Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes are combined with physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes in a low pressure environment to produce a high quality barrier film. The initial barrier film is deposited on a substrate using ALD processes and then moved to a PVD chamber to treat the barrier film to increase the barrier film's density and purity, decreasing the barrier film's resistivity. A dual source of materials is sputtered onto the substrate to provide doping while a gas is simultaneously used to etch the substrate to release nitrogen. At least one source of material is positioned to provide doping at an acute angle to the surface of the substrate while supplied with DC power and RF power at a first RF power frequency. The substrate is biased using RF power at a second RF power frequency.

A sputtering target and/or a coil disposed at a periphery of a plasma-generating region for confining plasma are provided. The target and/or coil has a surface to be eroded having a hydrogen content of 500 L/cm.sup.2 or less. In dealing with reduction in hydrogen content of the surface of the target and/or coil, a process of producing the target and/or coil, in particular, conditions for heating the surface of the target and/or coil, which is believed to be a cause of hydrogen occlusion, are appropriately regulated. As a result, hydrogen occlusion at the surface of the target can be reduced, and the degree of vacuum during sputtering can be improved. Thus, a target and/or coil is provided that has a uniform and fine structure, makes plasma stable, and allows a film to be formed with excellent uniformity. A method of producing the target and/or the coil is also provided.

The purpose of the present invention is to improve uniformity of film deposition by a plasma-based sputtering device. Provided is a sputtering device 100 for depositing a film on a substrate W through sputtering of targets T by using plasma P, said sputtering device being provided with a vacuum chamber 2 which can be evacuated to a vacuum and into which a gas is to be introduced; a substrate holding part 3 for holding the substrate W inside the vacuum chamber 2; target holding parts 4 for holding the targets T inside the vacuum chamber 2; multiple antennas 5 which are arranged along a surface of the substrate W held by the substrate holding part 3 and generate plasma P; and a reciprocal scanning mechanism 14 for scanning back and forth the substrate holding part 3 along the arrangement direction X of the multiple antennas 5.

A preparation device has a chamber, molten metal containers, a rotatable base in the chamber and having a deposition substrate, laser sets generating a dual-pulse laser, a base controller and a data collection control unit. The containers communicate with the chamber and each has a pulse pressurization apparatus pressing the molten metal into the chamber. The laser sets correspond to the containers such that beams of an emitted dual-pulse laser bombard the pulsed droplets, plasmas are generated and are sputtered and deposited on the substrate forming a multi-element alloy thin film. The unit collects base temperature and displacement information, and controls the pressurization frequency of the pulse pressurization apparatus, and the emission frequency and energy of the dual-pulse laser of the laser sets controlling the frequency and energy of the dual-pulse laser bombarding the corresponding pulsed droplets. The base controller controls the base temperature, rotation and movement.

In a plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition of a material onto workpiece, a metal target faces the workpiece across a target-to-workpiece gap less than a diameter of the workpiece. A carrier gas is introduced into the chamber and gas pressure in the chamber is maintained above a threshold pressure at which mean free path is less than 5% of the gap. RF plasma source power from a VHF generator is applied to the target to generate a capacitively coupled plasma at the target, the VHF generator having a frequency exceeding 30 MHz. The plasma is extended across the gap to the workpiece by providing through the workpiece a first VHF ground return path at the frequency of the VHF generator.

A method and apparatus are for controlling stress variation in a material layer formed via pulsed DC physical vapour deposition. The method includes the steps of providing a chamber having a target from which the material layer is formed and a substrate upon which the material layer is formable, and subsequently introducing a gas within the chamber. The method further includes generating a plasma within the chamber and applying a first magnetic field proximate the target to substantially localise the plasma adjacent the target. An RF bias is applied to the substrate to attract gas ions from the plasma toward the substrate and a second magnetic field is applied proximate the substrate to steer gas ions from the plasma to selective regions upon the material layer formed on the substrate.

Methods for material removal of a film, such as a metal nitride film, from a workpiece are provided. One example implementation is directed to a method for processing a workpiece. The workpiece can include a film (e.g., a metal nitride film). The method can include generating one or more species (e.g., hydrogen radicals, excited inert gas molecules, etc.). The method can include mixing alkyl halide with the one or more species to generate one or more alkyl radicals. The method can include exposing the film to the one or more alkyl radicals.

In a plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition of a material onto workpiece, a metal target faces the workpiece across a target-to-workpiece gap less than a diameter of the workpiece. A carrier gas is introduced into the chamber and gas pressure in the chamber is maintained above a threshold pressure at which mean free path is less than 5% of the gap. RF plasma source power from a VHF generator is applied to the target to generate a capacitively coupled plasma at the target, the VHF generator having a frequency exceeding 30 MHz. The plasma is extended across the gap to the workpiece by providing through the workpiece a first VHF ground return path at the frequency of the VHF generator.

The present disclosure relates to coated non-metallic substrates and coated metallic substrates and methods for producing such coated substrates. A variant of the method is characterized in that a mat or glossy coating is underneath a metallic layer obtained in some eases by way of vapor deposition and/or sputtering. In another variant, the metallic layer is sufficiently thin so that it remains transparent or translucent to visible light. The coated substrates may include multiple layers such as metallic layers, polysiloxane layers, a color layer, a conversion layer, a primer layer, and/or a transparent or colored layer. An application system for applying a metallic layer to at least one surface of a substrate may include a plasma generator and/or a corona system for treating one or more layers by plasma treatment and/or corona treatment.

A method includes providing a substrate, where the substrate has a patterned substrate surface, wherein the patterned substrate surface comprises a first surface region and a second surface region. The method may also include directing a depositing species to the patterned substrate surface; and directing angled ions to the patterned substrate surface, wherein the depositing species forms a deposit on the first surface region and does not form a deposit on the second surface region.