IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,723,308
Granted Patent B2
US 12,723,308 · App. 18/789,244 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Forming an indium chalcogenide film

Inventors: Timothy A. Quick (Boise, ID); Jean-Sebastien Materne Lehn (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
C23C16/305C23C16/4408C23C16/45553
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,723,308
App. No.
18/789,244
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for forming an indium chalcogenide film are described. Precursors that include an indium-cyclopentadienyl compound may enable formation of indium chalcogenide films at a lower temperature as compared to other precursors including indium, as the reactivity of indium-cyclopentadienyl compounds may be higher than these other precursors. Additionally, using ammonia as a reagent during the atomic layer deposition process to form the indium chalcogenide film may enable an increased rate of formation of indium chalcogenide films for a given temperature. A method may include reacting an indium-cyclopentadienyl precursor and a second precursor that includes a selenium compound or a tellurium compound to form an indium chalcogenide.

Claims (62)

1 . A method, comprising:

reacting an indium-cyclopentadienyl precursor and a second precursor comprising a selenium compound or a tellurium compound to form an indium chalcogenide, the indium-cyclopentadienyl precursor comprising the chemical formula In—C 5 B 1 B 2 B 3 B 4 B 5 , wherein each of B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 4 , and B 5 are independently selected from:

hydrogen,

deuterium,

an alkyl group,

an aryl group,

a first moiety containing carbon,

a second moiety containing silicon,

a third moiety containing germanium,

a fourth moiety containing tin,

a fifth moiety comprising the chemical formula —SiB a B b B c ,

a sixth moiety comprising the chemical formula —GeB a B b B c ,

a seventh moiety comprising the chemical formula —SnB a B b B c ,

an eighth moiety comprising the chemical formula —CB a B b SiB c B d B e ,

a ninth moiety comprising the chemical formula —CB a B b GeB c B d B e , or

a tenth moiety comprising the chemical formula —CB a B b SnB c B d B e ,

wherein each of B a , B b , B c , B d , and B e are independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the indium-cyclopentadienyl precursor and the second precursor comprises forming the indium chalcogenide by atomic layer deposition.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the indium-cyclopentadienyl precursor and the second precursor comprises forming the indium chalcogenide by chemical vapor deposition.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the indium-cyclopentadienyl precursor and the second precursor comprises conformally forming the indium chalcogenide on a substrate.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selenium compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Se-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and where A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second precursor comprises a selenium compound comprising the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Se-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and where A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selenium compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Se-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a —SiRaRbRc moiety, a —GeRaRbRc moiety, a —SnRaRbRc moiety, a —CRaRbSiRcRdRe moiety, a —CRaRbGeRcRdRe moiety, or a —CRaRbSnRcRdRe moiety, wherein each of Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, and Re are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and wherein A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tellurium compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Te-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and wherein A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tellurium compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Te-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from an eleventh moiety containing carbon, a twelfth moiety containing silicon, a thirteenth moiety containing germanium, a fourteenth moiety containing tin, or a combination thereof, and where A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tellurium compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Te-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a —SiRaRbRc moiety, a —GeRaRbRc moiety, a —SnRaRbRc moiety, a —CRaRbSiRcRdRe moiety, a —CRaRbGeRcRdRe moiety, or a —CRaRbSnRcRdRe moiety, wherein each of Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, and Re are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and wherein A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

11 . A method, comprising:

depositing an indium-cyclopentadienyl compound for a first duration at a first temperature and a first pressure on a substrate, wherein deposition of the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound forms a first compound;

removing at least a portion of the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound;

depositing a second compound comprising a selenium compound or a tellurium compound for a second duration at the first temperature and the first pressure on the substrate, wherein the second compound reacts with the first compound to form an indium chalcogenide; and

removing the second compound.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound comprises the chemical formula In—C5B1B2B3B4B5, wherein each of B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound comprises the chemical formula In—C5B1B2B3B4B5, wherein each of B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5 are independently selected from a first moiety containing carbon, a second moiety containing silicon, a third moiety containing germanium, a fourth moiety containing tin, or a combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound comprises the chemical formula In—C5B1B2B3B4B5, wherein each of B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5 are independently selected from a —SiBaBbBc moiety, a —GeBaBbBc moiety, a —SnBaBbBc moiety, a —CBaBbSiBcBdBe moiety, a —CBaBbGeBcBdBe moiety, or a —CBaBbSnBcBdBe moiety, wherein each of Ba, Bb, Bc, Bd, and Be are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Se-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and where A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Se-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a first moiety containing carbon, a second moiety containing silicon, a third moiety containing germanium, a fourth moiety containing tin, or a combination thereof, and where A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Se-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a —SiRaRbRc moiety, a —GeRaRbRc moiety, a —SnRaRbRc moiety, a —CRaRbSiRcRdRe moiety, a —CRaRbGeRcRdRe moiety, or a —CRaRbSnRcRdRe moiety, wherein each of Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, and Re are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and wherein A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Te-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and where A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Te-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a first moiety containing carbon, a second moiety containing silicon, a third moiety containing germanium, a fourth moiety containing tin, or a combination thereof, and where A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second compound comprises the chemical formula R1R2R3A-Te-ZR4R5R6, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently selected from a —SiRaRbRc moiety, a —GeRaRbRc moiety, a —SnRaRbRc moiety, a —CRaRbSiRcRdRe moiety, a —CRaRbGeRcRdRe moiety, or a —CRaRbSnRcRdRe moiety, wherein each of Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, and Re are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and wherein A and Z are independently selected from germanium, tin, or silicon.

21 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first temperature is between 90° C. and 150° C.

22 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first pressure is between 0.5 torr and 20 torr.

23 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first duration is less than or equal to 10 seconds and the second duration is less than or equal to 5 seconds.

24 . A method, comprising:

depositing an indium-cyclopentadienyl compound for a first duration at a first temperature and a first pressure on a substrate, wherein deposition of the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound forms a first compound;

removing at least a portion of the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound;

depositing an ammonia compound for a second duration;

depositing a selenium compound for a third duration at the first temperature and the first pressure on the substrate, wherein the selenium compound reacts with the first compound to form an indium chalcogenide; and

removing the selenium compound.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein depositing the ammonia compound and depositing the selenium compound at least partially overlap in time.

26 . A method, comprising:

forming a stack of layers over a substrate, the stack of layers comprising layers of a first material and a second material;

forming one or more word lines in the stack of layers using a metallization process, and

forming one or more memory cells in the stack of layers, each memory cell of the one or more memory cells coupled between a respective word line of the one or more word lines and a respective conductive pillar of one or more conductive pillars, wherein forming a memory material of the one or more memory cells comprises:

depositing an indium-cyclopentadienyl compound for a first duration at a first temperature and a first pressure on a substrate, wherein deposition of the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound forms a first compound;

removing at least a portion of the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound;

depositing a selenium compound for a second duration at the first temperature and the first pressure on the substrate, wherein the selenium compound reacts with the first compound to form an indium chalcogenide; and

removing the selenium compound.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein removing the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound comprises purging using argon for a third duration equal to the first duration.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein removing the selenium compound comprises purging using argon for a third duration equal to the second duration.

29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound comprises the chemical formula In—C5B1B2B3B4B5, wherein each of B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5 are independently selected from a hydrogen, a deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group.

30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the indium-cyclopentadienyl compound comprises the chemical formula In—C5B1B2B3B4B5, wherein each of B1, B2, B3, B4, and B5 are independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a first moiety containing carbon, a second moiety containing silicon, a third moiety containing germanium, a fourth moiety containing tin, a fifth moiety comprising the chemical formula —SiBaBbBc, a sixth moiety comprising the chemical formula —GeBaBbBc, a seventh moiety comprising the chemical formula —SnBaBbBc, an eighth moiety comprising the chemical formula —CBaBbSiBcBdBe, a ninth moiety comprising the chemical formula —CBaBbGeBcBdBe, or a tenth moiety comprising the chemical formula —CBaBbSnBcBdBe, wherein each of Ba, Bb, Bc, Bd, and Be are independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, an alkyl group, or an aryl group.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2025
From: QUICK, TIMOTHY A.; LEHN, JEAN-SEBASTIEN MATERNE
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 072862/0721 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63633590 · Apr 12, 2024
Related Publication 20250320600A1 · Oct 16, 2025
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