A method of forming graphene layers is disclosed. The method includes precleaning the substrate with a plasma formed from an argon- and hydrogen-containing gas, followed by forming a graphene layer by exposing the substrate to a microwave plasma to form a graphene layer on the substrate. The microwave plasma comprises hydrocarbon and hydrogen radicals. The substrate is then cooled. A capping layer may also be formed.

Methods and systems for depositing a layer comprising silicon oxide on the substrate are disclosed. Exemplary methods include cyclical deposition methods that include providing a first silicon precursor to the reaction chamber, providing a second silicon precursor, and using a reactant or a non-reactant gas forming silicon oxide on a surface of the substrate. Exemplary methods can further include a treatment step.

Methods and systems for depositing a layer comprising silicon oxide on the substrate are disclosed. Exemplary methods include cyclical deposition methods that include providing a first silicon precursor to the reaction chamber, providing a second silicon precursor, and using a reactant or a non-reactant gas forming silicon oxide on a surface of the substrate. Exemplary methods can further include a treatment step.

An amorphous carbon hard mask is formed having low hydrogen content and low sp3 carbon bonding but high modulus and hardness. The amorphous carbon hard mask is formed by depositing an amorphous carbon layer at a low temperature in a plasma deposition chamber and treating the amorphous carbon layer to a dual plasma-thermal treatment. The dual plasma-thermal treatment includes exposing the amorphous carbon layer to inert gas plasma for implanting an inert gas species in the amorphous carbon layer and exposing the amorphous carbon layer to a high temperature. The amorphous carbon hard mask has high etch selectivity relative to underlying materials.

An amorphous carbon hard mask is formed having low hydrogen content and low sp3 carbon bonding but high modulus and hardness. The amorphous carbon hard mask is formed by depositing an amorphous carbon layer at a low temperature in a plasma deposition chamber and treating the amorphous carbon layer to a dual plasma-thermal treatment. The dual plasma-thermal treatment includes exposing the amorphous carbon layer to inert gas plasma for implanting an inert gas species in the amorphous carbon layer and exposing the amorphous carbon layer to a high temperature. The amorphous carbon hard mask has high etch selectivity relative to underlying materials.

Methods of forming an oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate are provided. The method includes forming a first oxide containing portion of the oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate at a first growth rate by exposing the substrate to a first gas mixture having a first oxygen percentage at a first temperature. A second oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a second growth rate by exposing the substrate to a second gas mixture having a second oxygen percentage at a second temperature. A third oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a third growth rate by exposing the substrate to a third gas mixture having a third oxygen percentage at a third temperature. The first growth rate is slower than each subsequent growth rate and each growth rate subsequent to the second growth rate is within 50% of each other.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to protective coatings on aerospace components and methods for depositing the protective coatings. In one or more embodiments, a method for producing a protective coating on an aerospace component includes depositing a metal oxide template layer on the aerospace component containing nickel and aluminum (e.g., nickel-aluminum superalloy) and heating the aerospace component containing the metal oxide template layer during a thermal process and/or an oxidation process. The thermal process and/or oxidation process includes diffusing aluminum contained within the aerospace component towards a surface of the aerospace component containing the metal oxide template layer, oxidizing the diffused aluminum to produce an aluminum oxide layer disposed between the aerospace component and the metal oxide template layer, and removing at least a portion of the metal oxide template layer while leaving the aluminum oxide layer.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to protective coatings on aerospace components and methods for depositing the protective coatings. In one or more embodiments, a method for producing a protective coating on an aerospace component includes depositing a metal oxide template layer on the aerospace component containing nickel and aluminum (e.g., nickel-aluminum superalloy) and heating the aerospace component containing the metal oxide template layer during a thermal process and/or an oxidation process. The thermal process and/or oxidation process includes diffusing aluminum contained within the aerospace component towards a surface of the aerospace component containing the metal oxide template layer, oxidizing the diffused aluminum to produce an aluminum oxide layer disposed between the aerospace component and the metal oxide template layer, and removing at least a portion of the metal oxide template layer while leaving the aluminum oxide layer.

A wafer processing apparatus is configured to process a wafer by supplying mist to a surface of the wafer. The wafer processing apparatus includes a furnace in which the wafer is disposed, a gas supplying device configured to supply gas into the furnace, a mist supplying device configured to supply the mist into the furnace, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a processing step by controlling the gas supplying device and the mist supplying device to supply the gas and the mist into the furnace, respectively. The controller is further configured to control the mist supplying device to stop supplying the mist into the furnace while controlling the gas supplying device to keep supplying the gas into the furnace when the processing step ends.

The present invention provides lithium nickelate-based positive electrode active substance particles having a high energy density which are excellent in charge/discharge cycle characteristics when highly charged, and hardly suffer from generation of gases upon storage under high-temperature conditions, and a process for producing the positive electrode active substance particles, as well as a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The present invention relates to positive electrode active substance particles each comprising a core particle X comprising a lithium nickelate composite oxide having a layer structure which is represented by the formula: Li.sub.1+aNi.sub.1−b−cCo.sub.bM.sub.cO.sub.2 wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, B, Mg, Ti, Sn, Zn and Zr; a is a number of −0.1 to 0.2 (−0.1•a•0.2); b is a number of 0.05 to 0.5 (0.05•b•0.5); and c is a number of 0.01 to 0.4 (0.01•c•0.4); a coating compound Y comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Zr, Ti and Si; and a coating compound Z comprising an Li element, in which a content of lithium hydroxide LiOH in the positive electrode active substance particles is not more than 0.40% by weight, a content of lithium carbonate Li.sub.2CO.sub.3 in the positive electrode active substance particles is not more than 0.65% by weight, and a weight ratio of the content of lithium carbonate to the content of lithium hydroxide is not less than 1.