Systems and methods for thermal treatment of a workpiece are provided. In one example, a method for conducting a treatment process on a workpiece, such as a thermal treatment process, an annealing treatment process, an oxidizing treatment process, or a reducing treatment process in a processing apparatus is provided. The processing apparatus includes a plasma chamber and a processing chamber. The plasma chamber and the processing chamber are separated by a plurality of separation grids or grid plates. The separation grids or grid plates operable to filter ions generated in the plasma chamber. The processing chamber has a workpiece support operable to support a workpiece.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a stack in which first material layers and second material layers are alternately stacked, forming a channel structure passing through the stack, forming openings by removing the first material layers, forming an amorphous blocking layer in the openings, and performing a first heat treatment process to supply deuterium through the openings and substitute hydrogen in the channel structure with the deuterium.

Method for selectively oxidizing the dielectric surface of a substrate surface comprising a dielectric surface and a metal surface are discussed. Method for cleaning a substrate surface comprising a dielectric surface and a metal surface are also discussed. The disclosed methods oxidize the dielectric surface and/or clean the substrate surface using a plasma generated from hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The disclosed method may be performed in a single step without the use of separate competing oxidation and reduction reactions. The disclosed methods may be performed at a constant temperature and/or within a single processing chamber.

A method includes forming a first high-k dielectric layer over a first semiconductor region, forming a second high-k dielectric layer over a second semiconductor region, forming a first metal layer comprising a first portion over the first high-k dielectric layer and a second portion over the second high-k dielectric layer, forming an etching mask over the second portion of the first metal layer, and etching the first portion of the first metal layer. The etching mask protects the second portion of the first metal layer. The etching mask is ashed using meta stable plasma. A second metal layer is then formed over the first high-k dielectric layer.

A method includes forming a first high-k dielectric layer over a first semiconductor region, forming a second high-k dielectric layer over a second semiconductor region, forming a first metal layer comprising a first portion over the first high-k dielectric layer and a second portion over the second high-k dielectric layer, forming an etching mask over the second portion of the first metal layer, and etching the first portion of the first metal layer. The etching mask protects the second portion of the first metal layer. The etching mask is ashed using meta stable plasma. A second metal layer is then formed over the first high-k dielectric layer.

A method of forming memory circuitry comprises using a digitline mask to form both: (a) conductive digitlines in a memory array area, and (b) lower portions of conductive vias in a peripheral circuitry area laterally of the memory array area. The lower portions of the vias electrically couple with circuitry below the vias and the digitlines. Pairs of conductive wordlines are formed above the digitlines in the memory array area. The pairs of wordlines extend from the memory array area into the peripheral circuitry area. Individual of the pairs are directly above individual of the lower portions of individual of the vias. Individual upper portions of the individual vias are formed. The individual upper portions both: (c) directly electrically couple to one of the individual lower portions of the individual vias, and (d) directly electrically couple together the wordlines of the individual pair of wordlines that are directly above the respective one individual lower portion of the respective individual via. Other methods, and structure independent of method of fabrication, are disclosed.

Three-dimensional (3D) NAND memory devices and methods are provided. In one aspect, a fabrication method includes forming a dielectric stack over a substrate, forming a functional layer and a semiconductor channel through the dielectric stack, forming a conductor/insulator stack based on the dielectric stack, and forming memory cells through the conductor/insulator stack. Each memory cell includes a portion of the functional layer and the semiconductor channel. At least one of the functional layer and the semiconductor channel includes a certain amount of deuterium elements.

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including irradiating a laminated body for temporary fixing with light and thereby separating the semiconductor member from a resin layer for temporary fixing. The laminated body for temporary fixing is formed by a method including: laminating a film material for temporary fixing on a light-absorbing layer in a direction in which a first principal surface is in contact with the light-absorbing layer; and peeling off a second release film from the film material for temporary fixing to expose a second principal surface. When the maximum values of logarithmic decrements of the first principal surface and the second principal surface of the resin layer for temporary fixing in rigid pendulum measurement are designated as δ.sub.max1 and δ.sub.max2, respectively, δ.sub.max2 is smaller than δ.sub.max1.

A film for temporary fixing used for temporarily fixing a semiconductor member and a support member contains a curable resin component. The storage modulus at 270° C. after curing of the film for temporary fixing is 1.5 to 20 MPa. The storage modulus at 25° C. after curing of the film for temporary fixing is 1.5 to 150 MPa.

In an embodiment, a device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor layer that extends from the substrate, and a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer includes silicon and the second semiconductor layer includes silicon germanium, with edge portions of the second semiconductor layer having a first germanium concentration, a center portion of the second semiconductor layer having a second germanium concentration, and the second germanium concentration being less than the first germanium concentration. The device also includes a gate stack on the second semiconductor layer, lightly doped source/drain regions in the second semiconductor layer, and source and drain regions extending into the lightly doped source/drain regions.