Susceptor with backside area of constant emissivity

Methods and apparatus for providing constant emissivity of the backside of susceptors are provided. Provided is a susceptor comprising: a susceptor plate having a surface for supporting a wafer and a backside surface opposite the wafer supporting surface; a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof located on the backside surface of the susceptor plate, the layer being stable in the presence of a reactive process gas. The layer comprises, for example, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or combinations thereof. Also provided is a method comprising: providing a susceptor in a deposition chamber, the susceptor comprising a susceptor plate and a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof, the layer being stable in the presence of the reactive process gases; locating the wafer on a support surface of the susceptor plate. The method can further comprises selectively depositing an epitaxial layer or a non-epitaxial layer on a surface of the wafer. The method further comprises selectively etching to maintain the oxide, nitride, oxynitride, or combinations thereof layer.

FIELD

Process chambers for semiconductor wafers and susceptors for supporting semiconductor wafers are provided. More particularly, methods and apparatus for processing semiconductor wafers are provided, the methods and apparatus using susceptors having an area of substantially constant emissivity in the presence of reactive process gases.

BACKGROUND

One type of processing apparatus for semiconductor wafers is a single wafer processor in which one wafer at a time is supported on a susceptor in a processing chamber. The susceptor divides the chamber into one portion which is below the susceptor (the lower portion), and a second portion which is above the susceptor (the upper portion). The susceptor is generally mounted on a shaft which rotates the susceptor about its center to achieve a more uniform processing of the wafer. A flow of a processing gas, such as a deposition gas, is provided in the upper portion of the chamber and across the surface of the wafer. The chamber generally has a gas inlet port at one side thereof, and a gas outlet port at an opposite side to achieve a flow of the processing gas across the wafer. The susceptor is heated in order to heat the wafer to a desired processing temperature. One method used to heat the susceptor is by the use of lamps provided around the chamber and directing their light into the chamber and onto the susceptor. In order to control the temperature to which the wafer is being heated, the temperature of the susceptor is constantly measured. This is often achieved by means of an infrared temperature sensor which detects the infra-red radiation emitted from the heated susceptor.

With this type of processing apparatus, some of the processing gas, which is often a gas or mixture of gases for depositing a layer of a material on the surface of the wafer, tends to flow around the edge of the susceptor and deposits a layer of the material on the back surface of the susceptor. Since the deposited material is generally different from the material of the susceptor, the deposited layer has an emissivity which is different from that of the emissivity of the susceptor. Thus, once the layer of the material is deposited on the back surface of the susceptor, the infrared temperature sensor detects a change caused by the change in the emissivity of the surface from which the infra-red radiation is emitted. This change indicates a change in temperature of the susceptor which actually does not exist.

There is a need, therefore, to provide apparatus and methods which ensure constant emissivity of the backside of susceptors. There is a continuing need to achieve uniform temperature of susceptors, and thereby achieve uniform selective epitaxial- and non-epitaxial (e.g., poly-silicon) deposition.

SUMMARY

Susceptors having an area of substantially constant emissivity and apparatus containing these susceptors are provided. In one aspect, a susceptor for an apparatus for depositing a layer of a material on a wafer comprises: a susceptor plate having a surface for supporting a wafer and a backside surface opposite the wafer supporting surface; a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof located on the backside surface of the susceptor plate, the layer being stable in the presence of a reactive process gas.

In one embodiment, the layer comprises silicon. In one or more embodiments, the layer comprises silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the layer has a radius that is substantially the same as the radius of the susceptor. In a detailed embodiment, the radius is in the range of 25 to 150 mm, 25 to 100 mm, or even 25 to 50 mm.

One or more embodiments provide that the reactive process gas comprises hydrogen chloride, chlorine, a silicon-containing gas, diborane, phosphine, germanium, arsine, hydrogen, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the silicon-containing gas is selected from the group consisting of: dichlorosilane, silane, disilane, and trisilane. The carrier gas can be either reactive, for example, hydrogen, or inert, for example, nitrogen, argon, or helium.

In one embodiment, the susceptor plate comprises graphite, and optionally, a silicon carbide coating. Other susceptors may comprise silicon carbide.

In another aspect, provided is an apparatus for depositing a layer of material on a surface of a wafer, the apparatus comprising: a deposition chamber; an inlet for a reactive process gas; a susceptor plate extending across the deposition chamber and having a surface for supporting a wafer and a backside surface opposite the wafer supporting surface; and a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof located on the backside surface of the susceptor plate, the layer being stable in the presence of a reactive process gas.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises an infrared temperature sensor facing the backside surface of the susceptor plate and adapted to detect radiation emitted from the susceptor when the susceptor is heated. In a detailed embodiment, the layer covers an area on the susceptor plate that substantially coincides with a viewing area of the infrared temperature sensor.

