Techniques are disclosed for roll-to-roll (R2R) atomic layer deposition (ALD). R2R ALD is accomplished by arranging precursor nozzles in A/B pairs while a flexible web substrate moves underneath the A/B pairs at a uniform speed. Nozzles A of the A/B pairs continuously flow a precursor A into the process volume of the R2R ALD chamber. The plasma enhanced/activated ALD (PEALD/PAALD) embodiments utilize electron cyclotron rotation (ECR)-enhanced hollow cathode plasma sources (HCPS) where nozzles B flow activated neutrals of precursor B into the process volume. As the flexible web moves in an R2R motion, nucleates from precursor A deposited on the surface of the substrate, and neutrals of precursor B undergo a self-limiting reaction to deposit a single atomically sized ALD film/layer. In this manner, multiple ALD layers may be deposited by each successive A/B pair in a single pass of the web. There is also a heat source underneath the web to further facilitate the ALD reaction, or to support thermal ALD embodiments.

The disclosure relates to a sequential infiltration synthesis apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber constructed and arranged to accommodate at least one substrate; a first precursor flow path to provide the first precursor to the reaction chamber when a first flow controller is activated; a second precursor flow path to provide a second precursor to the reaction chamber when a second flow controller is activated; a removal flow path to allow removal of gas from the reaction chamber; a removal flow controller to create a gas flow in the reaction chamber to the removal flow path when the removal flow controller is activated; and, a sequence controller operably connected to the first, second and removal flow controllers and the sequence controller being programmed to enable infiltration of an infiltrateable material provided on the substrate in the reaction chamber. The apparatus may be provided with a heating system.

The disclosure relates to a sequential infiltration synthesis apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber constructed and arranged to accommodate at least one substrate; a first precursor flow path to provide the first precursor to the reaction chamber when a first flow controller is activated; a second precursor flow path to provide a second precursor to the reaction chamber when a second flow controller is activated; a removal flow path to allow removal of gas from the reaction chamber; a removal flow controller to create a gas flow in the reaction chamber to the removal flow path when the removal flow controller is activated; and, a sequence controller operably connected to the first, second and removal flow controllers and the sequence controller being programmed to enable infiltration of an infiltrateable material provided on the substrate in the reaction chamber. The apparatus may be provided with a heating system.

A semiconductor wafer comprises a substrate wafer of monocrystalline silicon and a dopant-containing epitaxial layer of monocrystalline silicon atop the substrate wafer, wherein a non-uniformity of the thickness of the epitaxial layer is not more than 0.5% and a non-uniformity of the specific electrical resistance of the epitaxial layer is not more than 2%.

A heat treatment apparatus includes: a processing container configured to accommodate and process a plurality of substrates in multiple tiers under a reduced-pressure environment; a first heater configured to heat the plurality of substrates accommodated in the processing container; a plurality of gas supply pipes configured to supply a gas to positions having different heights in the processing container; and a second heater provided on a gas supply pipe that supplies a gas to a lowermost position among the plurality of gas supply pipes, and configured to heat the gas in the gas supply pipe.

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 film formation method includes (A) to (C) below. (A) Providing a substrate including, on a surface of the substrate, a first region in which a first material is exposed and a second region in which a second material different from the first material is exposed. (B) Supplying, to the surface of the substrate, vapor of a solution that contains a raw material of a self-assembled monolayer and a solvent by which the raw material is dissolved, and selectively forming a self-assembled monolayer in the first region. (C) Forming a desired target film in the second region by using the self-assembled monolayer formed in the first region.

A film formation method includes (A) to (C) below. (A) Providing a substrate including, on a surface of the substrate, a first region in which a first material is exposed and a second region in which a second material different from the first material is exposed. (B) Supplying, to the surface of the substrate, vapor of a solution that contains a raw material of a self-assembled monolayer and a solvent by which the raw material is dissolved, and selectively forming a self-assembled monolayer in the first region. (C) Forming a desired target film in the second region by using the self-assembled monolayer formed in the first region.

A method of producing an epitaxial silicon wafer, including: loading a wafer into a chamber; performing epitaxial growth; unloading the epitaxial silicon wafer from the chamber; and then cleaning the inside of the chamber using hydrochloric gas. After the cleaning is performed, whether components provided in the chamber are to be replaced or not is determined based on the cumulative amount of the hydrochloric gas supplied. The components have a base material that includes graphite and is coated with a silicon carbide film.

A film forming apparatus includes a film formation chamber capable of accommodating a substrate; a gas supplier including nozzles provided in an upper portion of the film formation chamber to supply a process gas onto a film formation face of the substrate, and a cooling part suppressing a temperature increase of the process gas; a heater heating the substrate to 1500° C. or higher; and a plate opposed to a bottom face of the gas supplier, where first opening parts of the nozzles are formed, in the film formation chamber, and arranged away from the bottom face, in which the plate includes a plurality of second opening parts having a smaller diameter than the first opening parts, and arranged substantially uniformly in a plane of the plate, and a partition protruded on an opposed face to the gas supplier and separating the plane of the plate into regions.