Patent · US Active

Film formation via pulsed RF plasma

US11443919B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
10References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 7, 2020
Grant dateSep 13, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 10, 2040

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67115
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods of using pulsed RF plasma to form amorphous and microcrystalline films are discussed herein. Methods of forming films can include (a) forming a plasma in a process chamber from a film precursor and (b) pulsing an RF power source to cause a duty cycle on time (TON) of a duty cycle of a pulse generated by the RF power source to be less than about 20% of a total cycle time (TTOT) of the duty cycle to form the film. The methods can further include (c) depositing a first film interlayer on a substrate in the process chamber; (d) subsequent to (c), purging the process chamber; and (e) subsequent to (d), introducing a hydrogen plasma to the process chamber. Further in the method, (b)-(e) are repeated to form a film. The film can have an in-film hydrogen content of less than about 10%.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.