Patent ID: 11935759
Assignee: LOTUS APPLIED TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Field: Surface technology, coating (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C  H | IPC C  H

Claim 14:
15. A thin film deposition method comprising the steps of:
forming on the substrate a first film of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, or combinations thereof having a first type of stress, the first film being formed by the steps of:
(a) placing a substrate into an atomic layer deposition reactor proximal to a first electrode that is coupled to a power supply, the substrate being spaced apart from the first electrode to leave a gap therebetween;
(b) introducing into the atomic layer deposition reactor a first process gas at a first pressure at or below 0.8 Torr and operating the power supply to apply power to the first electrode having a first voltage of at least 700 Volts and frequency less than 500 kHz to induce in the process gas a first plasma that occupies the entire gap between the first electrode and the substrate, wherein the first process gas is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen-containing gas, a nitrogen-containing gas, and mixtures thereof; and
(c) after step (b), exposing the substrate to a first gaseous metal-containing precursor;
(d) alternating steps (b) and (c) multiple times;

forming over the first film a second film of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, or combinations thereof having a second stress that is different in type or amount from the first stress, the second film being formed by the steps of:
(e) transporting the substrate to a position proximal to a second electrode so that the second electrode and the substrate are spaced apart to leave a second gap therebetween;
(f) exposing the substrate to a second process gas at a second pressure at or below 0.8 Torr that is different from the first pressure while applying power to the second electrode to induce a plasma state in the second process gas proximal to the substrate, the power applied to the second electrode having a second voltage different from the first voltage and a frequency less than 500 kHz, wherein the second process gas is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen-containing gas, a nitrogen-containing gas, and mixtures thereof;
(g) after step (f), exposing the substrate to the first gaseous metal-containing precursor or a second gaseous metal-containing precursor; and
(h) alternating steps (f) and (g) multiple times.