A method of depositing nitride films is disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a PEALD process for depositing nitride films which utilizes separate reaction and nitridation plasmas. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved growth per cycle (GPC) relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure. In some embodiments, the nitride films have improved film quality relative to films deposited by thermal processes or plasma processes with only a single plasma exposure.

Semiconductor device structures having low-k features and methods of forming low-k features are described herein. Some examples relate to a surface modification layer, which may protect a low-k feature during subsequent processing. Some examples relate to gate spacers that include a low-k feature. Some examples relate to a low-k contact etch stop layer. Example methods are described for forming such features.

A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a sacrificial gate structure over an active region. A first spacer layer is formed along sidewalls and a top surface of the sacrificial gate structure. A first protection layer is formed over the first spacer layer. A second spacer layer is formed over the first protection layer. A third spacer layer is formed over the second spacer layer. The sacrificial gate structure is replaced with a replacement gate structure. The second spacer layer is removed to form an air gap between the first protection layer and the third spacer layer.

The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes depositing an etch-stop layer (ESL) over a first dielectric layer. The ESL layer deposition can include: flowing a first precursor over the first dielectric layer; purging at least a portion of the first precursor; flowing a second precursor over the first dielectric layer to form a sublayer of the ESL layer; and purging at least a portion of the second precursor. The method can further include depositing a second dielectric layer on the ESL layer and forming a via in the second dielectric layer and through the ESL layer.

A film deposition method includes maintaining an inside of a chamber to have a predetermined pressure, cooling a stage, on which the object to be processed mounts, to have an ultralow temperature of −20° C., and mounting the object to be processed on the stage, supplying a gas including a low vapor pressure material gas of a low vapor pressure material into the inside of the chamber, and generating plasma from the supplied gas including the gas of the low vapor pressure material, and causing a precursor generated from the low vapor pressure material by the plasma to be deposited on a recess part of the object to be processed.

The present application discloses a method for fabricating the semiconductor device. The method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a first lattice constant and forming a first word line positioned in the substrate and a plurality of stress regions positioned adjacent to lower portions of sidewalls of the first word line. The plurality of stress regions have a second lattice constant, the second lattice constant of the plurality of stress regions is different from the first lattice constant of the substrate.

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. For example, a method of processing a substrate comprises a) removing oxide from a metal layer disposed in a dielectric layer on the substrate disposed in a processing chamber, b) selectively depositing a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the metal layer using atomic layer deposition, c) depositing a precursor while supplying water to form one of an aluminum oxide (AlO) layer on the dielectric layer or a low-k dielectric layer on the dielectric layer, d) supplying at least one of hydrogen (H.sub.2) or ammonia (NH.sub.3) to remove the self-assembled monolayer (SAM), and e) depositing one of a silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN) layer or a silicon nitride (SiN) layer atop the metal layer and the one of the aluminum oxide (AlO) layer on the dielectric layer or the low-k dielectric layer on the dielectric layer.

A method for depositing protective layers on a surface of a substrate includes conducting a plurality of ALD cycles in a first reaction chamber to deposit a first protective layer on the substrate. Each ALD cycle of the plurality of ALD cycles is conducted at a deposition temperature below about 100° C. and includes delivering a first precursor gas into the first reaction chamber containing the substrate. A reacting portion of the first precursor gas is absorbed onto a surface of the substrate to form a first sub-layer of the protective layer. A second precursor gas is delivered into the first reaction chamber containing the substrate, a reacting portion of the second precursor gas being absorbed onto the surface of the substrate to form a second sub-layer of the protective layer. Metrology analysis is performed on the substrate within a second reaction chamber.

Methods for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The methods may include forming a molybdenum nitride film on a substrate by atomic layer deposition by contacting the substrate with a first vapor phase reactant comprising a molybdenum halide precursor, contacting the substrate with a second vapor phase reactant comprise a nitrogen precursor, and contacting the substrate with a third vapor phase reactant comprising a reducing precursor. The methods provided may also include forming a gate electrode structure comprising the molybdenum nitride film, the gate electrode structure having an effective work function greater than approximately 5.0 eV. Semiconductor device structures including molybdenum nitride films are also provided.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first resist layer over a substrate, and forming a second resist layer over the first resist layer. The second resist layer is patterned to expose a portion of the first resist layer to form a second resist layer pattern. The first resist layer is exposed to extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation diffracted by the second resist layer pattern. Portions of the first resist layer exposed to the XUV radiation diffracted by the second resist layer are removed.