Substrate treating apparatus and substrate treating method

Disclosed are a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate treating method. The substrate treating apparatus including a spin head configured to support the substrate, a nozzle configured to discharge a chemical to the substrate located on the spin head, a first passage configured to supply a first chemical, a chemical property of which is the same as the chemical, a second passage configured to supply a second chemical, a chemical property of which is the same as the first chemical, and a discharge passage connecting the first passage and the second passage, and the nozzle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

A claim for priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 is made to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0108340 filed on Aug. 25, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate treating method.

In general, a semiconductor device is manufactured by depositing various materials on a substrate in forms of thin films and patterning the deposited materials. To achieve this, different processes of several stages, such as a deposition process, a photographing process, an etching process, and a cleaning process are required.

Among them, the etching process is a process of removing the film formed on the substrate, and the cleaning process is a process of removing contaminants residing on a surface of the substrate after unit processes for manufacturing the semiconductor device are performed. The etching process and the cleaning process are classified into a wet type and a dry type according to process executing methods, and the wet type is classified into a batch type and a spin type.

In the spin type, a substrate is cleaned or etched by supplying a chemical or deionized water to a substrate through an ejection nozzle while the substrate is rotated after fixing the substrate to a chuck member, and by spreading the chemical or the deionized water to the entire surface of the substrate by using a centrifugal force.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a substrate treating apparatus that may efficiently treat a substrate, and a substrate treating method.

Embodiments of the inventive concept also provide a substrate treating apparatus that may uniformly treat areas of a substrate by a chemical, and a substrate treating method.

The objects of the inventive concept are not limited to the above-described ones. Other technical objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the inventive concept pertains.

In accordance with an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a substrate treating apparatus including a spin head configured to support the substrate, a nozzle configured to discharge a chemical to the substrate located on the spin head, a first passage configured to supply a first chemical, a chemical composition of which is the same as the chemical, a second passage configured to supply a second chemical, a chemical composition of which is the same as the first chemical, and a discharge passage connecting the first passage and the second passage, and the nozzle.

A concentration of the first chemical may be higher than that of the second chemical.

A temperature of the first chemical may be higher than that of the second chemical.

The substrate treating apparatus may further include a first tank connected to the first passage and configured to supply the first chemical to the first passage, and a second tank connected to the second passage and configured to supply the second chemical to the second passage.

A temperature of the first chemical may be higher than a temperature of the second chemical, and the first tank may supply a larger amount of the first chemical to the nozzle when the nozzle discharges the chemical to an outer area of the substrate rather than when the nozzle discharges the chemical to a central area of the substrate.

A concentration of the first chemical may be higher than a concentration of the second chemical, and the first tank may supply a larger amount of the first chemical to the nozzle when the nozzle discharges the chemical to an outer area of the substrate rather than when the nozzle discharges the chemical to a central area of the substrate.

The substrate treating apparatus may further include a circulation passage through which the first chemical discharged from the first tank is introduced into the first tank again, and a heater located in the circulation passage.

In accordance with another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a substrate treating method including locating a substrate in a spin head, and discharging a chemical to the substrate through a nozzle, a concentration of the chemical discharged from the nozzle is higher when the chemical is discharged to an outer area of the substrate rather than when the chemical is discharged to a central area of the substrate.

In accordance with another aspect of the inventive concept, there is a substrate treating method including locating a substrate in a spin head, and discharging a chemical to the substrate through a nozzle, a temperature of the chemical discharged from the nozzle is higher when the chemical is discharged to an outer area of the substrate rather than when the chemical is discharged to a central area of the substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the inventive concept may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the inventive concept should not be construed to be limited to the following embodiments. The embodiments of the inventive concept are provided to describe the inventive concept for those skilled in the art more completely. Accordingly, the shapes of the components of the drawings are exaggerated to emphasize clearer description thereof.

FIG. 1is a plan view illustrating a substrate treating system according to the inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 1, the substrate treating system1includes an index module10and a process executing module20.

The index module10includes a plurality of load ports120and a feeding frame140. The load port120, the feeding frame140, and the process executing module20may be sequentially arranged. Hereinafter, a direction in which the load port120, the feeding frame140, and the process executing module20are arranged will be referred to a first direction12. A direction perpendicular to the first direction12when viewed from the top will be referred to as a second direction14, and a direction normal to a plane including the first direction12and the second direction14will be referred to as a third direction16.

