Patent ID: 7704894
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of depositing a material on a semiconductor substrate in a multi-station sequential deposition chamber wherein a process gas can diffuse between stations, the method comprising: introducing the semiconductor substrate to a first station of the deposition chamber; heating the semiconductor substrate in the first station while flowing a purge gas over the substrate, wherein the purge gas is substantially free of a reactant process gas being delivered in one or more other stations of the deposition chamber, and wherein the purge gas flows while the reactant process gas is delivered in said one or more other stations, and wherein no reactant gas flows to the substrate through the showerhead at the first station while the substrate is in the first station; moving the semiconductor substrate from the first station to a second station in the deposition chamber; flowing the reactant process gas onto the semiconductor substrate while positioned in the second station, thereby depositing the material on the semiconductor substrate; and removing the wafer from the deposition chamber wherein at least a portion of the heating step of the first station and the depositing step of other stations are performed simultaneously on different semiconductor substrates; and further wherein the heating step of the first station is performed without igniting a plasma in the first station.