Provided herein are methods of forming conductive cobalt (Co) interconnects and Co features. The methods involve deposition of a thin manganese (Mn)-containing film on a dielectric followed by subsequent deposition of cobalt on the Mn-containing film. The Mn-containing film may be deposited on a silicon-containing dielectric, such as silicon dioxide, and annealed to form a manganese silicate.

Methods to manufacture integrated circuits are described. Nanocrystalline diamond is used as a hard mask in place of amorphous carbon. Provided is a method of processing a substrate in which nanocrystalline diamond is used as a hard mask, wherein processing methods result in a smooth surface. The method involves two processing parts. Two separate nanocrystalline diamond recipes are combined—the first and second recipes are cycled to achieve a nanocrystalline diamond hard mask having high hardness, high modulus, and a smooth surface. In other embodiments, the first recipe is followed by an inert gas plasma smoothening process and then the first recipe is cycled to achieve a high hardness, a high modulus, and a smooth surface.

Methods and apparatus for selectively depositing a titanium material layer atop a substrate having a silicon surface and a dielectric surface are disclosed. In embodiments an apparatus is configured for forming a remote plasma reaction between titanium tetrachloride (TiCl.sub.4), hydrogen (H.sub.2) and argon (Ar) in a region between a lid heater and a showerhead of a process chamber at a first temperature of 200 to 800 degrees C.; and flowing reaction products into the process chamber to selectively form a titanium material layer upon the silicon surface of the substrate.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating hydrogen radicals for processing a workpiece, such as a semiconductor workpiece, are provided. In one example implementation, a method can include generating one or more species in a plasma chamber from an inert gas by inducing a plasma in the inert gas using a plasma source; mixing hydrogen gas with the one or more species to generate one or more hydrogen radicals; and exposing the workpiece in a processing chamber to the one or more hydrogen radicals.

A pulsed radio frequency inductive plasma source and method are provided. The source may generate plasma at gas pressures from 1 torr to 2000 torr. By utilizing high power RF generation from fast solid state switches such as Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) combined with the resonance circuit, large inductive voltages can be applied to RF antennas to allow rapid gas breakdown from 1-100 μs. After initial breakdown, the same set of switches or an additional rf pulsed power systems are utilized to deliver large amount of rf power, between 10 kW to 10 MW, to the plasmas during the pulse duration of 10 μs-10 ms. In addition, several methods and apparatus for controlling the pulse power delivery, timing gas and materials supply, constructing reactor and substrate structure, and operating pumping system and plasma activated reactive materials delivery system will be disclosed. When combined with the pulsed plasma generation, these apparatuses and the methods can greatly improve the applicability and the efficacy of the industrial plasma processing.

A pulsed radio frequency inductive plasma source and method are provided. The source may generate plasma at gas pressures from 1 torr to 2000 torr. By utilizing high power RF generation from fast solid state switches such as Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) combined with the resonance circuit, large inductive voltages can be applied to RF antennas to allow rapid gas breakdown from 1-100 μs. After initial breakdown, the same set of switches or an additional rf pulsed power systems are utilized to deliver large amount of rf power, between 10 kW to 10 MW, to the plasmas during the pulse duration of 10 μs-10 ms. In addition, several methods and apparatus for controlling the pulse power delivery, timing gas and materials supply, constructing reactor and substrate structure, and operating pumping system and plasma activated reactive materials delivery system will be disclosed. When combined with the pulsed plasma generation, these apparatuses and the methods can greatly improve the applicability and the efficacy of the industrial plasma processing.

A method and apparatus for a deposition chamber is provided and includes a twin chamber that includes a first remote plasma system coupled and dedicated to a first processing region, a second remote plasma system coupled and dedicated to a second processing region, and a third remote plasma system shared by the first processing region and the second processing region.

A device for manufacturing nanostructures consisting of carbon, such as monolayers, multilayer sheet structures, tubes, or fibers includes a gas inlet element having a housing cavity enclosed by housing walls, into which a gas feed line opens, through which a gaseous, in particular carbonaceous starting material can be fed into the housing cavity, having a plasma generator, which has components arranged at least partially in the housing cavity, which has at least one plasma electrode to which electrical voltage can be applied, to apply energy to the gaseous starting material by igniting a plasma and thus converting the gaseous starting material into a gaseous intermediate product, and having a gas outlet surface having a plurality of gas outlet openings, through which the gaseous intermediate product can exit out of the housing cavity. A gas heating unit is provided for assisting the conversion, which is arranged downstream of the components.

A device for manufacturing nanostructures consisting of carbon, such as monolayers, multilayer sheet structures, tubes, or fibers includes a gas inlet element having a housing cavity enclosed by housing walls, into which a gas feed line opens, through which a gaseous, in particular carbonaceous starting material can be fed into the housing cavity, having a plasma generator, which has components arranged at least partially in the housing cavity, which has at least one plasma electrode to which electrical voltage can be applied, to apply energy to the gaseous starting material by igniting a plasma and thus converting the gaseous starting material into a gaseous intermediate product, and having a gas outlet surface having a plurality of gas outlet openings, through which the gaseous intermediate product can exit out of the housing cavity. A gas heating unit is provided for assisting the conversion, which is arranged downstream of the components.

A method includes forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle n times (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 1), the cycle including alternately performing: performing a set m times (where m is an integer equal to or greater than 1), the set including supplying a precursor to the substrate and supplying a borazine compound to the substrate; and supplying an oxidizing agent to the substrate.