In one example, a workpiece support structure of a plasma treatment chamber has upper and lower ends, and first and second support members that extend between the upper and lower ends. The support members are electrically isolated from one another and offset from one another along a horizontal direction so as to define a cavity therebetween. The first and second support members support electrodes within the cavity such that (1) the electrodes are offset from one another along the vertical direction, (2) the electrodes extend between the first and second support members along the first horizontal direction, (3) a first set of the electrodes are electrically coupled to the first support member and electrically isolated from the second support member, and (4) a second set of the electrodes, different from the first set, are electrically coupled to the second support member and electrically isolated from the first support member.

Semiconductor processing apparatuses and methods are provided in which an electrostatic discharge (ESD) prevention layer is utilized to prevent or reduce ESD events from occurring between a semiconductor wafer and one or more components of the apparatuses. In some embodiments, a semiconductor processing apparatus includes a wafer handling structure that is configured to support a semiconductor wafer during processing of the semiconductor wafer. The apparatus further includes an ESD prevention layer on the wafer handling structure. The ESD prevention layer includes a first material and a second material, and the second material has an electrical conductivity that is greater than an electrical conductivity of the first material.

A substrate storage rack for a semiconductor processing system includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and a column assembly. The top plate is spaced apart from the bottom plate, the column assembly connects the top plate to the bottom plate, and a ball member is compressively seated within the column assembly. The ball member protrudes from the column assembly in a direction toward the top plate to support a substrate within the substrate storage rack and on the ball member. Semiconductor processing systems and methods of making substrate storage racks are also described.

A manufacturing method of the ESD protection device includes the following steps. A surface treatment is performed on the substrate. A link layer is formed on the substrate after the surface treatment, wherein a material of the link layer includes a metal material. A progressive layer is formed on the link layer, wherein a material of the progressive layer includes a non-stoichiometric metal oxide material, and an oxygen concentration in the non-stoichiometric metal oxide material is increased gradually away from the substrate in a thickness direction of the progressive layer. A composite layer is formed on the progressive layer, wherein the composite layer includes a stoichiometric metal oxide material and a non-stoichiometric metal oxide material, and a ratio of the non-stoichiometric metal oxide material and the stoichiometric metal oxide material in the composite layer may make a sheet resistance value of the composite layer 1×10.sup.7 to 1×10.sup.8 Ω/sq.

Apparatus and methods to process one or more wafers are described. The apparatus comprises a chamber defining an upper interior region and a lower interior region. A heater assembly is on the bottom of the chamber body in the lower interior region and defines a process region. A wafer cassette assembly is inside the heater assembly and a motor is configured to move the wafer cassette assembly from the lower process region inside the heater assembly to the upper interior region.

A substrate boat for use in heat treatment of semiconductor wafers includes support rods and fingers for supporting a substrate in a horizontal orientation in process tools, e.g., furnaces. The substrate is supported in the substrate boat by groups of fingers lying in a common horizontal plane. The fingers contact the substrate at support locations on the back side of the substrate. The fingers have a plurality of different shapes and a substrate surface no contact region.

Described herein is a technique capable of uniformly processing a substrate. According to one aspect of the technique, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a process chamber in which a substrate is processed; a microwave generator configured to supply a microwave to the process chamber to perform a heat treatment on the substrate; a substrate retainer configured to accommodate the substrate and a heat retainer provided above the substrate and retaining a temperature of the substrate heated by the microwave; and a first ring plate provided on an outer circumference of the heat retainer and whose outer diameter is greater than that of the substrate.

A manufacturing method of the ESD protection device includes the following steps. A surface treatment is performed on the substrate. A link layer is formed on the substrate after the surface treatment, wherein a material of the link layer includes a metal material. A progressive layer is formed on the link layer, wherein a material of the progressive layer includes a non-stoichiometric metal oxide material, and an oxygen concentration in the non-stoichiometric metal oxide material is increased gradually away from the substrate in a thickness direction of the progressive layer. A composite layer is formed on the progressive layer, wherein the composite layer includes a stoichiometric metal oxide material and a non-stoichiometric metal oxide material, and a ratio of the non-stoichiometric metal oxide material and the stoichiometric metal oxide material in the composite layer may make a sheet resistance value of the composite layer 1×10.sup.7 to 1×10.sup.8 Ω/sq.

An ESD protection composite structure includes a link layer, a progressive layer, and a composite layer. The link layer is used for disposing the ESD protection composite structure on a substrate, wherein a material of the link layer includes a metal material. The progressive layer is disposed on the link layer, wherein the material of the progressive layer includes a non-stoichiometric metal oxide material, and an oxygen concentration in the non-stoichiometric metal oxide material is increased gradually away from the substrate in a thickness direction of the progressive layer. The composite layer is disposed on the progressive layer, wherein the composite layer includes a stoichiometric metal oxide material and a non-stoichiometric metal oxide material, and a ratio of the non-stoichiometric metal oxide material and the stoichiometric metal oxide material in the composite layer may make a sheet resistance value of the composite layer 1×10.sup.7 Ω/sq to 1×10.sup.8 Ω/sq.

Apparatus and methods to process one or more wafers are described. The apparatus comprises a chamber defining an upper interior region and a lower interior region. A heater assembly is on the bottom of the chamber body in the lower interior region and defines a process region. A wafer cassette assembly is inside the heater assembly and a motor is configured to move the wafer cassette assembly from the lower process region inside the heater assembly to the upper interior region.