MULTI-LAYER DEPOSITION AND TREATMENT OF SILICON NITRIDE FILMS

• Main Authors: Ahn, Byung Kook, Yu, Hang, Lee, SeoYoung, Vats, Vinayak Veer
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.01.2022
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; METALLURGY; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION

Exemplary processing methods may include forming a first deposition plasma of a silicon-and-nitrogen-containing precursor. The methods may include depositing a first portion of a silicon nitride material on a semiconductor substrate with the first deposition plasma. A first treatment plasma of a helium-and-nitrogen-containing precursor may be formed to treat the first portion of the silicon nitride material with the first treatment plasma. A second deposition plasma may deposit a second portion of a silicon nitride material, and a second treatment plasma may treat the second portion of the silicon nitride material. A flow rate ratio of helium-to-nitrogen in the first treatment plasma may be lower than a He/N2 flow rate ratio in the second treatment plasma. A first power level from a plasma power source that forms the first treatment plasma may be lower than a second power level that forms the second treatment plasma.