EP3794159A2 - Continuous flow system and method for coating substrates - Google Patents
Continuous flow system and method for coating substratesInfo
- Publication number
- EP3794159A2 EP3794159A2 EP19716864.4A EP19716864A EP3794159A2 EP 3794159 A2 EP3794159 A2 EP 3794159A2 EP 19716864 A EP19716864 A EP 19716864A EP 3794159 A2 EP3794159 A2 EP 3794159A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- continuous
- chamber
- channel
- substrates
- vacuum lock
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 417
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 69
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 58
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 255
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 199
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 170
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims description 84
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 56
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 53
- 235000012431 wafers Nutrition 0.000 claims description 31
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 21
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 21
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000002161 passivation Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910021419 crystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen group Chemical group [N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004544 sputter deposition Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 80
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 description 41
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 40
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 18
- 238000000623 plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 17
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 16
- 229910052581 Si3N4 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 16
- HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon nitride Chemical compound N12[Si]34N5[Si]62N3[Si]51N64 HQVNEWCFYHHQES-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- 238000009616 inductively coupled plasma Methods 0.000 description 15
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 11
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 10
- PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium oxide Inorganic materials [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3] PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 230000002706 hydrostatic effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 8
- TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Al]O[Al]=O TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000005240 physical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 229910021421 monocrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000002243 precursor Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 229910017875 a-SiN Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000005033 Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910006164 NiV Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 229910021417 amorphous silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000006798 recombination Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005215 recombination Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007740 vapor deposition Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910007991 Si-N Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910006294 Si—N Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000000862 absorption spectrum Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001994 activation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003139 buffering effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002860 competitive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011068 loading method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001755 magnetron sputter deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910021420 polycrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005641 tunneling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000011470 Adenanthera pavonina Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000001606 Adenanthera pavonina Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910017107 AlOx Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241000124008 Mammalia Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910004205 SiNX Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002800 charge carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000498 cooling water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008595 infiltration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001764 infiltration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910021423 nanocrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910021425 protocrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000012495 reaction gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002123 temporal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009489 vacuum treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/32431—Constructional details of the reactor
- H01J37/32733—Means for moving the material to be treated
- H01J37/32788—Means for moving the material to be treated for extracting the material from the process chamber
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/06—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the coating material
- C23C14/0641—Nitrides
- C23C14/0652—Silicon nitride
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/22—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the process of coating
- C23C14/34—Sputtering
- C23C14/3407—Cathode assembly for sputtering apparatus, e.g. Target
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/22—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the process of coating
- C23C14/56—Apparatus specially adapted for continuous coating; Arrangements for maintaining the vacuum, e.g. vacuum locks
- C23C14/564—Means for minimising impurities in the coating chamber such as dust, moisture, residual gases
- C23C14/566—Means for minimising impurities in the coating chamber such as dust, moisture, residual gases using a load-lock chamber
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/22—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the process of coating
- C23C14/56—Apparatus specially adapted for continuous coating; Arrangements for maintaining the vacuum, e.g. vacuum locks
- C23C14/568—Transferring the substrates through a series of coating stations
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C16/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes
- C23C16/22—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the deposition of inorganic material, other than metallic material
- C23C16/30—Deposition of compounds, mixtures or solid solutions, e.g. borides, carbides, nitrides
- C23C16/34—Nitrides
- C23C16/345—Silicon nitride
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C16/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes
- C23C16/44—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating
- C23C16/50—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating using electric discharges
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C16/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes
- C23C16/44—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating
- C23C16/54—Apparatus specially adapted for continuous coating
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/32431—Constructional details of the reactor
- H01J37/32798—Further details of plasma apparatus not provided for in groups H01J37/3244 - H01J37/32788; special provisions for cleaning or maintenance of the apparatus
- H01J37/32816—Pressure
- H01J37/32834—Exhausting
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/34—Gas-filled discharge tubes operating with cathodic sputtering
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67017—Apparatus for fluid treatment
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67155—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations
- H01L21/67161—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations characterized by the layout of the process chambers
- H01L21/67173—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations characterized by the layout of the process chambers in-line arrangement
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67155—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations
- H01L21/6719—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations characterized by the construction of the processing chambers, e.g. modular processing chambers
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67155—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations
- H01L21/67201—Apparatus for manufacturing or treating in a plurality of work-stations characterized by the construction of the load-lock chamber
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/677—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations
- H01L21/67703—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations between different workstations
- H01L21/67706—Mechanical details, e.g. roller, belt
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/677—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations
- H01L21/67739—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations into and out of processing chamber
- H01L21/6776—Continuous loading and unloading into and out of a processing chamber, e.g. transporting belts within processing chambers
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/18—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
- H01L31/1804—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof comprising only elements of Group IV of the Periodic System
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J2237/00—Discharge tubes exposing object to beam, e.g. for analysis treatment, etching, imaging
- H01J2237/32—Processing objects by plasma generation
- H01J2237/33—Processing objects by plasma generation characterised by the type of processing
- H01J2237/332—Coating
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/02—Details
- H01L31/0224—Electrodes
- H01L31/022408—Electrodes for devices characterised by at least one potential jump barrier or surface barrier
- H01L31/022425—Electrodes for devices characterised by at least one potential jump barrier or surface barrier for solar cells
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- Y02E10/547—Monocrystalline silicon PV cells
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
- Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
Definitions
- the invention relates to continuous flow systems, in particular vacuum continuous flow systems, and method, in particular vacuum method, for coating substrates.
- the invention relates to continuous flow systems which are configured for coating light substrates, in particular silicon wafers.
- the continuous flow systems and methods may be configured for continuous coating of substrates.
- Continuous substrate processing systems are known, for example, from EP 2 276 057 B1.
- substrates by means of a substrate transport system in a
- Vacuum process chamber brought in and brought out again after processing As a substrate transport system here is a horizontal substrate carrier is used, on which the substrates rest flat.
- US 2013/0031333 A1 discloses a system for processing a plurality of substrates having locks.
- WO 2015/126439 A1 discloses an apparatus and a method for
- DE 10 2012 109 830 A1 discloses a lock chamber, which is provided on the input or output side for the purpose of sluicing substrates into or out of a vacuum treatment installation.
- the lock chamber is designed such that a chamber lid has at least one depression with a lowering floor at a distance from the upper edge and that the mammal opening is provided in the chamber lid.
- US 2005/0217993 A1 discloses a multi-stage lock arrangement with at least two lock chambers.
- DE 10 2010 040 640 A 1 discloses a substrate treatment plant for the treatment of
- US 7 413 639 B2 discloses an energy and media connection module for Coating systems. This module is used to supply cooling water, compressed air, process gases, signal, control and cathode current.
- Lock chamber and a processing chamber which are coupled to each other by means of a substrate transfer port, and a transport device for transporting a substrate through the substrate Transferöffftung.
- DE 102012 201 953 A1 discloses a method for coating a substrate with an AlOx layer.
- the cost-effective, efficient processing of substrates is in the art of great importance. For example, it allows solar cells to become more competitive for electricity generation.
- the cycle time of the vacuum lock can significantly influence the system throughput.
- Vacuum locks are often configured such that the gas pressure is typically varied between normal pressure and a significantly lower pressure, for example, a pressure of less than 100 Pa, to infiltrate and discharge substrates into a process line. For a high system throughput, a short cycle time and thus a rapid evacuation and flooding of the vacuum lock is desirable.
- Allow deposition of a coating or a layer system with high quality on substrates, with a high throughput of the continuous system is achieved.
- a continuous system for coating substrates which comprises one or more process modules and a process module
- the vacuum lock has a chamber for receiving a substrate carrier having a plurality of substrates and a flow channel arrangement for evacuating and flooding the chamber.
- the flow channel assembly has a first channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber and a second channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber, wherein the first channel and the second channel are disposed on opposite sides of the chamber.
- the vacuum lock with the substrate carrier arranged therein can be evacuated and / or flooded simultaneously via several channels.
- the arrangement of the first and second channels allows for rapid evacuation and / or flooding, whereby the risk of unintentionally lifting substrates from the substrate carrier is low.
- the first channel and the second channel may be spaced apart in a horizontal direction.
- the first channel and the second channel may be spaced apart in the transporting direction or in a direction extending in a horizontal direction transverse to the transporting direction.
- the chamber may have two major surfaces which bound the chamber parallel to the substrate plane or transport plane, and four side wall portions.
