A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.

A substrate processing apparatus includes: a substrate holder to vertically load a plurality of substrates in multiple stages with an interval therebetween and including a plurality of partition plates vertically partitioning a region where the plurality of substrates are loaded; a process chamber to receive the substrate holder therein; protrusions protruding inward toward the outer circumferential surfaces of the partition plates from an inner circumferential wall surface within the process chamber, which faces the outer circumferential surfaces of the partition plates, to form clearances between inner circumferential surfaces formed on the protruding tip ends of the protrusions and the outer circumferential surfaces of the partition plates; and a gas supply part to supply inert gas into the clearances, which are formed between the inner circumferential surfaces of the protrusions and the outer circumferential surfaces of the partition plates, to form positive-pressure sections subjected to a pressure higher than ambient pressure.

A plasma etching apparatus for etching a semiconductor substrate comprises: a plasma chamber; a plasma generation device for sustaining a plasma within the plasma chamber; a substrate support disposed within the plasma chamber for supporting the semiconductor substrate, the substrate support comprising an electrically conductive structure; a power supply for providing an RF electrical signal having an RF power to the electrically conductive structure; and an annular dielectric ring structure comprising a backside surface, the backside surface comprising an electrically conductive coating; wherein the electrically conductive structure is spaced apart from and extends under the electrically conductive coating so that when RF power is provided to the electrically conductive structure the RF power couples to the electrically conductive coating. Associated methods are also disclosed.

A method of depositing a thin film on a substrate inside a vacuum chamber includes a first process that deposits a first film on the substrate, the first process including a process of supplying an active species that is obtained by changing a gas to plasma and is related to a quality of the thin film to the substrate; and a second process that deposits a second film that is the same type as that of the first film on the first film, the second process including a process of supplying the active species to the substrate so that a supply quantity of the active species per a unit film thickness is greater than a first supply quantity of the active species per the unit film thickness in the first process by adjusting a controlled parameter.

A plasma generating device is disclosed. A plasma generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plasma generating module for generating plasma; and at least one plasma nozzle for externally discharging the plasma generated by the plasma generating module, wherein a rotating body is provided separately from the plasma generating module and is rotatably disposed on the outside of the plasma generating module.

A method is provided. The method includes introducing a process gas into an interior space of a processing chamber through a gas inlet port, wherein a substrate is supported within the interior space. The process gas is evacuated from the interior space by a vacuum source through an exhaust port in fluid communication with the interior space of the process chamber. A flow of the process gas is controlled by supporting an exhaust baffle within a flow path of the process gas being evacuated from the interior space through the exhaust port.

A plasma processing system having at least one processing chamber comprising at least two sub-chambers is provided. The two plasma sub-chambers are in plasma flow or gas flow communication through a passage, which is controlled by a gate. The gate may be operated to allow plasma migration between the two sub-chambers to occur at different conductance rates. In one example, the gate comprises two plates with openings through the plates. At least one of the plates may be rotatable relative to the other plates to govern the conductance rate of the plasma from one sub-chamber to the other sub-chamber.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: supplying a first precursor and a first nitriding agent onto a substrate having a surface formed thereon with an oxygen-containing film in order to form an initial film on the oxygen-containing film; modifying the initial film into a first nitride film by nitriding the initial film with plasma; and supplying a second precursor and a second nitriding agent onto the substrate in order to form a second nitride film on the first nitride film.

The present disclosure describes methods and systems for plasma-assisted etching of a metal oxide. The method includes modifying a surface of the metal oxide with a first gas, removing a top portion of the metal oxide by a ligand exchange reaction, and cleaning the surface of the metal oxide with a second gas.

A method of conditioning internal surfaces of a plasma source includes flowing first source gases into a plasma generation cavity of the plasma source that is enclosed at least in part by the internal surfaces. Upon transmitting power into the plasma generation cavity, the first source gases ignite to form a first plasma, producing first plasma products, portions of which adhere to the internal surfaces. The method further includes flowing the first plasma products out of the plasma generation cavity toward a process chamber where a workpiece is processed by the first plasma products, flowing second source gases into the plasma generation cavity. Upon transmitting power into the plasma generation cavity, the second source gases ignite to form a second plasma, producing second plasma products that at least partially remove the portions of the first plasma products from the internal surfaces.