate support, a gas inlet for providing a process gas mix comprising a silicon source gas and a nitrogen source gas and/or a silicon/nitrogen source gas into the chamber, means for generating hydrogen radicals from a hydrogen containing gas, and a processor/controller for controlling the operation of the apparatus wherein the processor/controller includes a memory having a plurality of instruction for heating a substrate placed on the substrate support to a temperature of less than 550� C., and for providing a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon and nitrogen containing source gas into the chamber while heating the substrate to form a silicon nitride layer on the substrate, and instructions for controlling the means for generating hydrogen radicals for treating the silicon nitride layer with hydrogen radicals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method for forming a silicon nitride layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is directed to forming high quality silicon nitride layers that can be formed at reduced deposition temperatures. In the following description numerous specific details, such as deposition and anneal equipment have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances well known semiconductor processes have not been described in particular detail so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a high quality silicon nitride layer at a low deposition temperature of less than 550� C. by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). An example of a method of depositing a silicon nitride layer is generally illustrated in the flow chart of FIG. 1. According to the first step of the present invention, as set forth in block 102 of FIG. 1, a process gas mix comprising a silicon and nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas, is thermally decomposed in a chamber at a deposition temperature (substrate temperature) of less than or equal to 550� C., such as less than about 500� C., to produce silicon species and nitrogen species from which a silicon nitride layer is deposited. The source gas or gases are chosen to enable a silicon nitride layer to be formed by thermal chemical vapor deposition at a deposition rate of at least 50 Å per minute and ideally at least 100 Å per minute at low deposition temperatures (i.e., substrate or wafer temperature) of less than or equal to 550� C.
Source gases that can be used to produce a silicon nitride layer by thermal chemical vapor deposition at sufficiently high deposition rates at a low temperatures include compounds having one or more Si�N bonds or Si�Cl bonds, such as bis-tertbutylaminosilane (BTBAS) or hexachlorodisilane (HCD or Si2Cl6). Further inclusion of Si�Si bonds, N�N bonds, N═N bonds, a mixture of Si�N and Si�Cl bonds, or combinations thereof, in the precursor is preferred.
Combination of a Si�Cl functional group (bond) and a Si�N functional group (bond) has been observed to improved step coverage and microloading especially for the ever decreasing temperatures at suitable deposition rates. The number of Si�Cl groups can be varied relative to the number of Si�N groups. The Si�Cl and S�N bonds appear to have different effects on layer properties and deposition properties, and the ratio of Si�N to and S�Cl bonds can be used to balance layer properties and deposition properties.
NR2�Si(R′2)�Si(R′2)�NR2, (amino(di)silanes), (I)R3�Si�N═N═N, (silyl azides), (II)orR′3�Si�NR�NR2 (silyl hydrazines). (III)
1,2-diethyl-tetrakis (diethylamino) disilane, (CH2CH3(NCH2CH3)2Si)2 1,2-dichloro-tetrakis (diethylamino) disilane, (Cl(NCH2CH3)2Si)2 hexakis (N-pyrrolidinio) disilane, ((C4H9N)3)Si)2 1,1,2,2-tetrachloro-bis(di-trimethylamino) disilane, (Cl2(NSi(CH3)3))Si)2 1,1,2,2-tetrachloro-bis(di-isopropylamino) disilane, (Cl2(N(C3H7)2))Si)2 1,2-dimethyl-tetrakis (diethylamino) disilane, (CH3(NCH2CH3)2Si)2 tris(dimethylamino)silane azide, (N(CH3)2)3SiN3 trimethylamino silane azide, (CH3)3SiN3 (2,2 dimethylhydrazine)dimethylsilane (CH3)2SiH�NH�N(CH3)2 and combinations thereof. It is believed that silicon source gas (precursor) or the silicon and nitrogen source gas (precursor) having a silicon to silicon single bond (i.e., Si�Si single bond) enables the molecule to decompose or disassociate at reduced temperatures, such as about 550� C. or less.
A nitrogen source gas or precursor which can be used to deposit a silicon and nitrogen containing layer includes but is not limited to ammonia (NH3), hydrazine N2H4), hydrogen azide HN3, or a combination thereof. The nitrogen source gas ideally contains a nitrogen-nitrogen single bond (i.e., N�N single bond) for decomposition of the nitrogen source gas at low temperatures. Additionally, when a silicon and nitrogen containing source gas is used in the process gas mix, some amount of a nitrogen source gas will typically also be included in the gas mix for flexible control over the composition of the deposited layer during the layer deposition.