- the flow channel arrangement may be arranged on the side wall regions.
- the flow channel arrangement may alternatively be disposed on the major surfaces adjacent to the sidewall regions or integrated into the major surfaces in regions adjacent the sidewall regions.
- the flow channel assembly may include a first pair of channels disposed on one of the sidewall portions of the chamber.
- the first pair may include the first channel and another first channel.
- the channels of the first pair of channels can communicate with each other through first overflow ports.
- a first slot plate may be disposed between the channels of the first pair of channels.
- the channels of the first pair of channels may be arranged one above the other (ie vertically offset) and / or the first slot plate may be arranged in a substantially horizontal manner Lie flat.
- the channels of the first pair of channels may be arranged so that, in operation, gas flow in the vertical direction occurs between the channels of the first pair of channels.
- the channels of the first pair of channels may be arranged offset in the horizontal direction next to one another and / or the first slot plate may lie in a substantially vertical plane.
- the channels of the first pair of channels may be arranged so that in operation there is a gas flow in the horizontal direction between the channels of the first pair of channels.
- the flow channel assembly may include a second pair of channels disposed on another of the side wall portions of the chamber.
- the second pair may include the second channel and another second channel.
- the channels of the second pair of channels can communicate with each other through second overflow openings.
- a second slot plate may be disposed between the channels of the second pair of channels.
- the channels of the second pair of channels may be arranged one above the other (ie vertically offset) and / or the second slot plate may lie in a substantially horizontal plane.
- the channels of the second pair of channels may be arranged so that, in operation, gas flow in the vertical direction occurs between the channels of the second pair of channels.
- the channels of the second pair of channels may be arranged offset in the horizontal direction next to each other and / or the second slot plate may be in a in the
- the channels of the second pair of channels may be arranged so that in operation there is a gas flow in the horizontal direction between the channels of the second pair of channels.
- At least one process module may include a plasma source, a gas supply device for supplying a plurality of process gases via separate gas distributors and at least one
- the plasma source may comprise, for example, a magnetron, an inductively or a capacitively coupled source.
- the continuous system as a platform for various pretreatment and coating processes can be designed so that basic structural elements such as the vacuum lock, the transport device, the design of the chambers, the control and automation are universally usable, whereas the type of plasma sources and vacuum pumps of the specific application (eg magnetron sputtering or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
- An embodiment in which at least one process module has a plasma source permits plasma-assisted activation, for example for a plasma-assisted vapor deposition.
- the arrangement of the gas distributor improves the transfer rate on the substrate and / or reduces unwanted coating of system components in the process area.
- the at least one process module with the plasma source can be a first
- the suction opening is arranged along a conveying direction of the substrates upstream of the plasma source, and a second Gasabsaug perceived, the suction opening is arranged along the conveying direction downstream of the plasma source having.
- the arrangement of the Absaugöffhungen reduces unwanted coating or contamination of system components in the process area.
- the plasma source and the gas supply device can be combined in a plant component, which can be disassembled as a module from the continuous system. Maintenance times can be kept short by disassembling the plasma source and the gas supply device as a component of the continuous system and replaced by replacement components.
- the conveyor system may further comprise a transport device for continuously transporting a train of substrate carriers through at least a portion of the conveyor system, and a transfer module for transferring the substrate carrier between the vacuum lock and the transport device.
- the transfer module may be disposed between the vacuum lock and the process module or modules.
- the Mathschreibungsmodul can make a Pufferang a substrate support, wherein the substrate carrier dwells only briefly in the Kochschreibungsmodul.
- the transfer module may be configured to accelerate the substrate carrier downstream of an inlet vacuum lock and insert it into a continuously moving train of substrate carriers and / or upstream of an outlet vacuum lock to separate and remove the substrate carrier from the continuously moving train of substrate carriers.
- the substrate support can be accelerated first to increase a distance to the subsequent substrate carrier of the train of Substratträgem, and then slowed down.
- the transfer module may include a temperature control device.
- the temperature control device may include a heater to heat the substrates from both sides. After the introduction, a defined substrate temperature can be adjusted by a controlled heating device before passing through the process section. On the other hand, radiation losses of the substrate in the process path can be continuously compensated by the heating device and good process conditions can be maintained.
- the transfer module may be configured to cool the substrates, particularly if it is located downstream of all process modules.
- the vacuum lock can be a vacuum lock for introducing the substrates.
- the continuous system may further comprise a second vacuum lock for discharging the substrates.
- the second vacuum lock may include a second chamber for receiving the substrate carrier and a second flow channel arrangement for evacuating and flooding the second chamber, the second flow channel arrangement having a third channel for evacuating and flooding the second chamber and a fourth channel for evacuating and flooding the second chamber wherein the third channel and the fourth channel are disposed on opposite sides of the second chamber.
- the pass-through system can furthermore have a second transfer module for transferring the substrate carrier from the transport device to the discontinuously operating second vacuum lock.
- the continuous flow system may be configured to sandwich the substrates between the first
- Vacuum lock and the second vacuum lock without interruption of a vacuum through the conveyor system to transport.
- the continuous-flow system can have a plurality of process modules and at least one transfer chamber arranged between two process modules.
- the transfer chamber can serve for short-term buffering of substrate carriers between process modules and / or can ensure a separation of process gases in different process modules.
- the transfer chamber may be used to transfer the substrates between the two Be configured process modules.
- the continuous flow system may be configured to supply a nitrogen-containing first process gas and a silicon-containing second process gas into a process module having a plasma source via separate gas distributors.
- This allows the use of the system for generating SiN x : H and, using a further, oxygen-containing process gas, also their suboxides or oxides, such as SiN x O y : H, a-Si x O y : H (i, n , p) and the like.
- microcrystalline, hydrogen-doped silicon is possible when using hydrogen instead of a nitrogen-containing or oxygen-containing process gas.
- These thin films can be used as passivating, doping, tunneling and / or antireflection coatings
- the continuous flow system can be a continuous flow system, in particular a
- Vacuum continuous flow system for the production of solar cells.
- the continuous-flow plant can be a continuous-flow plant for the production of cells with passivated backs according to a PERX technology.
- PERX refers to a family of cells with passivated emitter and passivated back, where X u. a. for C ("PERC - Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell"), for T (“PERT - Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Totally Diffused Back Surface Field”), for L (“PERL - Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Locally Diffused Back Surface Field ”) or other variations of the PERC cells may stand.
- the continuous flow system can be used to produce heterojunction solar cells (HJT) or solar cells with passivated contacts, such as e.g. POLO or
- the pass-through facility may be configured to coat both a first side (eg, the front) and a second side (eg, the back) of the PERX solar cell in an in-line configuration.
- PERX solar cells can be produced cost-effectively and efficiently.
- the continuous flow system can be configured to supply an oxygen-containing third process gas and an aluminum-containing fourth process gas into a further process module with a further plasma source.
- This allows the use of the system for the production of multi-layer systems of AlO x and SiN x : H partial layers for passivation, wherein the various layers can be deposited in the same continuous flow system.
- the continuous system is not limited to these multilayer systems, it can be any Processes are combined.
- the continuous system can be a continuous system for applying a
- Antireflection coating and / or passivation layer are Antireflection coating and / or passivation layer.
- the vacuum lock may be configured to be more dynamic
- Pressure difference between the front and back surfaces of the substrates or front and back substrate support surfaces of the substrate support is 10 Pa maximum, preferably at most 5 Pa, more preferably at most 4 Pa, when a pumping or flooding process of the chamber, a pressure change rate 100 hPa / s, preferably 300 exceeds hPa / s.
- the continuous system can be a continuous system for coating crystalline
- the crystalline silicon wafers may be monocrystalline, multicrystalline or polycrystalline. However, the continuous system is not limited to silicon wafers.
- the continuous flow system can be configured to process at least 4,000 substrates per hour, preferably at least 5,000 substrates per hour.
- a cycle time of the continuous system can be less than 60 s, preferably less than 50 s, more preferably less than 45 s.
- the cycle time of the continuous system is the time in which a process, e.g. the insertion / removal of a substrate carrier on a vacuum lock, once passed through and the vacuum lock for the next process again
- the cycle time is thus smaller than the throughput time of the continuous flow system, which is the time required to pass through the complete continuous flow system from loading conveyor loading to unloading at the unloading lock.
- Process module may be at least 25 mm / s, preferably at least 30 mm / s, more preferably at least 33 mm / s.
