A method of forming a layer structure is provided. The method may include plasma-treating a metal surface with a hydrogen-containing plasma, thereby forming nucleophilic groups over the metal surface, and forming an organic layer over the metal surface, wherein the organic layer comprises silane and is covalently bonded to the nucleophilic groups.

Disclosed herein are techniques for providing isolation in integrated circuit (IC) devices, as well as IC devices and computing systems that utilize such techniques. In some embodiments, a protective layer may be disposed on a structure in an IC device, prior to deposition of additional dielectric material, and the resulting assembly may be treated to form a dielectric layer around the structure.

Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus and methods for processing a substrate. In one embodiment, a cluster tool apparatus is provided having a transfer chamber and a pre-clean chamber, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) deposition chamber, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber, and a post-processing chamber disposed about the transfer chamber. A substrate may be processed by the cluster tool and transferred between the pre-clean chamber, the SAM deposition chamber, the ALD chamber, and the post-processing chamber. Transfer of the substrate between each of the chambers may be facilitated by the transfer chamber which houses a transfer robot.

Improved selective atomic layer deposition of metal oxides is provided that has large-ligand (i.e., molecular weight >20) metal precursors. A small molecule inhibitor on non-growth surfaces is used to distinguish growth surfaces from non-growth surfaces. This approach does not rely on formation of a self-assembled monolayer on the non-growth surfaces.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods of selectively depositing organic and hybrid organic/inorganic layers. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods of modifying hydroxyl terminated surfaces for selective deposition of molecular layer organic and hybrid organic/inorganic films. Additional embodiments of the disclosure relate to cyclic compounds for use in molecular layer deposition processes.

A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a silicon carbide layer; a silicon oxide layer; and a region disposed between the silicon carbide layer and the silicon oxide layer and having a nitrogen concentration equal to or more than 1×10.sup.21 cm.sup.−3. A nitrogen concentration distribution in the silicon carbide layer, the silicon oxide layer, and the region have a peak in the region, a nitrogen concentration at a first position 1 nm away from the peak to the side of the silicon oxide layer is equal to or less than 1×10.sup.18 cm.sup.−3 and a carbon concentration at the first position is equal to or less than 1×10.sup.18 cm.sup.−3, and a nitrogen concentration at a second position 1 nm away from the peak to the side of the silicon carbide layer is equal to or less than 1×10.sup.18 cm.sup.−3.

A material deposition method comprising: preparing a precursor solution of Pb(Zr.sub.x,Ti.sub.1-x)O.sub.3 using 1-methoxy-2-propanol as a solvent and acetylacetone as a modifier; and forming a seed layer for a electroactive film by spin coating the precursor solution on a substrate. The electroactive film can be PZT, PZO or BFO, spin-coated or inkjet printed on the seed layer. Experience shows pure orientation for the piezoelectric film thanks to the use of 1-methoxy-2-propanol when preparing the seed layer. This orientation is attributed to the formation of nano crystals on the seed layer constituting a pre-crystallization.

A deposition method includes: forming a seed layer on a substrate; and forming a carbon film on the seed layer. The forming the seed layer includes: supplying an aminosilane-based gas to the substrate to form a Si—H bond on a surface of the substrate; and supplying a boron-containing gas to the substrate to form a B—H bond on the surface on which the Si—H bond is formed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to hardmasks and to processes for forming hardmasks by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). In an embodiment, a process for forming a hardmask layer on a substrate is provided. The process includes introducing a substrate to a processing volume of a PECVD chamber, the substrate on a substrate support, the substrate support comprising an electrostatic chuck, and flowing a process gas into the processing volume within the PECVD chamber, the process gas comprising a carbon-containing gas. The process further includes forming, under plasma conditions, an energized process gas from the process gas in the processing volume, electrostatically chucking the substrate to the substrate support, depositing a first carbon-containing layer on the substrate while electrostatically chucking the substrate, and forming the hardmask layer by depositing a second carbon-containing layer on the substrate.

The disclosure provides a method for passivating a silicon carbide epitaxial layer, relating to the technical field of semiconductors. The method includes the following steps: introducing a carbon source and a silicon source into a reaction chamber, and growing a silicon carbide epitaxial layer on a substrate; and turning off the carbon source, introducing a nitrogen source and a silicon source into the reaction chamber, and growing a silicon nitride thin film on an upper surface of the silicon carbide epitaxial layer. The silicon nitride thin film grown by the method has few defects and high quality, and may be used as a lower dielectric layer of a gate electrode in a field effect transistor. It does not additionally need an oxidation process to form a SiO.sub.2 dielectric layer, thereby reducing device fabrication procedures.