Suitable silicon source gas or the silicon and nitrogen source gas compounds may be adapted to minimize carbon and hydrogen content in the layers. In this respect, Si�C bonds, Si�H bonds, and N�H bonds, are minimized in the precursor bond composition
Once the substrate has been placed into the chamber, the deposition pressure and temperature used to deposit the silicon nitride layer is achieved. In an embodiment of the present invention, the deposition pressure at which the deposition of silicon nitride layer occurs is between about 10 torr and about 350 torr. The deposition temperature (i.e., the temperature of the wafer or substrate) will depend upon the specific process gases (e.g., silicon containing source gas and nitrogen containing source gas) used to deposit the silicon nitride layer. The wafer or substrate temperature is less than or equal to 550� C., such as less than 500� C., and generally between about 450� C. and about 550� C. during the deposition process.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the silicon source gas is hexachlorodisilane (HCD). A silicon nitride layer can be formed by providing HCD and NH3 or N2H4 into the chamber. If HCD is utilized it may be mixed with an inert carrier gas, such as N2, prior to being introduced into the reaction chamber. HCD is provided into the reaction chamber at a rate between 10-200 sccm while between 500-5000 sccm of nitrogen source gases is provided to the reaction chamber. In one example, the HCD source gas and the nitrogen source gas have a flow rate of 1:1 and 1:1000 and ideally between 1:1 and 1:500 respectively. Such a process can form a silicon nitride layer at a deposition rate of approximately 80 Å/min at a wafer temperature of 530� C. and at a deposition rate of approximately 50 Å/min at a wafer temperature of 480� C.
A suitable silicon nitride layer can be formed utilizing 1,2-dichloro-tetrakis (diethylamino) disilane a flow rate of 10-100 sccm and a nitrogen source gas at a flow rate between 200-2000 sccm. A suitable silicon nitride layer can be deposited from 1,2-diethrl-tetrakis (diethylamino) disilane at a flow rate between 10-100 sccm and a nitrogen source gas at a flow rate between 200-2000 sccm. Such a process can form a silicon nitride layer at a deposition rate of about 80 Å/min at 530� C. wafer temperature and at a deposition rate of about 50 Å/min at 480� C. wafer temperature. Further examples as follows are detailed process parameters in a single wafer low pressure thermal CVD apparatus such as the Applied Materials SiNgen and preferably with the precursor 1,2-dichloro-tetrakis (diethylamino) disilane and include a substrate temperature between 450� C. and about 650� C., such as about 500� C., a chamber pressure between about 10 torr and about 300 torr, such as between about 40 torr and about 200 torr, an NH3 to silicon precursor flow ratio greater than 10, such as between about 50 and about 100, a silicon precursor flow rate between about 0.2 and about 1.0 gms/min, such as 0.5 gms, and a heater to showerhead spacing between about 500 mils and about 1000 mils, that can result in a deposition rate between 60 and 200 Å/min, for example, about 100 Å/min.
In comparison, the following are details of the SiN CVD process in batch furnaces again preferably with the precursor 1,2-dichloro-tetrakis (diethylamino) disilane and include a substrate temperature between 450� C. and about 650� C., such as about 500� C., a chamber pressure between about 0.1 torr and about 2 torr, such as between about 0.4 torr and about 1 torr, an NH3 to silicon precursor flow ratio less than 10, such as between about 1 and about 5, a silicon precursor flow rate depends on furnace tube volume that can result in a deposition rate between 5 and 20 Å/min, for example, about 12 Å/min.
In an embodiment of the present invention, as set forth in block 210, after deposition of a sufficiently thick silicon nitride layer, the flow of the silicon source gas and nitrogen source gas is stopped. In an embodiment of the present invention, when the deposition of the silicon nitride is completed, the substrate can be optionally treated with the nitrogen source gas as set forth in block 210. Only the nitrogen source gas is introduced in the reaction chamber for about 10 seconds. Treating the silicon nitride layer with a nitrogen source gas at the end of the deposition step terminates unreacted silicon sites on the substrate. This operation helps increase the N/Si ratio and reduce hydrogen (specifically in the Si�H bond form) in the silicon nitride layer. However, operation 210 is not necessary to achieve good silicon nitride layers in accordance with the present invention.
The process gas mix utilized in the present invention to deposit the silicon nitride layer enables a silicon nitride layer to be deposited by thermal chemical vapor deposition at a rate of at least 50 Å per minute and ideally at a rate greater than 100 Å per minute at low deposition temperature of less than 550� C. and ideally less than 500� C.