- An average transport speed in the continuous system can be from a
- a throughput of at least 4000 substrates per hour can be achieved with an average transport speed of> 25 mm / s.
- an average transport speed of 33 to 43 mm / s is selected for a throughput of 5000 to 6000 substrates per hour.
- a maximum speed in train formation and train resolution in a transfer module can be significantly greater than the average transport speed and is preferably ⁇ 750 mm / s.
- a working time for pumping out the vacuum lock may be less than 25 s, preferably less than 20 s, more preferably less than 18 s.
- a working time for flooding the vacuum lock may be less than 10 seconds, preferably less than 10 seconds, more preferably less than 6 seconds.
- the substrate carrier can accommodate at least 30, preferably at least
- the vacuum lock may be configured such that one pumping time per substrate, which is determined as the pumping time of the vacuum lock divided by the total number of substrates in the substrate carrier, and / or one flood time per substrate, which is determined as the flood time of the vacuum lock divided by the total number of substrates at
- Substrate carrier less than 600 ms, preferably less than 500 ms and more preferably less than 400 ms.
- At least one process module may include a sputtering cathode.
- a method for coating substrates in a continuous-flow system in particular in a vacuum continuous-flow system, which has a process module or a plurality of process modules is specified.
- the method comprises introducing the substrates into the continuous system using a first vacuum lock.
- the method includes treating the substrates in the process module or modules.
- the method comprises discharging the substrates from the continuous system using a second vacuum lock. At least one of the first and second
- a vacuum lock comprises: a chamber for receiving a substrate support having substrates thereon and a flow channel arrangement for evacuating and flooding the chamber, the flow channel arrangement having a first channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber and a second channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber; the first channel and the second channel are disposed on opposite sides of the chamber.
- the first vacuum lock and the second vacuum lock may each be configured such that a pressure difference between front and back surfaces of the substrates or substrate support surfaces of the substrate support is at most 10 Pa, preferably at most 5 Pa, more preferably at most 4 Pa when in a Abpumpvorgang or flooding the chamber exceeds a pressure change rate of 100 hPa / s, preferably 300 hPa / s.
- the substrates may be crystalline silicon wafers.
- the method can be used for the production of solar cells.
- the method can be used in particular for the production of one of the following solar cells: PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) cell; PERT ("Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Totally Diffused Back Surface Field") cell; PERL ("Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Locally Diffused Back Surface Field") - Cell; Heterojunction solar cell; Solar cell with passivated contacts.
- PERC Passivated Emitter Rear Cell
- PERT Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Totally Diffused Back Surface Field
- PERL Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Locally Diffused Back Surface Field
- Heterojunction solar cell Solar cell with passivated contacts.
- the process can be carried out by the continuous flow system according to the invention.
- the continuous flow system and the method can be used to carry out a
- PECVD plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
- ICP inductively coupled plasma
- the continuous flow system and method can be used to treat substrates continuously during transport through several process modules of the continuous flow plant.
- the continuous flow system and the method can be used for the production of PERX silicon cells, for the application of an antireflection coating,
- PVD Vapor Deposition
- transparent conductive coatings such as TCO, ITO, AZO, etc.
- contact layers to apply full surface metal coatings (eg, Ag, Al, Cu, NiV), or to apply barrier layers without resorting thereto to be limited.
- full surface metal coatings eg, Ag, Al, Cu, NiV
- Figure 1 A is a schematic representation of a continuous system after a
- Embodiment in a plan view Embodiment in a plan view.
- FIG. 1B is a schematic representation of a continuous flow system according to FIG. 1B
- Embodiment in a side view Embodiment in a side view.
- FIG. 1C is a schematic representation of a continuous flow system according to FIG.
- Embodiment in a side view Embodiment in a side view.
- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a continuous system after a
- Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a continuous flow system according to a
- Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a continuous system according to a
- Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a continuous system according to one
- Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a continuous flow system according to a
- Figure 7 shows a partial perspective view of a vacuum lock of a
- FIG. 8 shows a partial sectional view of the vacuum lock of FIG. 7.
- FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the vacuum lock of FIG. 7.
- FIG. 10 shows a partially broken perspective view of the vacuum lock of FIG. 7.
- FIG. 11 shows a schematic of the vacuum lock of a continuous-flow installation according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 12 shows a flow field on a first substrate carrier surface when evacuating a chamber of the vacuum lock of a continuous flow system after one
- FIG. 13 shows a flow field on a second substrate carrier surface when evacuating a chamber of the vacuum lock of a continuous flow system after one
- FIG. 14 shows a dynamic deposition rate of a SiN x : H layer on a monocrystalline silicon wafer as a function of the total gas flow of SiH 4 and NH 3 .
- Figure 15 shows an average deposition rate of a SiN x : H layer on a monocrystalline silicon wafer as a function of pressure for different gas flow rates.
- Figure 16 shows an absorption spectrum of a SiN x : H layer.
- Figure 17 shows reflection spectra of a single SiN x : H antireflection layer and a SiN / SiNO double layer.
- Inventive flow systems and methods for non-rectangular substrates are used. While in embodiments illustrated in some embodiments, a chamber of a vacuum lock evacuated and provided on opposite end faces of channels is flooded, in other embodiments, the channels can also be arranged on the longitudinal sides of the chamber of the vacuum lock.
- Figure 1 A shows a schematic representation of a continuous system 100 for
- FIGS. 1B and 1C show schematic side views of
- Embodiments of the continuous system 100 Embodiments of the continuous system 100.
- the continuous-flow system 100 has a substrate carrier 102 (which is also referred to as a "carrier”), which can accommodate a plurality of substrates 103.
- the substrate carrier 102 may, for example, be configured to accommodate at least 40, preferably at least 50, preferably at least 64 substrates.
- the continuous-flow system 100 has a first vacuum lock 110 for introducing the substrate carrier 102 with the substrates 103.
- the continuous-flow system 100 has a first transfer module 120.
- the first transfer module 120 is configured to
- the first transfer module 120 may include components for accelerating the substrate support to be continuous in the substrate
- the first transfer module 120 may be configured so that the substrate carrier 102 can stay in it for a short time.
- the continuous-flow system 100 has a process module 130.
- the process module 130 may be configured to coat the substrates 103 during continuous transport through the process module 130.
- the process module 130 may be configured to perform plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (PECVD).
- PECVD plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition
- the process module 130 may be configured to apply an anti-reflection coating or a passivation layer.
- the process module 130 can be used to perform a physical vapor deposition (PVD), to apply transparent, conductive coatings such as TCO, ITO, AZO, etc., to apply contact layers, to apply full-surface metal coatings (for example Ag, Al, Cu, NiV) or
- PVD physical vapor deposition
- the process module 130 may include at least one plasma source 133 and gas manifold 137 for different process gases.
- the gas distributors 137 may be configured integrally with the plasma source 133.
- the plasma source 133 may be an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source or a capacitively coupled plasma source to produce a plasma 139, shown only schematically.
- the plasma source may have a sputtering cathode.
- the plasma source 133 may include an alternating frequency generator or may be coupled to an alternating frequency generator.
- the process module 130 may include a heater 131, 138 to heat the substrates in the process module 130 from at least one side.
- the process module 130 can (not shown in Figure 1) suction openings for the extraction of reaction gases, wherein the suction openings in a
- Transport direction 101 are arranged before and after the plasma source 133.
- the plasma source 133 and the gas manifolds 137 for different process gases may be formed as a component that is modularly replaceable.
- the plasma source 133 and the gas distributor 137 can be disassembled as one component from the process module 130 and replaced by another, identical component, while the originally mounted
- Plasma source 133 and gas distributor 137 are serviced.
- the gas distributor 137 may each be arranged transversely to the transport direction 101.
- the gas distributors 137 may each have a tube with at least one outlet opening or with a plurality of openings for generating a defined gas distribution.
- the plasma source 133 which in particular can extend in a straight line transversely to the transport direction 101, and a supply of the process gases via separate Gas distributor 137 in conjunction with an extraction of the process gases before and after the plasma source 133, a good layer quality can be achieved.
- the arrangement of the gas manifold 137 and suction improves the transfer rate on the substrate and / or reduces the unwanted coating of the components in the process area. Reducing the unwanted coating reduces equipment contamination. The less pollution allows for a longer production phase before maintenance is required for cleaning, especially the process areas.