A further aspect provides a semiconductor method comprising: providing a susceptor in a deposition chamber, the susceptor comprising a susceptor plate and a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof, the layer being stable in the presence of the reactive process gases; and locating the wafer on a support surface of the susceptor plate.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises selectively depositing an epitaxial layer or a non-epitaxial layer on a surface of the wafer. In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises etching unwanted deposits at a temperature of the susceptor plate in the range of 500 to 850° C., or even 650-750° C. In another embodiment, the method further comprises flowing a selective etching gas into the deposition chamber and across the backside surface of the susceptor plate to maintain the layer. In one or more embodiments, the selective etching gas is supplied independently to the backside of the susceptor.

Another embodiment provides that a selective etching gas flows into the deposition chamber and across the backside of the susceptor plate to maintain the layer wherein a temperature of the susceptor plate in the range of 800 to 1000° C. A further embodiment provides that the method further comprises flowing a selective etching gas after processing a plurality of wafers.

Another embodiment provides that the method further comprises monitoring the temperature of the susceptor plate with an infrared temperature sensor that detects radiation emitted from the susceptor plate when the susceptor plate is heated.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises forming the layer such that the layer covers an area on the susceptor plate that substantially coincides with a viewing area of the infrared temperature sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, by one skilled in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have not been shown in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.

Methods and apparatus for providing constant emissivity of the backside of susceptors are provided. For selective processes, in one example, silicon deposits on silicon or silicon carbide surfaces, but not on oxide or nitride surfaces. A layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, or both on the backside of a susceptor provides a target measurement area for temperature because the layer remains constant during selective processes. That is, film growth is inhibited on such a layer. The layer, therefore, provides constant emissivity despite the process of selective deposition being applied to a wafer.

InFIG. 1A, a schematic of a backside of a susceptor is provided. The susceptor20has a layer4comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof on the backside. In one embodiment, an area of the backside being free of a layer2is provided. In certain embodiments, on the other hand, it may be desirable that the layer substantially covers the backside of the susceptor.

InFIG. 1B, a schematic of a side-view of a susceptor is provided. The susceptor20has the layer4comprising the oxide, the nitride, the oxynitride, or combinations thereof. A surface6of the susceptor is used for supporting a semiconductor wafer.

Referring toFIG. 2, a semiconductor wafer processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention is generally designated as10. The processing apparatus10shown is a deposition reactor and comprises a deposition chamber12having an upper dome14, a lower dome16and a side wall18between the upper and lower domes14and16. The upper and lower domes14and16are made of a transparent material to allow heating light to pass therethrough into the chamber12. Within the chamber12is a flat, circular susceptor20. The susceptor20extends transversely across the chamber12at the side wall18to divide the chamber12into an upper portion22above the susceptor20and a lower portion24below the susceptor20. The susceptor20is mounted on a shaft26which extends perpendicularly downwardly from the center of the bottom of the susceptor20. The shaft26is connected to a motor (not shown) which rotates the shaft and thereby rotates the susceptor. An annular pre-heat ring28is connected at its outer periphery to the side wall18and extends around the susceptor20. The pre-heat ring28is in the same plane as the susceptor20with the inner edge of the pre-heat ring28being close to the outer edge of the susceptor20.

An inlet manifold30is in the side wall18and is adapted to admit processing gases into the chamber12. The inlet manifold30has a flat cap plate38. A baffle plate74extends across a front surface of the cap plate38. The baffle plate74is rectangular to match the size and shape of the front surface. The cap plate38and baffle plate74are seated against a pair of insert plates80which extend through an opening78in the side wall18to upper and lower liners82and84respectively. The liners82and84are mounted against the inside surface of the side wall18.

An outlet port32is in the side wall18diagonally opposite the inlet manifold and is adapted to exhaust gases from the deposition chamber12. Substantially diagonally across the susceptor20, the lower liner84has an exhaust passage114therethrough from the outlet port32. The exhaust passage114opens to an outlet passage116which is between the lower liner84and upper liner82and opens into the upper portion22of the deposition chamber12. Thus, gases in the deposition chamber12flow therefrom through the outlet passage116and exhaust passage114to the outlet port32to exhaust the deposition chamber12. Gases in the upper portion22of the deposition chamber12are exhausted by flowing directly through the exhaust passage114, outlet passage116and outlet port32. Gases in the lower portion24of the deposition chamber12are exhausted by flowing around the edge of the susceptor20into the upper chamber22and then flowing through the exhaust passage114, outlet passage116and outlet port32.

