This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0165381, filed on Nov. 24, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a method of processing a substrate, and more particularly, to a method of processing a substrate in which plasma on an edge region is independently controlled.
A semiconductor device may be manufactured by various processes. For example, a semiconductor device may be manufactured by performing a photolithography process, an etching process, a deposition process, a plating process, etc., on a substrate. Plasma may be used in the etching process and the deposition process. Radiofrequency (RF) power may be applied to a substrate processing apparatus to generate and/or control the plasma. The behavior of the plasma may vary depending on the form of the RF power.
One or more example embodiments provide a method of processing a substrate, which is capable of controlling plasma on an edge region.
One or more example embodiments may also provide a method of processing a substrate, which is capable of controlling a density of plasma on a central region and a density of plasma on an edge region independently of each other.
One or more example embodiments may further provide a method of processing a substrate, which is capable of improving a yield of an etching process performed on a substrate.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, a method of processing a substrate includes: providing the substrate on a stage of a substrate processing apparatus; and processing the substrate on the stage. The processing of the substrate includes: providing source power to the substrate processing apparatus; and providing bias power to the substrate processing apparatus. The providing of the bias power to the substrate processing apparatus includes: providing a first non-sinusoidal wave to a plasma electrode of the stage; and providing a second non-sinusoidal wave to an edge electrode of the stage. A duty ratio of the second non-sinusoidal wave is different from a duty ratio of the first non-sinusoidal wave.
According to another aspect of an example embodiment, a method of processing a substrate includes: providing the substrate on a stage of a substrate processing apparatus; providing source power to the substrate processing apparatus as a first macro pulse; providing a first non-sinusoidal wave having a first micro pulse to the substrate processing apparatus; and providing a second non-sinusoidal wave having a second micro pulse to the substrate processing apparatus. A duty ratio of the second micro pulse is less than a duty ratio of the first micro pulse.
According to another aspect of an example embodiment, a method of processing a substrate includes: providing source power to a substrate processing apparatus; providing a first non-sinusoidal wave to the substrate processing apparatus; and providing a second non-sinusoidal wave to the substrate processing apparatus. The first non-sinusoidal wave includes: a first on-period in which a first voltage is applied to the substrate processing apparatus; and a first off-period in which a second voltage is applied to the substrate processing apparatus. The second non-sinusoidal wave includes: a second on-period in which a third voltage is applied to the substrate processing apparatus; and a second off-period in which a fourth voltage is applied to the substrate processing apparatus. The first on-period includes the second on-period.
The above and other aspects and features will be more apparent from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals or the same reference designators may denote the same components or elements throughout the specification. It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. By contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Embodiments described herein are example embodiments, and thus, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may be realized in various other forms. Each example embodiment provided in the following description is not excluded from being associated with one or more features of another example or another embodiment also provided herein or not provided herein but consistent with the present disclosure.
In the drawings, a reference designator D1 may indicate a first direction, a reference designator D2 may indicate a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a reference designator D3 may indicate a third direction intersecting both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. The first direction D1 may be referred to as a vertical direction. In addition, each of the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 may be referred to as a horizontal direction.
Referring to
The process chamber 1 may provide a process space 1h. A process may be performed on a substrate provided in the process space 1h. The process space 1h may be separated from an external space. While the process is performed on the substrate, the process space 1h may be in a substantial vacuum state. The process chamber 1 may have, but is not limited to, a cylindrical shape.
The stage 7 may be located in the process chamber 1. In this regard, the stage 7 may be located in the process space 1h. The stage 7 may be configured to support and/or hold the substrate. In a state in which the substrate is placed on the stage 7, the process may be performed on the substrate. The stage 7 will be described below in more detail.
The shower head 3 may be located in the process chamber 1. In this regard, the shower head 3 may be located in the process space 1h. The shower head 3 may be spaced apart from the stage 7 and may be above the stage 7. A gas supplied from the gas supply GS may be uniformly supplied into the process space 1h through the shower head 3.
