Upright target structure and sputtering equipment

An upright target structure includes a target main body. The target main body has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface is configured to connect with a back plate. The target main body further has a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface and a sixth surface. The third surface connects with the first surface and the second surface. The fourth surface is opposite to the third surface and connects with the first surface. The fifth surface is opposite to the third surface and connects with the second surface. The sixth surface connects with the fourth surface and the fifth surface. The sixth surface is away from the first surface as getting close to the fifth surface.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Application Ser. No. 201620450325.4, filed May 17, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an upright target structure and a sputtering equipment applying thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an upright target structure and a sputtering equipment applied in a magnetron sputtering system.

Description of Related Art

The technology of thin film deposition is one of the commonly applied technologies in the semiconductor industry. Thin film deposition can be classified into physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Meanwhile, evaporation and sputtering are currently the main streams for the physical vapor deposition. The basic principle of sputtering is to turn the process gas located between two electrodes by a high voltage into the plasma. Afterwards, the ions of high energy are utilized to bombard on the target as the cathode, such that the molecules of the target become gasified or become single particles. Consequently, the molecules of the target are deposited on a surface of a substrate by methods such as diffusion to form a uniform film. Since metallic material or non-metallic material can be adopted as the target in a sputtering process, the sputtering process has been popularly applied in different industries.

Currently, there exists a magnetron sputtering machine which bombards the target with particles possessing kinetic energy in a vacuum condition as the coating principle. Thus, the material on the surface of the target (the material intended to deposit) comes out and sticks on the substrate (object to be deposited) to form a thin film thereon.

SUMMARY

A technical aspect of the present disclosure provides an upright target structure which can reduce the chance that the back spattered materials or the by-products fall to the second surface of the target main body.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an upright target structure includes a target main body. The target main body has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface is configured to connect with a back plate. The target main body further has a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface and a sixth surface. The third surface connects with the first surface and the second surface. The fourth surface is opposite to the third surface and connects with the first surface. The fifth surface is opposite to the third surface and connects with the second surface. The sixth surface connects with the fourth surface and the fifth surface. The sixth surface is away from the first surface as getting close to the fifth surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the fifth surface is substantially perpendicular to the second surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the sixth surface and the fifth surface form an obtuse angle.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a first distance between the third surface and an intersection of the fourth surface and the first surface is larger than a second distance between the third surface and an intersection of the fifth surface and the second surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the target main body further has an effective sputtering zone and a non-effective sputtering zone. The non-effective sputtering zone partially surrounds the effective sputtering zone. The effective sputtering zone is located on the second surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the target main body further has at least one groove located on the fifth surface.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sputtering equipment includes a back plate, a magnetic element and an upright target structure. The magnetic element is configured to produce a magnetic field to the back plate. The upright target structure includes a target main body. The target main body has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The first surface is configured to connect with a side of the back plate opposite to the magnetic element. The target main body further has a third surface, a fourth surface, a fifth surface and a sixth surface. The third surface connects with the first surface and the second surface. The fourth surface is opposite to the third surface and connects with the first surface. The fifth surface is opposite to the third surface and connects with the second surface. The sixth surface connects with the fourth surface and the fifth surface. The sixth surface is away from the first surface as getting close to the fifth surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the fifth surface is substantially perpendicular to the second surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the sixth surface and the fifth surface form an obtuse angle.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a first distance between the third surface and an intersection of the fourth surface and the first surface is larger than a second distance between the third surface and an intersection of the fifth surface and the second surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the target main body further has an effective sputtering zone and a non-effective sputtering zone. The non-effective sputtering zone partially surrounds the effective sputtering zone. The effective sputtering zone is located on the second surface.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the target main body further has at least one groove located on the fifth surface.

When compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure have at least the following advantages: since the inclined sixth surface connects with the fifth surface, the back spattered materials or the by-products falling along the sixth surface will fall to the fifth surface. Furthermore, since the fifth surface is substantially perpendicular to the second surface, the back spattered materials or the by-products can be easily accumulated on the fifth surface. As a result, the chance that the back spattered materials or the by-products fall from the sixth surface to the second surface of the target main body and even stick to the second surface is effectively reduced. In this way, the yield rate of the sputtering procedure of the sputtering equipment is effectively increased, and the yield loss of the end products is correspondingly reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Drawings will be used below to disclose embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake of clear illustration, many practical details will be explained together in the description below. However, it is appreciated that the practical details should not be used to limit the claimed scope. In other words, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the practical details are not essential. Moreover, for the sake of drawing simplification, some customary structures and elements in the drawings will be schematically shown in a simplified way. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Reference is made toFIGS. 1-2.FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a sputtering equipment100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2is a side view of the upright target structure130and the back plate110ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIGS. 1-2, a sputtering equipment100includes a back plate110, a magnetic element120and an upright target structure130. The magnetic element120is configured to produce a magnetic field towards the back plate110. The upright target structure130includes a target main body131. The target main body131has a first surface131aand a second surface131bopposite to each other. The first surface131ais configured to connect with a side of the back plate110opposite to the magnetic element120. The target main body131further has a third surface131c, a fourth surface131d, a fifth surface131eand a sixth surface131f. The third surface131cconnects with the first surface131aand the second surface131b. The fourth surface131dis opposite to the third surface131cand connects with the first surface131a. The fifth surface131eis opposite to the third surface131cand connects with the second surface131b. The sixth surface131fconnects with the fourth surface131dand the fifth surface131e. The sixth surface131fis away from the first surface131aas getting close to the fifth surface131e. In practical applications, the arrangement direction of the upright target structure130is vertical. The third surface131cof the target main body131faces downwards, while the fourth surface131dand the fifth surface131eface upwards.

On the other hand, structurally speaking, a first distance D1between the third surface131cand an intersection A of the fourth surface131dand the first surface131ais larger than a second distance D2between the third surface131cand an intersection B of the fifth surface131eand the second surface131b. As a result, as mentioned above, the sixth surface131fis away from the first surface131aas getting close to the fifth surface131e.

In practical applications, during the operation of the sputtering equipment100, electrons collide with plasma and produce ions of high energy. Bombardment is then carried out against the target main body131of the upright target structure130by the ions of high energy. Thus, the molecules of the target main body131become gasified or become single particles due to the bombardment, and consequently deposit on the surface of a substrate (not shown) to forming a thin film on the surface of the substrate. In this embodiment, the electrons are influenced by the magnetic field produced by the magnetic element120towards the back plate110, such that the moving loci of the electrons become spiral in shape and the moving routes of the electrons are increased. Thus, the probability of collision between the electrons and the plasma is increased, such that more ions of high energy are produced for the bombardment against the target main body131. Consequently, the sputtering efficiency of the target main body131is increased, and the formation of film is speeded up.

In addition, the target main body131of the upright target structure130further has an effective sputtering zone E and a non-effective sputtering zone NE. Being influenced by the magnetic field produced by the magnetic element120towards the back plate110, bombardment by ions of high energy is carried out in the effective sputtering zone E, as compared to the non-effective sputtering zone NE. Furthermore, the non-effective sputtering zone NE partially surrounds the effective sputtering zone E. As shown inFIGS. 1-2, the non-effective sputtering zone NE is located at the top of the target main body131. Preferably, in this embodiment, the non-effective sputtering zone NE is located at the fifth surface131eand the sixth surface131f. The effective sputtering zone E is located on the second surface131b. In practical applications, the fourth surface131dlocated beside the non-effective sputtering zone NE is covered by a baffle (not shown).

