Patent US3097648A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5045346A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of depositing fluorinated silicon nitride

Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1990-07-31
•
Granted: 1991-09-03
•
Expires: 2010-07-31
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Method of forming a fluorinated silicon nitride film on a semiconductor substrate by first forming a coating of ammonium hexafluorosilicate on the electrode of a plasma reactor to serve as a source of fluorine during the silicon nitride deposition procedure. The ammonium hexafluorosilicate coating is formed by generating a plasma of carbon tetrafluoride and oxygen within the reactor, then a plasma of nitrogen, followed by a plasma of silane and helium with nitrogen. The substrate is then placed in the reactor and a plasma employing silane and helium together with nitrogen is generated at low RF frequency to produce a fluorinated silicon nitride film on the substrate.

Inventors

  • 👤 Marvin J. Tabasky
  • 👤 Bruce Tweed

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 17:36
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C16/00; C23C16/44; C23C16/50; C23C16/505; C23C16/509; C23C16/22; C23C16/30; C23C16/34; C23C16/345

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 67 words
The method of depositing silicon nitride on a substrate comprising: positioning an electrode having a coating containing fluorine and silicon in a reaction chamber; placing said substrate on a support in said chamber; introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber; and applying RF electrical energy between said electrode and said support to generate a reactive plasma within the chamber and deposit fluorinated silicon nitride on said substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 67 words
The method of depositing silicon nitride on a substrate comprising: positioning an electrode having a coating containing fluorine and silicon in a reaction chamber; placing said substrate on a support in said chamber; introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber; and applying RF electrical energy between said electrode and said support to generate a reactive plasma within the chamber and deposit fluorinated silicon nitride on said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coating contains a compound of fluorine and silicon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the frequency of said RF electrical energy is about 100 KHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber includes: introducing a mixture of silane and helium and introducing nitrogen at a ratio of 0.012 parts per volume of silane with respect to nitrogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said coating contains ammonium hexafluorosilicate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said substrate is of semiconductor material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said substrate is of silicon.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 100 words
The method of depositing silicon nitride on a substrate comprising: placing an electrode in a reaction chamber; introducing carbon, fluorine, and oxygen into said chamber; generating a reactive plasma within said chamber; introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber; generating a reactive plasma within said chamber to deposit a coating containing fluorine and silicon on said electrode; placing said substrate on a support in said chamber; introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber; and applying RF electrical energy between said electrode and said support to generate a reactive plasma within the chamber and deposit fluorinated silicon nitride on said substrate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 100 words
The method of depositing silicon nitride on a substrate comprising: placing an electrode in a reaction chamber; introducing carbon, fluorine, and oxygen into said chamber; generating a reactive plasma within said chamber; introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber; generating a reactive plasma within said chamber to deposit a coating containing fluorine and silicon on said electrode; placing said substrate on a support in said chamber; introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber; and applying RF electrical energy between said electrode and said support to generate a reactive plasma within the chamber and deposit fluorinated silicon nitride on said substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein subsequent to introducing carbon, fluorine, and oxygen into said chamber and generating a reactive plasma and prior to introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber: introducing nitrogen into said chamber; and generating a reactive plasma within said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein introducing carbon, fluorine, and silicon comprises: introducing carbon tetrafluoride and oxygen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein subsequent to introducing nitrogen into said chamber and generating a reactive plasma with said chamber: introducing helium into said chamber; and generating a reactive plasma within said chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein subsequent to generating a reactive plasma within said chamber to deposit a coating containing fluorine and silicon on said electrode and prior to placing said substrate on a support in said chamber: purging said chamber with helium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the frequency of said RF electrical energy is about 100 KHz
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein introducing silane and nitrogen into said chamber includes: introducing a mixture of silane and helium and introducing nitrogen at a ratio of 0.012 parts per volume of silane with respect to nitrogen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said substrate is of semiconductor material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said substrate is of silicon.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS6036343A Cited
US4514437A Cited
US4960656A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-09-02 1995-03-04 1995-09-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-09-02 1999-03-04 1999-09-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-09-02 2003-03-04 2003-09-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag