Abstract:
A substrate processing apparatus capable of efficiently purging not only a process space but also the inside of a processing gas feed nozzle when a multi element compound film is formed on a substrate by laminating a molecular layer thereon, wherein an exhaust line is connected to one end of the processing gas feed nozzle jetting the processing gas in a laminar flow into the process space along the surface of the treated substrate, and the processing gas or purge gas is fed from the other end thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of and claims the benefits of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/233,093, filed Sep. 23, 2005, which is a Continuation-In-Part Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP03/015677 filed on Dec. 08, 2003, which designated the United States. The entire content of these applications is incorporated herein by reference to the extent that such incorporation does not create an issue of new matter. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a fabrication of a semiconductor device; and, more particularly, to a vapor phase deposition technology of a dielectric film or a metal film. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventionally, a metal film, an insulating film or a semiconductor film of high quality has been generally formed on a surface of a substrate to be processed by an MOCVD method, in a field of a semiconductor device fabrication technology. 
         [0004]    Meanwhile, recently, there has been studied an atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology for forming a high dielectric film (so-called a high-K dielectric film) on a surface of a substrate to be processed by accumulating thereon an atomic layer one by one, specifically in case of forming a gate insulating film of an ultra-fine semiconductor device. 
         [0005]    In the ALD method, a metal compound molecule containing a metal element, which forms a high-K dielectric film, is supplied as a gaseous source material into a processing space containing a substrate to be processed, so that about one atomic layer of the metal compound molecule is chemically adsorbed on a surface of the substrate to be processed. After the gaseous source material gas is purged from the processing space, an oxidizing agent such as H 2 O or the like is supplied thereinto to decompose the metal compound molecule that has been adsorbed on the surface of the substrate to be processed, to thereby form a metal oxide film of about one atomic layer. 
         [0006]    Further, after the oxidizing agent is purged from the processing space, the aforementioned processes are repeatedly performed to form a metal oxide film, i.e., a high-K dielectric film, of a desired thickness. 
         [0007]    As mentioned above, the ALD method employs a chemical adsorption of a source material (compound molecule) on the surface of the substrate to be processed, and specifically, has a characteristic of a superior step coverage. A high-quality film can be formed at a temperature in the range of 400˜500° C., or below the above range. Thus, the ALD method is considered as an effective technology in the fabrication of a memory cell capacitor of DRAM wherein a dielectric film needs to be formed on a complicated feature, as well as a gate insulating film of an ultra-high speed transistor. 
         [0008]    Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2002-151489 
         [0009]    FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a substrate processing apparatus  10  described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2002-151489. 
         [0010]    Referring to FIG. 1, the substrate processing apparatus  10  includes a reaction vessel  11  for accommodating therein a substrate to be processed  12 . Herein, the reaction vessel  11  is formed of an outer vessel  101  made of Al or the like, and an inner reaction vessel  102  made of quartz glass. The inner reaction vessel  102  is formed inside the outer vessel  101  to be accommodated in a recess covered by a cover plate  101 A forming a part of the outer vessel  101 . 
         [0011]    The inner reaction vessel  102  is formed of a quartz bottom plate  102 A covering a bottom surface of the outer vessel  101  in the recess; and a quartz cover  101 B covering the quartz bottom plate  102 A therein. Further, at a bottom portion of the outer vessel, there is formed a circular opening  101 D for accommodating therein a disc-shaped substrate supporting table  103  for supporting the substrate  12  to be processed. Inside the substrate supporting table  103 , there is installed a heating unit (not shown). 
         [0012]    The substrate supporting table  103  is supported by a lower vessel  104  such that it can be moved rotatably and vertically. The substrate supporting table  103  is supported in such a manner that it can be moved vertically between an uppermost process position and a lowest substrate loading/unloading position, wherein the process position is determined such that the surface of the substrate  12  to be processed on the supporting table  103  roughly coincides with that of the quartz bottom plate  102 A. 
         [0013]    Meanwhile, the substrate loading/unloading position is set to correspond to a substrate loading/unloading opening  104 A formed at a sidewall of the lower vessel  104 . In case when the substrate supporting table  103  is lowered at the substrate loading/unloading position, a transfer arm  104 B is inserted from the substrate loading/unloading port  104 A to unload the substrate  12  lifted up from the surface of the substrate supporting table  103  by lifter pins (not shown), and thus the substrate is transferred for a next processing. Further, a new substrate  12  to be processed is loaded into the lower vessel  104  through the substrate loading/unloading opening  104 A by the transfer arm  104 B to be mounted on the substrate supporting table  103 . 
