Patent ID: 6723209
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: C23C,H01J

Abstract:
A system for forming a chemically reacted layer proximate an exposed surface of at least one substrate, comprising:(a) at least one gas supply that provides a chemically reactive molecular gas to at least one ion source, wherein the at least one ion source generates at least one divergent ion current directed at at least one target, the ion current contains at least one species of chemically reactive molecular ion, and the at least one target is disposed in a chamber having a partial vacuum in the range of 10âˆ’2 to 10âˆ’5 Torr; (b) a voltage source that applies a bias to the at least one target with respect to ground such that chemically reactive molecular ions from the at least one ion source are accelerated toward the at least one target with sufficient kinetic energy to dissociate at least some of the chemically reactive molecular ions by collision with a surface of the at least one target to form a population of neutral chemically reactive molecular fragments, atoms or radicals at least some of which scatter away from the surface of the at least one target and into the chamber; and (c) at least one substrate in the chamber, wherein at least a portion of said population of neutral chemically reactive molecular fragments, atoms or radicals is intercepted at an exposed surface of the at least one substrate, and wherein the neutral chemically reactive molecular fragments, atoms or radicals intercepted at the exposed surface of the at least one substrate have a kinetic energy that is a function of a value of the bias; wherein the chemically reacted layer corresponds to a product of at least one chemical reaction of the neutral chemically reactive molecular fragments, atoms or radicals intercepted at the exposed surface of the at least one substrate with other atoms proximate the exposed surface of the at least one substrate; wherein the chemically reacted layer is formed without bombarding the exposed surface of the at least one substrate with ions; further comprising a controller that varies the value of the bias applied to the at least one target, and thereby varies the kinetic energy of the neutral chemically reactive molecular fragments, atoms or radicals intercepted at the exposed surface of the at least one substrate.