The deposited silicon nitride layer is treated with hydrogen radicals for a predetermined period of time in order to improve the quality of the layer. The hydrogen radicals can be formed by a plasma decomposition of a hydrogen containing gas, such as ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen (H2), either in-situ within the chamber or in a remote device and delivered to the chamber. The as deposited silicon nitride layer can be treated with hydrogen radicals at a flux between 5�1015 atomic/cm2−1�1017 atoms/cm2. During the hydrogen radical treatment the substrate is heated to a low temperature of between about 450� C. and about 600� C. and at a chamber pressure between about 100 militorr and about 5 torr. A sufficient treatment can typically occur between about 15 and about 120 seconds.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the hydrogen radicals are formed by a �hot wire� or catalytic decomposition of a hydrogen containing gas, such as ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen gas (H2) or combinations thereof. In a �hot wire� process, a wire or catalyst, such as a tungsten filament is heated to a high temperature of approximately 1600-1800� C. and the hydrogen treatment gas fed over the filament. The heated filament causes the cracking or decomposition of the hydrogen treatment gas to form the hydrogen radicals. The hydrogen radicals then treat a silicon nitride layer formed on a substrate located beneath filament. Although the filament has a high temperature, the substrate is still heated only to a low temperature of less than 600� C. and preferably to less than 550� C. during the treatment process. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an inductive generated plasma may be utilized to generate the hydrogen radicals.
For example, a pre-hydrogen radical treatment silicon nitride layer can have a hydrogen concentration of greater than 15 atomic percent with Si�H form of significant fraction, a carbon concentration of greater than 10 atomic percent if an organic silicon precursor is used, a chlorine concentration of greater than 1 atomic percent if a chlorinated silicon precursor is used, a refractive index of less than 1.85, and a wet etch rate of more than two times the etch rate of silicon oxide utilizing an oxide etch, such as a buffered oxide etch (BOE). Such a silicon nitride layer may be considered unsuitable for many applications of silicon nitride layers in semiconductor device fabrication, such as spacers and interpoly dielectrics.
The treated silicon nitride layer has been observed to have a total hydrogen concentration less than 10 atomic percent, reduced fraction of Si�H forms, a carbon concentration, for example, less than five atomic percent, a chlorine concentration, for example, less than one atomic percent, an increased refractive index, for example, greater than 1.90, or a decreased wet etch rate, for example, approximately the same (1:1) etch rate of silicon oxide utilizing an oxide etch, such as BOE.
The silicon nitride layer of the present invention is ideally formed in a low pressure thermal chemical vapor deposition reactor. An example of a suitable reactor 400 is illustrated in FIG. 4. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hydrogen radical treatment can occur in the same chamber as used to deposit the silicon nitride layer. In order to treat the �as deposited� silicon nitride layer with hydrogen radicals in the same chamber used to deposit the layer, a remote plasma source can be coupled to a low pressure chemical vapor deposition reactor to provide a source of hydrogen radicals to the chamber. An example of a remote plasma generator source 801 coupled to a low pressure chemical vapor deposition reactor 400 is also illustrated in FIG. 4. Coupling a remote plasma generator 801 to a thermal chemical vapor deposition reactor 400 greatly improves the throughput of the present invention and enables the silicon nitride layer to be directly treated with hydrogen radicals after the silicon nitride deposition. Additionally, such an apparatus dramatically improves wafer throughput when successive deposition/treatment cycles are used to form thick silicon nitride layers, such as silicon nitride layers greater than 200 Å.
FIG. 4 illustrates a reactor vessel assembly (reactor) 400. FIG. 4 illustrates that the reactor 400 comprises a chamber body 406 that defines a reaction chamber 408 in which process gases, precursor gases, or reactant gases are thermally decomposed to form the silicon comprising layer on a wafer substrate (not shown). The chamber body 406 is constructed of materials that will enable the chamber to sustain a pressure between 10 to about 350 Torr. In one exemplary embodiment, the chamber body 406 is constructed of an aluminum alloy material. The chamber body 406 includes passages 410 for a temperature controlled fluid to be pumped therethrough to cool the chamber body 406. Equipped with the temperature controlled fluid passages, the reactor 400 is referred to as a �cold-wall� reactor. Cooling the chamber body 406 prevents corrosion to the material that is used to form the chamber body 406 due to the presence of the reactive species and the high temperature.