         [0014]    The substrate supporting table  103  supporting the new substrate  12  to be processed is supported such that it can be moved rotatably and vertically by a rotation axis  105 B supported by a magnetic seal  105 A inside a bearing  105 . Herein, a space where the rotation axis  105  is vertically moved is airtightly sealed by partitions of a bellows  106  and the like. 
         [0015]    At the substrate supporting table  103 , there is installed a guide ring  103 A made of quartz to surround the substrate  12  to be processed. 
         [0016]    The sidewall of the opening  101 D formed at the bottom portion of the outer vessel  101  is covered with a quartz liner  101   d , which is further extended downward to cover the inner wall of the lower vessel  104 . 
         [0017]    At both sides of the opening  101 D at the bottom portion of the outer vessel  101 , there are formed exhaust groove portions  101   a  and  101   b  connected to gas exhaust units, respectively. Herein, the exhaust groove portions  101   a  and  101   b  are exhausted through conductance valves  15 A and  15 B via conduction lines  107   a  and  107   b,  respectively. In FIG. 1, the conductance valve  15 A is set to be closed, and the conductance valve  15 B is set to be opened. 
         [0018]    The exhaust groove portions  101   a  and  101   b  are covered with a liner  108  made of quartz glass; and slit shaped openings  109 A and  109 B respectively corresponding to the exhaust groove portions  101   a  and  101   b  are formed at the quartz bottom plate  102 A. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a rectifying plate  109 , in which a gas exhaust port  14 A or  14 B is formed at the slit shaped opening  109 A or  109 B, is configured to facilitate an exhaustion of the inner reaction vessel  102 . 
         [0019]    Further, inside the inner reaction vessel  102 , quartz gas nozzles  13 A and  13 B are respectively installed at peripheries of the exhaust groove portions  101   b  and  101   a  so as to face each other with the wafer  12  therebetween. 
         [0020]    The quartz gas nozzles  13 A and  13 B are connected to source gas supply lines  16   a  and  16   b  and purge gas lines  100   a  and  100   b  via switching valves  16 A and  16 B, respectively. Still further, in the substrate processing apparatus  10  of FIG. 1, the switching valves  16 A and  16 B are connected to purge lines  100   c  and  100   d,  respectively. 
         [0021]    A first processing gas introduced through the gas nozzle  13 A flows through the inner reaction vessel  102  along the surface of the substrate  12  to be processed, to thereby be exhausted through the conductance valve  15 A via the opposite gas exhaust port  14 A. In the same manner, a second processing gas introduced through the gas nozzle  13 B flows through the inner reaction vessel  102  along the surface of the substrate  12  to be processed, to thereby be exhausted through the conductance valve  15 B via the opposite gas exhaust port  14 B. As mentioned above, by alternately allowing the first and the second processing gas to flow respectively through the gas exhaust port  14 A from the gas nozzle  13 A and through the gas exhaust port  14 B from the gas nozzle  13 B, a film in which an atomic layer becomes a unit thickness can be formed. 
         [0022]    Meanwhile, in the substrate processing apparatus  10  of FIG. 1, there may be a case where plural processing gases are alternately supplied into one processing gas supply port, e.g., a processing gas supply port  13 A, in case of forming, particularly, a multi-component high dielectric film or the like. 
         [0023]    FIG. 2 shows a state in the vicinity of the processing gas supply port  13 A in the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 1, in case where a TMA gas and an organic Hf (HfMO) gas are alternately supplied into the processing gas supply port  13 A, as mentioned above. Such a state is the same as in the vicinity of the processing gas supply port  13 B, but the explanation thereof will be omitted. 
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 2, in the processing gas supply port  13 A, there are provided ports  13   a  and  13   b  into which the HfMO and the TMA gas are supplied at different positions in the longitudinal direction thereof; and the HfMO gas in a line L 1  is supplied into the port  13   a  via a valve V 1 . In the same manner, the TMA gas in a line L 2  is supplied into the port  13   b  via a valve V 2 . 
         [0025]    The line L 1  is connected to a vent line Lv via a valve V 7 , and the line L 2  is connected to the vent line Lv via a valve V 8 . If the valve V 1  is closed and the valve V 3  is opened, Ar gas in a purge line Lp 1  is supplied into the processing gas supply port  13 A via the port  13   a.  Further, if the valve V 2  is closed and the valve V 4  is opened, Ar gas in a purge line Lp 2  is supplied into the processing gas supply port  13 A via the port  13   b.  Still further, in a state where the valve V 3  is closed, Ar gas in the purge line Lp 1  is exhausted through the vent line Lv via an additional valve VS; and, in a state where the valve V 4  is closed, Ar gas in the purge line Lp 2  is exhausted through the vent line Lv via an additional valve V 6 . 
         [0026]    By installing such a gas supply unit in the processing gas supply port  13 A, it is possible to supply the TMA and the HfMO gas into the reaction vessel  102 , alternately. For example, a high dielectric film such as ZrAl 2 O 5  can be formed through an atomic layer deposition. 
         [0027]    However, in case of using the processing gas supply port  13 A or  13 B having a configuration of FIG. 2, the source gas is likely to remain in the processing gas supply port  13 A; and, even though a purge is performed by using a purge gas such as Ar or the like when switching the processing gas, the processing gas used for the prior processing remains in the processing gas supply port  13 A when a following processing gas is supplied thereinto. Such a problem is serious in the substrate processing apparatus  10  wherein the processing gas supply port  13 A has a long and slender injection opening of a small area to form in the reaction vessel  102  a laminar flow of the processing gas supplied from the processing gas supply port  13 A. 