A carrier130, in which a substrate W is received, is seated on the load port120. A plurality of load ports120are provided, and are disposed along the second direction14in a row.FIG. 1illustrates that four load ports120are provided. However, the number of the load ports120may increase or decrease according to a condition, such as the process efficiency of the process executing module20or a footprint. A plurality of slots (not illustrated) provided to support peripheries of substrates W are formed in the carrier130. A plurality of slots are provided in the third direction16. The substrates W are stacked in the carrier130while being spaced apart from each other along the third direction16. A front opening unified pod (FOUP) may be used as the carrier130.

The process executing module20includes a buffer unit220, a feeding chamber240, and a plurality of process chambers260. The feeding chamber240is disposed such that the lengthwise direction thereof is in parallel to the first direction12. The process chambers260are disposed on opposite sides of the feeding chamber240along the second direction14. Some of the process chambers260are disposed along the lengthwise direction of the feeding chamber240. Furthermore, some of the process chambers260are disposed to be stacked on each other. That is, the process chambers260having an array of A by B (A and B are natural numbers) may be disposed on one side of the feeding chamber240. Here, A is the number of the process chambers260provided in a row along the first direction12, and B is the number of the process chambers260provided in a row along the third direction16. When four or six process chambers260are provided on one side of the feeding chamber240, the process chambers260may be arranged in an array of 2 by 2 or 3 by 2. The number of the process chambers260may increase or decrease. Unlike the above-mentioned description, the process chambers260may be provided only on one side of the feeding chamber240. Further, unlike the above-mentioned description, the process chambers260may be provided on one side or opposite sides of the feeding chamber240to form a single layer.

A buffer unit220is disposed between the feeding frame140and the feeding chamber240. The buffer unit220provides a space in which the substrates W stay before being transported, between the feeding chamber240and the feeding frame140. Slots (not illustrated) in which the substrates W are positioned are provided in the buffer unit220, and a plurality of slots (not illustrated) are provided to be spaced apart from each other along the third direction16. Faces of the buffer unit220that faces the feeding frame140and faces the feeding chamber240are opened.

The feeding frame140transports the substrates W between the carrier130seated on the load port120and the buffer unit220. An index rail142and an index robot144are provided in the feeding frame140. The index rail142is provided such that the lengthwise direction thereof is in parallel to the second direction14. The index robot144is installed on the index rail142, and is linearly moved in the second direction14along the index rail142. The index robot144has a base144a, a body144b, and a plurality of index arms144c. The base144ais installed to be moved along the index rail142. The body144bis coupled to the base144a. The body144bis provided to be moved along the third direction16on the base144a. The body144bis provided to be rotated on the base144a. The index arms144care coupled to the body144b, and are provided to be moved forwards and rearwards with respect to the body144b. A plurality of index arms144care provided to be driven individually. The index arms144care disposed to be stacked so as to be spaced apart from each other along the third direction16. Some of the index arms144care used when the substrates W are transported to the carrier130in the process executing module20, and some of the index arms155may be used when the substrates W are transported from the carrier130to the process executing module20. This structure may prevent particles generated from the substrates W before the process treatment from being attached to the substrates W after the process treatment in the process of carrying the substrates Win and out by the index robot144.

The feeding chamber240transports the substrates W between the buffer unit220and the process chambers260, and between the process chambers260. A guide rail242and a main robot244are provided in the feeding chamber240. The guide rail242is disposed such that the lengthwise direction thereof is in parallel to the first direction12. The main robot244is installed on the guide rail242, and is linearly moved along the first direction12on the index rail242. The main robot244has a base244a, a body244b, and a plurality of main arms244c. The base244ais installed to be moved along the guide rail242. The body244bis coupled to the base244a. The body244bis provided to be moved along the third direction16on the base244a. The body244bis provided to be rotated on the base244a. The main arms244care coupled to the body244b, and are provided to be moved forwards and rearwards with respect to the body244b. A plurality of main arms244care provided to be driven individually. The main arms244care disposed to be stacked so as to be spaced apart from each other along the third direction16. The main arms244cused when the substrates W are transported from the buffer unit220to the process chambers260and the main arms244cused when the substrates W are transported from the process chambers260to the buffer unit220may be different.

A substrate treating apparatus for treating a substrate W with a chemical is provided in the process chamber260. The substrate treating apparatuses provided in the process chambers260may have different structures according to the types of performed processes. Selectively, the substrate treating apparatuses in the process chambers260may have the same structure. Selectively, the process chambers260may be classified into a plurality of groups such that the structures of the substrate treating apparatuses in the process chambers260pertaining to the same group are the same and the structures of the substrate treating apparatuses in the process chambers260pertaining to different groups are different. For example, when the process chambers260are classified into two groups, the first group of process chambers260may be provided on one side of the feeding chamber240and the second group of process chambers260may be provided on an opposite side of the feeding chamber240. Selectively, the first group of process chambers260may be provided on the lower side of the feeding chamber240and the second group of process chambers260may be provided on the upper side of the feeding chamber240, on opposite sides of the feeding chamber240. The first group of process chambers260and the second group of process chambers260may be classified according to the kinds of the used chemicals or the types of process methods.

