Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080245974 | METHOD OF INTRODUCING MATERIAL INTO A SUBSTRATE BY GAS-CLUSTER ION BEAM IRRADIATION - Method of infusing or introducing material into a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam. The method includes maintaining a reduced-pressure environment around a substrate holder and holding a substrate securely within that reduced-pressure environment. A gas-cluster ion beam formed from a pressurized gas mixture including an inert gas and at least one other atomic or molecular specie is provided to the reduced-pressure environment and accelerated. In one embodiment, the method includes irradiating the accelerated gas-cluster ion beam onto one or more surface portions of the substrate to form an infused region or gas-cluster ion-impact region therein by introducing part or all of the atomic or molecular specie into the surface. In another embodiment, the method includes modifying at least one electrical property of the surface of the substrate by irradiating the accelerated gas-cluster ion beam onto one or more surface portions of the substrate. | 10-09-2008 |
20090032725 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING A WORKPIECE USING A GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM - Embodiments of an apparatus and methods of forming isolated islands of modified material with a gas cluster ion beam are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 02-05-2009 |
20090087577 | METHOD TO IMPROVE ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE PERFORMANCE AND TO MINIMIZE ELECTROMIGRATION IN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - Embodiments of methods for improving electrical leakage performance and minimizing electromigration in semiconductor devices are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087578 | METHOD FOR DEPOSITING FILMS USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method for depositing material on a substrate is described. The method comprises maintaining a reduced-pressure environment around a substrate holder for holding a substrate having a surface, and holding the substrate securely within the reduced-pressure environment. Additionally, the method comprises providing to the reduced-pressure environment a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) from a pressurized gas mixture, accelerating the GCIB, and irradiating the accelerated GCIB onto at least a portion of the surface of the substrate to form a thin film. In one embodiment, the pressurized gas mixture comprises a silicon-containing specie and at least one of a nitrogen-containing specie or a carbon-containing specie for forming a thin film containing silicon and at least one of nitrogen or carbon. In another embodiment, the gas mixture comprises a metal-containing specie for forming a thin metal-containing film. In yet another embodiment, the pressurized gas mixture comprises a fluorocarbon-containing specie for forming a thin fluorocarbon-containing film. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087579 | METHOD FOR DIRECTIONAL DEPOSITION USING A GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM - A method for depositing material on a substrate is described. The method comprises directionally depositing a thin film on one or more surfaces of a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a source of precursor to the thin film, wherein the deposition occurs on surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of incidence of the GCIB, and deposition is substantially avoided on surfaces oriented substantially parallel to the direction of incidence. | 04-02-2009 |
20090104754 | METHOD TO IMPROVE ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE PERFORMANCE AND TO MINIMIZE ELECTROMIGRATION IN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - Embodiments of methods for improving electrical leakage performance and minimizing electromigration in semiconductor devices are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090130861 | DUAL DAMASCENE INTEGRATION STRUCTURES AND METHOD OF FORMING IMPROVED DUAL DAMASCENE INTEGRATION STRUCTURES - Methods of densifying a porous ultra-low-k (ULK) dielectric material by using gas-cluster ion-beam processing are disclosed. Methods for gas-cluster ion-beam etching, densification, pore sealing and ashing are described that allow simultaneous removal of material and densification of the ULK interfaces. A novel ULK dual damascene structure is disclosed with densified interfaces and no hard-masks. | 05-21-2009 |
20090140165 | Method and apparatus for controlling a gas cluster ion beam formed from a gas mixture - Methods and apparatus for controlling a gas cluster ion beam formed from a plurality of process gases in a gas mixture. The methods and apparatus involve measuring gas analysis data relating to the composition of the gas mixture and modifying the irradiation of the workpiece in response to the detected parameter. The gas analysis data can be derived from samples of the composition of the gas mixture flowing from a gas source to the gas cluster ion beam apparatus or samples of the residual gases inside the vacuum vessel of the gas cluster ion beam apparatus. | 06-04-2009 |
20090186482 | METHOD OF FORMING CAPPING STRUCTURES ON ONE OR MORE MATERIAL LAYER SURFACES - Methods of forming capping structures on one or more different material surfaces are provided. One embodiment includes disposing a semiconductor structure in a reduced pressure chamber, forming a capping GCIB within the reduced pressure chamber, and directing the capping GCIB onto at least one of the one or more different material surfaces, so as to form at least one capping structure on the one or more surfaces onto which the capping GCIB is directed. | 07-23-2009 |
20090191696 | METHOD FOR INCREASING THE PENETRATION DEPTH OF MATERIAL INFUSION IN A SUBSTRATE USING A GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM - A method for infusing material below the surface of a substrate is described. The method comprises modifying a surface condition of a surface on a substrate to produce a modified surface layer, and thereafter, infusing material into the modified surface in the substrate by exposing the substrate to a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) comprising the material. | 07-30-2009 |