         [0028]    Further, in the purge processing using an Ar gas in the line Lp 1  or Lp 2 , since the processing gas remaining in the processing gas supply port  13 A is discharged into the reaction vessel  102 , the adsorption of the processing gas molecule, which is unnecessary for the purge processing, may be undesirably generated. 
         [0029]    Still further, in the configuration of FIG. 2, if one processing gas has a property that reacts with the other one, there may be a concern that a processing gas to be supplied reacts with the remaining processing gas used for the prior processing to thereby generate particles. Therefore, for securely avoiding the problem of particle generation as mentioned above, it is necessary to install an additional processing gas supply port independently around the processing gas supply port  13 A. However, in such a configuration, it is difficult to reduce a volume of the processing space, i.e., the reaction vessel  102 . In a technology of forming a film by repeatedly supplying the processing gas and the purge gas, e.g., atomic layer deposition technology or the like, an inner volume of the reaction vessel needs to be as small as possible such that rapid purge can be realized. However, in the configuration of FIG. 2, it is difficult to reduce the inner volume of the reaction vessel, and it takes much time to perform the purge. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful substrate processing apparatus. 
         [0031]    Specifically, it is another object of the present invention to provide a substrate processing apparatus having a processing gas introduction port capable of efficiently performing a purge. 
         [0032]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a substrate processing apparatus capable of switching a processing gas efficiently. 
         [0033]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a reaction vessel having a substrate supporting table for supporting a substrate to be processed; and a processing gas supply unit for supplying into the reaction vessel a processing gas in the form of a laminar flow along a surface of the substrate to be processed, wherein the processing gas supply unit includes a processing gas nozzle for forming the laminar flow of the processing gas, the processing gas nozzle being provided in the reaction vessel and extended in a direction substantially normal to that of the laminar flow; and wherein one end of the processing gas supply nozzle is connected to a processing gas supply line for supplying the processing gas, and an opposite end thereof is connected to an exhaust line. 
         [0034]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus, including: a reaction vessel having a substrate supporting table for supporting a substrate to be processed, the reaction vessel having a first exhaust port formed at a first side of the substrate supporting table and a second exhaust port formed at a second side facing the first side of the substrate supporting table; a first processing gas supply unit, provided at the second side of the reaction vessel, for supplying a first laminar flow of a first processing gas into the reaction vessel; and a second processing gas supply unit, provided at the first side of the reaction vessel, for supplying a second laminar flow of a second processing gas into the reaction vessel, wherein the first and the second exhaust port have a first and a second slit shape, respectively, extended in a direction substantially normal to those of the first and the second laminar flow; the first exhaust port is connected to a first valve having a valve body in which a first opening corresponding to the first slit shape is provided; the second exhaust port is connected to a second valve having a valve body in which a second opening corresponding to the second slit shape is provided; and the first and the second opening are provided to be shifted in a direction substantially normal to extending directions of the first and the second slit shape, respectively. 
         [0035]    In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substrate processing method, including the steps of: supplying a laminar flow of a first processing gas from a first processing gas nozzle provided at a first side of a substrate to be processed towards a second side facing the first side of the substrate to be processed, along a surface of the substrate to be processed, thereby, allowing molecules of the first processing gas to be adsorbed on the surface of the substrate; removing the first processing gas from a processing space including the substrate to be processed and the first processing gas nozzle; supplying a laminar flow of a second processing gas towards the first side from a second processing gas nozzle provided at the second side, along the surface of the substrate to be processed, thereby, allowing the second processing gas to react with the molecules of the first processing gas adsorbed on the surface of the substrate; and removing the second processing gas from the processing space and the second processing gas nozzle. 
         [0036]    In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas nozzle including: a hollow member extending from a first end to a second end; a conduction line accommodated in the hollow member and extended from a third end to a fourth end, the third and the fourth end corresponding to the first and the second end, respectively; plural openings formed in the conduction line along a length direction thereof; a slit shaped gas injection opening formed in the hollow member along the extending direction thereof; a gas introduction port provided at the third end of the conduction line; a gas exhaust port provided at the fourth end of the conduction line; and a gas introduction port provided at the hollow member to communicate with an inside thereof. 