FIG. 2is a sectional view illustrating an example of a substrate treating apparatus provided one or more of process chambers.

Referring toFIG. 2, the substrate treating apparatus300includes a cup320, a spin head340, an elevation unit360, an ejection member380, and a controller390. The cup320has a space for performing a substrate treating process, and an upper side of the cup320is opened. The cup320has an inner recovery vessel322, an intermediate recovery vessel324, and an outer recovery vessel326. The recovery vessels322,324, and326recover different treatment liquids used in the process. The inner recovery vessel322has an annular ring shape that surrounds the spin head340, the intermediate recovery vessel324has an annular ring shape that surrounds the inner recovery vessel322, and the outer recovery vessel has an annular ring shape that surrounds the intermediate recovery vessel324. An inner space322aof the inner recovery vessel322, a space324abetween the inner recovery vessel322and the intermediate recovery vessel324, and a space326abetween the intermediate recovery vessel324and the outer recovery vessel326function as inlets through which the treatment liquids are introduced into the inner recovery vessel322, the intermediate recovery vessel324, and the outer recovery vessel326. Recovery lines322b,324b, and326bextending from the recovery vessels322,324, and326perpendicularly in the downward direction of the bottom surfaces thereof are connected to the recovery vessels322,324, and326, respectively. The recovery lines322b,324b, and326bdischarge the treatment liquids introduced through the recovery vessels322,324, and326, respectively. The discharged treatment liquids may be reused through an external treatment liquid recycling system (not illustrated).

The support unit340is disposed in the cup320. The spin head340supports and rotates the substrate during the process. The spin head340has a body342, a plurality of support pins344, a plurality of chuck pins346, and a support shaft348. The body342has an upper surface having a substantially circular shape when viewed from the top. The support shaft348that may be rotated by a motor349is fixedly coupled to the bottom of the body342. A plurality of support pins344are provided. The support pins344may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other at a periphery of the upper surface of the body342and protrude upwards from the body342. The support pins344are arranged to have a generally annular ring shape through combination thereof. The support pins344support a periphery of a rear surface of the substrate W such that the substrate W is spaced apart from the upper surface of the body342by a predetermined distance. A plurality of chuck pins346are provided. The chuck pins346are disposed to be more distant from the center of the body342than the support pins344. The chuck pins346are provided to protrude upwards from the body342. The chuck pins346support a side of the substrate W such that the substrate W is not separated laterally from a proper place when the spin head340is rotated. The chuck pins346are provided to be linearly moved between a standby position and a support position along a radial direction of the body342. The standby position is a position that is more distant from the center of the body342than the support position. When the substrate W is loaded on or unloaded from the spin head340, the chuck pins346are located at the standby position, and when a process is performed on the substrate W, the chuck pins346are located at the support position. The chuck pins346are in contact with the side of the substrate at the support position.

The elevation unit360linearly moves the cup320upwards and downwards. When the cup320moves upwards and downwards, a relative height of the cup320to the spin head340is changed. The elevation unit360has a bracket362, a movable shaft364, and a driver366. The bracket362is fixedly installed on an outer wall of the cup320, and the movable shaft364that is moved upwards and downwards by the driver366is fixedly coupled to the bracket362. The cup320is lowered such that, when the substrate W is positioned on the spin head340or is lifted from the spin head340, the spin head340protrudes to the upper side of the cup320. When the process is performed, the height of the cup320is adjusted such that the treatment liquid is introduced into the preset recovery vessels322,324, and326according to the kind of the treatment liquid supplied to the substrate W. For example, the substrate is located at a height corresponding to an interior space322aof the inner recovery vessel322while the substrate is treated by a first treatment liquid. Further, the substrate may be located at a height corresponding to a space324abetween the inner recovery vessel322and the intermediate recovery vessel324and a space326abetween the intermediate recovery vessel324and the outer recovery vessel326while the substrate is treated by a second treatment liquid and a third treatment liquid. Unlike those described above, the elevation unit360may move the spin head340, instead of the cup320, upwards and downwards.