- the plasma source 133 and the gas distributor 137 and gas supply device can be completely removed for maintenance purposes and replaced by a second plasma source and integrally formed gas distributor. Due to the design of the plasma source 133 and the
- Replacement can be shortened the time required for the maintenance.
- the cleaning of the contaminated plasma source 133 can be carried out in parallel to the useful operation of the continuous system 130, so that a revised plasma source is available at the next maintenance.
- the plurality of process modules may be used to deposit different layers or layer systems and / or to coat first and second sides of the substrates.
- the continuous-flow system 100 has a second transfer module 140.
- the second transfer module 140 The second
- Transfer module 140 is configured to transfer substrate carrier 102 from the continuously transported train of substrate carriers to a discontinuously operating second carrier
- the second transfer module 140 may include components for accelerating and stopping the substrate carrier 102 to separate it from the continuously transported train of substrate carriers and retract it into the second vacuum lock 150.
- the continuous-flow system 100 may have the second vacuum lock 150 for discharging the substrate carrier 102 with the substrates 103.
- the pass-through system 100 may have a return device 190 for returning the substrate carrier 102 after removal of the substrates 103 for reuse of the substrate carrier 102.
- the first vacuum lock 110 and / or the second vacuum lock 150 may be configured such that a cycle time for a complete work cycle is less than 60 s, preferably less than 50 s, more preferably less than 45 s.
- a working time for evacuating the vacuum lock and / or a working time for flooding the vacuum lock may be less than 25 s, preferably less than 20 s, more preferably less than 18 s.
- the working time for pumping out the vacuum lock can be greater than a working time for flooding the vacuum locks.
- a working time for pumping out the vacuum lock may be less than 25 s, preferably less than 20 s, more preferably less than 18 s.
- a working time for flooding the vacuum lock may be less than 10 seconds, preferably less than 10 seconds, more preferably less than 6 seconds.
- the first vacuum lock 110 and / or the second vacuum lock 150 may be configured so that a pressure difference between the front and rear surfaces of the Substrates or substrate carrier surfaces of the substrate carrier is not more than 10 Pa, preferably not more than 5 Pa, more preferably not more than 4 Pa, if during a pumpdown or
- the first vacuum lock 110 and / or the second vacuum lock 150 may include a plurality of spaced apart channels for flooding and evacuating a chamber of the corresponding vacuum lock 110, 150 to minimize the time required for flooding and evacuation.
- FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 each show schematic representations in top view of FIG.
- Continuous flow system 100 wherein a first channel 111 and a second channel 1 12 are provided for flooding and evacuating the chamber of the first vacuum lock 110.
- the first channel 111 and the second channel 1 12 can, as shown in Figure 2, to oppose
- Continuous flow system 100 may be arranged. As is shown in FIG. 3, the first channel 111 and the second channel 112 can be arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of the first vacuum lock 1 10 parallel to the transport direction 101 of the continuous flow system 100.
- the second vacuum lock 150 may alternatively or additionally a corresponding
- the continuous system 100 may be configured to attach the substrate carrier 102 to the
- Substrates 103 in a horizontal orientation through the continuous system to transport. Heaters may be in one or more of the first
- Transfer module 120 and the process module 130 may be provided.
- the heaters may be configured to heat the substrates 103 from both their top and bottom surfaces.
- the transfer module 120 and the process module 130 each have a first layer arranged above the transport plane of the substrate carrier 102
- the throughput of the continuous system is determined by the number of plasma sources and the width of the plasma sources.
- the number of required plasma sources can be kept small by a high coating rate and a high transfer rate.
- the introduction and / or removal of the substrates is achieved with the design of the vacuum locks 1 10 and / or 150 with a short cycle time, which is described in more detail with reference to Figure 7 to Figure 13.
- the combination of a high transfer rate plasma source and fast on / off transfer enables high throughput.
- Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a continuous flow system 100 according to an embodiment configured to apply a passivation / anti-reflection coating.
- the continuous system has a first vacuum lock 110, a first
- Transfer module 120 a process module 130, a second transfer module 140 and a second vacuum lock 150, which may have the configuration and operation described with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 3.
- the first transfer module 120 and the process module 130 respectively
- Transfer modules 120 may be configured to heat the substrates 103 in the transfer module 120 from at least one and, advantageously, both sides.
- the heaters 131, 132 of the process module 130 may be configured to heat the substrates 103 in the process module 130 from at least one and, advantageously, both sides.
- Transfer module 140 may optionally include means (not shown) for cooling the substrates.
- Substrates 103 may be inserted into the substrate carrier 102 by an optional automatic loader 108. Alternatively or additionally, coated
- Substrates are removed from the substrate carrier 102 by an optional automatic unloader 109.
- the process module 130 has plasma sources 133, 134 with gas distributors for different process gases.
- a nitrogen-containing first process gas for example NH 3
- a silicon-containing process gas eg SiH 4
- a silicon-containing process gas can be located close to the substrate surface and transport device and away from the first process gas
- Plasma generation are taken.
- the suction of the gases can be between the
- Transport device and the second gas inlet for example, to intake manifold 135 done.
- ICP source inductively coupled plasma source
- Process module 130 may be present.
- the process module 130 may include an intermediate region 136 between the plurality of plasma sources 133, 134, in which no plasma is generated, but the substrate 103 may be heated with heaters from both sides.
- the intermediate region 136 may also be omitted.
- the intermediate region 136 may optionally include one or more intake ports.
- the intake manifolds 135, 136 may be provided with a (not shown)
- Vacuum generating device to generate the desired process pressure to be connected.
- a reactive gas can be admitted into the region of the plasma zone via a gas inlet and activated there in the process area. Separated from this one can
- Laminator / precursor be separated as gas separated from the first gas in the vicinity of the substrate surface and transport device and away from the plasma generation.
- Multiple process modules may be combined to coat the substrates with more complex layer systems and / or both on the first and second sides, as further described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.
- Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a continuous flow system 100 according to an embodiment, for applying a passivation layer and a
- Antireflection coating on a second side (for example, a back side) of a silicon wafer is configured.
- the continuous-flow system has a first vacuum lock 110, a first transfer module 120, a first process module 130a, a second process module 130b, a second transfer module 140 and a second vacuum lock 150, which may have the configuration and functionality described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 ,
- Substrates 103 may be inserted into the substrate carrier 102 by an optional automatic loader 108.
- Substrates are removed from the substrate carrier 102 by an optional automatic unloader 109.
- Transfer chamber 170 is provided, which ensures a gas separation between the first process module l30a and the second process module l30b.
- the transfer chamber 170 may sandwich the substrate carrier 102 with the substrates 103 held therebetween
- Feed process module l30a and the second process module l30b are fed process module l30a and the second process module l30b.
- Transfer modules l60a, l60b may transfer the substrate carrier 102 between a continuously transported train of substrate carriers and the discontinuous transfer chamber 170.
- the transfer module 160a may work similarly to the second transfer module 150 and remove the substrate carrier 102 from the transfer module 160a
- Transport take over device separated from the train of Substratträgem and then transfer into the transfer module 170.
- the substrate carrier 102 in the transfer module 160a may first be accelerated and then decelerated.
- the overfeed module l60b may operate similarly to the first overfill module 120 and may remove the substrate carrier 102 from the first
- Transfer module 170 take over, accelerate and get on the train by continuously
- the first transfer module 120 the process modules 130a, 130b, the
- Transfer modules l60a, l60b and transfer chamber 170 may each be
- Heater 121, 122, 131, 132, 161, 162, 171, 172 have.
- the heaters 121, 122 of the overfeed module 120 may be configured to heat the substrates 103 in the first transfer module 120 from at least one, and advantageously both, sides.
- the heating devices 131, 132 of the process modules 130a, 130b can be configured to heat the substrates 103 in the process modules 130a, 13b from at least one and advantageously from both sides. Corresponding heating devices can in the
- the second transfer module 140 may optionally include means for cooling the substrates.
- the first process module 130a may be configured to apply a passive layer.
- the first process module 130a may be configured to deposit an alumina sublayer.
- an oxygen-containing gas eg 0 2 , N 2 0
- an aluminum-containing gas eg, triemethylaluminum (TMA1)
- TMA1 triemethylaluminum
- Process module 130a be present.
- the second process module 130b may be configured to apply an antireflection layer.
- the second process module l30b has plasma sources 133b, l34b with gas distributors for different process gases.