An upper clamping ring118extends around the periphery of the outer surface of the upper dome14. A lower clamping ring120extends around the periphery of the outer surface of the lower dome16. The upper and lower clamping rings118and120are secured together so as to clamp the upper and lower domes14and16to the side wall18.

A plurality of high intensity lamps34are mounted around the chamber12and direct their light through the upper and lower domes14and16onto the susceptor20to heat the susceptor20. The upper and lower domes14and16are made of a material which is transparent to the light from the lamps34, such as clear quartz. The upper and lower domes14and16are generally made of quartz because quartz is transparent to light of both visible and IR frequencies; it exhibits a relatively high structural strength; and it is chemically stable in the process environment of the deposition chamber12. An infrared temperature sensor36is mounted below the lower dome16and faces the bottom surface of the susceptor20through the lower dome16. The temperature sensor36is used to monitor the temperature of the susceptor20by receiving infra-red radiation emitted from the susceptor20when the susceptor20is heated.

In the operation of the apparatus10for the deposition of selective epitaxial and non-epitaxial silicon-containing films on the surface of a wafer, an initial step is to provide a susceptor20with a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, or both located on the backside of the susceptor, the layer being stable in the presence of reactive process gases.

Reference to “oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer” means a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof. The oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer remains free of any coating during selective deposition due film growth inhibited by such a layer. The oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer may be comprised of more than one layer, for example, an oxide layer may be deposited on a nitride layer. The oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer, on the other hand, having combinations present may be a single layer having two or more of the oxide, the nitride, the oxynitride.

The reactive gases include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: hydrogen chloride (HCl); chlorine (Cl2); a reactive silicon-containing gas (i.e., silane (SiH4), disilane (Si2H6), trisilane (Si3H8), dichlorosilane (SiCl2), and generally polysilanes); diborane (B2H6); phosphine (PH3); germanium (Ge), arsine (AsH3), and hydrogen (H2). The selective epitaxial and non-epitaxial silicon-containing films include, but are not limited to, doped and undoped silicon (Si), silicon-germanium (Si—Ge), and silicon-carbon (Si—C). Suitable oxides, nitrides, and oxynitrides include, but are not limited to, silicon dioxide (SiO2), other silicon oxides (SiOx), silicon nitride (Si3N4), other silicon nitrides (SiaNb), and silicon oxynitrides (SiOxNy).

Using selective deposition of a selective Si—Ge film on a wafer as an example, reactive gases for the process can include: silane, germanium, and Cl-bearing gases such as HCl or Cl2. A layer of, for example, silicon dioxide (SiO2) present on the back surface of the susceptor20, is stable in the presence of these reactive gases. Moreover, growth of the Si—Ge film on the SiO2layer is inhibited. As a result, the backside of the susceptor having the SiO2layer remains substantially free of any coating from the selective deposition process.

Susceptors are typically formed from graphite or silicon-carbide (SiC). In some instances, graphite-based susceptors are coated with silicon carbide. The oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer on the backside of the susceptor can be of any thickness and radius that is needed to achieve uniform temperature. The area that the layer covers should be large enough to cover the viewing are of a temperature sensor associated with, for example, a pyrometer. The area can be adjusted to achieve uniform temperature. For example, diameter of the oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer can be used as a tuning variable, as a heat sink, for example, to control a thickness profile of the film deposited on the wafer. Having constant emissivity of the oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer leads to a highly repeatable temperature control from wafer to wafer. This, in turn, results in uniform selective epitaxial and non-epitaxial (e.g., poly-silicon) deposition. Moreover, this eliminates the need to clean and intentionally coat the backside (with, for example, a material that is the same as the deposition material, for example, polysilicon) for process repeatability. Throughput is therefore improved.

