A thin film deposition apparatus includes: a chamber configured to process a plurality of substrates; a plurality of heater members disposed to correspond to the substrates to heat the substrates; a plurality of lift pins configured to be elevated through the heater members and support lower surfaces of the substrates; a plurality of support plates on which lower ends of the lift pins are configured to be seated; a plurality of support columns coupled with and supporting the heater members; and a plurality of spray ports configured to supply a process gas to the substrates, wherein the support plates are mounted on a plurality of seats formed on at least one side of the chamber, and configured to be elevated together with the heater members when the heater members are elevated.

A substrate processing apparatus is disclosed. Exemplary substrate processing apparatus includes a reaction chamber; a remote plasma unit; a cleaning gas lines configured to fluidly couple the remote plasma unit to the reaction chambers ; and a chamber liner disposed in a sidewall of the reaction chamber; wherein the cleaning gas line is connected to the sidewall of the reaction chamber through a cleaning gas opening; wherein the chamber liner is provided with a plurality of holes, being fluidly coupled to the cleaning gas opening.

Embodiments of a gas distribution plate for distributing gas in a processing chamber are provided. In one embodiment, a gas distribution plate includes a diffuser plate having an upstream side and a downstream side, and a plurality of gas passages passing between the upstream and downstream sides of the diffuser plate. At least one of the gas passages has a cylindrical shape for a portion of its length extending from the upstream side and a coaxial conical shape for the remainder length of the diffuser plate, the upstream end of the conical portion having substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical portion and the downstream end of the conical portion having a larger diameter.

A component, a method of manufacturing a component, and a method of cleaning a component is provided. The component includes a gas flow system within the component, wherein the gas flow system fluidly couples one or more inlet holes and one or more outlet holes. The manufacturing of the component results in an arc shaped groove and a circumferential groove created in the body of the ring. The component undergoes one or more cleaning operations, including rinsing, baking, or purging operations. The cleaning operations remove debris or particles in or on the component, where the debris or particles can be caused during manufacturing of the component, or during use of the component in a semiconductor processing system.

A method of coating particles includes dispensing particles into a vacuum chamber to form a particle bed in at least a lower portion of the chamber that forms a half-cylinder, evacuating the chamber through a vacuum port in an upper portion of the chamber, rotating a paddle assembly such that a plurality of paddles orbit a drive shaft to stir the particles in the particle bed, injecting a reactant or precursor gas through a plurality of channels into the lower portion of the chamber as the paddle assembly rotates to coat the particles, and injecting the reactant or precursor gas or a purge gas through the plurality of channels at a sufficiently high velocity such that the reactant or precursor a purge gas de-agglomerates particles in the particle bed.

A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing container having a cylindrical shape; a pair of plasma electrodes arranged along the longitudinal direction of the processing container while facing each other; and a radio-frequency power supply configured to supply a radio-frequency power to the pair of plasma electrodes. In the pair of plasma electrodes, an inter-electrode distance at a position distant from a power feed position to which the radio-frequency power is supplied is longer than an inter-electrode distance at the power feed position.

Bottom-fed ampoules for a semiconductor manufacturing precursors and methods of use are described. The ampoules comprise an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall defining a flow channel in between and a bottom wall having a top surface with a plurality of concentric elongate walls, each wall comprising an opening offset from the opening in adjacent walls defining a gas exchange zone through which a carrier gas flows in contact with the precursor.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes for forming Group VA element containing thin films, such as Sb, Sb—Te, Ge—Sb and Ge—Sb—Te thin films are provided, along with related compositions and structures. Sb precursors of the formula Sb(SiR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3).sub.3 are preferably used, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are alkyl groups. As, Bi and P precursors are also described. Methods are also provided for synthesizing these Sb precursors. Methods are also provided for using the Sb thin films in phase change memory devices.

Described herein is a technique capable of improving the uniformity of the film formation among the substrates. According to the technique described herein, there is provided a configuration including: a reaction tube having a process chamber where a plurality of substrates are processed; a buffer chamber protruding outward from the reaction tube and configured to supply a process gas to the process chamber, the buffer chamber including: a first nozzle chamber where a first nozzle is provided; and a second nozzle chamber where a second nozzle is provided; an opening portion provided at a lower end of an inner wall of the reaction tube facing the buffer chamber; and a shielding portion provided at a communicating portion of the opening portion between the second nozzle chamber and the process chamber.

A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.