An apparatus for performing a deposition process on a semiconductor wafer includes a chamber, a wafer holder, and a shielding structure. The chamber contains a reaction area, the wafer holder is disposed in the chamber to hold the semiconductor wafer, and the reaction area is above the semiconductor wafer. The shielding structure is disposed in the chamber and isolates an inner sidewall of the chamber from the reaction area. The shielding structure includes a base member, a first member, and a second member. The base member is disposed between the inner sidewall of the chamber and the wafer holder. The first member is disposed on the base member and is windowless. The second member is disposed on the base member and within the first member, and the second member includes a sidewall provided with a first window to transfer the semiconductor wafer.

The present disclosure relates to methods of processing a semiconductor substrate in a processing chamber, such as a chemical vapor deposition chamber. The chemical vapor deposition chamber includes a spindle mechanism that cooperates with one or more carrier ring forks to move the semiconductor substrate from one station to another station. The methods include monitoring one or more spindle operation parameters and carrying out one or more maintenance steps on the spindle mechanism based on the results of monitoring the one or more spindle operation parameters. The monitored spindle operation parameters provide an indication of undesirable vibration of the semiconductor substrates in the processing chamber. The vibration of the semiconductor substrates in the processing chamber is undesirable because it promotes generation of unwanted particles that deposit onto a surface of the semiconductor substrate.

A method of depositing a layer on a semiconductor workpiece is disclosed. The method includes placing the semiconductor workpiece on a wafer chuck in a processing chamber, introducing a first precursor into the processing chamber, introducing a second precursor into the processing chamber, and while the second precursor is in the processing chamber, applying radiation to the semiconductor workpiece, whereby a surface of the semiconductor workpiece is heated. The method also includes, while the second precursor is in the processing chamber, applying a voltage bias to the wafer chuck.

Apparatus and methods for reducing undesirable residue material deposition and buildup on one or more surfaces within a processing chamber are provided herein. In embodiments disclosed herein, a processing chamber includes a chamber body having a chamber base, one or more sidewalls, and a chamber lid defining a processing volume; a showerhead disposed in the chamber lid and having a bottom surface adjacent the processing volume; and an isolator disposed between the chamber lid and the one or more sidewalls. The isolator includes a first end contacting the showerhead; a second end opposite the first end; an angled inner wall connected to the first end and extending radially outwardly from the first end towards the second end; and a lower inner wall at a different angle from the angled inner wall. The first end and the angled inner wall of the isolator form a first angle less than 90°.

A baffle for use in a reaction chamber may comprise a baffle first end, a baffle second end, and a baffle space enclosed by a baffle wall system and the reaction chamber floor, wherein the baffle first end may comprise a baffle aperture disposed therethrough configured to allow a fluid to flow from the reaction chamber volume into the baffle space through the baffle aperture and exit the baffle space through a vacuum aperture in the reaction chamber floor toward a vacuum source.

A deposition apparatus and a method are provided. A method includes placing a substrate over a platform in a chamber of a deposition system. A precursor material is introduced into the chamber. A first gas curtain is generated in front of a first electromagnetic (EM) radiation source coupled to the chamber. A plasma is generated from the precursor material in the chamber, wherein the plasma comprises dissociated components of the precursor material. The plasma is subjected to a first EM radiation from the first EM radiation source. The first EM radiation further dissociates the precursor material. A layer is deposited over the substrate. The layer includes a reaction product of the dissociated components of the precursor material.

Contamination from outgassing during a deposition process is addressed by a series of equipment enhancements, including throttle valves, a dual air curtain, and a residual gas analysis (RGA) monitor. The dual air curtain can be configured to flow a first gas during wafer processing and a second gas during wafer unloading, to re-direct and capture outgassed species. The dual air curtain and the throttle valves can be programmed in an automated feedback control system that utilizes data from the RGA monitor.

Methods, systems, and computer programs are directed to the design of a new showerhead purge collar for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. The showerhead purge collar includes a top section and a bottom section coupled to the top section and concentric with the top section. The top section has a hollow center to conduct process gas and an inlet for a purge gas on a side of the top section. The bottom section has a hollow center to conduct the process gas towards a showerhead. A plenum to conduct the purge gas is defined within the showerhead purge collar, and the bottom section includes holes to exhaust the purge gas above the showerhead.

Mechanically fluidized systems and processes allow for efficient, cost-effective production of silicon coated particles having very low levels of contaminants such as metals and oxygen. These silicon coated particles are produced, conveyed, and formed into crystals in an environment maintained at a low oxygen level or a very low oxygen level and a low contaminant level or very low contaminant level to minimize the formation of silicon oxides and minimize the deposition of contaminants on the coated particles. Such high purity coated silicon particles may not require classification and may be used in whole or in part in the crystal production method. The crystal production method and the resultant high quality of the silicon boules produced are improved by the reduction or elimination of the silicon oxide layer and contaminants on the coated particles.

Provided is a re-operation preparation process of a reaction chamber in which epitaxial growth is performed on a wafer. The re-operation preparation process of the reaction chamber includes disposing a susceptor provided in the reaction chamber and on which the wafer is seated at a preset first position and setting a flow rate of a hydrogen gas introduced through a main valve so that the flow rate is greater than that of a hydrogen gas introduced through a slit valve and moving the susceptor to a preset second position and setting an amount of hydrogen gas introduced through the main valve while the susceptor is maintained at the second position so that the amount of hydrogen gas is less than that of hydrogen gas introduced through the slit valve. Thus, moisture and contaminants stagnant in a lower portion of the reaction chamber may be smoothly discharged along a flow of the hydrogen gas toward a discharge hole.