Apparatus and process for plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition
US7682946B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a method for forming a material on a substrate during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, such as a plasma-enhanced ALD (PE-ALD) process. In one embodiment, a method is provided which includes flowing at least one process gas through at least one conduit to form a circular gas flow pattern, exposing a substrate to the circular gas flow pattern, sequentially pulsing at least one chemical precursor into the process gas and igniting a plasma from the process gas to deposit a material on the substrate. In one example, the circular gas flow pattern has circular geometry of a vortex, a helix, a spiral, or a derivative thereof. Materials that may be deposited by the method include ruthenium, tantalum, tantalum nitride, tungsten or tungsten nitride. Other embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus configured to form the material during the PE-ALD process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.