The ejection member380supplies a chemical to the substrate W during a substrate treating process. The injection member380has a nozzle support382, a nozzle384, a support shaft386, and a driver388. The lengthwise direction of the support shaft386is provided along the third direction16, and the driver388is coupled to a lower end of the support shaft386. The driver388rotates and elevates the support shaft386. The nozzle support382is vertically coupled to an end that is opposite to an end of the support shaft386coupled to the driver386. The nozzle384is installed on the bottom surface of an end of the nozzle support382. The nozzle384is moved to a process location and a standby location by the driver388. A process location is a vertically upward area of the spin head340such that the nozzle384discharges a treatment liquid to the substrate W. A standby location is a location that the nozzle384deviates towards an outside of the vertically upward area of the spin head340.

FIG. 3is a view illustrating a piping structure connected to a nozzle.

Referring toFIG. 3, the discharge passage385extends to an end of the nozzle384, and supplies the chemical, which is to be discharged, to the nozzle384. The discharge passage385is connected to a first passage411and a second passage421. The first passage411supplies a first chemical to the discharge passage385, and the second passage421supplies a second chemical to the discharge passage385. Accordingly, the nozzle384may discharge the first chemical or the second chemical, or may mix the first chemical and the second chemical and discharge the mixture.

FIG. 4is a view illustrating a chemical supply unit connected to a first passage and a second passage.

Referring toFIG. 4, the chemical supply unit400includes a first tank410, a second tank420, a chemical supplementing tank440, a concentration adjusting tank460, and an auxiliary supplementing tank480.

The first tank410stores the first chemical. The first tank410is connected to the first passage411to supply the first chemical to the ejection member380through the first passage411. The first passage411may be provided with a first valve411athat may open and close a pipe line or adjust a flow rate of the first chemical. A circulation passage412may be connected to the first tank410. The circulation passage412may be provided such that opposite ends of the circulation passage412are directly connected to the first tank410or one end of the circulation passage412is branched from the first passage411and an opposite end of the circulation passage412is directly connected to the first tank410. The first chemical discharged from the first tank410to one end of the circulation passage412or the first passage411may circulate to be introduced to the first tank410again through the circulation passage412. A heater413may be located in the circulation passage412. The heater413heats the first chemical flowing through the circulation passage412.

The second tank420stores the second chemical. The second tank420is connected to the second passage421to supply the second chemical to the ejection member380through the second passage421. The second passage421may be provided with a second valve421athat may open and close a pipe line or adjust a flow rate of the second chemical. The second chemical has the same chemical composition as the first chemical. A temperature, a concentration, or a temperature and a concentration of the second chemical supplied to the ejection member380are lower than those of the first chemical.

The chemical supplementing tank440is connected to the first tank410and the second tank420through the chemical supplementing passage441. If an amount of the first chemical stored in the first tank410is a preset value or less, the chemical supplementing tank440may supply the chemical to the first tank410. Further, if an amount of the second chemical stored in the second tank420is a preset value or less, the chemical supplementing tank440may supply the chemical to the second tank420. The chemical supplementing passage441may be provided with a valve442that may open and close portions of the chemical supplementing passage441, which are connected to the first tank410and the second tank420or may adjust a flow rate of the chemicals.

The concentration adjusting tank460is connected to the first tank410and the second tank420through a supplementary liquid supplementing passage461. If an amount of the first chemical stored in the first tank410is a preset value or less, the concentration adjusting tank460may supply the supplementary liquid to the first tank410. Further, if an amount of the second chemical stored in the second tank420is a preset value or less, the concentration adjusting tank460may supply the supplementary liquid to the second tank420. The supplementary liquid may be pure water. The supplementary liquid supplementing passage461may be provided with a valve462that may open and close portions of the auxiliary liquid supplementing passage461, which are connected to the first tank410and the second tank420or may adjust a flow rate of the chemicals. The chemical supplied from the chemical supplementing tank440to the first tank410is changed to a first chemical directly or after being mixed with a preset amount of the supplementary liquid supplied from the concentration adjusting tank460. The chemical supplied from the chemical supplementing tank440to the second tank420is changed to a second chemical after being mixed with a preset amount of the supplementary liquid supplied from the concentration adjusting tank460. Accordingly, the chemical composition of the second chemical is the same as that of the first chemical, but the concentrations of the first chemical and the second chemical may be different.