- a nitrogen-containing first process gas for example NH 3
- a silicon-containing first process gas can be introduced into the region of the plasma zone via a gas inlet via the gas distributors of the plasma sources 133b, 134b and activated there by the plasma source.
- a silicon-containing first process gas for example NH 3
- Process gas eg SiH 4
- ICP source inductively coupled plasma source
- FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a continuous flow system 100 according to an embodiment, which is used for applying a passivation layer and a
- Antireflection coating on a second side of a silicon wafer and in addition to the application of an anti-reflection coating on a first side of the silicon wafer is configured.
- the continuous-flow system 100 has a first vacuum lock 110, a first
- Transfer module 120 a first process module 130a, a transfer module 170 and
- Transfer module 140 and a second vacuum lock 150 which may have the embodiments and functions described with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 5.
- Substrates 103 may be inserted into the substrate carrier 102 by an optional automatic loader 108.
- coated substrates may be removed from the substrate carrier 102 by an optional automatic unloader 109.
- the continuous flow system 100 further includes a third process module 130c configured to apply an anti-reflection coating to the first side of the silicon wafer.
- the third process module l30c has one or more plasma sources with gas distributors for different process gases.
- a nitrogen-containing first process gas for example NH 3
- a silicon-containing process gas eg SiH 4
- Substrate surface and transport device and be far away from the plasma generation.
- the suction of the gases can be done between the transport device and the second gas inlet.
- at least one ICP source may be present in the third process module 130c.
- the ICP source and the gas distributors are arranged on a side that is different relative to the transport plane than in the second process module l30b.
- the lCP source in the second process module 130b may be below the
- Transport level of the substrate carrier may be arranged.
- the continuous-flow system can have at least one process module 130 a, 130 b, which serves as a plasma chamber for plasma-assisted chemical
- the plasma chamber has at least one device for generating a plasma.
- the plasma chamber can have a
- Gas supply have a vacuum system and a transport device.
- the transport device can be configured for the horizontal transport of substrate carriers with substrates along the conveyor system.
- the substrates 103 are deposited on the substrate carrier 102 via the first vacuum lock
- the pressure is reduced from atmospheric pressure to a pressure of less than 10 kPa, preferably less than 1 kPa, more preferably less than 100 Pa, before the substrates in the substrate support into the process module 130a, 30b reach.
- the substrate carrier 102 with the substrates 103 is transferred into the first transfer module 120, which can serve for short-term buffering.
- the temperature in the first transfer module 120 may be regulated.
- the substrates 103 are preferably heated in the process.
- a temperature control can take place via a control of an optionally existing heating device of the transfer module 120.
- the transition from discontinuous to continuous transport of the substrate carriers 102 occurs within the transfer module 120 by forming a continuous series of substrate carriers.
- the transport device of the continuous system can make it possible to set a distance between two consecutive substrate carriers to a defined range.
- the subsequent substrate carrier must first be accelerated and the speed adapted to the train speed when the distance to the next substrate carrier is reached. This can be done in the override module 120.
- the train of substrate carriers passes through the process area with defined
- Danger sources can be a separation of different process areas by one
- Transfer chamber 170 be advantageous.
- the various areas may be separated by slot valves / gate valves.
- the transfer chamber 170 prevents the process gases from mixing between the process areas during transport of the substrates. Prior to smuggling into the next process area, the parameters in the transfer chamber 170 (e.g., the pressure) are adjusted.
- the continuous sequence of substrate carriers is in front of the transfer chamber 170 in the transfer module 160a and before the second vacuum lock 150 in the second
- Transfer module 140 resolved, so that individual substrate carriers can be transferred from one process area in the next or in the second vacuum lock 150.
- the substrate carriers with the substrates from the continuous-flow system 100 are passed to atmospheric pressure.
- Vacuum lock 150 can be regulated.
- Substrate carrier and substrates are reduced before leaving the conveyor system.
- the second transfer module 140 for cooling the substrate carrier and substrates configured.
- a reactive gas can be introduced into the region of the plasma zone via a gas inlet and activated there.
- the layer former / precursor can be introduced as gas in the vicinity of the substrate surface or transport device and away from the plasma generation. The extraction of the gases takes place between the transport device and the second gas inlet.
- the substrates After passing through the continuous installation 100 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the substrates have a layer system consisting of partial layers of aluminum oxide and silicon nitride.
- the alumina coated substrates have a satisfactory layer distribution, satisfactory quality and a satisfactory lifetime.
- the quality and the lifetime of the coated substrate with alumina are dependent on the refractive index and the density or porosity of the deposited thin film.
- plasma sources with capacitive and inductive excitation of the plasma can be used in the continuous flow systems of Figure 1 to Figure 6.
- a linear ICP source with at least one excitation frequency in the range of 13 MHz to 100 MHz.
- the ICP source is used to generate a plasma over a length> 1000 mm, preferably> 1500 mm, particularly preferably> 1700 mm.
- the RF generators may have a power> 4 kW, preferably> 6 kW, particularly preferably 7 to 30 kW and particularly preferably 8 to 16 kW.
- the RF generator can be operated pulsed.
- the substrates can be transported from the first vacuum lock 110 to the second vacuum lock 150 without the vacuum
- the continuous plants 100 can produce a homogeneous
- Alumina layer with low porosity and good control over the refractive index n allow.
- the continuous flow systems 100 may allow the efficient coating of substrates, preferably silicon wafers, which may be monocrystalline, multi-crystalline or polycrystalline silicon wafers, but are not limited thereto.
- the continuous systems 100 can be used for extraction of the reaction products Be configured vacuum pumps on the process areas.
- separate vacuum systems may be provided for the process module 130a for the deposition of aluminum oxide and the process module 130b or the process modules 130b, 130c for the deposition of silicon nitride.
- the continuous flow systems 100 may be configured to control the residence time of the
- reaction products in the process area so that they are not incorporated into the coating.
- active extraction of the reaction products can be provided.
- the continuous systems 100 can for a uniform extraction of
- Reaction products may be configured transversely to the transport direction 101 to produce equal conditions over the coating width.
- the continuous flow plants 100 may be configured to control the flow direction of the precursor with respect to the substrate plane and the plasma excitation. This can be achieved by a suitable geometry of the gas distributor.
- the continuous flow systems 100 may have different arrangement of the plasma sources with respect to the transport plane.
- the continuous-flow system 100 may have a first plasma source arranged above the transport plane for coating a first substrate side and a second plasma source arranged below the transport plane for coating a second substrate side, which lies opposite the first substrate side.
- a process module 130a, 130b, 130c of the continuous-flow system can have a plurality of plasma sources.
- the transfer chamber 170 may have its own vacuum system.
- the continuous flow system 100 may be configured to produce multiple thin layers (sub-layers) rather than a single thick layer.
- the requirement for the functionality can be distributed to the sublayers.
- an anti-reflection coating with good passivation may be deposited at the interface between substrate and layer and another optical layer to form a two-layer system.
- One and the same type of plasma source can be used for different processes and different process modules.
- Separate gas supply of the plasma sources allows a greater variation of the layer properties at adjacent plasma sources 133/134 and 133a / l 33b, since the gas composition can be changed. By exhausting gases between the plasma sources, adjacent plasma sources can be better decoupled.
- Heating devices have IR emitters and / or resistance heaters.
- the heaters may be controlled to adjust the substrate temperature.
- Vacuum lock 110 and / or the second vacuum lock 150 be configured so that a short working time of the vacuum lock can be achieved.
- Exemplary embodiments of a vacuum lock 10 as the first vacuum lock 110 and / or the second
- Vacuum lock 150 can be used will be described with reference to Figure 7 to Figure 13.
- Figure 7 shows a partial perspective view of a vacuum lock 10, wherein a chamber upper part 38 of a chamber 30 of the vacuum lock 10 is not shown.
- Figure 8 shows a partial sectional view of an end portion of a chamber 30 of the vacuum lock 10.
- Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the chamber 30.
- Figure 10 shows a partial
- the chamber 30 is configured to receive a substrate carrier 102.
- Substrate carrier 102 has a plurality of trays for substrates.
- the substrates can each be positioned on the substrate carrier 102 in such a way that a pressure equalization is substantially prevented by the openings present in the substrate carrier 102 when the substrates are positioned on or in the substrate carrier 102.
- the chamber 30 has a chamber top 38 and a chamber bottom 39.
- the chamber upper part 38 has a first inner surface 31, which faces the substrate carrier 102 during the sliding of substrates.
