An integrated electrostatic inductively-coupled (i-ESIC) device is provided for
plasma processing that may be used as a primary or secondary source for generating a
plasma to prepare substrates for, and to process substrates by applying,
dielectric and conductive coatings. The i-ESIC device is practical for
processing advanced
semiconductor devices and integrated circuits that require uniform and dense
plasma. The invention may be embodied in an apparatus that contains a substrate support, typically including an electrostatic chuck, that controls
ion energy by capacitively
coupling RF power to the plasma and generating
voltage bias on the
wafer relative to the plasma potential. An integrated
inductive coupling element is provided at the perimeter of the substrate support that increases
plasma density at the perimeter of the
wafer, compensating for the radial loss of charged particles toward chamber walls, to produce uniform
plasma density above the processed
wafer. An annular slotted shield protects the
inductive coupling element from the plasma and provides conditions for effective
inductive coupling of RF power into the plasma, such as eliminating
capacitive coupling from the element to the plasma and unwanted
sputtering of the element. The i-ESIC device has a
capacitive coupling zone in its center where wafers are placed and an inductive
coupling zone at the perimeter of the wafer coupled to a matching network and RF generator. Both zones together with plasma create a resonant circuit.