Silicon compounds may be represented by the following formula:

##STR00001##

Each of R.sup.a, R.sup.b, and R.sup.c may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C7 alkyl group, an amino group, a C1-C7 alkyl amino group, or a C1-C7 alkoxy group, R.sup.d may be a C1-C7 alkyl group, a C1-C7 alkyl amino group, or a silyl group represented by a formula of *—Si(X.sup.1)(X.sup.2)(X.sup.3). Each of X.sup.1, X.sup.2, and X.sup.3 may be a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C7 alkyl group, an amino group, a C1-C7 alkyl amino group, or a C1-C7 alkoxy group, and * is a bonding site. In some embodiments, when R.sup.b is the C1-C7 alkyl amino group and R.sup.d is the C1-C7 alkyl group, R.sup.b may be connected to R.sup.d to form a ring. To manufacture an integrated circuit (IC) device, a silicon-containing film may be formed on a substrate using the silicon compound of the formula provided above.

Methods for filling the gap of a semiconductor feature comprising exposure of a substrate surface to a precursor and reactant and an anneal environment to decrease the wet etch rate ratio of the deposited film and fill the gap.

Methods for seam-less gapfill comprising forming a flowable film by exposing a substrate surface to a silicon-containing precursor and a co-reactant are described. The silicon-containing precursor has at least one akenyl or alkynyl group. The flowable film can be cured by any suitable curing process to form a seam-less gapfill.

Processing methods disclosed herein comprise forming a nucleation layer and a flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) film on a substrate surface by exposing the substrate surface to a silicon-containing precursor and a reactant. By controlling at least one of a precursor/reactant pressure ratio, a precursor/reactant flow ratio and substrate temperature formation of miniature defects is minimized. Controlling at least one of the process parameters may reduce the number of miniature defects. The FCVD film can be cured by any suitable curing process to form a smooth FCVD film.

A method includes etching a first portion and a second portion of a dummy gate stack to form a first opening and a second opening, respectively, and depositing a silicon nitride layer to fill the first opening and the second opening. The deposition of the silicon nitride layer comprises a first process selected from treating the silicon nitride layer using hydrogen radicals, implanting the silicon nitride layer, and combinations thereof. The method further includes etching a third portion of the dummy gate stack to form a trench, etching a semiconductor fin underlying the third portion to extend the trench down into a bulk portion of a semiconductor substrate underlying the dummy gate stack, and depositing a second silicon nitride layer into the trench.

A semiconductor may include a first inter metal dielectric (IMD) layer, a first blocking layer on the first IMD layer, a metal wiring and a second blocking layer. The first inter metal dielectric (IMD) layer may be formed on a substrate, the first IMD layer may include a low-k material having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide. The first blocking layer may be formed on the first IMD layer. The first blocking layer may include an oxide having a dielectric constant higher than the dielectric constant of the first IMD layer. The metal wiring may be through the first IMD layer and the first blocking layer. The second blocking layer may be formed on the metal wiring and the first blocking layer. The second blocking layer may include a nitride. The first and second blocking layers may reduce or prevent from the out gassing, so that a semiconductor device may have good characteristics.

The present disclosure relates to the deposition of dopant films, such as doped silicon oxide films, by atomic layer deposition processes. In some embodiments, a substrate in a reaction space is contacted with pulses of a silicon precursor and a dopant precursor, such that the silicon precursor and dopant precursor adsorb on the substrate surface. Oxygen plasma is used to convert the adsorbed silicon precursor and dopant precursor to doped silicon oxide.

A method includes forming a multi-layer mask over a dielectric layer. Forming the multi-layer mask includes forming a bottom layer over the dielectric layer. A first middle layer is formed over the bottom layer. The first middle layer includes a first silicon-containing material. The first silicon-containing material has a first content of Si—CH.sub.3 bonds. A second middle layer is formed over the first middle layer. The second middle layer includes a second silicon-containing material. The second silicon-containing material has a second content of Si—CH.sub.3 bonds less than the first content of Si—CH.sub.3 bonds.

A topology-selective deposition method is disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing an inhibition agent comprising a first nitrogen-containing gas, providing a deposition promotion agent comprising a second nitrogen-containing gas to form an activated surface on one or more of a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall surface relative to one or more of the other of the top surface, the bottom surface, and the sidewall surface, and providing a precursor to react with the activated surface to thereby selectively form material comprising a nitride on the activated surface.

Disclosed is a method for forming Si-containing films, such as SiN film, by PEALD using trisilylamine (TSA) at ultralow temperature, such as a temperature below 250° C.