Patent Publication Number: US-2023152703-A1

Title: Liquid treatment apparatus and method of adjusting temperature of treatment liquid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-224551, filed on Dec. 12, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a liquid treatment apparatus and a method of adjusting a temperature of a treatment liquid. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a film coating apparatus which includes a coating container into which a substrate is loaded and a film coating is performed on the substrate, a coating liquid container for holding a coating liquid, and a liquid transport system for transporting the coating liquid from the coating liquid container to the coating container. The film coating apparatus is provided with a means for suppressing the content of water in the coated film. Further, in Patent Document 1, the suppressing means includes a double resin pipe, and a gas including an inert gas exists in a space between an inner pipe and an outer pipe of the double resin pipe so that the double resin pipe is used in the transport system. Further, a resist coating apparatus used as the film coating apparatus of Patent Document 1 includes a resist discharge device, resist lines as the liquid transport system, a resist supply container as the coating liquid container, and a pipe connecting them. The resist discharging device includes a resist temperature adjusting pipe having a triple structure, and a nozzle. In addition, the triple-structured resist temperature adjusting pipe includes a cooling-water for temperature-adjustment inflow pipe composed of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based tube into which a cooling water for temperature adjustment flows, and a cooling-water for temperature-adjustment outflow pipe composed of a tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer (PFA) tube from which the cooling water for temperature adjustment is discharged. 
     Prior Art Documents 
     Patent Document 
     Japanese laid-open publication No. 2008-085263 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid treatment apparatus including: a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; a discharge nozzle configured to discharge a treatment liquid onto the substrate held by the substrate holder; a liquid supply pipe configured to supply the treatment liquid from a treatment liquid storage source to the discharge nozzle; a gas pipe that encompasses the liquid supply pipe and through which an inert gas for adjusting the temperature of the treatment liquid flows in a space between the gas pipe and the liquid supply pipe; a processing container in which the substrate holder, the discharge nozzle, the liquid supply pipe, and the gas pipe are provided; and an atmosphere gas supply part configured to supply an atmosphere gas into the processing container, wherein an extension portion of the gas pipe is folded back inside the processing container in a plan view, the extension portion being a portion between an upstream end inside the processing container and an encompassing portion that encompasses the liquid supply pipe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  1    is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a resist coating apparatus as a liquid treatment apparatus according to a present embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing the interior of a processing container of the resist coating apparatus of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a gas pipe. 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged plan view showing a specific example of the gas pipe. 
         FIG.  5    is a sectional view for explaining another example of a liquid supply pipe. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, systems, and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the various embodiments. 
     In a lithography step in a process of manufacturing semiconductor devices or the like, in order to form a desired resist pattern on a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter also referred to as a “wafer”), a resist film forming process of coating a resist liquid on the wafer to form a resist film, or the like, is performed. 
     A resist coating apparatus that performs the resist film forming process described above is provided with a discharge nozzle that discharges the resist liquid onto the wafer and a liquid supply pipe that supplies the resist liquid to the discharge nozzle. In many cases, a resin tube made of PFA or the like is used for the liquid supply pipe. Further, the resist coating apparatus is provided with a temperature adjustment mechanism for adjusting a temperature of the resist liquid so that the film thickness is uniform in the plane of the wafer and between the wafers. In the film coating apparatus of Patent Document 1, a cooling water for temperature adjustment is used to adjust the temperature of the resist liquid. 
     If unnecessary water is mixed in the resist liquid, there arises a problem that a resist pattern having a desired shape is not obtained. In the film coating apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the means for suppressing the content of water in the coated film includes the double resin pipe, and the gas including an inert gas exists in the space between the inner pipe and the outer pipe of the double resin pipe so that the double resin pipe is used for the transport system In Patent Document 1, the liquid transport system transports the coating liquid from the coating liquid container that holds the coating liquid to the coating liquid container in which the substrate is loaded and the film coating is performed on the substrate. 
     However, in the resist coating apparatus used as the film coating apparatus of Patent Document 1, among the resist lines used as the liquid transport system, a resist line provided with the means for suppressing the content of water is a pipe connecting the resist discharge device having the resist temperature adjusting pipe and the nozzle, and the resist supply container as the coating liquid container. The cooling water for resist liquid temperature adjustment is provided in the resist temperature adjusting pipe in the vicinity of the nozzle. As described above, in the case of performing the temperature adjustment of the resist with water, when a resin such as PFA is used for a pipe that separates the water for temperature adjustment from the resist liquid, the water for temperature adjustment may be mixed in the resist liquid. This holds true in treatment liquids that require temperature adjustment other than the resist liquid used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and the like. 