- the lower chamber part 39 has a second inner surface 32 facing the substrate carrier 102 when sliding substrates.
- Inner surface 31 and second inner surface 32 are advantageously substantially planar.
- the substrate carrier 102 has a first substrate carrier surface 21 which faces the first inner surface 31 when the substrates are being slid.
- the substrate carrier 102 has a second when slipping substrates to the second inner surface 32 facing
- the chamber 30 has an internal volume.
- the inner volume of the chamber 30 may be at least 100 1, preferably from 200 to 500 1, amount.
- the vacuum lock 10 may have a conveyor 40.
- the Conveyor 40 has drive components 41 for conveying the substrate carrier.
- the drive components 41 are designed to move the substrate carrier 102 in one direction of travel.
- the drive components 41 may be a plurality of conveyor rollers, which are arranged along the direction of travel spaced from each other on the chamber 30.
- Substrate carrier 102 may rest on the drive components 41.
- the axes of the drive components can be located in the vacuum lock below the chamber floor.
- the axes within the lock are partially recessed into the chamber floor to minimize the volume of the vacuum lock chamber.
- the conveyor 40 is configured to position the substrate carrier 102 between the first inner surface 31 and the second inner surface 32 of the chamber 30.
- the vacuum lock 10 may be configured such that static pressure differences between the first substrate carrier surface 21 and the second substrate carrier surface 22 during flooding and / or evacuation are kept low, for example less than 10 Pa, preferably less than 5 Pa, more preferably less than 4 Pa. while the chamber is flooded or evacuated.
- static pressure differences between the first substrate carrier surface 21 and the second substrate carrier surface 22 during flooding and / or evacuation are kept low, for example less than 10 Pa, preferably less than 5 Pa, more preferably less than 4 Pa. while the chamber is flooded or evacuated.
- various measures can be taken:
- the vacuum lock 10 is flooded through several channels and evacuated.
- the conveyor 40 may position the substrate carrier 102 so that the spacings of the substrates in the substrate carrier 102 to the first inner surface 31 and the second inner surface 32 of the chamber are substantially equal.
- a ratio of a distance between an inner surface of the chamber and the opposite substrate carrier surface to a length L of the substrate carrier is less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, more preferably less than 0.025. This is advantageous both for the ratio of a first distance di between the first inner surface 31 and the first substrate carrier surface 21 to the length L and for a ratio of a second distance d 2 between the second inner surface 32 and the second substrate carrier surface 22 to the length L of Substrate carrier 102.
- the gas can be introduced and / or pumped along the direction of travel and against the direction of travel, so that the gas flows in different directions on the two halves of the substrate carrier 102, as in FIGS Figure 13 illustrates.
- the vacuum lock 10 may have a flow channel arrangement which is configured to allow a substantially homogeneous gas flow transversely to the direction of travel of the substrate carrier. For example, diagonal gas flows over the substrate carrier surfaces 21, 22 can be avoided by the flow channel arrangement.
- Substrate carrier surface 22 and second inner surface 32 may be substantially similar when substrate carrier 102 is positioned symmetrically between first inner surface 31 and second inner surface 32 to provide dynamic and static
- Substrate carrier surface 22 to minimize.
- a ratio of a first flow resistance between the substrate carrier 102 and the first inner surface 31 to a second flow resistance between the substrate carrier 102 and the second inner surface 32 may be between 0.95 and 1.05, and preferably between 0.97 and 1.03.
- the ratio of the first distance di between the first inner surface 31 and the first substrate carrier surface 21 to the length L of the substrate carrier and the ratio of a second distance d 2 between the second inner surface 32 and the second substrate carrier surface 22 to a length L of the substrate carrier 102 is in each case less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05 and in particular less than 0.025 and the distances d and d 2 are similar to one another, can be flat
- Inner volumes are formed in the chamber between the substrate support and the inner walls of the chamber, which can be quickly flooded and / or evacuated.
- the ratio of the first distance di to half of the substrate carrier length can be less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, ie di / (L / 2) ⁇ 0, 1, preferably di / (L / 2) ⁇ 0.05, and the ratio of the second distance d 2 to the half of the substrate carrier length may be less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, ie d 2 / (L / 2) ⁇ 0.1, preferably d 2 / (L / 2) ⁇ 0.05.
- the substrate carrier 102 resting horizontally on the conveyor 40 can have a size of more than 1 m 2 , in particular of more than 2 m 2 , for example of at least 2.25 m 2 .
- Substrate carrier surface 22 may each be formed flat.
- the substrate carrier 102 may be positioned between the first inner surface 31 and the second inner surface 32 of the chamber such that a relative difference of a first distance di between the first substrate carrier surface 21 and the first inner surface 31 and a second distance d 2 between the second substrate carrier surface 22 and the second inner surface 32 is less than 15%, preferably less than 8%, ie d - d 2
- Substantially symmetrical positioning of the substrate carrier 102 in the chamber 30 is equal to the respectively occurring during flooding or evacuation gas flow on the top and bottom of the substrate carrier 102, so the pressure differences between the first
- Substrate carrier surface 21 and the second substrate carrier surface 22 can be avoided.
- the vacuum lock 30 has a flow channel arrangement 51, 52, 56, 57 for
- the flow channel arrangement can have a first channel 51, via which the chamber 30 can both be flooded and evacuated.
- the first channel 51 can be arranged on an end face of the chamber 30, via which the substrate carrier 102 is moved into the chamber 30 or extended out of the chamber 30.
- the first channel 51 may extend transversely to the direction of travel of the substrate carrier 102.
- the first channel 51 may be disposed on a longitudinal side of the chamber 30 and extend parallel to the direction of travel of the substrate carrier 102.
- a second channel 56 may be arranged.
- the second channel 56 may allow both flooding and evacuation of the chamber 30.
- the chamber 30 may be simultaneously evacuated via both the first channel 51 and the second channel 56.
- the chamber 30 may be flooded simultaneously via both the first channel 51 and the second channel 56.
- the first channel 51 and the second channel 56 are arranged such that when flooding and / or evacuating, the substrate carrier 102 and the substrates positioned thereon do not overlap with the first channel 51 and the second channel 56 in a plan view.
- Substrate carrier surface 22 can be so vennieden.
- the first channel 51 and the second channel 56 are advantageously each dimensioned so that no appreciable pressure gradient arises in the vertical direction. This ensures that on the top and bottom of the substrate support 102, an identical pumping speed and flood capacity is achieved.
- a further first channel 52 may be arranged below the first channel 51.
- the further first channel 52 can communicate with the first channel 51 via one or more overflow openings 54.
- the overflow openings 54 may each be formed as slots.
- a surface of the one or more overflow openings 54 may be smaller in plan view, in particular much smaller than a surface of the further first channel 52 in a horizontal sectional plane.
- the overflow openings 54 between the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 are arranged and dimensioned so that over the longitudinal direction of the first channel 51, a uniform overflow of the gas between the first channel 51 and the other first channel 52 takes place.
- the first channel 51 may thus serve as an upper equalization channel and the further first channel 52 as a lower equalization channel.
- the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 in combination may cause pressure equalization so that along the longitudinal direction of the first channel 51 no significant change in hydrostatic pressure during evacuation or flooding occurs and that along the height of the first channel 51 no significant change in the hydrostatic pressure during evacuation or flooding occurs.
- the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 can be arranged one above the other, that is, offset vertically.
- the overflow openings 54 allow a fluid flow in the vertical direction between the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52.
- a slot plate 53a between the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 may lie in a substantially horizontal plane.
- first channel 51 and the other first channel 52 also be offset in the horizontal direction next to each other.
- the overflow openings 54 between the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 thereby allow a fluid flow in the horizontal direction.
- the slot plate may lie in a substantially vertical plane.
- the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 can thus serve as two adjacently arranged equalization channels.
- the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 in combination may cause pressure equalization so that along the
- the flow channel arrangement can be designed symmetrically, in particular mirror-symmetrical to a median plane 90 of the chamber 30.
- a further second channel 57 may be arranged below the second channel 56.
- the further second channel 57 can communicate with the second channel 56 via one or more further overflow openings.
- the further overflow openings can each be formed as slots in a slot plate 58a.
- Gas flow can at least partially cover the further overflow openings.
- the further overflow openings between the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 are arranged and dimensioned such that over the longitudinal direction of the second channel 56 a uniform overflow of the gas takes place between the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57.
