Patent ID: 6251793
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A method of processing a substrate and reducing particle contamination thereof comprising steps of:(a) placing a substrate on a substrate holder in a processing chamber which includes a gas distribution plate having an exposed surface adjacent the substrate, the gas distribution plate comprising a silicon nitride based material;(b) processing the substrate by supplying process gas to the processing chamber and energizing the process gas into a plasma state in the processing chamber;(c) removing the substrate from the processing chamber; and(d) consecutively processing additional substrates in the processing chamber by repeating steps (a-c) while minimizing particle contamination of the substrates during the processing step as a result of build-up of a highly intact passivating layer on the silicon nitride gas distribution plate and/or volatilization of plasma attacked portions of the silicon nitride gas distribution plate rather than breaking off of particles thereof.