Patent ID: 6995081

Claim:
A method of forming a layer on a substrate, the method comprising: providing a substrate comprising a silicon-containing surface; providing a vapor comprising one or more tantalum precursor compounds of the formula TaY 5 (Formula I), wherein each Y is independently a halogen atom; providing a vapor comprising one or more silicon precursor compounds; and directing the vapors comprising the one or more tantalum precursor compounds and the one or more silicon precursor compounds to the substrate to form a tantalum silicide layer on one or more surfaces of the substrate, wherein the vapor comprising the one or more precursor compounds of the Formula I is directed to the substrate and allowed to chemisorb on the silicon-containing surface, wherein providing the vapors and directing the vapors is accomplished using an atomic layer deposition process comprising a plurality of deposition cycles, with the proviso that the method does not include providing a vapor comprising one or more nitrogen precursor compounds.