The reactor 400 also includes a temperature indicator (not shown) to monitor the processing temperature inside the reaction chamber 408. In one example, the temperature indicator can be a thermocouple, which is positioned such that it conveniently provides data about the temperature at the surface of the heating disk 416(or at the surface of a substrate supported by the heating disk 416). In reactor 400 the temperature of a substrate is slightly cooler, 20-30� C. than the temperature of the heating disk 416.
FIG. 4 further illustrate that the reaction chamber 408 is lined with a temperature-controlled liner or an insulation liner 409. As mentioned above, the chamber body 406 includes the passages 410 for a temperature controlled fluid to create the cold-wall chamber effect. The reaction temperature inside reaction chamber 408 can be as high as 600� C. or even more. With the chemistry that is used to form the layer in the reaction chamber 408, high temperature will easily corrode the chamber body 406 of the reaction chamber 408. Hence, the chamber body 406 is equipped with the passages 410 for a temperature controlled fluid such as water or other coolant fluid that will cool the chamber body 406. This will prevent the chamber body 406 from getting too hot which will cause the chamber body 406 to be easily corroded. One problem that may associate with such a cold-wall chamber is that the areas inside the reaction chamber 408 that are in close proximity with the chamber's cold-wall tend to experience a sharp drop in temperature. The sharp drop in temperature in these areas encourages formation or condensation of particles that are undesirable or unfavorable for the silicon comprising layers formed in the reaction chamber 408. For example, the reaction of HCD and NH3 in a deposition process to form a silicon nitride (Si3N4) layer typically causes the formation of NH4Cl. NH4Cl is an undesirable salt by-product that requires cleaning to prevent contamination to the Si3N4 being formed. When the temperature drops below about 150� C., condensation such as NH4Cl will occur. These particles may become dislodged from the chamber wall. The dislodged particles form nucleation sites for particle formations on the wafer substrates. In one embodiment, the reaction chamber 408 is lined with the temperature-controlled line 409 to prevent the undesirable condensation of particles.
In one embodiment, a controller or processor/controller 900 is coupled to the chamber body 406 to receive signals from the sensors, which indicate the chamber pressure. The processor/controller 900 can also be coupled to the gas panel 401 system to control the flow of the nitrogen source gas, the silicon source gas, and inert and/or purge gas. The processor 900 can work in conjunction with the pressure regulator or regulators to adjust or to maintain the desired pressure within the reaction chamber 408. Additionally, process/controller can control the temperature of the heating disk, and therefore the temperature of a substrate placed thereon. Processor/controller 900 includes a memory which contains instructions in a computer readable format for controlling the nitrogen source gas flow, the silicon source gas flow and the inert gas flow, as well as the pressure in the chamber and temperature of the heating disk within parameters set forth above in order to form a silicon nitride layer in accordance with the present invention. For example, stored in memory of processor/controller 900 are instructions for heating a substrate to a temperature less than or equal to 550� C. and instructions for providing a silicon source gas, and a nitrogen source gas and/or a silicon/nitrogen source gas into chamber 408 while heating the substrate to a temperature of less than or equal 550� C., as well as instructions for controlling the pressure within chamber 408 to between 10-350 torr.
The materials for components in the reactor 400 are selected such that the exposed components must be compatible with high temperature processing of the present invention. The thermal decomposition of the precursors or the reactant species of the present invention to form the silicon comprising layer involves temperature inside the reaction chamber 408 up to as high as 600� C. The materials for the components in the reactor 400 should be of the types that withstand such high temperature. In one embodiment, the chamber body 406 is made out of a corrosion resistant metal such as hard anodized aluminum. Such type of aluminum is often expensive. Alternatively, the chamber body 406 includes the passages 410 for a temperature-controlled fluid to be passed through. The passage of the temperature-controlled fluid enables the chamber body 406 to be made out of a very inexpensive aluminum alloy or other suitable metal since the passages 410 will keep the chamber body 406 cool. As mentioned, this is one of the reasons why the reactor 400 is often referred to as a cold-wall reactor. To prevent unwanted condensation on the cold-wall or the cooled chamber body 406, the temperature-controlled liner 409 described above can be made out a material that will absorbs the heat radiated from the reaction chamber 408 and keeps the temperature of the temperature-controlled liner 409 to at least about or greater than 150� C. or alternatively to at least about of greater than 200� C. depending on the layer forming applications. In one embodiment, the temperature-controlled liner 409 needs to be maintained at a temperature that is sufficient to prevent unwanted condensation.
