A method includes providing thermal energy to a component, determining a thermal response of the component in response to providing the thermal energy, and determining a thermal characteristic of the component based on a reference thermal response and the thermal response. The method includes predicting a surface condition of the component based on the thermal characteristic and a predictive analytic model, where the predictive analytic model correlates the thermal characteristic of the component to an estimated surface condition of the component.

A vapor phase growth device includes a flow channel defining a space through which a source gas for forming an epi layer flows, a susceptor configured to hold a substrate in a state where the substrate faces the space, and a first member disposed vertically above and opposite to the susceptor, the first member having a thermal expansion coefficient not less than 0.7 times and not more than 1.3 times the thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate. The flow channel includes a holding portion configured to hold the first member.

Systems and methods for highly reproducible and focused plasma jet printing and patterning of materials using appropriate ink containing aerosol through nozzles with narrow orifice and tubes with controlled dielectric constant connected to high voltage power supply, in the presence of electric field and plasma, that enables morphological and/or bulk chemical modification and/or surface chemical modification of the material in the aerosol and/or the substrate prior to printing, during printing and post printing.

An apparatus for depositing film stacks in-situ (i.e., without a vacuum break or air exposure) are described. In one example, an apparatus configured to deposit a plurality of film layers having different compositions on a substrate without exposing the substrate to a vacuum break between film deposition phases, is provided. The apparatus includes a process chamber, a plasma source and a process station reactant feed fluidically coupled to a gas inlet of the process station, and fluidically coupled to an inert gas delivery line, a first reactant mixture gas delivery line and a second reactant mixture gas delivery line such that the first reactant gas mixture and the second reactant gas mixture can be introduced sequentially into the process station reactant feed, and supplied via a shared path to the process station.

A showerhead with an embedded nut is disclosed. The showerhead comprises an embedded nut within a cavity. The nut may be engaged by a bolt through an opening in the cavity to support the showerhead. The apparatus allows for the support of the showerhead without the potential for metal contamination.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for reducing the formation of hardware residue and minimizing secondary plasma formation during substrate processing in a process chamber. The process chamber may include a gas distribution member configured to flow a first gas into a process volume and generate a plasma therefrom. A second gas is supplied into a lower region of the process volume. Further, an exhaust port is disposed in the lower region to remove excess gases or by-products from the process volume during or after processing.

A method includes providing thermal energy to a component, determining a thermal response of the component in response to providing the thermal energy, and determining a thermal characteristic of the component based on a reference thermal response and the thermal response. The method includes predicting a surface condition of the component based on the thermal characteristic and a predictive analytic model, where the predictive analytic model correlates the thermal characteristic of the component to an estimated surface condition of the component.

An electrode filament connection member configured to be attached so as to pass through an outer wall of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus in which an electrode filament is disposed in a chamber is provided, and to form an electrical connection between a wire from a power source and the electrode filament. The electrode filament connection member includes a head portion attached to the electrode filament, and a rod portion that extends through the outer wall and is connected to the wire. The head portion includes an electrode filament attachment portion at a tip end portion, and a side surface that is parallel to an axial direction or is gradually widened from the tip end portion toward the outer wall. An outer shape of the side surface of the head portion conforms to an outer shape of the electrode filament connection member when viewed in projection along the axial direction.

A technique for reducing cooling time for a substrate includes a substrate processing apparatus that may include: a substrate retainer configured to support a substrate; a heat-insulating unit; a transfer chamber; and a gas supply mechanism to supply a gas into the transfer chamber, the gas supply mechanism including: a first gas supply mechanism to supply the gas into an upper region of the transfer chamber. The substrate retainer is disposed such that the gas flows horizontally through the upper region; and a second gas supply mechanism to supply the gas into a lower region of the transfer chamber. The heat-insulating unit is provided such that the gas flows downward through the lower region. The first gas supply mechanism and the second gas supply mechanism are disposed along a first sidewall of the transfer chamber, and the second gas supply mechanism is disposed lower than the first gas supply mechanism.

Methods of and systems for performing leak checks of gas-phase reactor systems are disclosed. Exemplary systems include a first exhaust system coupled to a reaction chamber via a first exhaust line, a bypass line coupled to a gas supply unit and to the first exhaust system, a gas detector coupled to the bypass line via a connecting line, a connecting line valve coupled to the connecting line, and a second exhaust system coupled to the connecting line. Methods include using the second exhaust system to exhaust the connecting line to thereby remove residual gas in the connecting line that may otherwise affect the accuracy of the gas detector.