         [0037]    In accordance with the present invention, the processing gas is introduced from one end of the processing gas supply nozzle and discharged through the other end thereof. Thus, by injecting the purge gas into one end after injecting the processing gas, it is possible to efficiently discharge the processing gas remaining in the processing gas supply nozzle through the other end, to thereby readily perform the purge of the processing gas nozzle. As a result, it is possible to introduce the plural processing gases into the processing vessel of the substrate processing apparatus by using a single processing gas supply nozzle, and to form a multi-component high dielectric film on the substrate to be processed while reducing the inner volume of the processing vessel. Accordingly, the purge efficiency in the reaction vessel is improved, and the processing can be performed with high throughput. 
         [0038]    Further, in accordance with the present invention, the source material to be deposited can be supplied alternately into both sides of the substrate to be processed, so that the film with the uniform thickness can be formed on the substrate to be processed while not being rotated. 
         [0039]    Other objects and characteristics of the present invention will be clarified by detailed descriptions performed hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0041]    FIG. 1 offers a configuration of a conventional substrate processing apparatus; 
           [0042]    FIG. 2 shows a magnified part of the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 1; 
           [0043]    FIG. 3 is a configuration of a substrate processing apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0044]    FIGS. 4A and 4B present additional views for showing configurations of the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 3; 
           [0045]    FIGS. 5A and 5B present views for showing in detail parts of the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 3; 
           [0046]    FIGS. 6A˜6C provide views for showing in detail parts of the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 3; 
           [0047]    FIGS. 7A˜7F offer views for showing substrate processing processes performed by using the substrate processing apparatus of FIG. 3, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0048]    FIGS. 8A and 8B present views for showing purge effects of a processing gas nozzle; 
           [0049]    FIG. 9 describes the number of particles deposited on the substrate in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0050]    FIGS. 10A and 10B present views for showing configurations of a processing gas supply nozzle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]    FIG. 11 is a configuration of a substrate processing apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0052]    FIG. 12 sets forth a view for showing a substrate processing process in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0053]    FIG. 13 explains a comparative example of the substrate processing process of FIG. 12. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     First Embodiment 
       [0054]    FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a substrate processing apparatus  200  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; and FIGS. 4A and 4B describe schematic configurations of the substrate processing apparatus  200 . Herein, FIG. 4A is a cross sectional view for simplifying FIG. 3; and FIG. 4B is a plane view of FIG. 4A. 
         [0055]    Referring to FIG. 3, the substrate processing apparatus  200  includes an outer vessel  201  made of aluminum alloy, and a cover plate  201 A covering the outer vessel  201 . In a space formed by the outer vessel  201  and the cover plate  201 A, there is installed a reaction vessel  202  forming a processing space. 
         [0056]    Further, a lower part of the processing space is configured as a substrate supporting table  203  for supporting a substrate  12  to be processed, wherein the substrate supporting table  203  is downwardly extended from the outer vessel  201  and installed so as to be able to be vertically moved between an upper and a lower position inside a lower vessel  204  provided with a substrate transfer port  204 A. The substrate supporting table  203  forms the processing space at the upper position together with the reaction vessel  202 . 
         [0057]    In the state shown in the drawing, it can be noted that the substrate supporting table  203  is being lowered inside the lower vessel  204 , and the substrate  12  to be processed is placed at a position corresponding to the substrate transfer port  204 A. In that stage, lifter pins  204 B are operated to unload/load the substrate  12 . 
         [0058]    Further, the substrate supporting table  203  is supported such that it can be rotatably moved by an axis receiving portion  205  containing a magnetic seal; and a bellows  206  is installed around the rotation axis, which is coupled with the substrate supporting table, to facilitate a vertical movement of the substrate supporting table  203 . 
         [0059]    It can be known that the cover plate  201 A is configured to have a thick central portion, so that the space formed by the outer vessel  201  and the cover plate  201 A is configured to have a small gap, i.e., volume, at the central portion where the substrate  12  to be processed is disposed, and to have both ends whose gaps are gradually increased, in the state where the substrate supporting table  203  is elevated at the upper position. 
         [0060]    In the substrate processing apparatus  200  shown in FIG. 3, high speed rotary valves  25 A ad  25 B respectively communicating with gas exhaust lines  207   a  and  207   b  via gas exhaust ports  255  are installed at both ends of the processing space. Further, at the both ends of the processing space, processing gas nozzles  83 A and  83 B are installed to respectively face the high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B. Herein, the processing gas nozzles  83 A and  83 B are formed in bird&#39;s beak shapes to rectify a gas flow path to the high speed rotary valve  25 A or  25 B. 