     Therefore, the technique according to the present disclosure prevents water from being mixed in a treatment liquid when adjusting a temperature of a treatment liquid supplied to a discharge nozzle. 
     Hereinafter, a liquid treatment apparatus and a method of adjusting a temperature of a treatment liquid according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, elements having substantially the same functional configuration will be denoted by the same reference numerals and therefore, explanation thereof is not repeated. 
       FIG.  1    is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a resist coating apparatus as the liquid treatment apparatus according to the embodiment.  FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing the interior of a processing container (to be described later) of the resist coating apparatus of  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  3    is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a gas pipe (to be described later). 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the resist coating apparatus  1  has a processing container  10  whose interior can be sealed. A loading/unloading port (not shown) for the wafer W is formed in the side surface of the processing container  10 . An opening/closing shutter (not shown) is provided in the loading/unloading port. Two processing parts P 1  and P 2  are provided inside the processing container  10 . The processing parts P 1  and P 2  are arranged so as to be arranged along an apparatus width direction (±X-direction in  FIG.  1   ). 
     The processing part P 1  includes a spin chuck  11  as a substrate holder that holds the wafer W horizontally by vacuum-suctioning the central portion of the back surface of the wafer W. The spin chuck  11  is connected to a rotation mechanism  12  and is rotated about a vertical axis by the rotation mechanism  12 . Further, a cup  13  for preventing a treatment liquid from scattering from the wafer W is provided so as to surround the wafer W held by the spin chuck  11 . A liquid drain port  14  is opened at the bottom of the cup  13 . Further, an exhaust pipe  15  is provided at the bottom of the cup  13 . The interior of the cup  13  is exhausted by an exhaust device (not shown) connected to the exhaust pipe  15  during processing of the wafer W. 
     Elevating pins  21  are arranged around the spin chuck  11 . The elevating pins  21  can be elevated vertically by an elevating mechanism  22  to support and elevate the wafer W. By the elevating pins  21 , the wafer W can be delivered between the spin chuck  11  and a wafer transfer mechanism (not shown). Since the processing part P 2  has the same configuration as the processing part P 1 , explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , a guide groove  30  extending along the apparatus width direction (±X-direction in  FIG.  2   ) is formed on one side (the side in a negative Y-direction in  FIG.  2   ) of the processing portions P 1  and P 2  in an apparatus depth direction on a bottom wall  10   a  of the processing container  10 . The guide groove  30  is formed, for example, from the outside of one side (the side in the negative X-direction in  FIG.  2   ) of the cup  13  of the processing part P 1  in the apparatus width direction to the outside in the other side (the side in the positive X-direction in  FIG.  2   ) in the apparatus width direction. An arm  31  is attached to the guide groove  30  via a drive mechanism  32  as a moving mechanism. 
     The arm  31  extends from the drive mechanism  32  in the apparatus depth direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the guide groove  30 . A nozzle head  33  is connected to the leading end of the arm  31 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , a discharge nozzle  33   a  that discharges a resist liquid as a treatment liquid onto the wafer W held by the spin chuck  11  is supported on the lower surface of the nozzle head  33 . The resist liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle  33   a  is, for example, a metal-containing resist used for EUV exposure. 
     The drive mechanism  32  of  FIG.  2    moves in the apparatus width direction (±X-direction in  FIG.  2   ) along the guide groove  30 . With the driving of the drive mechanism, the discharge nozzle  33   a  can move from a standby part  34  provided on the outside of the other side (the side in the positive/negative X-direction in  FIG.  2   ) of the cup  13  of the processing part P 1  in the apparatus width direction to above the central portion of the wafer W inside the cup  13 . Further, the arm  31  can be raised and lowered by the drive mechanism  32 , so that the height of the discharge nozzle  33   a  can be adjusted. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG.  1   , the resist coating apparatus  1  includes a fan filter unit (FFU)  16  as an atmosphere gas supply part for supplying an atmosphere gas into the processing container  10 . The fan filter unit  16  is provided to supply clean air whose temperature has been adjusted as the atmosphere gas to the wafer W held by the spin chuck  11 . The temperature of the air from the fan filter unit  16  is adjusted to, for example, about 23° C. 
