Apparatus and process for plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus configured to form a material during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, such as a plasma-enhanced ALD (PE-ALD) process. In one embodiment, a lid assembly is configured to expose a substrate to a sequence of gases and plasmas during a PE-ALD process. The lid assembly comprises components that are capable of being electrically insulated, electrically grounded or RF energized. In one example, the lid assembly comprises a grounded gas manifold assembly positioned above electrically insulated components, such as an insulation cap, a plasma screen insert and an isolation ring. A showerhead, a plasma baffle and a water box are positioned between the insulated components and become RF hot when activated by a plasma generator. Other embodiments of the invention provide deposition processes to form layers of materials within the process chamber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 733,870 (10429L), filed Nov. 4, 2005, U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 733,655 (10429L.02), filed Nov. 4, 2005, U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 733,654 (10429L.03), filed Nov. 4, 2005, U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 733,574 (10429L.04), filed Nov. 4, 2005, and U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 733,869 (10429L.05), filed Nov. 4, 2005, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an apparatus and a method for depositing materials, and more particularly to an atomic layer deposition chamber configured to deposit a material during a plasma-enhanced process. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In the field of semiconductor processing, flat-panel display processing or other electronic device processing, vapor deposition processes have played an important role in depositing materials on substrate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] In another example, a gas manifold is disposed above the insulating cap and contains at least two gas passageways. A first gas passageway is positioned to provide the first process gas to the insulating cap and a second gas passageway is positioned to provide the second process gas to the insulating cap. A first conduit and a second conduit may be coupled to the first gas passageway and are positioned to provide the first process gas a gas flow in a circular direction. The first conduit and the second conduit are independently positioned to direct gas at an inner surface of the first gas passageway. The gas flow usually has the circular direction with a geometry of a vortex, a helix, a spiral, a swirl, a twirl, a twist, a coil, a corkscrew, a curl, a whirlpool, or derivatives thereof. The first conduit and the second conduit are independently positioned at an angle from a center axis of the first gas passageway. The angle may be greater than 0°, preferably, greater than about 20°, and more preferably, greater than about 35°. A valve may be coupled between the first conduit and a precursor source to enable an ALD process with a pulse time of about 10 seconds or less, preferably, about 6 seconds or less, and more preferably, about 1 second or less, such as within a range from about 0.01 seconds to about 0.5 seconds.

[0026] In another example, a capping assembly for conducting a vapor deposition process within a process chamber is provided which includes an insulation cap containing an upper surface configured to receive a grounded gas manifold, a first channel configured to flow a first process gas from the upper surface to a lower surface of the insulation cap and a second channel configured to flow a second process gas from the upper surface to the lower surface. The lower surface may further contain an inner region and an outer region, such that the first channel is in fluid communication with the inner region and the second channel is in fluid communication with the outer region. In one example, the inner region contains an expanding channel. The expanding channel may have an inner diameter within a range from about 0.5 cm to about 7 cm, preferably, from about 0.8 cm to about 4 cm, and more preferably, from about 1 cm to about 2.5 cm. Also, the expanding channel may contain an outer diameter within a range from about 2 cm to about 15 cm, preferably, from about 3.5 cm to about 10 cm, and more preferably, from about 4 cm to about 7 cm.

Problems solved by technology

While conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has proved successful for device geometries and aspect ratios down to 0.15 μm, the more aggressive device geometries require an alternative deposition technique.

While thermal ALD processes work well to deposit some materials, the processes often have a slow deposition rate.

Therefore, fabrication throughput may be impacted to an unacceptable level.

While PE-ALD processes overcome some of the shortcomings of thermal ALD processes due to the high degree of reactivity of the reactant radicals within the plasma, PE-ALD processes have many limitations.

PE-ALD process may cause plasma damage to a substrate (e.g., etching), be incompatible with certain chemical precursors and require additional hardware.

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