         [0061]    Further, in the configuration of FIG. 3, an outer periphery of the substrate supporting table  203  is covered with a quartz guide ring  203 A; and a quartz bottom plate  202 A is installed at the bottom portion of the processing space to surround the substrate supporting table  203  from the side, in case where the substrate supporting table  203  is elevated to the upper position. 
         [0062]    As described in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the processing gas nozzle  83 B is connected to an integrated valve unit  83 BI, through which a source gas such as an organic Hf source (Hf—MO) or an organic Al source (TMA), an oxidizing gas such as oxygen, ozone or the like, a nitriding gas such as ammonium or the like, and a purge gas such as Ar or the like, are selectively supplied. Moreover, to the processing gas nozzle  83 A, there is connected an integrated valve unit  83 AI through which the same source gas, oxidizing gas, nitrifying gas and purge gas are selectively supplied. 
         [0063]    FIG. 5A shows configurations of the processing gas nozzle  83 B and the integrated valve unit  83 BI interacted therewith, which are employed in the substrate processing apparatus  200  shown in FIG. 3; and FIG. 5B shows a magnified view of the vicinity of the processing gas nozzle  83 B in FIG. 5A. 
         [0064]    Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, one end of the processing gas nozzle  83 B is exhausted through a vent valve  83 BV, and the other end thereof is connected to the integrated valve unit  83 BI. 
         [0065]    To be more specific, the integrated valve unit  83 BI contains a gas line  83 BL connected to an opposite end of the processing gas nozzle  83 B; and multiple valves  83 BV 1 ˜ 83 V 7  are connected in common with the gas line  83 BL. 
         [0066]    Through the valves  83 BV 1 ˜ 83 BV 5  disposed at the downstream side of the line  83 BL, there are supplied source gases from respective source supply lines SB 1 ˜SB 5 ; and vent valves  83 Bv 1 ˜ 83 Bv 5  corresponding to the respective source supply lines are installed therein. If the vent valve  83 BV is closed and one of these valves is selectively opened, the source gas in the corresponding source supply line can be introduced in the form of a laminar flow into the processing space in the reaction vessel  202  via the processing gas nozzle  83 B. 
         [0067]    Further, the valves  83 BV 6  and  83 BV 7 , installed at an outer side of the valves  83 BV 1 ˜ 83 BV 5 , are connected to purge gas lines  83 BP 1  and  83 BP 2 , respectively. Thus, if the vent valve  83 BV and the valve  83 BV 6  are opened, the inside of the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B as well as the inside of the gas supply line  83 BL, which is connected thereto in a series, can be substantially completely and efficiently purged from one end to the opposite end without leaving the gas by the purge gas such as Ar or the like, which is supplied from the purge gas line  83 BP 1 . Further, if the vent valve  83 BV is closed and the valve  83 BV 7  is opened, the processing space inside the reaction vessel  202  can be purged through the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B by the purge gas such as Ar or the like to be supplied through the purge gas line  83 BP 2 . At this time, if the inside of the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is purged in advance, such a problem that the remaining gas residing in the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is discharged to the processing space to thereby result in unnecessary contamination such as chemical adsorption or the like can be prevented. 
         [0068]    The same configuration as in FIG. 5A is provided in the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A, but explanations of the same configurations and operations will be omitted. 
         [0069]    FIGS. 6A to 6C describe configurations of high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B employed in the substrate processing apparatus  200  of FIG. 3. 
         [0070]    Referring to FIG. 6A, in the high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B, there are rotatably inserted cylindrical valve bodies  252 A and  252 B, respectively, wherein openings {circle around ( 1 )} to {circle around ( 3 )} are formed as described in FIGS. 6B and 6C. In FIG. 6A, positions of the openings {circle around ( 1 )} to {circle around ( 3 )} are indicated by arrows in the respective high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B. 
         [0071]    Referring to FIG. 6A, to the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B, there is connected the integrated valve  83 BI containing the valves  83 B 1  to  83 B 7 . In the same manner, to the processing gas nozzle  83 A, there is connected the integrated valve  83 AI having the same configuration with the integrated valve  83 BI and containing valves  83 A 1  to  83 A 7 . In the following explanation, the valves  83 A 1 ,  83 A 6  and  83 A 7  are employed in the integrated valve  83 AI, and the valves  83 B 1 ,  83 B 6  and  83 B 7  are employed in the integrated valve  83 BI. 
         [0072]    Hereinafter, an example of the ALD processing performed by using the substrate processing apparatus  300  shown in FIG. 3 will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7F. 
         [0073]    In the processing shown in FIG. 7A, the high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B are set as shown in FIG. 7A, so that the processing space inside the reaction vessel  202  is exhausted through an exhaust line  207   a  or  207   b  via a path passing through the openings {circle around ( 1 )} to {circle around ( 3 )}, regardless of the valves, either the valve  25 A or  25 B. Further, in the state shown in FIG. 7, the opening {circle around ( 2 )}, regardless of the valve, either  25 A or  25 B, is matched with the processing gas introduction port, either  83 A or  83 B. As a result, the processing gas introduction port  83 A ( 83 B) is also exhausted through the opening {circle around ( 3 )} and the exhaust line  207   a.    