The DC power supply 2 may be configured to apply DC power to the stage 7. The substrate may be fixed or held at a certain position on the stage 7 by the DC power applied from the DC power supply 2.
The source power supply 51 may be configured to apply source power to the stage 7. More particularly, the source power supply 51 may apply the source power in the form of radiofrequency (RF) power to the stage 7. Thus, the plasma may be generated in the process space 1h. This will be described below in more detail.
The first bias power supply 53 may be configured to apply first bias power to the stage 7. More particularly, the first bias power supply 53 may apply power in the form of a non-sinusoidal wave to the stage 7. For example, the first bias power supply 53 may apply power in the form of a square wave to the stage 7. By controlling application of the power by the first bias power supply 53, the plasma in the process space 1h may be controlled. This will be described below in more detail.
The second bias power supply 55 may be configured to apply second bias power to the stage 7. More particularly, the second bias power supply 55 may apply power in the form of a non-sinusoidal wave to the stage 7. For example, the second bias power supply 55 may apply power in the form of a square wave to the stage 7. By controlling application of the power by the second bias power supply 55, the plasma in the process space 1h may be controlled. This will be described below in more detail.
The vacuum pump VP may be connected to the process space 1h. While the process is performed on the substrate, a vacuum pressure may be applied to the process space 1h by the vacuum pump VP.
The gas supply GS may be configured to supply a gas into the process space 1h. To achieve this, the gas supply GS may include a gas tank, a compressor, and a valve. A portion of the gas supplied into the process space 1h by the gas supply GS may be formed into the plasma.
Referring to
The substrate may be provided on the chuck body 71. The chuck body 71 may fix or hold the substrate at a certain position. The chuck body 71 may have a cylindrical shape. The chuck body 71 may include, but is not limited to, ceramics. The substrate may be provided on a top surface of the chuck body 71. A focus ring FR and/or an edge ring may surround the chuck body 71. Alternatively, the focus ring FR and/or the edge ring may be located on the chuck body 71. The chuck body 71 may define one or more cooling holes 71h. Cooling water may flow through the cooling hole 71h. The cooling water in the cooling hole 71h may absorb heat from the chuck body 71.
The chuck electrode 73 may be located in the chuck body 71. The chuck electrode 73 may be located above the plasma electrode 75. DC power may be applied to the chuck electrode 73. More particularly, the DC power supply 2 may be configured to apply the DC power to the chuck electrode 73. The substrate on the chuck body 71 may be fixed or held at a certain position by the DC power applied to the chuck electrode 73. The chuck electrode 73 may include, but is not limited to, aluminum (Al).
The plasma electrode 75 may be located in the chuck body 71. The plasma electrode 75 may include aluminum (Al). The plasma electrode 75 may have a disc shape, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. Source power and/or bias power may be applied to the plasma electrode 75. More particularly, the source power and/or the first bias power may be applied to the plasma electrode 75. For this, the plasma electrode 75 may be electrically connected to the first bias power supply 53. This will be described below in more detail.
The edge electrode 77 may surround the plasma electrode 75. The edge electrode 77 may have a ring shape. The edge electrode 77 may be located under the focus ring FR. The edge electrode 77 may include aluminum (Al), but example embodiments are not limited thereto. Source power and/or bias power may be applied to the edge electrode 77. More particularly, the source power and/or the second bias power may be applied to the edge electrode 77. For this, the edge electrode 77 may be electrically connected to the second bias power supply 55. This will be described below in more detail.
The heater 79 may be located in the chuck body 71. The heater 79 may be located between the chuck electrode 73 and the plasma electrode 75. The heater 79 may include a heating wire. For example, the heater 79 may include concentric heating wires. The heater 79 may emit heat, and may be used to increase a temperature of the chuck body 71.
Referring to
The processing of the substrate (S2) may include supplying a process gas into the process space of the substrate processing apparatus (S21), applying source power to the substrate processing apparatus (S22), and applying bias power to the substrate processing apparatus (S23).
