Patent ID: 7229931

Claim:
A method of depositing a silicon oxide film on a substrate disposed in a substrate processing chamber, the substrate having a gap formed between adjacent raised surfaces, the method comprising: flowing a process gas comprising a silicon-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and a fluent gas into the substrate processing chamber, wherein: the fluent gas is introduced into the substrate processing chamber at a fluent-gas flow rate of at least 500 sccm; the fluent-gas flow rate is more than ten times an oxygen-containing-gas flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas; and the oxygen-containing-gas flow rate is less than 2.5 times a silicon-containing-gas flow rate of the silicon-containing gas; forming a plasma having an ion density of at least 10 11 ions/cm 3 from the process gas to deposit a first portion of the silicon oxide film over the substrate and into the gap; thereafter, exposing the deposited first portion to a plasma having at least 10 11 ions/cm 3 and consisting essentially of oxygen ions; and thereafter, depositing a second portion of the silicon oxide film over the substrate and into the gap, wherein the step of exposing the deposited first portion to a plasma consisting essentially of oxygen ions is performed at a time that avoids formation of silicon-rich nodules in the deposited silicon oxide film.