In this embodiment, the first surface131aand the second surface131bare substantially parallel with each other. The third surface131cand the fourth surface131dare respectively perpendicular to the first surface131asubstantially. To be more specific, the sixth surface131fand the fifth surface131eform an obtuse angle θ, i.e., an angle formed between the sixth surface131fand the fifth surface131eis larger than 90 degree. Therefore, the sixth surface131fis inclined relative to the second surface131b. In this way, the back spattered materials or the by-products formed on the sixth surface131fbecause of the bombardment by the ions of high energy on the second surface131band then back spattered to the sixth surface131ffrom the second surface131b, will fall along the inclined sixth surface131f, under the effect of factors such as subsequent bombardments or thermal expansion and contraction. It is worth mentioning that the fifth surface131eis substantially perpendicular to the second surface131b.

In addition, since the inclined sixth surface131fconnects with the fifth surface131e, the back spattered materials or the by-products falling along the sixth surface131fwill fall to the fifth surface131e. Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the fifth surface131eis substantially perpendicular to the second surface131b, the back spattered materials or the by-products can be easily accumulated on the fifth surface131e. As a result, the chance that the back spattered materials or the by-products fall from the sixth surface131fto the second surface131bof the target main body131and even stick to the second surface131bis effectively reduced. In this way, the yield rate of the sputtering procedure of the sputtering equipment100is effectively increased, and the yield loss of the end products is correspondingly reduced.

In this embodiment, the magnetic element120can be moved relative to the upright target structure130. Thus, the lines of magnetic field can be moved relative to the upright target structure130during the operation of the sputtering equipment100. In this way, the bombardments against the target main body131can be carried out evenly by the ions of high energy with respect to the change of the positions of the lines of magnetic field. Therefore, the evenness of wearing of the target main body131due to the bombardments by the ions of high energy is increased.

In practical applications, for example, the material of the target main body131can be chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), composite metallic target such as molybdenum-niobium (Mo—Nb) and other appropriate metals. In other embodiments, the material of the target main body131can also be non-metals. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.

Reference is made toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of a sputtering equipment100according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3, the target main body131further has at least one groove132. The groove132is located on the fifth surface131eof the target main body131. As a result, when the back spattered materials or the by-products formed on the sixth surface131ffall along the inclined sixth surface131f, the back spattered materials or the by-products fall to the groove132and are accumulated in the groove132. As a result, the chance that the back spattered materials or the by-products fall from the sixth surface131fto the second surface131bof the target main body131and even stick to the second surface131bis effectively reduced. In this way, the yield rate of the sputtering procedure of the sputtering equipment100is effectively increased, and the yield loss of the end products is correspondingly reduced.

Reference is made toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of a sputtering equipment100according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 4, the target main body131further includes a first subsidiary target main body133and a second subsidiary target main body134. The first subsidiary target main body133has the second surface131band the fifth surface131e. The fifth surface131eand the second surface131bare mutually connected and are mutually perpendicular substantially. The second subsidiary target main body134has the fourth surface131dand the sixth surface131fon the top. The fourth surface131dand the sixth surface131fare mutually connected. The sixth surface131fand the fifth surface131eare mutually connected and are inclined relative to the fifth surface131e, i.e., inclined relative to the second surface131b. In other words, apart from the embodiments as mentioned above that the target main body131is integrally produced, the target main body131can also be formed by the composition of the first subsidiary target main body133and the second subsidiary target main body134as in this embodiment. In practical applications, the application of the first subsidiary target main body133and the second subsidiary target main body134can be of the same material. On the other hand, the user can also apply different materials according to the actual conditions. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.

In conclusion, when compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present disclosure mentioned above have at least the following advantage: since the inclined sixth surface connects with the fifth surface, the back spattered materials or the by-products falling along the sixth surface will fall to the fifth surface. Furthermore, since the fifth surface is substantially perpendicular to the second surface, the back spattered materials or the by-products can be easily accumulated on the fifth surface. As a result, the chance that the back spattered materials or the by-products fall from the sixth surface to the second surface of the target main body and even stick to the second surface is effectively reduced. In this way, the yield rate of the sputtering procedure of the sputtering equipment is effectively increased, and the yield loss of the end products is correspondingly reduced.

It will be apparent to the person having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of the present disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.