According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: (a) heating a substrate to a first temperature while supporting the substrate on a substrate support, and supplying a process gas into a process vessel accommodating the substrate support; (b) lowering a temperature of a low temperature structure provided in the process vessel to a second temperature lower than the first temperature by supplying an inert gas or air to a coolant flow path provided in the process vessel after (a) for a predetermined time, wherein defects occur when a cleaning gas is supplied to the low temperature structure at the first temperature; and (c) cleaning the low temperature structure by supplying the cleaning gas into the process vessel after (b).

Methods for depositing materials are described. The methods comprise maintaining a substrate support at a substrate support temperature which is lower than a precursor source temperature. The methods further comprise condensing or depositing a precursor on a substrate, and then curing condensed or deposited precursor to form a layer.

A cooling assembly includes a first subassembly and a second subassembly. The first subassembly is coupled to a showerhead of a substrate processing system. The first subassembly including a plurality of passages proximate to and in thermal communication with the showerhead. The second subassembly is removably coupled to the first subassembly. The second subassembly includes a plurality of protrusions that align with the plurality of passages, respectively.

A method of processing a substrate according to a PECVD process is described. Temperature profile of the substrate is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Plasma density profile is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Chamber surfaces exposed to the plasma are heated to improve plasma density uniformity and reduce formation of low quality deposits on chamber surfaces. In situ metrology may be used to monitor progress of a deposition process and trigger control actions involving substrate temperature profile, plasma density profile, pressure, temperature, and flow of reactants.

A method for manufacturing a SiC epitaxial wafer according to one aspect of the present invention includes separately introducing, into a reaction space for SiC epitaxial growth, a basic N-based gas composed of molecules containing an N atom within the molecular structure but having neither a double bond nor a triple bond between nitrogen atoms, and a Cl-based gas composed of molecules containing a Cl atom within the molecular structure, and mixing the N-based gas and the Cl-based gas at a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point or sublimation temperature of a solid product generated by mixing the N-based gas and the Cl-based gas.

A deposition method of a metallic carbon film as use as a hard mask during a semiconductor process is provided. In detail, in order to overcome an issue in terms of patterning due to low etch selectivity when a conventional amorphous carbon layer is used as a hard mask and an issue in that the hard mask is not easily removed after etching is performed, a metallic carbon film is formed via a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method using a precursor containing metal and carbon to remarkably enhance etch selectivity, a grain size is reduced to amorphize the thin film so as to easily remove the hard mask after etching is performed, and relative contents of metal and carbon contained in the metallic carbon film are adjusted to remarkably lower overall internal stress of the metallic carbon film.

Methods for forming a metal silicate film on a substrate in a reaction chamber by a cyclical deposition process are provided. The methods may include: regulating the temperature of a hydrogen peroxide precursor below a temperature of 70° C. prior to introduction into the reaction chamber, and depositing the metal silicate film on the substrate by performing at least one unit deposition cycle of a cyclical deposition process. Semiconductor device structures including a metal silicate film formed by the methods of the disclosure are also provided.

A device for depositing a layer on a substrate includes a process chamber and a gas inlet element. The substrate is moved in a movement direction in the process chamber during a coating process. The gas inlet element has a first, second and third gas distribution chamber with a first, second and third gas outlet zone, respectively. The second gas outlet zone is arranged immediately before the first gas outlet zone in the movement direction of the substrate and the third gas outlet zone is arranged immediately after the first gas outlet zone in the movement direction of the substrate. The first, second and the third gas distribution chambers each have a gas-heating apparatus. The first gas distribution chamber has an evaporating apparatus for a solid or liquid starting material, which can be fed into the first gas distribution chamber through an feed-in opening.

Methods and apparatus for controlling a flow of process material to a deposition chamber. In embodiments, the apparatus includes a deposition chamber in fluid communication with one or more sublimators through one or more delivery lines, wherein the one or more sublimators each include an ampoule in fluid communication with the one or more delivery lines through an opening, and at least a first heat source and a second heat source, wherein the first heat source is a radiant heat source adjacent the ampoule and the second heat source is adjacent the opening, wherein the one or more delivery lines include one or more conduits between the deposition chamber and the one or more sublimators, and wherein the one or more conduits include one or more valves to open or close the one or more conduits, wherein the one or more valves in an open position prevents the flow of process material into the deposition chamber, and wherein the one or more valves in a closed position directs the flow of process material into the deposition chamber.

Apparatus for controlling thermal uniformity of a substrate-facing surface of a showerhead are provided herein. In some embodiments, a heat transfer system includes a heat transfer plate having a first diameter and a plurality of independent flow paths disposed within the heat transfer plate, each flow path having a first inlet and a first outlet; a supply conduit system having a second inlet fluidly coupled to a plurality of second outlets, wherein each second outlet is fluidly coupled to a corresponding first inlet of the heat transfer plate; and a return conduit system having a third outlet fluidly coupled to a plurality of third inlets, wherein each third inlet is fluidly coupled to a corresponding first outlet of the heat transfer plate, wherein the supply conduit system and the return conduit system are each disposed within an imaginary cylindrical projection above the heat transfer plate.