Silicon nitride

About: Silicon nitride is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 32678 publications have been published within this topic receiving 413599 citations. The topic is also known as: N₄Si₃.

Metal-organic atomic-layer deposition of titanium-silicon-nitride films

Abstract: Titanium–silicon–nitride films were grown by metal–organic atomic-layer deposition at 180 °C. When silane was supplied separately in the sequence of a tetrakis(dimethylamido) titanium pulse, silane pulse, and ammonia pulse, the Si content in the deposited films and the deposition thickness per cycle remained almost constant at 18 at. % and 0.22 nm/cycle, even though the silane partial pressure varied from 0.27 to 13.3 Pa. Especially, the Si content dependence is strikingly different from the conventional chemical-vapor deposition. The capacitance–voltage measurement revealed that the Ti–Si–N film prevents the diffusion of Cu up to 800 °C for 60 min. Step coverage was approximately 100% even on the 0.3 μm diam hole with slightly negative slope and 10:1 aspect ratio.

Selective etching of silicon nitride

Abstract: Methods for etching dielectric layers comprising silicon and nitrogen are provided herein. In some embodiments, such methods may include providing a substrate having a dielectric layer comprising silicon and nitrogen disposed thereon, forming reactive species from a process gas comprising hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) using a remote plasma; and etching the dielectric layer using the reactive species. In some embodiments, an oxide layer is disposed adjacent to the dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the flow rate ratio of the process gas can be adjusted such that an etch selectivity of the dielectric layer to at least one of the oxide layer or the substrate is between about 0.8 to about 4.

Method of forming a barrier film and method of forming wiring structure and electrodes of semiconductor device having a barrier film

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a barrier metal which is designed to be interposed between a metal layer and an insulating layer, both constituting a multi-layered structure of semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of positioning a substrate having the insulating layer formed thereon at a predetermined position inside a processing vessel forming a processing space, and alternately introducing a gas containing a refractory metallic atom, a gas containing Si atom and a gas containing N atom into the processing vessel under a predetermined processing pressure, thereby allowing a refractory metal nitride or a refractory metal silicon nitride to be deposited on the insulating layer by way of atomic layer deposition.

Stress management for tensile films

Abstract: The formation of a gap-filling silicon oxide layer with reduced tendency towards cracking is described. The deposition involves the formation of a flowable silicon-containing layer which facilitates the filling of trenches. Subsequent processing at high substrate temperature causes less cracking in the dielectric film than flowable films formed in accordance with methods in the prior art. A compressive liner layer deposited prior to the formation of the gap-filling silicon oxide layer is described and reduces the tendency for the subsequently deposited film to crack. A compressive capping layer deposited after a flowable silicon-containing layer has also been determined to reduce cracking. Compressive liner layers and compressive capping layers can be used alone or in combination to reduce and often eliminate cracking. Compressive capping layers in disclosed embodiments have additionally been determined to enable an underlying layer of silicon nitride to be transformed into a silicon oxide layer.

Wafer support member

Abstract: A wafer support member comprises a base made of ceramics with thickness of 3 mm or more, a metallic electrode plate with thickness of 0.5 mm or more bonded onto the base, and an attraction surface composed of an aluminum nitride film with thickness of 0.01 to 0.5 mm coated on the surface of the electrode plate. The electrode plate functions as a plasma generating electrode when high frequency voltage is applied to the electrode plate and as an electrostatic attraction electrode when direct-current high voltage is applied to the electrode plate. Also, a wafer holding device for holding a wafer such as semiconductor wafer and glass substrate for liquid crystal is disclosed. The wafer holding device comprises a base body of aluminum nitride sintered body containing resistance heating elements therein. Lead terminals for feeding power to the resistance heating elements are formed in the lower surface of the base body. In one feature, at least the lead terminals and junction thereof are coated with a ceramic film composed of any one of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, sialon, and aluminum nitride. In another feature, the base body has a flat surface for forming an attraction surface, an outer circumference and penetration holes. Each of the penetration holes opens in the flat surface, and has an inner wall. An aluminum nitride film covers the flat surface, the outer circumference, and the inner wall of each of the penetration holes.