     Furthermore, in the resist coating apparatus  1 , a gas pipe  40  is connected to the nozzle head  33 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the gas pipe  40  encompasses a liquid supply pipe  41 . The liquid supply pipe  41  is configured to supply the resist liquid from a resist liquid storage source (not shown) to the discharge nozzle  33   a  of the nozzle head  33 . Further, an inert gas from a storage source (not shown) of the inert gas such as a N 2  gas flows through in a space between the inner wall surface of the gas pipe  40  and the liquid supply pipe  41 . The temperature of the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe  40  is adjusted by exchanging heat with the air from the fan filter unit  16  during the flow. Then, the temperature of the resist liquid is adjusted by the temperature-adjusted inert gas. That is, the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe  40  is for adjusting the temperature of the resist liquid. For example, a PFA tube or a high barrier tube obtained by subjecting the surface of a resin tube made of PFA or the like to hydrophobic treatment may be used as the gas pipe  40 . Further, a tube made of a metallic material having high thermal conductivity such as SUS may be used for a portion of the gas pipe  40  that does not deform when the discharge nozzle  33   a  is moved by the drive mechanism  32 . As for the liquid supply pipe  41 , the same tube as the gas pipe  40  may be used. 
     It should be noted that the gas pipe  40  does not encompass the liquid supply pipe  41  in all the regions thereof, but encompasses the liquid supply pipe  41  only in a portion on the downstream side thereof. In this example, it is assumed that the gas pipe  40  encompasses the liquid supply pipe  41  only in a portion on the downstream side from the vicinity of a fixture  71  to be described later. An encompassing portion  40   a  of the liquid supply pipe  41  in the gas pipe  40  is connected to the nozzle head  33  via a regulating member  35 . The regulating member  35  is for regulating the movement of the gas pipe  40  with respect to the nozzle head  33  and the like. In order to maintain the sealability of the gas pipe  40 , a sealing member (not shown) is provided around the liquid supply pipe  41  at an insertion portion of the liquid supply pipe  41  in the gas pipe  40 . 
     Further, in the gas pipe  40 , an extension portion  40   b , which is a portion between the upstream end of the gas pipe  40  inside the processing container  10  and the encompassing portion  40   a  of the liquid supply pipe  41 , is provided to be folded back in the processing container  10  in a plan view. In the present embodiment, inside the processing container  10 , the upstream end of the gas pipe  40  is connected to a joint  60  with respect to an introduction pipe  50  for introducing the inert gas from the inert gas storage source into the processing container  10 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the extension portion  40   b  is from a portion connected to the joint  60  of the gas pipe  40  to the encompassing portion  40   a . 
     Inside the processing container  10 , the gas pipe  40  is arranged so that the above-mentioned extension portion  40   b  is folded back in a plan view. Specifically, in the gas pipe  40 , the extension portion  40   b  is arranged so as to be folded back in the movement direction of the discharge nozzle  33   a  by the drive mechanism  32  in a plan view, that is, the apparatus width direction (±X-direction in  FIG.  2   ), and is arranged so as to be folded back in a direction orthogonal to the apparatus width direction in a plan view, that is, in the apparatus depth direction (±Y-direction in  FIG.  2   ). More specifically, the extension portion  40   b  is arranged to travel on the bottom wall  10   a  so as to extend around the interior of the processing container  10  along the side wall of the processing container  10 . Therefore, the extension portion  40   b  has bent portions in the vicinity of four corners in the processing container  10 . 
     Further, the processing container  10  has an L-shaped fixture  70  in a plan view and a linear fixture  71  in a plan view for fixing the gas pipe  40  inside the processing container  10 . The fixture  70  fixes the bent portions in the vicinity of four corners in the processing container  10  in the extension portion  40   b  of the gas pipe  40  to the bottom wall  10   a  of the processing container  10 . The fixture  71  fixes a portion of the gas pipe  40 , which is further downstream than the bent portion at the most downstream of the extension portion  40   b , to the bottom wall  10   a  of the processing container  10 . As the material of the fixtures  70  and  71 , a metallic material such as stainless steel having higher thermal conductivity than the gas pipe  40  may be used. A part having a through-hole, which is called through-joint, may be used as each of the fixtures  70  and  71 . However, the through-joints as the fixtures  70  and  71  is not used for the purpose of connecting gas pipes to each other, but is used for the purpose of stabilizing the position of the gas pipe  40  by fixing the through-joints with the gas pipe  40  inserted through the through-holes of the through-joints. 
     A metallic material having higher thermal conductivity than the gas pipe  40  may be used not only for the fixtures  70  and  71  but also for the material of the joint  60 . 
     Next, an example of wafer processing in the resist coating apparatus  1  will be described. 
     First, the wafer W is transferred into the processing container  10  and placed and adsorbed on the spin chuck  11  of any of the processing parts P 1  and P 2 . Here, it is assumed that the wafer W is placed and adsorbed on the spin chuck  11  of the processing part P 1 . 
     Subsequently, the discharge nozzle  33   a  is moved above the center of the wafer W held by the spin chuck  11  of the processing part P 1  with the driving of the drive mechanism  32 . Then, the wafer W held by the spin chuck  11  is rotated with the driving of the rotation mechanism  12 , and the discharge nozzle  33   a  discharges the temperature-adjusted resist liquid to the rotating wafer W. 
     In order to adjust the temperature of the resist liquid, in the resist coating apparatus  1 , the temperature-adjusted air from the fan filter unit  16  is first used to adjust the temperature of the inert gas, which passes through the extension portion  40   b  of the gas pipe  40 , to, for example, about 23° C. Then, in the encompassing portion  40   a  on the downstream side of the extension portion  40   b , the temperature of the resist liquid flowing through the liquid supply pipe  41  is adjusted to, for example, about 23° C. by the temperature-adjusted inert gas. 
     After the resist liquid is discharged to form a resist film on the wafer W, the discharge nozzle  33   a  is retracted to the standby part  34 , and the wafer W is discharged from the processing container  10 . In this way, the wafer processing is completed. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, the resist coating apparatus  1  has the spin chuck  11  that holds the wafer W, and the discharge nozzle  33   a  that discharges the resist liquid to the wafer W held by the spin chuck  11 . Further, the resist coating apparatus  1  has the liquid supply pipe  41  that supplies the resist liquid from the resist liquid storage source to the discharge nozzle  33   a , and the gas pipe  40  that encompasses the liquid supply pipe  41  and through which the inert gas for adjusting the temperature of the resist liquid flows in the space between the gas pipe  40  and the liquid supply pipe  41 . Further, the resist coating apparatus  1  has the processing container  10  in which the spin chuck  11 , the discharge nozzle  33   a , the liquid supply pipe  41 , and the gas pipe  40  are provided, and the fan filter unit  16  that supplies the atmosphere gas into the processing container  10 . Furthermore, in the resist coating apparatus  1 , the gas pipe  40  has the extension portion  40   b  which is a portion between the upstream end in the processing container  10  and the encompassing portion  40   a  encompassing the liquid supply pipe  41 . Therefore, the inert gas that has exchanged heat with the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16  in the extension portion  40   b  can be supplied to the encompassing portion  40   a  encompassing in the liquid supply pipe  41 . Further, in the present embodiment, since the extension portion  40   b  of the gas pipe  40  is arranged so as to be folded back inside the processing container  10  in a plan view to lengthen the extension portion  40   b , the heat exchange can be promoted in the extension portion  40   b . Therefore, it is possible to more reliably make the temperature of the resist liquid substantially equal to the temperature of the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16 . That is, the temperature of the resist liquid can be adjusted more reliably. Further, in the present embodiment, since the inert gas is used to adjust the temperature of the resist liquid in the vicinity of the discharge nozzle  33   a  instead of the temperature regulating water, unnecessary moisture is not mixed in the resist liquid. In a case in which a metal-containing resist liquid is used as the resist liquid, when unnecessary moisture is mixed in the resist liquid, the line width of the resist pattern may fluctuate. However, according to the present embodiment, the fluctuation as described above can be prevented. 
     Unlike the technique according to the present embodiment, a method of adjusting the temperature of the resist liquid by using an inert gas whose temperature is adjusted outside the resist coating apparatus  1  may be considered. However, in the case of this method, it is necessary to dispose a temperature adjusting mechanism of the inert gas separately from the resist coating apparatus  1 , and the position of the temperature adjusting mechanism needs to be in the vicinity of the resist coating apparatus  1  so as not to prevent the temperature of the inert gas from being affected by the outside until it reaches the resist coating apparatus  1 . Therefore, the above-mentioned method different from the technique according to the present embodiment has a problem in an installation space of the resist coating apparatus including the inert gas temperature adjusting mechanism. In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the inert gas temperature adjusting mechanism does not need to be arranged separately from the resist coating apparatus  1 , the space related to the resist coating apparatus  1  can be reduced. Thus, the above-mentioned problem in the installation space does not occur. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, a metallic material having higher thermal conductivity than the gas pipe  40  is used as the material of the fixtures  71  and  72  for fixing the gas pipe  40  inside the processing container  10 . Accordingly, the fixtures  71  and  72  are easily heated and cooled down by the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16 . Therefore, the heat exchange between the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16  and the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe  40  can be further promoted at the arrangement positions of the fixtures  71  and  72 . 
     Further, in the present embodiment, a metallic material having higher thermal conductivity than the gas pipe  40  is used as the material of the joint  60 . Accordingly, the joint  60  is easily heated and cooled down by the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16 . Therefore, the heat exchange between the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16  and the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe  40  can be further promoted at the arrangement position of the joint  60 . When the gas pipe  40  is divided into a plurality of sections which are connected to each other by respective joints, a metallic material having higher thermal conductivity than the gas pipe  40  may also be used as materials of the joints. 
       FIG.  4    is an enlarged plan view showing a specific example of the gas pipe  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the outer circumference of the gas pipe  40  may be formed in a bellows shape. The surface area of the outer circumferential surface of the gas pipe  40  can be increased by forming the outer circumference of the gas pipe  40  in the bellows shape. As a result, the heat exchange between the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16  and the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe  40  can be further promoted. 
     Further, an outer diameter R 1  of the gas pipe  40  may be larger than an outer diameter R 2  of the introduction pipe  50  that introduces the inert gas from the inert gas storage source into the processing container  10 . This makes it is possible to increase the surface area of the outer wall surface of the gas pipe  40 . As a result, the heat exchange between the atmosphere gas from the fan filter unit  16  and the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe  40  can be further promoted. In some embodiments, an inner diameter of the gas pipe  40  may be larger than an inner diameter of the introduction pipe  50 . As a result, since a flow velocity of the inert gas inside the gas pipe  40  can be reduced, the heat exchange can be further promoted. 
     In the above example, a single liquid supply pipe  41  is encompassed in the gas pipe  40 . However, a plurality of liquid supply pipes  41  may be encompassed in the gas pipe  40 . 
       FIG.  5    is a sectional view for explaining another example of the liquid supply pipe  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the liquid supply pipe  41  may have a double pipe structure composed of an inner pipe  41   a  and an outer pipe  41   b . A metal-containing resist liquid as a resist liquid may be flowed into the inner pipe  41   a  and an acid solvent may be flowed between the inner pipe  41   a  and the outer pipe  41   b . When moisture is mixed in the metal-containing resist liquid that is originally adjusted to be acidic so that the metal-containing resist liquid becomes neutral, among a hydrolysis reaction and a polycondensation reaction, the percentage of the polycondensation reaction becomes large. As a result, the number of particles and the line width may become large. In contrast, as in this example, by flowing the acid solvent to the outside of the inner tube  41  a through which the resist liquid flows, even if moisture is mixed in the resist liquid, the acid solvent is intentionally mixed in the resist liquid. Thus, the resist liquid can be kept acidic. Accordingly, the increase in the number of particles and the increase in the line width can be prevented. As the acid solvent, for example, a mixture of a carboxylic acid such as formic acid or acetic acid with an organic solvent may be used. 
     Further, it is preferable that the liquid supply pipe  41  is thicker than the conventional one. By making the liquid supply pipe  41  thicker, the amount of moisture that flows through the liquid supply pipe  41  and is mixed in the resist liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle  33   a  can be further suppressed. Further, it is preferable that an internal pressure of the liquid supply pipe  41  through which the resist liquid flows is higher than that of the conventional one. By making the internal pressure of the liquid supply pipe  41  higher, the amount of moisture that flows through the liquid supply pipe  41  and is mixed in the resist liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle  33   a  can be further suppressed. 
     In the above example, the gas pipe  40  is arranged so that the extension portion  40   b  extends around the interior of the processing container  10 . That is, the gas pipe  40  is arranged such that the extension portion  40   b  is folded back in the apparatus width direction and is also folded back in the apparatus depth direction. Without being limited to this example, the gas pipe  40  may be arranged such that the extension portion  40   b  may be folded back only in the apparatus width direction, or the extension portion  40   b  may be folded back only in the apparatus depth direction. Further, in the above examples, the resist liquid is used as the treatment liquid to be supplied to the discharge nozzle, but the treatment liquid is not limited thereto. For example, the treatment liquid may be a coating liquid for forming a coating film by spin coating or the like, other than the resist liquid. More specifically, the treatment liquid may be a coating liquid containing both organic and inorganic substances (for example, a coating liquid used for forming a SiARC film or a Spin On metal film) other than the metal-containing resist. 
     It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary in all respects and are not restrictive. The above-described embodiments may be omitted, replaced or modified in various forms without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. 
