Patent ID: 7446023

Claim:
A high-density plasma hydrogenation method, the method comprising: forming a silicon (Si)/oxide stack layer; following the formation of the Si/oxide stack layer, plasma oxidizing the Si/oxide stack at a temperature of less than 400°C. and a pressure of up to 500 milliTorr, using a high-density plasma source to create oxygen radicals; in response to plasma oxidizing, oxygen species are diffused into the oxide to modify oxide interfacial and bulk properties; and, hydrogenating the Si/oxide stack at a temperature of less than 400°C., using the high-density plasma source as follows: supplying power to a top electrode at a frequency in the range of 13.56 to 300 megahertz (MHz), and a power density of up to 10 watts per square centimeter (W/cm 2 ); and, supplying power to a bottom electrode at a frequency in the range of 50 kilohertz to 13.56 MHz, and a power density of up to 3 W/cm 2 , in response to HDP hydrogenating the Si/oxide stack, hydrogen species are diffused into the oxide to modify the oxide interfacial and bulk properties.