Patent · US Expired

Atomic layer deposition reactor

US6820570B2 · kind B2 · utility

581Cited by
56References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 14, 2002
Grant dateNov 23, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C16/509
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Various reactors for growing thin films on a substrate by subjecting the substrate to alternately repeated surface reactions of vapor-phase reactants are disclosed. In one embodiment, the reactor comprises a reaction chamber. A showerhead plate divides the reaction chamber into upper and lower parts. A first precursor is directed towards the lower half of the reaction chamber and a second precursor is directed towards the upper half of the reaction chamber. The substrate is disposed within the lower half of the reaction chamber. The showerhead plate includes plurality passages such that the upper half is in communication with the lower half of the reaction chamber. In another arrangement, the upper half of the reaction chamber defines a plasma cavity in which in-situ radicals are formed. In yet another arrangement, the reaction chamber includes a shutter plate, which is configured to selectively open and close the passages in the showerhead plate. In other arrangements, the showerhead plate is arranged to modify the local flow patterns of the gases flowing through the reaction chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.