A method for processing a semiconductor substrate in a chamber includes
forming a silicon oxynitride film using a two-step anneal process. The
first anneal step includes annealing the silicon oxynitride film in the
presence of an oxidizing gas that has a partial pressure of about 1 to
about 100 mTorr, and the second anneal step includes annealing the
silicon oxynitride film with oxygen gas that has a flow rate of about 1
slm. The first anneal step is performed at a higher chamber temperature
and higher chamber pressure than the second anneal step.