- the second channel 56 can thus serve as an upper equalization channel and the further second channel 57 as a lower equalization channel.
- the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 in combination may be one
- the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 can be arranged one above the other, that is to say offset vertically.
- the overflow openings allow one
- the slot plate 58a between the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 may be in a substantially horizontal plane.
- the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 can also be arranged next to one another offset in the horizontal direction.
- the overflow openings between the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 thereby allow a fluid flow in the horizontal direction.
- the slotted panel may be supported in a substantially vertical plane.
- the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 can thus serve as two adjacently arranged equalization channels.
- the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 in combination may cause pressure equalization so that there is no significant change in hydrostatic pressure during evacuation or flooding along the longitudinal direction of the second channel 56 and that there is no significant change in the second channel 56 along the length of the second channel 56 hydrostatic pressure during evacuation or flooding occurs.
- further elements may be provided to even out the gas flow between the first channel 51 and the further first channel 52.
- the overflow openings 54 may be provided in a slot plate 53a.
- Baffle plate 53b for deflecting the gas flow may at least partially cover the overflow openings 54.
- the baffle 53b may be formed integrally with the slit plate 53a or may be provided as a separate part different therefrom.
- the baffle 53b may not be slotted.
- Openings for connection to an evacuation device for evacuating the chamber 30 or with a flooding device for flooding the chamber 30 may be provided on the further first channel 52 and the further second channel 57. These openings may be covered to the interior of the chamber 30 with the slotted sheet 53a and / or the non-slotted baffle 53b, so that the incoming gas via the overflow 54 and after deflection on the baffle 53b enters the chamber 30 and is slowed down as a whole , The braking of the gas during flooding can be done by the use of the overflow 54 and / or by the baffle 53b.
- the evacuation device may include a pump.
- the flood device can a
- first channel 51 and the further first channel 52 are arranged horizontally offset from each other and / or when the second channel 56 and the further second channel 57 are arranged horizontally offset from each other.
- the chamber 30 and the flow channel arrangement with the channels 51, 52, 56, 57 are designed such that the gas flows occurring in the chamber 30 are never directed perpendicular to the substrates positioned on the substrate carrier 102.
- the vacuum lock 10 may be configured to pump the chamber 30 in two stages.
- the vacuum lock 10 may have a first pumping valve 71 and a second pumping valve 72.
- the first pumping valve 71 and the second pumping valve 72 may have different dimensions and may be controlled by a controller (not shown) so that upon evacuation, the first pumping valve 71 and the second pumping valve 72 are sequentially opened to accommodate different pressure variation rates in the chamber 30 produce.
- the first pumping valve 71 and the second pumping valve 72 may both communicate with the further first channel 52.
- the first pumping valve 71 can communicate with a first pumping stub 61, which is arranged adjacent to the further first channel 52 on the chamber 30.
- the second pumping valve 72 may communicate with a second pumping nozzle 62 disposed adjacent the further first channel 52 at the chamber 30.
- Pump stub 67 may be provided on the opposite side of the chamber 30.
- the control can control the pumping valves 71, 72 and the further pumping valves 76, 77 such that during evacuation the second pumping valve 72 and the further second pumping valve 77 are simultaneously opened during a first time interval, while the first pumping valve 71 and the further first pumping valve 76 are closed.
- the second valves 72, 77 may be smaller in size than the first valves 71, 76, so that a more gentle pumping can be realized.
- the controller can the pump valves 71, 72, 76, 77 so control that during evacuation during a second time interval simultaneously the first pumping valve 71 and the other first pumping valve 76 are open, while the second pumping valve 72 and the second pumping further valve 77 also open or are closed.
- the first pumping valve 71 and the further first pumping valve 76 may have an identical configuration.
- the second pumping valve 72 and the further second pumping valve 77 may have an identical configuration. Only one pumping device is preferred used, from which the lock on opposite sides of the chamber 30 is evacuated.
- the connections between the pumping means and the first pumping valves 71, 76 and the second pumping valves 72, 77 may be symmetrical to equal one
- the sides can be the front sides or longitudinal sides of the chamber 30.
- the pumping valves may be connected via pumping lines 63a, 63b, 68a, 68b and a branch to at least one pump.
- the pump, the first pumping valve 71 and the further first pumping valve 76 may be configured during the second time interval during evacuation, the pressure inside the chamber at a rate of at least 100 hPa / s, preferably at least 300 hPa / s, more preferably from 300 hPa / s to reduce to 500 hPa / s.
- the vacuum lock 10 may be configured to flood the chamber 30 in two stages.
- the vacuum lock 10 may have a first flood valve 73 and a second flood valve 74.
- the first flood valve 73 and the second flood valve 74 can be dimensioned differently and can be controlled by the controller so that when flooding sequentially, the first flood valve 73 and the second flood valve 74 are opened to produce different temporal pressure changes in the chamber 30.
- the first flood valve 73 and the second flood valve 74 can both communicate via a flood line 64 with the other first channel 52.
- the first flood valve 73 and the second flood valve 74 can both communicate with the further second channel 57 via a further flood line 69.
- the controller can control the flood valves 73, 74 such that when flooding during a first time interval, the first flood valve 73 is opened while the second flood valve 74 is closed.
- the controller may control the flood valves 73, 74 so that when flooding during a second time interval, the second flood valve 74 is opened while the first flood valve 73 is closed.
- the first flood valve 73 and the second flood valve may both be opened.
- only one flooding device is used to flood the chamber 30 over two sides.
- the connection between the first flood valve 73 and the further first channel 52 and the connection between the first flood valve 73 and the further second channel 57 may be symmetrical in order to flood the chamber 30 from both sides of the chamber 30 with the same volume flow.
- the connection between the second flood valve 74 and the further first channel 52 and the connection between the second flood valve 74 and the other second channel 57 may be symmetrical to flood the chamber 30 from both sides of the chamber 30 with the same volume flow.
- the sides can be the front sides or longitudinal sides of the chamber 30.
- FIG. 11 shows a pneumatic circuit diagram of the vacuum lock 30.
- first pumping valves 71, 76 and second pumping valves 72, 77 as well as differently dimensioned first and second flood valves 73, 74 enable a two-stage pumping down and a two-stage flushing of the chamber.
- gas can flow symmetrically on flooding on the opposite sides of the chamber and be sucked off during evacuation symmetrically on the opposite sides of the chamber.
- the system can be designed symmetrically with regard to its fluid dynamic properties.
- the connecting lines between the first flood valve 73 and the opposite sides of the chamber 30 may have identical lengths and identical diameters and be arranged symmetrically.
- the connecting lines between the second flood valve 74 and the opposite sides of the chamber 30 can have identical lengths and identical diameters and can be arranged symmetrically.
- the connecting lines between the pump and the pumping valves 71, 72 may have identical lengths and identical diameters as the connecting lines between the pump and the further pumping valves 76, 77.
- the lock chamber may have identical lengths and identical diameters as the connecting lines between the pumping valves 76, 77 and a second side of the chamber 30 opposite the first side.
- the sides of the chamber 30 may each be the longitudinal sides or the end faces of the chamber 30.
- Figure 12 and Figure 13 illustrate the operation of the vacuum lock 10.
- Figure 12 shows a velocity field 81, 82 of a gas flow at the first
- Velocity field 83, 84 of the gas flow at the second substrate support surface 22 when evacuating the chamber 30 Since gas is sucked on opposite sides via the first channel 51 and the second channel 56, a plane mirror symmetrical to the center plane 90 of the chamber 30 is generated. For each point on the first substrate carrier surface 21, the velocity 81, 82 of the gas flow is in Amount and direction equal to the velocity 83, 84 of the gas flow at the corresponding, opposite point of the second substrate support surface 22. Static pressure differences are reduced or largely eliminated.
- the design of the flow channel arrangement leads to a velocity field which is homogeneous along a longitudinal direction 50 of the first channel 51, so that no
- Substrate carrier surface 21 and the second substrate carrier surface 22 are made.
- Unwanted cross flows which can lead to a displacement of the substrates on or in the substrate carrier 102, can thus be avoided.
- Substrates reduced relative to the substrate support 102 and damage to the substrates can be introduced into the lock, which can then be pumped off or flooded quickly.
- the size of the substrate carrier 102 may be more than 2 m 2 .
