IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,176,203
Granted Patent B2
US 12,176,203 · App. 17/573,452 · Granted Dec 24, 2024

Methods and apparatuses for forming semiconductor devices containing tungsten layers using a tungsten growth suppressant

Inventors: Fei Zhou (San Jose, CA); Rahul Sharangpani (Fremont, CA); Raghuveer S. Makala (Campbell, CA); Yujin Terasawa (Yokkaichi, JP); Naoki Takeguchi (Nagoya, JP); Kensuke Yamaguchi (Yokkaichi, JP); Masaaki Higashitani (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
H01L21/02175C23C16/4583H01L21/02271
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,176,203
App. No.
17/573,452
Granted
Dec 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of depositing a metal includes providing a structure a process chamber, and providing a metal fluoride gas and a growth-suppressant gas into the process chamber to deposit the metal over the structure. The metal may comprise a word line or another conductor of a three-dimensional memory device.

Claims (31)

1. A method of depositing a metal, comprising:

providing a structure a process chamber; and

providing a metal fluoride gas and two different growth-suppressant gases into the process chamber to deposit the metal over the structure;

wherein:

the metal comprises tungsten;

the metal fluoride gas comprises tungsten hexafluoride;

a first growth-suppressant gas comprises a nitrogen containing gas;

a second growth-suppressant gas comprises gas containing a halogen other than fluorine;

the method comprises an atomic layer deposition process comprising a plurality of unit process cycles, and each unit process cycle comprises a tungsten deposition step, a tungsten hexafluoride purge step, a reducing step and a reducing gas purging step; and

during the tungsten deposition step, initiation of flow the second growth-suppressant gas into the process chamber occurs during a flow of the metal fluoride gas into the process chamber and after the initiation of flow of the metal fluoride gas into the process chamber.

2. A method of depositing a metal, comprising:

providing a structure a process chamber; and

providing a metal fluoride gas and two different growth-suppressant gases into the process chamber to deposit the metal over the structure;

wherein:

the metal comprises tungsten;

the metal fluoride gas comprises tungsten hexafluoride;

a first growth-suppressant gas comprises a nitrogen containing gas;

a second growth-suppressant gas comprises gas containing a halogen other than fluorine;

the method comprises an atomic layer deposition process comprising a plurality of unit process cycles, and each unit process cycle comprises a tungsten deposition step, a tungsten hexafluoride purge step, a reducing step and a reducing gas purging step; and

the growth-suppressant gas is flown into the process chamber occurs during the reducing step.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second growth-suppressant gas is flown into the process chamber occurs between each of the unit process cycles.

4. A method of depositing a metal, comprising:

providing a structure a process chamber; and

providing a metal fluoride gas and two different growth-suppressant gases into the process chamber to deposit the metal over the structure;

wherein:

the metal comprises tungsten;

the metal fluoride gas comprises tungsten hexafluoride;

a first growth-suppressant gas comprises a nitrogen containing gas;

a second growth-suppressant gas comprises gas containing a halogen other than fluorine;

the method comprises an atomic layer deposition process comprising a plurality of unit process cycles, and each unit process cycle comprises a tungsten deposition step, a tungsten hexafluoride purge step, a reducing step and a reducing gas purging step; and

the second growth-suppressant gas is not flown into the process chamber during a first set of the unit process cycles, and the second growth-suppressant gas is flown into the process chamber during a second set of the unit process cycles.

Assignments (4)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069796/0423 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2022
From: ZHOU, FEI; SHARANGPANI, RAHUL; MAKALA, RAGHUVEER S.; TERASAWA, YUJIN; TAKEGUCHI, NAOKI; YAMAGUCHI, KENSUKE; HIGASHITANI, MASAAKI
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 058847/0941 →
Continuity (1)
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Cited By (1)
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