Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include providing a silicon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing layer on surfaces defining the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a plasma of a hydrogen-containing precursor within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include depositing a silicon-containing material on a substrate disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber.

A gas processing apparatus includes: a mounting part; a gas supply part located above the mounting part and having a plurality of first gas supply holes; a gas supply path forming part configured to form a supply path of a processing gas, the gas supply path forming part including a flat opposing surface which faces the gas supply part from above and defines a first diffusion space for diffusing the processing gas in a lateral direction; a recess surrounding a central portion of the opposing surface; and a plurality of gas dispersion portions located in the recess surrounding the central portion of the opposing surface without protruding from the opposing surface, each of the plurality of gas dispersion portions having a plurality of gas discharge holes extending along a circumferential direction so as to laterally disperse the processing gas supplied from the supply path in the first diffusion space.

Apparatus and methods for vacuum chucking a substrate to a susceptor. The susceptor comprises one or more angularly spaced pockets are positioned around a center axis of the susceptor, the one or more angularly spaced pockets having an inner pocket and an outer pocket. The susceptor can be configured as an intermediate chuck having one or more pucks positioned within the inner pocket or as a distributed chuck having one or more pucks positioned within the outer pocket. The one or more pucks has a center hole, at least one radial channel and at least one circular channel having chuck holes for vacuum chucking a substrate.

In a CVD reactor and a method for the open-loop/closed-loop control of the surface temperature of substrates arranged therein, the substrates lie on substrate-retaining elements, which are each supported by a gas cushion. Actual values of the surface temperatures associated with a respective substrate-retaining element are successively measured and the surface temperatures are controlled in a closed-loop manner to a common value by varying the gas cushion height. After measuring each actual value of the surface temperature associated with a substrate-retaining element and using only the respective last-measured actual value of the surface temperatures of each substrate-retaining element, a first average value is calculated, a difference value associated with the substrate-retaining element is calculated, and an approximate actual value is calculated for each of the other substrate-retaining elements by adding the associated difference value to the first average value, said approximate actual value being used for the open-loop/closed-loop control.

A SiC epitaxial wafer includes a SiC substrate and an epitaxial layer laminated on the SiC substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer contains an impurity element which determines the conductivity type of the epitaxial layer and boron which has a conductivity type different from the conductivity type of the impurity element, and the concentration of boron in the center of the epitaxial layer is less than 5.0×10.sup.12 cm.sup.−3.

A vapor deposition device is provided that can suppress an influence on an epitaxial layer which is caused by a position of a lift pin without adjusting an upper and lower heating ratio of a wafer. A reaction chamber is provided with a susceptor on which a carrier is placed, and a carrier lift pin which moves the carrier vertically relative to the susceptor; and the carrier lift pin is installed outside of an outer edge of the wafer when a state where the carrier supporting the wafer is mounted on the susceptor is viewed in a plan view.

An impedance measurement jig may include a first contact plate, a second contact plate, a cover plate, a plug, and an analyzer. The first contact plate may make electrical contact with an ESC in a substrate-processing apparatus. The second contact plate may make electrical contact with a focus ring configured to surround the ESC. The cover plate may be configured to cover an upper surface of the substrate-processing apparatus. The plug may be installed at the cover plate to selectively make contact with the first contact plate or the second contact plate. The analyzer may individually apply a power to the first contact plate and the second contact plate through the plug to measure an impedance of the ESC and an impedance of the focus ring. Thus, the impedances of the ESC and the focus ring may be individually measured to inspect the ESC and/or the focus ring.

Exemplary substrate support assemblies may include a chuck body defining a substrate support surface. The substrate support surface may define a plurality of protrusions that extend upward from the substrate support surface. The substrate support surface may define an annular groove and/or ridge. A subset of the plurality of protrusions may be disposed within the annular groove and/or ridge. The substrate support assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the chuck body.

Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a chamber body. The chambers may include a substrate support disposed within the chamber body. The substrate support may define a substrate support surface. The chambers may include a showerhead positioned supported atop the chamber body. The substrate support and a bottom surface of the showerhead may at least partially define a processing region within the semiconductor processing chamber. The showerhead may define a plurality of apertures through the showerhead. The bottom surface of the showerhead may define an annular groove or ridge that is positioned directly above at least a portion of the substrate support.

A stage for heating and cooling an object installed in a chamber 1 includes : a stage body 5, 6 that has a mounting surface on which an object is mounted; a heating unit 7 for heating the mounting surface; and a cooling unit 8 for cooling the mounting surface. The stage body 5, 6 also has a first groove 10 into which the heating unit is inserted and a second groove 10 into which the cooling unit is inserted. The gap between the first groove and the heating unit and the gap between the second groove and the cooling unit have a heat-conductive medium.