Patent ID: 8152954
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. An electrode assembly comprising a thermal control plate, a silicon-based showerhead electrode, and securing hardware, wherein: the thermal control plate comprises a backside, a frontside, and one or more process gas passages configured to direct process gas to the frontside of the thermal control plate; the silicon-based showerhead electrode comprises a backside, a frontside, and a plurality of showerhead passages extending from the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode to the frontside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode; the silicon-based showerhead electrode further comprises a plurality of partial recesses formed in the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode, the partial recesses leaving a thickness of silicon-based electrode material between the recess and the frontside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode; the silicon-based showerhead electrode further comprises backside inserts positioned in the partial recesses along the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode; the thermal control plate further comprises securing hardware passages configured to permit securing hardware to access the backside inserts positioned in the partial recesses along the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode; the thermal control plate and the silicon-based showerhead electrode are engaged such that the frontside of the thermal control plate faces the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode, the showerhead passages in the silicon-based showerhead electrode are aligned with the process gas passages in the thermal control plate, and the securing hardware passages are aligned with the backside inserts positioned in the partial recesses along the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode; the securing hardware extends at least partially through the securing hardware passages in the thermal control plate into engagement with the backside inserts positioned in the partial recesses along the backside of the silicon-based showerhead electrode; the securing hardware and the backside inserts are configured to maintain engagement of the thermal control plate and the silicon-based showerhead electrode and to permit disengagement of the thermal control plate and the silicon-based showerhead electrode while isolating the silicon-based electrode material of the silicon-based showerhead electrode from frictional contact with the securing hardware during disengagement; and the silicon-based electrode material comprises single crystal silicon, wherein the partial recesses are formed within the single crystal silicon.