The microwave energy from magnetron 802 converts the hydrogen treatment gas into a plasma which consist of essentially three components; ionized or charged hydrogen atoms, activated (reactive) electrically neutral hydrogen atoms, and intermediate hydrogen containing species, all of which for the purposes of the present invention constitute �hydrogen radicals�.
Applicator 810 can be bolted to the lid of apparatus 400. The concentrated plasma mixture flows downstream through conduit 814 to chamber 408. Because the hydrogen radicals are generated at location (chamber 810) which is separated or remote from the chamber 408 in which the substrate to be annealed is located, the hydrogen radicals are said to be �remotely generated�.
Remote plasma source 801 can be coupled to processor/controller 900. Processor/controller 900 can include instructions stored in memory in a computer readable format, which controls the operation of remote plasma source 801 to achieve the hydrogen radical treatment process described above. Instructions can include for example, instructions to control hydrogen treatment gas flow rate and power to obtain the desired hydrogen radical flux necessary to treat the silicon nitride layer, such as a flux between 5�1015 atoms/cm2 and 1�1017 atoms/cm2 and can also include instructions for controlling the temperature of the heating disk (and therefore the temperature of the wafer) as well as instructions to control the pressure within chamber 408 during the hydrogen radical treatment process.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the low temperature silicon nitride deposition process can be carried out in a cluster tool, such as cluster tool 500 as shown in FIG. 5. Cluster tool 500 includes a sealable transfer chamber 502 having a wafer handler 504, such as a robot, contained therein. A load lock or a pair of load locks 506 are coupled to the transfer chamber 502 through a sealable door to enable wafers to be brought into and out of cluster tool 500 by robot 504. Coupled to transfer chamber 502 by a sealable door is a silicon nitride deposition reactor 508, such as an Applied Materials Xgen single wafer, cold wall, thermal chemical vapor deposition reactor having a resistive heater. Also coupled to transfer chamber 502 by a sealable door is hydrogen radical treatment chamber 510 as shown in FIG. 5. The hydrogen radical treatment chamber can be for example, a plasma chamber, such as a Applied Materials Advanced Strip Passivation Plus (ASP) Chamber, a remote plasma chamber, such as Applied Materials Remote Plasma Nitridation RPN chamber, or a �hot wire� chamber. Typically, transfer chamber 502 is held at a reduced pressure and contains an inert ambient, such as N2. In this way, wafers can be transferred from one chamber (e.g., silicon nitride deposition chamber 508) to a second chamber (e.g., hydrogen radical treatment chamber) and vice versa without exposing the wafer to an oxidizing ambient or to contaminants. Cluster tool 500 can also include a processor/controller 900 as described above to control the operation of the silicon nitride deposition reactor 500 as well as the hydrogen radical treatment chamber 510 to deposit a silicon nitride layer as described above and to treat the silicon nitride layer with hydrogen radicals as described above.
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Electrochemical Society, vol. 114 (1967) pp. 962-964.Classifications Classification aux �tats-Unis427/569, 427/533, 427/532, 427/578, 427/248.1, 427/579, 427/535 Classification internationaleH01L21/336, C23C16/34, C08J7/18, H05H1/24, B05D3/00, C23C16/44, H01L21/30, C23C16/455, H01L21/314, H05H1/00, C23C16/00, C04B41/00, H01L21/318, C23C16/56, C23C16/452, H01L21/00 Classification coop�rativeC23C16/45523, H01L21/3003, H01L29/6659, H01L21/67207, H01L21/3185, H01L29/665, C23C16/56, C23C16/345 Classification europ�enneC23C16/34C, H01L21/30H, C23C16/455F, C23C16/56, H01L21/318B, H01L29/66M6T6F11B3, H01L29/66M6T6F3, H01L21/67S2Z10�v�nements juridiques DateCode�v�nementDescription27 sept. 2011CCCertificate of correction8 juin 2004ASAssignmentOwner name: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WANG, SHULIN;SANCHEZ, ERROL ANTONIO C.;CHEN, AIHUA (STEVEN);REEL/FRAME:014708/0352;SIGNING DATES FROM 20040513 TO 20040524Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WANG, SHULIN;SANCHEZ, ERROL ANTONIO C.;CHEN, AIHUA (STEVEN);SIGNING DATES FROM 20040513 TO 20040524;REEL/FRAME:014708/0352Faire pivoterImage d'origineAccueil Google - Plan du site - T�l�chargements par lot sur l'USPTO - R�gles de confidentialit� - Conditions d'utilisation - � propos de Google�Brevets - Envoyer des commentairesDonn�es fournies par IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google