Sequential deposition/anneal film densification method
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a densified dielectric film, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a silicon oxide-based dielectric film layer on a substrate;
(b) annealing the dielectric film layer to remove water and densify the layer, wherein the annealing comprises a treatment with an annealing process agent selected from the group consisting of an oxygen-based plasma treatment and a UV-based treatment; and
(c) repeating (a) and (b) at least once to form the densified dielectric film;
wherein the thickness of the dielectric film layer formed in (a) is insufficient to prevent substantially complete penetration of an annealing process agent into the layer and migration of water out of the layer.
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Abstract
A silicon dioxide-based dielectric layer is formed on a substrate surface by a sequential deposition/anneal technique. The deposited layer thickness is insufficient to prevent substantially complete penetration of annealing process agents into the layer and migration of water out of the layer. The dielectric layer is then annealed, ideally at a moderate temperature, to remove water and thereby fully densify the film. The deposition and anneal processes are then repeated until a desired dielectric film thickness is achieved.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of forming a densified dielectric film, the method comprising:
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(a) depositing a silicon oxide-based dielectric film layer on a substrate; (b) annealing the dielectric film layer to remove water and densify the layer, wherein the annealing comprises a treatment with an annealing process agent selected from the group consisting of an oxygen-based plasma treatment and a UV-based treatment; and (c) repeating (a) and (b) at least once to form the densified dielectric film; wherein the thickness of the dielectric film layer formed in (a) is insufficient to prevent substantially complete penetration of an annealing process agent into the layer and migration of water out of the layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of forming a densified dielectric film, the method comprising:
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(a) exposing a substrate surface to a catalyst or catalyst-containing precursor gas to form a catalyst on the substrate surface; (b) exposing the substrate surface to a silicon-containing precursor gas to form a silicon oxide-based dielectric film layer on the substrate; (c) repeating (a) and (b) at least once to form a dielectric film; and (d) annealing the dielectric film to remove water and densify the film, wherein the annealing comprises a treatment with an annealing process agent selected from the group consisting of an oxygen-based plasma treatment, and a UV-based treatment; wherein the thickness of the dielectric film formed in (c) is insufficient to prevent substantially complete penetration of an annealing process agent into the film and migration of water out of the film. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of forming a densified dielectric film, the method comprising:
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(a) depositing a silicon oxide-based dielectric film layer on a substrate; (b) annealing the dielectric film layer to remove water and densify the layer, wherein the annealing comprises a treatment with an annealing process agent selected from the group consisting of an oxygen-based plasma treatment and a UV-based treatment; and wherein the thickness of the dielectric film layer formed in (a) is insufficient to prevent substantially complete penetration of an annealing process agent into the layer and migration of water out of the layer.
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Specification