         [0074]    Next, in the processing shown in FIG. 7B, the state of the high speed rotary valve  25 B is the same as that shown in FIG. 7A. The valve body  252  of the high speed rotary valve  25 A is rotated to a position where the opening {circle around ( 1 )} communicates with the exhaust line  207   a  and all the openings {circle around ( 2 )} and {circle around ( 3 )} do not communicate with the processing space or the processing gas introduction port  83 B; and the valve  83 BV 1  in the integrated valve  83 BI is opened to introduce the organic metal Hf source material in the line SB 1  into the processing space through the processing gas introduction port  83 B. The introduced organic metal Hf source material flows through the processing space along the surface of the substrate  12  to be adsorbed thereto. 
         [0075]    In the following processing shown in FIG. 7C, the processing space inside the reaction vessel  202  is exhausted through the exhaust line  207   b  while the positions of the valve bodies  252  in the high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B are kept as they are. Further, in the processing shown in FIG. 7C, the vent valve  83 BV (not shown) and the valve  83 BV 6  in the integrated valve  83 BI are opened; Ar purge gas in the line  83 BP 1  is introduced into the processing gas nozzle  83 B; and the introduced Ar purge gas is discharged through the vent valve  83 BV to purge the processing gas nozzle  83 B. Subsequently, the valve  83 BV 7  in the integrated valve  83 BI is opened; and the Ar purge gas in the line  83 BP 2  is introduced into the processing space from the processing gas introduction port  83 B to purge the processing space. 
         [0076]    Next, in the processing shown in FIG. 7D, all the valve bodies  252  in the high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B are turned back to the state shown in FIG. 7A to exhaust the processing space inside the reaction vessel  202 . 
         [0077]    In the following, in the processing shown in FIG. 7E, the valve body  252  of the high speed rotary valve  25 B is rotated to a position where the opening {circle around ( 1 )} communicates with the exhaust line  207   b  and the openings {circle around ( 2 )} and {circle around ( 3 )} do not communicate with the processing space or the processing gas introduction port  83 A while the valve body  252  in the high speed rotary valve  25 A is kept as it is. Further, a valve  83 AV 1  of the integrated valve  83 AI is opened, and ozone gas in a line SA 1  is introduced into the processing space through the processing gas introduction port  83 A. The introduced ozone gas flows through the processing space along the surface of the substrate  12  to oxidize the organic metal Hf source material molecule adsorbed thereto, and thus forming an HfO 2  film having a thickness of one molecular layer. 
         [0078]    Subsequently, in the processing shown in FIG. 7F, the processing space inside the reaction vessel  202  is exhausted to the exhaust line  207   a  while the positions of the valve bodies  252  in the high speed rotary valves  25 A and  25 B are kept as they are. At this time, in the processing shown in FIG. 7F, the vent valve  83 AV and the valve  83 AV 6  are opened; the Ar purge gas in the line  83 AP 1  is introduced into the processing gas introduction port  83 A; and the introduced Ar purge gas is discharged through the exhaust valve  83 AV to purge the processing gas introduction port  83 A. Moreover, in the processing shown in FIG. 7F, the valve  83 AV 7  is opened and the Ar purge gas in the line  83 AP 2  is introduced into the processing space from the processing gas introduction port  83 A to purge the processing space. 
         [0079]    Further, by repeatedly performing the processings shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F, it is possible to realize the atomic layer growth of the HfO 2  film on the substrate to be processed  12 . 
         [0080]    In accordance with the present embodiment, nozzle purge functions are given to the processing gas supply nozzles  83 A and  83 B, so that different processing gases connected to, e.g., SA 2  to SA 5  or SB 2  to SB 5 , can be supplied into the processing space from the identical processing gas supply nozzle. Therefore, it is unnecessary to prepare a different processing gas supply nozzle for each processing gas, so that a volume of the processing space can be minimally reduced. Accordingly, the purge of the processing space can be performed in a short time, and the processing efficiency of the atomic layer deposition processing can be significantly improved. At the same time, a multi-component film containing a plurality of metal elements such as ZrSiO 4  or HfAl 2 O 5  or the like can be deposited. 
         [0081]    FIGS. 8A and 8B offer purge effects of the nozzle in accordance with the present embodiment. However, in the film forming processings whose purging effects are presented in FIGS. 8A and 8B, an Al 2 O 3  film is formed on the substrate  12  to be processed by supplying a TMA gas into the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A and by supplying the ozone gas into the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B. 
         [0082]    FIG. 8A shows a result of examination on the uniformity in the film thickness of an obtained Al 2 O 3  film, as a function of purge time in the processing gas supply nozzles  83 A and  83 B. Further, FIG. 8B shows a result of examination on the uniformity in the film thickness of an obtained Al 2 O 3  film, as a function of flow rate of the purge gas in the processing gas supply nozzles  83 A and  83 B. Here, the conditions for the film formation are described in tables 1 to 3, as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 TMA supply time 
                 0.3 seconds 
               
