Patent ID: 8375890

Claim:
A capacitively coupled plasma reactor for processing a semiconductor wafer, comprising: a processing chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a gas inlet for receiving one or more process gases into an antechamber, the upper portion being in fluid communication with the lower portion; a first electrode at the upper portion, wherein the first electrode has a front side and a backside; a second electrode in the lower portion at a location spaced apart from the front side of the first electrode; and a thermoelectric unit having a first surface opposite a second surface, wherein the first surface is in direct contact with the backside of the first electrode and the second surface is exposed to the antechamber, wherein the thermoelectric unit is configured to heat the first electrode to a predetermined starting temperature, wherein the thermoelectric unit is configured to selectively heat and cool the first electrode via the first surface to maintain a generally constant temperature of the first electrode, and wherein the thermoelectric unit is configured to cool the upper portion when the first surface heats the first electrode, and configured to heat the upper portion when the first surface cools the first electrode.