The invention relates to the use of a carbonaceous coating for protection of a passive electrical component from attack by ammonia, wherein the carbonaceous coating is a sol-gel coating or a plasma-polymeric coating. This coating comprises a particular carbon content.

Methods and systems for forming a structure including multiple carbon layers and structures formed using the method or system are disclosed. Exemplary methods include forming a first carbon layer and a second carbon layer, wherein a density and/or other property of the first carbon layer differs from the corresponding property of the second carbon layer.

Methods and systems for forming a structure including multiple carbon layers and structures formed using the method or system are disclosed. Exemplary methods include forming a first carbon layer and a second carbon layer, wherein a density and/or other property of the first carbon layer differs from the corresponding property of the second carbon layer.

A method of forming nanocrystalline graphene according to an embodiment may include: arranging a substrate having a pattern in a reaction chamber; injecting a reaction gas into the reaction chamber, where the reaction gas includes a carbon source gas, an inert gas, and a hydrogen gas that are mixed; generating a plasma of the reaction gas in the reaction chamber; and directly growing the nanocrystalline graphene on a surface of the pattern using the plasma of the reaction gas at a process temperature. The pattern may include a first material and the substrate may include a second material different from the first material.

A method of forming nanocrystalline graphene according to an embodiment may include: arranging a substrate having a pattern in a reaction chamber; injecting a reaction gas into the reaction chamber, where the reaction gas includes a carbon source gas, an inert gas, and a hydrogen gas that are mixed; generating a plasma of the reaction gas in the reaction chamber; and directly growing the nanocrystalline graphene on a surface of the pattern using the plasma of the reaction gas at a process temperature. The pattern may include a first material and the substrate may include a second material different from the first material.

A method of forming graphene layers is disclosed. The method includes precleaning the substrate with a plasma formed from an argon- and hydrogen-containing gas, followed by forming a graphene layer by exposing the substrate to a microwave plasma to form a graphene layer on the substrate. The microwave plasma comprises hydrocarbon and hydrogen radicals. The substrate is then cooled. A capping layer may also be formed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods for depositing an amorphous carbon layer onto a substrate, including over previously formed layers on the substrate, using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process. In particular, the methods described herein utilize a combination of RF AC power and pulsed DC power to create a plasma which deposits an amorphous carbon layer with a high ratio of sp3 (diamond-like) carbon to sp2 (graphite-like) carbon. The methods also provide for lower processing pressures, lower processing temperatures, and higher processing powers, each of which, alone or in combination, may further increase the relative fraction of sp3 carbon in the deposited amorphous carbon layer. As a result of the higher sp3 carbon fraction, the methods described herein provide amorphous carbon layers having improved density, rigidity, etch selectivity, and film stress as compared to amorphous carbon layers deposited by conventional methods.

An amorphous carbon hard mask is formed having low hydrogen content and low sp3 carbon bonding but high modulus and hardness. The amorphous carbon hard mask is formed by depositing an amorphous carbon layer at a low temperature in a plasma deposition chamber and treating the amorphous carbon layer to a dual plasma-thermal treatment. The dual plasma-thermal treatment includes exposing the amorphous carbon layer to inert gas plasma for implanting an inert gas species in the amorphous carbon layer and exposing the amorphous carbon layer to a high temperature. The amorphous carbon hard mask has high etch selectivity relative to underlying materials.

An amorphous carbon hard mask is formed having low hydrogen content and low sp3 carbon bonding but high modulus and hardness. The amorphous carbon hard mask is formed by depositing an amorphous carbon layer at a low temperature in a plasma deposition chamber and treating the amorphous carbon layer to a dual plasma-thermal treatment. The dual plasma-thermal treatment includes exposing the amorphous carbon layer to inert gas plasma for implanting an inert gas species in the amorphous carbon layer and exposing the amorphous carbon layer to a high temperature. The amorphous carbon hard mask has high etch selectivity relative to underlying materials.

There is provided a high dielectric film including amorphous hydrocarbon of which a dielectric constant is 10 or more. A leakage current of the high dielectric film is 1 A/cm.sup.2 or less, and an insulation level is 1 MV/cm or more. Rms surface roughness of the high dielectric film is 20 nm or less.