               
                   
                 TMA supply method 
                 Bubbling by using Ar as a carrier gas 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (flow rate of Ar = 40 SCCM) 
               
               
                   
                 TMA purge 
                 0~0.3 seconds, 0~0.5 SCCM 
               
               
                   
                 (inside the nozzle) 
               
               
                   
                 TMA purge 
                 Flash purge with Ar of 1000 SCCM 
               
               
                   
                 (inside the reaction vessel) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 O 3  supply time 
                 0.1 seconds 
               
               
                 O 3  supply method 
                 Injecting O 2  of 1000 SCCM into ozone 
               
               
                   
                 generator 
               
               
                 O 3  purge 
                 0~0.3 seconds, 0~0.5 SCCM 
               
               
                 (inside the nozzle) 
               
               
                 O 3  purge 
                 Flash purge with Ar of 1000 SCCM 
               
               
                 (inside the reaction vessel) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Film forming temperature 
                 400° C. 
               
               
                   
                 Film forming cycle 
                 250 cycles 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0083]    In FIGS. 8A and 8B, ‘▪’ indicates a purge effect in the nozzle  83 A to which the TMA gas is supplied, and ‘▴’ indicates a purge effect in the nozzle  83 B to which the ozone gas is supplied. 
         [0084]    Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, it can be known that while the uniformity of the film is about 4% in case when the nozzle purge is not performed, it decreases to about 1 to 2% by increasing the purge time or the flow rate of the purge gas. 
         [0085]    FIG. 9 describes the number of particles on the substrate in case where the Al 2 O 3  film is formed by using the substrate processing apparatus  200  under the conditions 1 to 3 in table 1. In FIG. 9,           indicates the initial state before forming a film, and ‘◯’ indicates the state after forming a film. 
         [0086]    Referring to FIG. 9, in case where the nozzle exhaust line is not prepared, 1500 or more particles are generated on the substrate after processing. Contrary to this, in case where the vent line  83 AV or  83 BV described in FIG. 4B is provided, the number of particles generated on the substrate can be suppressed to 50 or less. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0087]    FIGS. 10A and 10B describe configurations of the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B in accordance with a second embodiment. The same configuration is applied for the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A and explanation thereof will be omitted. 
         [0088]    Referring to FIG. 10A, the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is formed of a hollow housing member  83 H whose height gets gradually reduced towards the end portion, wherein the hollow housing member  83 H is extended from one end to an opposite end and has a slit shaped injection opening  83   b  at an end portion thereof. 
         [0089]    As described in FIG. 10B, in the hollow housing member  83 H, there is provided a hollow pipe member  83   h  to be extended continuously from one end of the hollow housing member  83 H to the opposite end thereof. In the hollow pipe member  83   h,  there are formed plural openings  83   p  along the longitudinal direction thereof. Further, one end of the hollow pipe member  83   h  is connected to the vent valve  83 BV, and an opposite end thereof is connected to the integrated valve  83 BI. 
         [0090]    Thus, in case where the processing gas is supplied through the integrate valve  83 BI, it is discharged into a space of the hollow housing member  83 H from the openings  83   p  of the hollow pipe member  83   h  to be uniformized therein, and then discharged in the form of a laminar flow into the processing space in the reaction vessel  202  from the slit shaped injection opening  83   b.    
         [0091]    Meanwhile, in case where the purge gas is supplied through the integrated valve  83 BI, the purge gas from the gas valve  83 BV 6  is introduced into the opposite end of the hollow pipe member  83   h  to be discharged from one end through the vent valve  83 BV. For the same reason, the inside of the hollow pipe member  83   h  is purged in sequence from the opposite end to one end, so that it does not remain inside the hollow pipe member  83   h.    
         [0092]    Further, in the present embodiment, the purge gas line  83 BP 2  is connected to the hollow housing member  83 H, and the valve  83 BV 7  is installed in the purge line  83 BP 2  instead of the integrated valve unit  83 BI, in order to purge the process space. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0093]    FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a substrate processing apparatus  400  using the processing gas supply nozzles  83 A and  83 B of the prior embodiments, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, parts having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and their redundant explanations will be omitted unless necessary. 
         [0094]    Referring to FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, an Al 2 O 3  film is formed on the substrate  12  to be processed while the substrate  12  to be processed is not rotated. Therefore, in the substrate processing apparatus  400 , the components, such as the rotation unit  205 , the magnetic seal working together therewith and the like, can be omitted, so that the configuration thereof can be substantially simplified. 