     The following configurations also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. 
     (1) A liquid treatment apparatus includes: a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; a discharge nozzle configured to discharge a treatment liquid onto the substrate held by the substrate holder; a liquid supply pipe configured to supply the treatment liquid from a treatment liquid storage source to the discharge nozzle; a gas pipe that encompasses the liquid supply pipe and through which an inert gas for adjusting the temperature of the treatment liquid flows in a space between the gas pipe and the liquid supply pipe; a processing container in which the substrate holder, the discharge nozzle, the liquid supply pipe, and the gas pipe are provided; and an atmosphere gas supply part configured to supply an atmosphere gas into the processing container, wherein an extension portion of the gas pipe is folded back inside the processing container in a plan view, the extension portion being a portion between an upstream end inside the processing container and an encompassing portion that encompasses the liquid supply pipe. 
     According to (1) above, it is possible to prevent moisture from being mixed into the treatment liquid when the temperature of the treatment liquid to be supplied to the discharge nozzle is adjusted. Further, the atmosphere gas from the temperature-adjusted atmosphere gas supply part is used to adjust the temperature of the inert gas used for adjusting the temperature of the treatment liquid. By providing the gas pipe as in (1) above, the heat exchange between the inert gas and the atmosphere gas can be further promoted. 
     (2) The liquid treatment apparatus of (1) above further includes a moving mechanism configured to move the discharge nozzle in a predetermined direction in the plan view. 
     (3) In the liquid treatment apparatus of (2) above, the extension portion of the gas pipe is folded back in a movement direction of the discharge nozzle by the moving mechanism 
     (4) In the liquid treatment apparatus of (2) or (3) above, the extension portion of the gas pipe is folded back in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction of the discharge nozzle by the moving mechanism. 
     (5) In the liquid treatment apparatus of any one of (2) to (4) above, the extension portion of the gas pipe extends around an interior of the processing container. 
     (6) The liquid treatment apparatus of any one of (1) to (5) above further includes a fixture configured to fix the gas pipe inside the processing container, wherein the fixture is made of a metallic material having higher thermal conductivity than that of the gas pipe. 
     According to (6) above, the heat exchange between the inert gas and the atmosphere gas can be further promoted. 
     (7) In the liquid treatment apparatus of any one of (1) to (6) above, an outer circumference of the gas pipe is formed in a bellows shape. 
     According to (7) above, the heat exchange between the inert gas and the atmosphere gas can be further promoted. 
     (8) In the liquid treatment apparatus of any one of (1) to (7) above, the processing container has a joint that connects an introduction pipe and the gas pipe, the introduction pipe being configured to introduce the inert gas from an inert gas storage source into the processing container, and the joint is made of a metallic material having higher thermal conductivity than that of the gas pipe. 
     According to (8) above, the heat exchange between the inert gas and the atmosphere gas can be further promoted. 
     (9) In the liquid treatment apparatus of any one of (1) to (8) above, the gas pipe has an outer diameter larger than that of the introduction pipe configured to introduce the inert gas from the inert gas storage source into the processing container. 
     According to (9) above, the heat exchange between the inert gas and the atmosphere gas can be further promoted. 
     (10) There is provided a method of adjusting a temperature of a treatment liquid in a liquid treatment apparatus. The liquid treatment apparatus includes: a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; a discharge nozzle configured to discharge the treatment liquid onto the substrate held by the substrate holder; a liquid supply pipe configured to supply the treatment liquid from a treatment liquid storage source to the discharge nozzle; a gas pipe that encompasses the liquid supply pipe and through which an inert gas for adjusting the temperature of the treatment liquid flows in a space between the gas pipe and the liquid supply pipe; a processing container in which the substrate holder, the discharge nozzle, the liquid supply pipe, and the gas pipe are provided; and an atmosphere gas supply part configured to supply an atmosphere gas into the processing container, wherein an extension portion of the gas pipe is folded back inside the processing container in a plan view, the extension portion being a portion between an upstream end inside the processing container and an encompassing portion that encompasses the liquid supply pipe. The method includes: adjusting a temperature of the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe with the atmosphere gas from the atmosphere gas supply part; and adjusting the temperature of the treatment liquid flowing through the liquid supply pipe with the inert gas having the adjusted temperature. 
     According to the present disclosure in some embodiments, when a temperature of a treatment liquid to be supplied to a discharge nozzle is adjusted, it is possible to prevent unnecessary moisture from being mixed into the treatment liquid. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosures. Indeed, the embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosures. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosures.