Patent ID: 8910591

Claim:
A method of processing a semiconductor wafer with a capacitively coupled plasma in a reactor, the method comprising: heating a first electrode disposed in an upper portion of the reactor to a predetermined temperature with a thermoelectric unit having a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side of the thermoelectric unit is in direct contact with a backside of the first electrode, and wherein the second side of the thermoelectric unit is exposed to the upper portion of the reactor, and; producing a plasma in a processing region between the first electrode and a second electrode positioned at least proximate the wafer, and cooling the first electrode with the first side of the thermoelectric unit while producing the plasma, wherein the thermoelectric unit is configured to selectively heat and cool the first electrode via the first side to maintain a generally constant temperature of the first electrode; wherein the second side of the thermoelectric unit is configured to heat the upper portion of the reactor when the first side of the thermoelectric unit cools the first electrode; and wherein the second side of the thermoelectric unit is configured to cool the upper portion of the reactor when the first side of the thermoelectric unit heats the first electrode.