         [0095]    FIG. 12 describes the formation processing of the Al 2 O 3  film. 
         [0096]    Referring to FIG. 12, at step  1 , the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is closed, and a TMA gas is introduced into the processing space from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A to generate adsorption of TMA molecules on the surface of the substrate  12  to be processed. 
         [0097]    In the following, at step  2 , the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is purged while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is closed; and the processing space is purged by the purge gas from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is closed, at step  3 . 
         [0098]    In the following, at step  4 , the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is closed, and an ozone gas is introduced into the processing space from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B to oxidize the TMA molecules adsorbed on the surface of the substrate  12  to be processed, and thus a molecular layer of Al 2 O 3  is formed. 
         [0099]    In the following, at step  5 , the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is purged while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is closed; and the processing space is purged by the purge gas from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is closed, at step  6 . 
         [0100]    In the following, at step  7 , a TMA gas is introduced into the processing space from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is closed, so that TMA molecules are adsorbed on the surface of the substrate  12  on which the Al 2 O 3  molecular layer has been formed in advance. 
         [0101]    In the following, at step  8 , the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is purged while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is closed; and the processing space is purged by the purge gas from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is closed, at step  9 . 
         [0102]    In the following, at step  10 , the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is closed, and an ozone gas is introduced into the processing space from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A to oxidize the TMA molecules adsorbed on the surface of the substrate  12  to be processed, and thus a molecular layer of Al 2 O 3  is formed. 
         [0103]    In the following, at step  11 , the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A is purged while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is closed; and the processing space is purged by the purge gas from the processing gas supply nozzle  83 A while the processing gas supply nozzle  83 B is closed, at step  12 . 
         [0104]    In accordance with the present embodiment, since the TMA gas is supplied from both sides of the substrate  12  to be processed, a uniformed Al 2 O 3  film can be formed over the entire surface of the substrate  12  to be processed without being rotated. Further, the film thickness can be prevented from being increased in only one side of the substrate  12  to be processed and therefore the film can be prevented from being formed non-uniformly as described in FIG. 13, which is likely to occur in case when plural processing gases are supplied from the same processing gas supply nozzle. 
         [0105]    Specifically, the present embodiment is useful for the film forming processing, wherein the film is likely to be formed non-uniformly under a very similar condition for a CVD method in which plural molecular layers are adsorbed on the substrate to be processed by one adsorption process. 
         [0106]    Further, in the above-described explanations, examples of forming the Al 2 O 3  film on the substrate to be processed have been discussed. However, the present invention is not limited to such a specified source material, and it is applicable to various source materials containing a multi-component material. 
         [0107]    Still further, in the aforementioned explanations, examples of forming the high dielectric gate insulating film of a high-speed MOS transistor have been discussed, but the present invention is also useful for the formation of a capacitor having a high dielectric capacitor insulating film, e.g., a memory cell capacitor of DRAM or the like. Still further, the present invention is also aimed at forming a complex shaped structure such as an electrode of the DRAM memory cell capacitor or the like. 
         [0108]    While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 
         [0109]    In accordance with the present invention, the processing gas is introduced from one end of the processing gas supply nozzle and discharged through an opposite end thereof. Thus, by injecting the purge gas into one end after injecting the processing gas, it is possible to efficiently discharge the processing gas remaining in the processing gas supply nozzle through the opposite end, to thereby readily perform the purge of the processing gas nozzle. As a result, it is possible to introduce the plural processing gases into the reaction vessel of the substrate processing apparatus by using a single processing gas supply nozzle, and to form a multi-component high dielectric film on the substrate to be processed while reducing the inner volume of the reaction vessel. Accordingly, the purge efficiency in the reaction vessel is improved, and the processing on the substrate to be processed can be performed with high throughput. 
         [0110]    Further, in accordance with the present invention, the source gas to be deposited can be supplied alternately into both sides of the substrate to be processed, so that the film with the uniform thickness can be formed on the substrate to be processed while not being rotated.