The applying of the bias power to the substrate processing apparatus (S23) may include applying a first non-sinusoidal wave (S231) and applying a second non-sinusoidal wave (S232).
Hereinafter, a method of processing a substrate (SS) will be described in more detail with reference to
Referring to
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The applying of the first non-sinusoidal wave (S231) may include applying a first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 to the plasma electrode 75 by the first bias power supply 53. By controlling the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 applied to the plasma electrode 75, the plasma PL in the process space 1h may be controlled. The first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 may have a first micro pulse. The first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 may be supplied in the form of a second macro pulse. In this regard, the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 having the first micro pulse may be supplied in the form of the second macro pulse. This will be described below in more detail.
The applying of the second non-sinusoidal wave (S232) may include applying a second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 to the edge electrode 77 by the second bias power supply 55. By controlling the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 applied to the edge electrode 77, the plasma PL in the process space 1h may be controlled. More particularly, when the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 is applied to the edge electrode 77, the plasma PL in an edge region of the process space 1h may be controlled. The edge region of the process space 1h may indicate a region on the focus ring FR, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. The second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 may have a second micro pulse. The second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 may be supplied in the form of the second macro pulse. In this regard, the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 having the second micro pulse may be supplied in the form of the second macro pulse. This will be described below in more detail.
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The source power SP, which as discussed above may be RF power having a frequency within a range of about 20 MHz to about 80 MHz, may be supplied in the form of the first macro pulse. The first macro pulse may have a form in which a macro on-duration AP1 (in which the RF power is emitted) and a macro off-duration AP2 (in which the RF power is not emitted) are repeated.
Each of the first non-sinusoidal wave (i.e., first bias power) BP1 and the second non-sinusoidal wave (i.e., second bias power) BP2, which as discussed above may be square waves, may be supplied in the form of the second macro pulse. The second macro pulse may be substantially the same as or substantially similar to the first macro pulse. For example, the second macro pulse may have a form in which the macro on-duration AP1 (in which the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 and the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 are supplied) and the macro off-duration AP2 (in which the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 and the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 are not supplied) are repeated.
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A duty ratio (or duty cycle) of the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 may be constant over time. In this regard, a ratio of the first on-duration X1 and the first off-duration X2 may not change over time. In addition, a duty ratio of the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 may be constant over time. In this regard, a ratio of the second on-duration X3 and the second off-duration X4 may not change over time.
The duty ratio of the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 may be different from the duty ratio of the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2. In this regard, the ratio of the second on-duration X3 and the second off-duration X4 may be different from the ratio of the first on-duration X1 and the first off-duration X2. For example, the duty ratio of the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 may be less than the duty ratio of the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1. By differently controlling the duty ratios of the first and second non-sinusoidal waves BP1 and BP2, the plasma PL (see
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Each of the duty ratio of the first non-sinusoidal wave BP1 and the duty ratio of the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 is constant over time in the above example embodiments, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. In certain example embodiments, the duty ratio of the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 may change over time. For example, the duty ratio of the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 may decrease or increase over time. Alternatively, the voltage of the second non-sinusoidal wave BP2 may change over time.
According to methods of processing a substrate according to example embodiments, the plasma on the edge region may be precisely controlled. More particularly, the plasma on the central region and the plasma on the edge region may be controlled independently of each other. Thus, a density of the plasma on the edge region may be separately adjusted. As a result, the etching process performed on the edge region of the substrate may be precisely controlled. In this regard, a yield of the etching process of the substrate may be improved.
According to methods of processing a substrate according to example embodiments, the plasma on the edge region may be controlled.
According to methods of processing a substrate according to example embodiments, the density of the plasma on the central region and the density of the plasma on the edge region may be controlled independently of each other.
According to methods of processing a substrate according to example embodiments, the yield of the etching process performed on the substrate may be improved.
While aspects of example embodiments have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2023-0165381 | Nov 2023 | KR | national |