20090233004 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEPOSITING SILICON CARBIDE FILM USING A GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM - A method for depositing material on a substrate is described. The method comprises maintaining a reduced-pressure environment around a substrate holder for holding a substrate having a surface, and holding the substrate securely within the reduced-pressure environment. Additionally, the method comprises forming a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) from a pressurized gas comprising a compound having silicon (Si) and carbon (C), accelerating the GCIB to the reduced-pressure environment, and irradiating the accelerated GCIB onto at least a portion of the surface of the substrate to form a thin film containing silicon and carbon, wherein the carbon content is greater than or equal to about 10%. Further the compound may possess a Si—C bond. | 09-17-2009 |
20090314954 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIRECTIONAL GROWTH USING A GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM - A method for growing material on a substrate is described. The method comprises directionally growing a thin film on one or more surfaces of a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a source of precursor for the thin film, wherein the growth occurs on surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of incidence of the GCIB, and growth is substantially avoided on surfaces oriented substantially parallel to the direction of incidence. | 12-24-2009 |
20090314963 | METHOD FOR FORMING TRENCH ISOLATION - A method for treating a dielectric material using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) is described, and more particularly, a method for infusing material into a dielectric layer using a GCIB is described. The method comprises: filling a trench at least partially with a dielectric material; generating a GCIB; and irradiating the dielectric material with the GCIB to introduce one or more species into the dielectric material to a pre-determined depth. | 12-24-2009 |
20090317564 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GROWING A THIN FILM USING A GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM - A method of forming a thin film on a substrate is described. The method comprises providing a substrate in a reduced-pressure environment, and generating a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) in the reduced-pressure environment from a pressurized gas mixture. A beam acceleration potential and a beam dose are set to achieve a thickness of the thin film ranging up to about 300 angstroms and to achieve a surface roughness of an upper surface of the thin film that is less than about 20 angstroms. The GCIB is accelerated according to the beam acceleration potential, and the accelerated GCIB is irradiated onto at least a portion of the substrate according to the beam dose. By doing so, the thin film is grown on the at least a portion of the substrate to achieve the thickness and the surface roughness. | 12-24-2009 |
20100072173 | SURFACE PROFILE ADJUSTMENT USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of treating a workpiece is described. The method comprises selectively forming a sacrificial material on one or more regions of a substrate or a layer on the substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), and adjusting a surface profile of a surface on the substrate or the layer on the substrate by performing an etching process following the selective formation. | 03-25-2010 |
20100193898 | METHOD FOR FORMING TRENCH ISOLATION USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of forming shallow trench isolation on a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) is described. The method comprises generating a GCIB, and irradiating the substrate with the GCIB to form a shallow trench isolation structure by depositing a dielectric layer in at least one region on the substrate. | 08-05-2010 |
20100200774 | MULTI-SEQUENCE FILM DEPOSITION AND GROWTH USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of forming a thin film on a substrate is described. The method comprises depositing a first material layer on a substrate using a first gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), the first material layer comprising a first atomic constituent, and growing a second material layer from at least a surface portion of the first material layer by introducing a second atomic constituent using a second GCIB, the second material layer comprising a reaction product of the first and second atomic constituents. | 08-12-2010 |
20100200946 | Method for forming trench isolation using a gas cluster ion beam growth process - A method of forming shallow trench isolation on a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) is described. The method comprises generating a GCIB, and irradiating the substrate with the GCIB to form a shallow trench isolation structure by growing a dielectric layer in at least one region on the substrate. | 08-12-2010 |
20100221905 | MATERIAL INFUSION IN A TRAP LAYER STRUCTURE USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of preparing a floating trap type device on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming a trap layer structure on a substrate, and modifying a composition of one or more layers in the trap layer structure by exposing the trap layer structure to a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB). | 09-02-2010 |
20100227142 | ULTRA-THIN FILM FORMATION USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of preparing a thin film on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming an ultra-thin hermetic film over a portion of a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), wherein the ultra-thin hermetic film has a thickness less than approximately 5 nm. The method further comprises providing a substrate in a reduced-pressure environment, and generating a GCIB in the reduced-pressure environment from a pressurized gas mixture. A beam acceleration potential and a beam dose are selected to achieve a thickness of the thin film less than about 5 nanometers (nm). The GCIB is accelerated according to the beam acceleration potential, and the accelerated GCIB is irradiated onto at least a portion of the substrate according to the beam dose. By doing so, the thin film is formed on the at least a portion of the substrate to achieve the thickness desired. | 09-09-2010 |
20100243919 | METHOD FOR MODIFYING A MATERIAL LAYER USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of modifying a material layer on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming the material layer on the substrate. Thereafter, the method comprises establishing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) having an energy per atom ratio ranging from about 0.25 eV per atom to about 100 eV per atom, and modifying the material layer by exposing the material layer to the GCIB. | 09-30-2010 |
20100243920 | METHOD FOR ENHANCING A SUBSTRATE USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of enhancing a material layer on a substrate is described. The method comprises establishing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), and treating a host region of the substrate by exposing the host region of the substrate to the GCIB. The treatment with the GCIB may selectively remove an undesirable specie and/or introduce a desirable specie to the host region. | 09-30-2010 |
20110084214 | GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING METHOD FOR PREPARING AN ISOLATION LAYER IN NON-PLANAR GATE STRUCTURES - A gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) processing method for preparing an isolation layer in a non-planar gate structure is described. The method forms a non-planar gate structure on a substrate. Additionally, the GCIB processing method includes generating a GCIB formed from a material source for forming an isolation layer for the non-planar gate structure. Additionally yet, the GCIB processing method includes selecting a beam energy, a beam energy distribution, a beam focus, and a beam dose to achieve a desired thickness of the isolation layer, accelerating the GCIB to achieve the beam energy, focusing the GCIB to achieve the beam focus, and irradiating at least a portion of the substrate with the accelerated GCIB according to the beam dose. The GCIB processing method forms the isolation layer at a base surface adjacent a base of the non-planar gate structure using the GCIB to achieve the desired thickness. | 04-14-2011 |
20110084215 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TILTING A SUBSTRATE DURING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method and system for treating a non-planar structure is described. The method includes forming a non-planar structure on a substrate. Additionally, the method includes generating a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a material source for treatment of the non-planar structure, tilting the substrate relative to the GCIB, and irradiating the non-planar structure with the GCIB. The system includes a substrate tilt actuator coupled to a substrate holder and configured to tilt the substrate holder relative to a GCIB. | 04-14-2011 |
20110084216 | METHOD FOR TREATING NON-PLANAR STRUCTURES USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method for treating a structure is described. One embodiment includes forming a structure on a substrate, wherein the structure has a plurality of surfaces including one or more first surfaces lying substantially parallel to a first plane parallel with said substrate and one or more second surfaces lying substantially perpendicular to the first plane. Additionally, the method comprises directing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) formed from a material source toward the substrate with a direction of incidence, and orienting the substrate relative to the direction of incidence. The method further comprises treating the one or more second surfaces. | 04-14-2011 |
20110117738 | METHOD TO ALTER SILICIDE PROPERTIES USING GCIB TREATMENT - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region. | 05-19-2011 |
20110174770 | METHOD FOR MODIFYING AN ETCH RATE OF A MATERIAL LAYER USING ENERGETIC CHARGED PARTICLES - A method of etching a material layer on a substrate is described. In one embodiment, the method includes modifying an etch resistance of a material layer to a pre-determined etch process by doping the material layer using energetic charged particles, and etching the modified material layer using the pre-determined etch process. | 07-21-2011 |
20110266466 | METHOD FOR MODIFYING A MATERIAL LAYER USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of modifying a material layer on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming the material layer on the substrate. Thereafter, the method comprises establishing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) having an energy per atom ratio ranging from about 0.25 eV per atom to about 100 eV per atom, and modifying the material layer by exposing the material layer to the GCIB. | 11-03-2011 |
20110312106 | METHOD FOR PREPARING A LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of manufacturing semiconductor-based light-emitting devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is described. The method comprises irradiating an interface region with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) to improve the interface region between a light-emitting device stack and the substrate, within the light-emitting device stack, and/or between the light-emitting device stack and a metal contact layer in an end-type contact. | 12-22-2011 |
20120225532 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A RESISTIVE PROPERTY IN A RESISTIVE ELEMENT USING A GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM - A method for controlling a resistive property or conductive property in a resistive element using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) is described. In one embodiment, the method may include controlling a resistive switching behavior in a resistive switching random-access memory device using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB). | 09-06-2012 |
20120238092 | METHOD TO ALTER SILICIDE PROPERTIES USING GCIB TREATMENT - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region. | 09-20-2012 |
20130059449 | GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM ETCH PROFILE CONTROL USING BEAM DIVERGENCE - A method of etching a substrate is described. In one embodiment, the method includes preparing a mask layer having a pattern formed therein on or above at least a portion of a substrate, etching a feature pattern into the substrate from the pattern in the mask layer using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), and controlling a sidewall profile of the feature pattern etched into the substrate by adjusting a beam divergence of the GCIB. | 03-07-2013 |
