Methods for forming an interconnections structure on a substrate in a cluster processing system and thermal processing such interconnections structure are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a device structure for semiconductor devices includes forming a barrier layer in an opening formed in a material layer disposed on a substrate, forming an interface layer on the barrier layer, forming a gap filling layer on the interface layer, and performing an annealing process on the substrate, wherein the annealing process is performed at a pressure range greater than 5 bar.

Embodiment methods for performing a high pressure anneal process during the formation of a semiconductor device, and embodiment devices therefor, are provided. The high pressure anneal process may be a dry high pressure anneal process in which a pressurized environment of the anneal includes one or more process gases. The high pressure anneal process may be a wet anneal process in which a pressurized environment of the anneal includes steam.

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.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for processing channel structures of substrates that include positioning the substrate in a first processing chamber having a first processing volume being in fluid communication with a plasma source. The substrate can include a channel structure with high aspect ratio features having aspect ratios greater than about 20:1. The method can also include forming an oxide cap layer over a silicon-containing layer of the channel structure and exposing the oxide cap layer to a hydrogen-or-deuterium radical to nucleate the silicon-containing layer of the channel structures of the substrate. Forming the oxide cap layer and exposing the channel structure with the hydrogen radical occurs in the first processing chamber to form a nucleated substrate. The method can also include positioning the nucleated substrate in a second processing chamber with a second processing volume and heating the nucleated substrate in the second processing chamber.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for processing channel structures of substrates that include positioning the substrate in a first processing chamber having a first processing volume. The substrate includes a channel structure with high aspect ratio features having aspect ratios greater than about 20:1. The method includes forming a silicon-containing layer over the channel structure to a hydrogen-or-deuterium plasma in the first processing volume at a flow rate of about 10 sccm to about 5000 sccm. The substrate is maintained at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 1100° C. during the exposing, the exposing forming a nucleated substrate. Subsequent to the exposing a thermal anneal operation is performed on the substrate.

Described herein is a FinFET device in which epitaxial layers of semiconductor material are formed in source/drain regions on fin portions. The fin portions can be located within a dielectric layer that is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. Surfaces of the fin portions can be oriented in the {100} lattice plane of the crystalline material of the fin portions, providing for good epitaxial growth. Further described are methods for forming the FinFET device.

Oxide-free, low temperature wafer bonding permits electric current to cross the covalently bonded interface unimpeded by traps, recombination centers and unintentional, defect-induced blocking barriers when interfacial defects are passivated by hydrogen diffused from shallow implants towards the interface. Systems and methods comprising oxide-free, low temperature covalent wafer bonding with passivated interface states are used in various applications requiring reduced interfacial scattering and carrier trapping and efficient charge collection across bonded interfaces.

In an embodiment, a device includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer extending from the substrate, the first semiconductor layer including silicon; a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer including silicon germanium, 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, the second germanium concentration being less than the first germanium concentration, the edge portions of the second semiconductor layer including sides and a top surface of the second semiconductor layer; a gate stack on the second semiconductor layer; lightly doped source/drain regions in the second semiconductor layer, the lightly doped source/drain regions being adjacent the gate stack; and source and drain regions extending into the lightly doped source/drain regions.

Methods for forming an interconnections structure on a substrate in a cluster processing system and thermal processing such interconnections structure are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a device structure for semiconductor devices includes forming a barrier layer in an opening formed in a material layer disposed on a substrate, forming an interface layer on the barrier layer, forming a gap filling layer on the interface layer, and performing an annealing process on the substrate, wherein the annealing process is performed at a pressure range greater than 5 bar.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for forming and patterning features in a film stack disposed on a substrate. In one embodiment, a method for patterning a conductive layer on a substrate includes supplying a gas mixture comprising a chlorine containing gas at a first flow rate to etch a first conductive layer disposed on the substrate, lowing the chlorine containing gas in the first gas mixture to a second flow rate lower than the first flow rate to continue etching the first conductive layer, and increasing the chlorine containing gas in the first gas mixture to a third flow rate greater than the second flow rate to remove the first conductive layer from the substrate.