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NOVELLUS' SOLA® ULTRA-VIOLET THERMAL PROCESSING SYSTEM PROVIDES OPTIMUM ULK FILM INTEGRATION AT 32nm
Multi-Station Sequential Processing Architecture Shows a 25 Percent Advantage in Film Hardness vs. Single Wavelength Treatment Solutions
September 22, 2009

San Jose, Calif. - September 22, 2009 - Novellus Systems (NASDAQ: NVLS) announced today that it has developed a multiple wavelength UV Thermal Processing (UVTP) treatment on the company's SOLA® platform that results in a 25 percent improvement in film hardness compared to a single wavelength treatment of the same k-value dielectric.

At 32nm and beyond, ultra-low dielectric constant (ULK) materials must be introduced into the semiconductor manufacturing process flow in order to improve device performance. ULK materials, however, present challenges associated with adhesion and the mechanical properties of the film. Adhesion issues are typically addressed through interface engineering, while mechanical properties are improved using a UVTP treatment. UVTP processing results in a lower bulk dielectric constant (k), cross-links the chemical "backbone" (which increases mechanical strength), and removes porogen (pore generation material) from non-dense ULK films. Increasing the mechanical strength of the film ensures that it will withstand downstream manufacturing processes such as chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) and final packaging.

It is well known that porous ULK materials require different process steps for porogen removal and cross-linking. The unique SOLA UV treatment utilizes Novellus' multi-station sequential processing (MSSP) architecture to independently optimize the porogen removal and cross-linking steps, while maintaining high system throughput. Wavelength, temperature, treatment time, and UV intensity can be independently controlled at each of the four processing stations.  The resulting improvement in film hardness is shown in Figure 1 for a range of dielectric constants.

Cohesive and adhesive failures during CMP and final packaging steps can be exacerbated by increasing the number of ULK layers in the interconnect stack. A margin of safety in the packaging process can be ensured by tailoring the assembly process and design rules; however, optimizing the bulk film properties (i.e. hardness, modulus and residual stress) is also required. Figure 2 shows the difference between soft and hard ULK films used in a simulated interconnect stack. Eight layers of an IMD/barrier stack were deposited on a bare wafer to simulate a ULK interconnect structure. For a given post-treatment film stress, the softer film shows peeling and delamination at the wafer edge, while the harder film shows none.

"Controlling the UV exposure parameters is critical to obtaining the maximum mechanical performance of a given dielectric constant film," said Boaz Kenane, director of technology for UVTP at Novellus. "SOLA UVTP with MSSP enables the independent optimization of key UV treatment steps to enhance film performance while maintaining a high level of manufacturability."

For more information regarding SOLA ultra-violet thermal processing, go to www.novellustechnews.com.

About Novellus' UVTP Technology
Novellus' SOLA® ultraviolet thermal processing system (UVTP) is used for the post-deposition treatment of low dielectric constant films to improve mechanical and electrical properties. It is also used in the front end of the line to improve the stress of high tensile nitride films used to enhance NMOS device performance. The multi-station sequential processing architecture of the SOLA platform results in high system throughput and excellent wafer non-uniformity and wafer-to-wafer repeatability.

About Novellus
Novellus Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVLS) is a leading provider of advanced process equipment for the global semiconductor industry. The company's products deliver value to customers by providing innovative technology backed by trusted productivity. An S&P 500 company, Novellus is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. with subsidiary offices across the globe. For more information, please visit www.novellus.com

Contact:
Bob Climo
Novellus Systems, Inc.
Phone: + 1 408/943-9700
E-mail: bob.climo@novellus.com

Marla Kertzman
The Hoffman Agency for Novellus Systems, Inc.
Phone: + 1 408/975-3067
E-mail: mkertzman@hoffman.com

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