Methods for etching a semiconductor structure and for conditioning a processing reactor in which a single semiconductor structure is treated are disclosed. An engineered polycrystalline silicon surface layer is deposited on a susceptor which supports the semiconductor structure. The polycrystalline silicon surface layer may be engineered by controlling the temperature at which the layer is deposited, by grooving the polycrystalline silicon surface layer or by controlling the thickness of the polycrystalline silicon surface layer.

Methods of forming ruthenium-containing films by atomic layer deposition and/or chemical vapor deposition are provided. The methods include a first step of forming a first film on a surface of the substrate and a second step of forming the ruthenium-containing film on at least a portion of the first film. The first step includes delivering a titanium precursor and a first nitrogen-containing co-reactant to the substrate and delivering a first ruthenium precursor and a second nitrogen-containing co-reactant to the substrate to form the first film. The second step includes delivering a second ruthenium precursor and a third co-reactant to the substrate. Ruthenium-containing films are also provided.

A plasma processing apparatus includes: a reaction tube provided in a processing container; a boat that holds a substrate, and is carried into and out from the reaction tube in order to form a film on the substrate; a plasma generation tube that communicates with the reaction tube, and generates plasma from a gas; a gas supply that supplies the gas to the plasma generation tube; electrode installation columns provided to sandwich the plasma generation tube therebetween, and including electrodes, respectively; an RF power supply that is connected to the electrodes, and supplies a radio frequency to the electrodes; a coil provided to be spaced apart from the electrodes in the electrode installation columns; and a DC power supply that is connected to the coil, and supplies a direct current to the coil.

Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include providing a silicon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing layer on surfaces defining the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a plasma of a hydrogen-containing precursor within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing material on a substrate disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber.

Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include providing a silicon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing material on the substrate. The silicon-containing material may extend within the one or more recessed features along the substrate and a seam or void may be defined by the silicon-containing material within at least one of the one or more recessed features along the substrate. The methods may also include treating the silicon-containing material with a hydrogen-containing gas, such as plasma effluents of the hydrogen-containing gas, which may cause a size of the seam or void to be reduced.

A film-forming apparatus for forming a predetermined film on a substrate by plasma ALD includes a chamber, a stage, a shower head having an upper electrode and a shower plate insulated from the upper electrode, a first high-frequency power supply connected to the upper electrode, and a second high-frequency power supply connected to an electrode contained in the stage. A high-frequency power is supplied from the first high-frequency power supply to the upper electrode, thereby forming a high-frequency electric field between the upper electrode and the shower plate and generating a first capacitively coupled plasma. A high-frequency power is supplied from the second high-frequency power supply to the electrode, thereby forming a high-frequency electric field between the shower plate and the electrode in the stage and generating a second capacitively coupled plasma that is independent from the first capacitively coupled plasma.

A film forming method includes: providing the substrate into the processing container; forming a metal-based film on the substrate within the processing container; and subsequently, supplying a Si-containing gas into the processing container in a state in which the substrate is provided within the processing container.

A film forming method includes: providing the substrate into the processing container; forming a metal-based film on the substrate within the processing container; and subsequently, supplying a Si-containing gas into the processing container in a state in which the substrate is provided within the processing container.

There is provided a film forming method including: adsorbing fluorine onto a substrate on which a region in which a nitride film is exposed and a region in which an oxide film is exposed are provided adjacent to each other by supplying a fluorine-containing gas to the substrate, and forming a stepped surface on a side surface of the oxide film by selectively etching the nitride film, among the nitride film and the oxide film, so as to cause a surface of the nitride film to be more deeply recessed than a surface of the oxide film; and after the adsorbing the fluorine onto the substrate and forming the stepped surface, selectively forming a semiconductor film on the nitride film, among the nitride film and the oxide film, by supplying a raw material gas including a semiconductor material to the substrate.

There is provided a film forming method including: adsorbing fluorine onto a substrate on which a region in which a nitride film is exposed and a region in which an oxide film is exposed are provided adjacent to each other by supplying a fluorine-containing gas to the substrate, and forming a stepped surface on a side surface of the oxide film by selectively etching the nitride film, among the nitride film and the oxide film, so as to cause a surface of the nitride film to be more deeply recessed than a surface of the oxide film; and after the adsorbing the fluorine onto the substrate and forming the stepped surface, selectively forming a semiconductor film on the nitride film, among the nitride film and the oxide film, by supplying a raw material gas including a semiconductor material to the substrate.