Layers of oxides and/or nitrides and/or oxynitrides are formed on the susceptor using processes traditionally used to put these types of layers onto wafers. For example, silicon dioxide or silicon nitride can be deposited on the susceptor using traditional methods of chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

The purpose of coating the back surface of the susceptor20with a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, or both is to provide for good and accurate control of the temperature of the susceptor20during the time that material is being selectively deposited on the wafer. During selective epitaxial and non-epitaxial deposition of material on the surface of the wafer, some of the deposition gases in the upper portion14of the deposition chamber12will leak between the susceptor20and the pre-heat ring28and will flow into the lower portion24of the deposition chamber12. Such leaking gases will contact the back surface of the susceptor20and, in the absence of the layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, or both will deposit a layer of the material on the back surface of the susceptor20. During this deposition process, the temperature of the susceptor20is being monitored by the temperature sensor36. A factor that affects the reading of the temperature sensor36is the emissivity of the susceptor20. By first coating the back surface of the susceptor20with the layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, or both, the temperature sensor36is initially calibrated to the emissivity of the coated oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer. Because this oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer is stable in the presence of the reactive process gases and the films being deposited are inhibited from growing on oxide/nitride/oxynitride surfaces, this layer remains essentially unchanged during the selective deposition process on the wafer. The temperature sensor36, therefore, sees the same initially-calibrated emissivity, and there is no change in the indication of the temperature of the susceptor20during processing. This is despite the tendency of the reactive gases to flow into the lower portion24of the chamber and contact the oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer on the back surface of the susceptor20. Only changes in the actual temperature of the susceptor20will be indicated by the temperature sensor36, and not false indications of changes as a result of a material being coated in the back surface of the susceptor20.

It is desirable that the coated layer be of a thickness of approximately 0.1 to 10 microns, or even 1-3 microns in order to have consistent energy emission from the susceptor backside.

It may be desirable to clean the surfaces of the susceptor20by removing any previous coatings on the surfaces thereof. This is achieved by admitting an etching gas, such as hydrogen chloride or chlorine, into the chamber12. The hydrogen chloride could be admitted into both the upper and lower portions22and24of the deposition chamber12so as to contact both surfaces of the susceptor20. The susceptor20is heated to a relatively high temperature, about 1200° C. The hydrogen chloride will then etch away any previous coatings on the surfaces of the heated susceptor20. Moreover, it may be desirable to periodically clean the susceptor after multiple selective deposition processes. For example, it may be desirable to etch after every 25 to 100 wafers.

After the susceptor20having the oxide/nitride/oxynitride layer is provided in the processing chamber, individual wafers are feed one at a time into the upper portion22of the deposition chamber12and onto the upper surface of the susceptor20. The wafers are fed into the deposition chamber12through a suitable door, not shown. A layer of material, such as doped silicon, is then coated on the individual wafers. During this process, the susceptor20and wafer are heated by the lamps34to a temperature at which the gases passing over the wafer are reacted to deposit a layer of material on the surface of the wafer.

During the deposition of material on the surface of the wafer, it is generally desirable to provide a flow of an inert purge gas, such as hydrogen, into the lower portion24of the deposition chamber12at a pressure slightly greater than the pressure of the gases in the upper portion22of the chamber12. The purge gas will seep between the susceptor20and the pre-heat ring28and flow into the upper portion22of the deposition chamber12. This limits the flow of the deposition gases from the upper portion22to the lower portion24of the deposition chamber12. In the apparatus10, this is achieved by providing a flow of, for example, hydrogen through an inlet port into the chamber12.

There is provided by the present invention a deposition apparatus for semiconductor wafers during selective epitaxial and non-epitaxial deposition of a wafer, a susceptor having a layer comprising an oxide, a nitride, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof is provided to support the wafer during deposition. This provides the back surface of the susceptor with an emissivity which does not change during the deposition process as a result of the layer being stable in the presence of reactive gases and the layer not being suitable for the growth of the selective films. This, in turn, permits the monitoring of the temperature of the susceptor with an infrared temperature sensor without causing a false change in the temperature detected as a result of a change in the emissivity of the back surface of the susceptor20.

The following prophetic examples may be carried out in a Centura® platform provided by Applied Materials, Inc. located in Santa Clara, Calif. Experiments may be conducted on 300 mm susceptors and/or wafers.

First, a silicon wafer is calibrated to a thermocouple at constant power distribution. A silicon oxide wafer is placed in a deposition chamber under conditions of constant power distribution and an infrared temperature sensor is be used to measure the change in emissivity. A silicon nitride wafer is placed in a deposition chamber under conditions of the same constant power distribution and an infrared temperature sensor is used to measure the change in emissivity. The emissivities of each wafer will be used to correlate silicon species and etch species to changes in emissivity.

A silicon carbide wafer is coated with a film of one or more oxides, such as silicon oxide. The emissivity characteristics are measured with an infrared temperature sensor. Film stability is evaluated using constant emissivity over time at a constant power distribution.

Backsides of one or more standard silicon carbide susceptors are coated with one or more layers of material from in Example 2 having acceptable film stability. These modified susceptors are tested for process performance and long term stability under conditions of constant power distribution and measuring change in emissivity.