Patent ID: 7954452
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process, the apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber configured to accommodate a target substrate; a heater configured to heat an interior of the reaction chamber; an exhaust system configured to exhaust the interior of the reaction chamber; a film formation gas supply system configured to supply a film formation gas, for forming a product film on the target substrate, into the reaction chamber; a cleaning gas supply system configured to supply a cleaning gas, which contains a hydrogen fluoride gas for removing a by-product film derived from the film formation gas, into the reaction chamber; and a control section configured to control an operation of the apparatus, wherein the cleaning gas supply system includes a hydrogen fluoride line connecting a gas supply source of the hydrogen fluoride gas to the reaction chamber, a flow rate controller provided on the hydrogen fluoride line, and a piping heater disposed around a piping that defines an upstream line portion of the hydrogen fluoride line between the gas supply source and the flow rate controller, and wherein the control section includes a storage medium storing program instructions for execution on a processor, which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to conduct a sequence that comprises: forming a predetermined atmosphere inside the upstream line portion by setting a temperature of 50 to 80° C. and a pressure of 13,300 to 66,500 Pa inside the upstream line portion, the predetermined atmosphere causing the hydrogen fluoride gas to have an average molecular weight of 20 or more and 23 or less; supplying the hydrogen fluoride gas from the gas supply source through the upstream line portion having the predetermined atmosphere thus formed and the flow rate controller, thereby supplying a cleaning gas containing the hydrogen fluoride gas into the reaction chamber; and etching and removing the by-product film deposited on an inner surface of the reaction chamber, by use of the cleaning gas thus supplied.