The auxiliary supplementing tank480is connected to the first tank410and the second tank420through an auxiliary supplementing passage481. The auxiliary supplementing tank480supplies a chemical to the first tank410and the second tank420. Both or one of the chemical supplementing tank440and the auxiliary supplementing tank480may supply the chemical to the first tank410. Further, both or one of the chemical supplementing tank440and the auxiliary supplementing tank480may supply the chemical to the second tank420. The auxiliary supplementing passage481may be provided with a valve482that may open and close portions of the auxiliary supplementing passage441, which are connected to the first tank410and the second tank420or may adjust a flow rate of the chemicals. A recycling line485may be connected to the auxiliary supplementing passage481. The chemical recovered through recovery lines322b,324b, and326b, or one of them may be supplied through the recycling line485after being treated by a recycling system. The chemical supplied through the recycling line485may flow to the auxiliary supplementing tank480to be stored, or may be supplied to the first tank410or the second tank420. Further, the recycling line485may be directly connected to the auxiliary supplementing tank480.

Hereinafter, a process of discharging a chemical to the substrate W by using the ejection member380will be described.

If the substrate W is located in the spin head340, the ejection member380discharges the chemical to the substrate W. When the chemical is discharged to the substrate W, the substrate W is provided while being rotated. Accordingly, the chemical discharged to the substrate W flows to the outside of the substrate W with a centrifugal force. Accordingly, differences between time points at which the chemical is initially applied to areas of the substrate W and times for which the areas of the substrate W are exposed to the chemical occur. Further, as the centrifugal forces of the substrate W due to the rotation of the substrate W are different for the areas of the substrate W and the circumferences of the substrate W increases as it goes to the outside, the amounts of the chemical applied to the areas of the upper surface of the substrate W may become different. The phenomenon makes the treatment degrees of the areas of the substrate W by the chemical different.

Further, the treatment degrees of the substrate W by the chemical become different according to the state of the chemical. As an example, when the other conditions are the same, the treatment degree of the substrate W may increase if the concentration of the chemical applied to the substrate W increases. Further, when the other conditions are the same, the treatment degree of the substrate W may increase if the temperature of the chemical applied to the substrate W increases. Accordingly, the treatment quality of the substrate W is improved by adjusting the temperatures or concentrations of the chemical applied to different area of the substrate W.

The nozzle384discharges the chemical to the substrate W while moving between a central area and an outer area of the substrate one time or more. The movement path of the nozzle384may pass above the center of rotation of the substrate W. As an example, the ejection member380may make the temperature of the chemical discharged from the nozzle384higher at an outer area of the substrate W rather than at a central area of the substrate W. The nozzle384may discharge a chemical obtained by mixing the first chemical and the second chemical, or a chemical including only the second chemical to the central area of the substrate W. Further, when the chemical is discharged to the central area of the substrate W rather than when the nozzle384discharges the chemical to the outer area of the substrate W, the temperature of the chemical may be increased by making the amount of the first chemical supplied to the first passage411large, making the amount of the second chemical supplied to the second passage421small, making the amount of the first chemical supplied to the first passage411large, and making the amount of the second chemical supplied to the second passage421small.

As another example, the ejection member380may make the concentration of the chemical discharged from the nozzle384higher at an outer area of the substrate W rather than at a central area of the substrate W. The nozzle384may discharge a chemical obtained by mixing the first chemical and the second chemical, or a chemical including only the second chemical to the central area of the substrate W. Further, when the chemical is discharged to the central area of the substrate W rather than when the nozzle384discharges the chemical to the outer area of the substrate W, the concentration of the chemical may be increased by making the amount of the first chemical supplied to the first passage411large, making the amount of the second chemical supplied to the second passage421small, making the amount of the first chemical supplied to the first passage411large, and making the amount of the second chemical supplied to the second passage421small.

As another example, in a similar method, the ejection member380may increase the concentration and the temperature of the chemical discharged from the nozzle384in the outer area of the substrate rather than in the central area of the substrate.

According to an embodiment of the inventive concept, a substrate treating apparatus that efficiently treats a substrate and a substrate treating method may be provided.

Further, according to an embodiment of the inventive concept, a substrate treating apparatus that uniformly treats different areas of a substrate by using a chemical and a substrate treating method may be provided.

The above description exemplifies the inventive concept. Furthermore, the above-mentioned contents describe the exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, and the inventive concept may be used in various other combinations, changes, and environments. That is, the inventive concept can be modified and corrected without departing from the scope of the inventive concept that is disclosed in the specification, the equivalent scope to the written disclosures, and/or the technical or knowledge range of those skilled in the art. The written embodiment describes the best state for implementing the technical spirit of the inventive concept, and various changes required in the detailed application fields and purposes of the inventive concept can be made. Accordingly, the detailed description of the inventive concept is not intended to restrict the inventive concept in the disclosed embodiment state. Furthermore, it should be construed that the attached claims include other embodiments.