Dielectric composite films characterized by a dielectric constant (k) of less than about 7 and having a density of at least about 2.5 g/cm.sup.3 are deposited on partially fabricated semiconductor devices to serve as etch stop layers. The dielectric composite film in one embodiment includes Al, Si, and O and has a thickness of between about 10-100 . The dielectric composite film can reside between two layers of inter-layer dielectric, and may be in contact with metal layers. An apparatus for depositing such dielectric composite films includes a process chamber, a conduit for delivering an aluminum containing precursor to the process chamber, a second conduit for delivering a silicon-containing precursor to the process chamber and a controller having program instructions for depositing the dielectric composite film from these precursors, e.g., by reacting the precursors adsorbed to the substrate with an oxygen-containing species.

A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack, and an interlayer dielectric. The gate stack is over the semiconductor substrate. The interlayer dielectric is over the semiconductor substrate and surrounds the gate stack. The interlayer dielectric includes a liner layer and a filling layer. The liner layer lines the gate stack. The filling layer is over the liner layer and includes a metal-contained ternary dielectric material.

Embodiments of the present application provide a semiconductor structure and its formation method. The method includes: the substrate being provided with a groove, a sidewall of the groove including a first sub-sidewall and a second sub-sidewall that extend upwards from a bottom of the groove sub-sidewall; blowing a first precursor to a surface of the substrate, so that the first precursor is attached to a top surface of the substrate and the second sub-sidewall; blowing a second precursor to the surface of the substrate, so that the second precursor reacts with the first precursor to form a dielectric layer; alternately blowing the first precursor and the second precursor to the surface of the substrate to form a plurality of dielectric layers until a top opening of the groove is blocked, a region enclosed by the first sub-sidewall, the dielectric layer and the bottom of the groove forming a void.

A method for depositing an oxide film on a substrate by a cyclical deposition is disclosed. The method may include: depositing a metal oxide film over the substrate utilizing at least one deposition cycle of a first sub-cycle of the cyclical deposition process; and depositing a silicon oxide film directly on the metal oxide film utilizing at least one deposition cycle of a second sub-cycle of the cyclical deposition process. Semiconductor device structures including an oxide film deposited by the methods of the disclosure are also disclosed.

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an etch stop layer comprising Aluminum Oxide and one or more of Hafnium, Silicon, or Magnesium; and a channel formed through one or more layers deposited over the etch stop layer, the channel extending to the etch stop layer.

The performances of a semiconductor device of a memory element are improved. Over a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode for memory element is formed via overall insulation film of gate insulation film for memory element. The overall insulation film has first insulation film, second insulation film over first insulation film, third insulation film over second insulation film, fourth insulation film over third insulation film, and fifth insulation film over fourth insulation film. The second insulation film is an insulation film having charge accumulation function. Each band gap of first insulation film and third insulation film is larger than the band gap of second insulation film. The third insulation film is polycrystal film including high dielectric constant material containing metallic element and oxygen. Fifth insulation film is polycrystal film including the same material as that for third insulation film. Fourth insulation film includes different material from that for third insulation film.

A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a trench extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. A first liner layer is formed on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench. The trench is filled with a dielectric material after depositing the first liner layer. The dielectric material and the first liner layer include substantially the same metal-contained ternary dielectric material. Excess portions of the dielectric material and the first liner layer over the top surface of the semiconductor substrate are removed.

A method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to form a trench extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. A first liner layer is formed on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench. The trench is filled with a dielectric material after depositing the first liner layer. The dielectric material and the first liner layer include substantially the same metal-contained ternary dielectric material. Excess portions of the dielectric material and the first liner layer over the top surface of the semiconductor substrate are removed.

A device includes a semiconductive substrate, a fin structure, and an isolation material. The fin structure extends from the semiconductive substrate. The isolation material is over the semiconductive substrate and adjacent to the fin structure, wherein the isolation material includes a first metal element, a second metal element, and oxide.

A method and apparatus for filling one or more gaps created during manufacturing of a feature on a substrate by: providing a bottom area of a surface of the one or more gaps with a first reactant; providing a second reactant to the substrate; and, allowing the first reactant to initiate reaction of the second reactant in the bottom area of the surface in a stoichiometric ratio of one molecule of the first reactant to multiple molecules of the second reactants leaving a top area of the surface of the one or more gaps which was not provided with the first reactant initially substantially empty.