20130075366 | SURFACE PROFILE ADJUSTMENT USING GAS CLUSTER ION BEAM PROCESSING - A method of treating a workpiece is described. The method comprises computing correction data from metrology data related to a workpiece surface profile, adjusting the surface profile in accordance with the correction data using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), and further adjusting the surface profile by performing an etching process following the GCIB adjustment. | 03-28-2013 |
20130224950 | METHOD TO ALTER SILICIDE PROPERTIES USING GCIB TREATMENT - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region. | 08-29-2013 |
20130230984 | METHOD TO ALTER SILICIDE PROPERTIES USING GCIB TREATMENT - A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is described. The method comprises performing a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) pre-treatment and/or post-treatment of at least a portion of a silicon-containing substrate during formation of a silicide region. | 09-05-2013 |
20130285177 | MAGNETIC MEMORY AND METHOD OF FABRICATION - In one embodiment a magnetic memory includes a memory device base and a plurality of memory cells disposed on the memory cell base, where each memory cell includes a layer stack comprising a plurality of magnetic and electrically conductive layers arranged in a stack of layers common to each other memory cell. The magnetic memory further includes an implanted matrix disposed between the memory cells and surrounding each memory cell, where the implanted matrix includes component material of the layer stack of each memory cell inter mixed with implanted species, where the implanted matrix comprises a non-conducting material and a non-magnetic material, wherein each memory cell is electrically and magnetically isolated from each other memory cell. | 10-31-2013 |
20130288393 | TECHNIQUES FOR PATTERNING MULTILAYER MAGNETIC MEMORY DEVICES USING ION IMPLANTATION - A method of patterning a substrate includes providing a layer stack comprising a plurality of layers on a base portion of the substrate, where the layer stack includes an electrically conductive layer and a magnetic layer. The method further includes forming a first mask feature on an outer surface of the layer stack above a first protected region and a second mask feature on the outer surface of the layer stack above a second protected region, and directing ions towards the layer stack to magnetically isolate and electrically isolate the first protected region from the second protected region. | 10-31-2013 |
20130288394 | MAGNETIC MEMORY AND METHOD OF FABRICATION - A method of forming a magnetic memory includes providing a layer stack comprising a plurality of magnetic layers and a plurality of electrically conducting layers on a base portion of a substrate; forming a first mask feature on an outer surface of the layer stack above a first protected region and a second mask feature on the outer surface of the layer stack above a second protected region, the first mask feature and second mask feature defining an exposed region of the layer stack in portions of the layer stack therebetween; and directing ions towards exposed the region of the layer stack in an ion exposure that is effective to magnetically isolate the first protected region from the second protected region and to electrically isolate the first protected region from the second protected region without removal of the exposed region of the layer stack. | 10-31-2013 |
20140017817 | TECHNIQUES FOR TREATING SIDEWALLS OF PATTERNED STRUCTURES USING ANGLED ION TREATMENT - In one embodiment a method of method of treating a sidewall layer of a patterned feature includes providing the patterned feature as an etched structure comprising one or more layers disposed on a substrate and generally parallel to a plane of the substrate defined by a front surface of the substrate. The sidewall layer comprises material from the one or more etched layers. The method further includes arranging the substrate proximate a sheath modifier that is adjacent a plasma, and providing ions in an ion dose to the substrate by extracting the ions from the plasma through the sheath modifier, the ions impinging upon the substrate at an angle with respect to a perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. | 01-16-2014 |
20140080276 | Technique For Forming A FinFET Device - A three-dimensional structure disposed on a substrate is processed so as to alter the etch rate of material disposed on at least one surface of the structure. In some embodiments, a conformal deposition of material is performed on the three-dimensional structure. Subsequently, an ion implant is performed on at least one surface of the three-dimensional structure. This ion implant serves to alter the etch rate of the material deposited on that structure. In some embodiments, the ion implant increases the etch rate of the material. In other embodiments, the ion implant decreases the etch rate. In some embodiments, ion implants are performed on more than one surface, such that the material on at least one surface is etched more quickly and material on at least one other surface is etched more slowly. | 03-20-2014 |
20140273502 | TECHNIQUES TO MITIGATE STRAGGLE DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE STRUCTURES - A method for processing a substrate includes providing a set of patterned structures separated by a first gap on the substrate and directing first implanting ions to the substrate at a first ion energy, where the first implanting ions are effective to impact the substrate in regions defined by the first gap. The method also includes directing depositing ions to the substrate where the second ions are effective to deposit material on at least a portion of the set of patterned structures to form expanded patterned structures, where the expanded patterned structures are characterized by a second gap smaller than the first gap. The method further includes directing second implanting ions to the substrate at a second ion energy, where the second implanting ions effective to impact the substrate in regions defined by the second gap, the second ion energy comprising a higher ion energy than the first ion energy. | 09-18-2014 |