Patent ID: 8697578
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method for using a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process to form a thin film of a compound of silicon and a secondary element on a plurality of target substrates while supplying a film formation gas containing a silicon source gas from a gas distribution nozzle with a plurality of gas spouting holes formed thereon at predetermined intervals in a vertical direction and supplying a secondary film formation gas containing the secondary element from an additional film formation gas nozzle, both into a reaction chamber that accommodates the target substrates at intervals in a vertical direction, the method comprising: setting the apparatus by disposing a cleaning gas nozzle opened at a bottom portion inside the reaction chamber and configured to supply a cleaning gas containing fluorine, and an inactive gas nozzle opened at a bottom portion inside the reaction chamber and configured to supply an inactive gas, and arranging the gas distribution nozzle and the additional film formation gas nozzle to supply the inactive gas; then performing a first round of a film formation process for forming the thin film by CVD on a first lot of product target substrates inside the reaction chamber, the film formation process supplying the film formation gas from the gas distribution nozzle into the reaction chamber and supplying the secondary film formation gas from the additional film formation gas nozzle into the reaction chamber; then performing a second round of the film formation process for forming the thin film by CVD on a second lot of product target substrates inside the reaction chamber; and performing a cleaning process between the first and second rounds of the film formation process to remove a by-product film deposited inside the reaction chamber and the gas distribution nozzle, in a state where no product target substrates are accommodated inside the reaction chamber, without supplying the cleaning gas through the gas distribution nozzle into the reaction chamber between the first and second rounds of the film formation process, the cleaning process performing an etching step and an exhaust step in this order, the etching step: the exhaust step stopping supply of the cleaning gas and exhausting gas from inside the reaction chamber.