- Substrates that may be Si wafers may have a thickness greater than 100 gm, preferably between 120 and 500 gm. At a thickness of 120 gm this corresponds to a weight of about 10 g per wafer. At a
- Wafer area of 15.6 ⁇ 15.6 cm 2 243 cm 2
- an overpressure of 4.1 Pa at the bottom of the wafer is sufficient to lift this wafer when stored perpendicular to the earth's gravity field in the substrate carrier 102.
- the pressure difference between the first and second substrate carrier surface 21, 22 remains less than 10 Pa, preferably less than 5 Pa, more preferably less than 4 Pa.
- Vacuum lock with a volume of 350 1 5 s flooding times are achievable.
- a pressure gradient of 350 hPa / s was achieved in the initial phase of flooding, which corresponds to a flow rate of 120 1 / s.
- the gradient can flatten to 100 hPa / s. Under these circumstances, where a high rate of pressure change over time occurs, no movement of the wafers loaded in the substrate carrier 102 occurred in the vacuum lock 10.
- a vacuum lock 10 which can be used as an inlet lock 110 and / or as an outlet lock 150, allows the efficient separation of layers or layer systems of high quality.
- Plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition can be particularly efficient
- FIG. 14 shows a dynamic deposition rate of a SiNx.H antireflection layer on a monocrystalline silicon wafer as a function of the total gas flow of SiH 4 and NH 3 in the continuous flow system according to an exemplary embodiment for different pressures of the process gases.
- a dynamic deposition rate of> 20 nm m / min, preferably> 30 nm m / min, particularly preferably> 40 nm m / min and particularly preferably 50 to 80 nm m / min can be achieved.
- FIG. 15 shows an average deposition rate of a SiN x : H antireflection coating on a monocrystalline silicon wafer in the continuous-flow system according to one exemplary embodiment as a function of the pressure for different gas flow rates.
- the continuous system can be configured for the deposition of silicon nitride.
- the continuous system can have at least one process module for the deposition of silicon nitride.
- the deposition of silicon nitride can be carried out with a dynamic deposition rate> 20 nm m / min, preferably> 30 nm m / min, more preferably> 40 nm m / min and particularly preferably 50 to 80 nm m / min.
- the deposition of silicon nitride can be carried out with an average deposition rate> 4 nm / s, preferably> 5 nm / s and particularly preferably> 6 nm / s.
- the deposition rate of silicon nitride can be varied and controlled by the gas flow rate of SiH 4 and NH 3 , as shown in FIG.
- the deposition rate of silicon nitride can alternatively or additionally be influenced in a targeted manner by the RF power.
- the extent of the deposited by a plasma source silicon nitride coating parallel to the transport direction may be ⁇ 50 cm, preferably ⁇ 25 cm, more preferably ⁇ 20 cm and particularly preferably 5 to 20 cm.
- the extent of the coating parallel to the transport direction can be determined by the opening of the plasma source, in particular the position of the opening (s) of the gas distributor, and / or an aperture perpendicular to the transport direction between the plasma source and the substrate carrier.
- the total gas flow rate per SiH 4 and NH 3 plasma source can be in the range of 0.5 to 10 slm (standard liters per minute), preferably in the range of 3 to 8 slm.
- Deposition of SiN x : H layers can take place in a pressure range of> 1 Pa and ⁇ 100 Pa, preferably between 1 Pa and 60 Pa in the process space.
- Areas of the process chamber may deviate by a factor of 0.1-10 depending on the connection of the vacuum gauges. For a given suction of the
- Vacuum generating device the pressure in the process area can be varied by changing the conductance (e.g., aperture, chokes).
- a mass density of the SiN x : H layers can be determined by process parameters such as
- Substrate temperature and the RF power can be controlled or regulated.
- the mass density may preferably be in the range of 2.4 to 2.9 g / cm 3 .
- a hydrogen content could be set by adjusting process parameters such as RF power, substrate temperature, and gas composition.
- deposited SiN x : H layers can have an H content of> 5%, preferably> 8%, particularly preferably 8% to 20%.
- the refractive index of the silicon nitride layer can be varied and controlled by the gas flow rate, in particular by the ratio of SiH 4 and NH 3 .
- SiN x : H layers with a refractive index of 1.9 to 2.4 can be deposited.
- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) can be used to determine the
- Bonds and bond densities can be used in the silicon nitride layers.
- a typical absorption spectrum is shown in FIG. In the region around the wavenumber 600-1300 cm 1 , the absorption of the [Si-N] bonds can be seen. At wavenumber 2050-2300 cm 1 the [Si-H] - and at wavenumbers 3200-3400 cm 1 the [NH] - bonds can be recognized.
- SiN x H layers of satisfactory quality and satisfactory lifetime
- the following preferred chemical composition in terms of bonds and bond densities is preferred: [NH] 3350 cm -1 , [Si-H] 2170-2180 cm 1 with bond densities > 5 ⁇ 10 21 l / cm 3 , preferably 8-10 ⁇ 10 21 l / cm 3 and [Si-N] 830-840 cm 1 with bond densities> 100 ⁇ 10 21 l / cm 3 , preferably> 110 ⁇ 10 21 l / cm 3 , particularly preferably> 120 ⁇ 10 21 l / cm 3 .
- the substrate temperature for the deposition of SiN x : H layers of satisfactory quality and satisfactory lifetime may be below 600 ° C, preferably below 500 ° C, and more preferably in the range of 300 to 480 ° C.
- Multi-layer system made of SiN x : H with different functions of the sublayers, eg for passivation and as antireflection coating, can be achieved by varying the process parameters at the individual plasma sources.
- the continuous-flow system and the method according to exemplary embodiments allow the deposition of an a-SiN x : H layer as an antireflection coating, for example by a plasma-assisted vapor deposition method using an inductively coupled plasma source (ICP-PECVD method).
- ICP-PECVD method the desired dynamic deposition rates can be achieved.
- an inductively coupled plasma source (ICP) can be used, which of a radio frequency (RF) generator, for example at an excitation frequency in the
- the ICP source is used to generate a plasma over a length> 1000 mm, preferably> 1500 mm, particularly preferably> 1700 mm.
- the RF generators may have a power> 4 kW, preferably> 6 KW, particularly preferably 7 to 30 kW and particularly preferably 8 to 16 kW.
- the RF generator can be operated pulsed.
- Amorphous SfN x : H films can be deposited using NH 3 as the reaction gas and SH 4 as the precursor.
- the NH 3 can be fed directly into the plasma chamber to generate a plasma jet with low energy ( ⁇ 20 eV).
- the SiH 4 can be introduced into the process near the substrate to form the a-SiN x : H film with the NH x -Piasmaradikale.
- the substrates can be heated for example by infrared radiation to temperatures of 300 ° C to 480 ° C, for example from 300 ° C to 400 ° C.
- One parameter by which the deposition rate can be controlled or regulated is the total gas flow, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG.
- the properties of the deposited film can be kept substantially constant for different total gas flows.
- the bulk density is an important parameter of the deposited film, which directly influences the passivation properties of a-SiN x : H.
- the mass density can especially influenced by the substrate temperature and RF power. By adjusting these two parameters and the gas composition (NH 3 / SiH 4 ), the mass density of 2.5 g / cm 3 can be adjusted to 2.9 g / cm 3 , without the optical
- the total hydrogen content is related to the mass density and can be controlled or regulated similarly to the mass density.
- the hydrogen content can be determined by FTIR.
- suboxides or oxides such as SiN x O y : H, a-Si x O y : FI (i, n, p) and the like, which can be used as passivating, doping, Tunneling and / or antireflection coatings can be used on semiconductor substrates
- Conveyor be configured for the deposition of alumina.
- Continuous installation can have at least one process module for the deposition of aluminum oxide.
- the deposition of aluminum oxide can be carried out with a dynamic deposition rate per plasma source> 5 nm m / min, preferably> 8 nm m / min, more preferably> 10 mn m / min and especially preferably 10 to 20 nm m / min.
- the deposition of aluminum oxide can take place with an average deposition rate of> 0.5 nm / s, preferably> 1.0 nm / s and particularly preferably> 1.4 nm / s.
- the deposition rate of alumina can be varied and controlled by the gas flow rate of an aluminum-containing precursor, eg, (CH 3 ) 3 Al, and an oxygen-containing reactive gas, eg, N 2 O.
- the deposition rate of alumina can also be influenced by the RF power.
- the extent of the deposited by a plasma source aluminum oxide coating in the transport direction may be ⁇ 50 cm, preferably ⁇ 25 cm, more preferably ⁇ 20 cm and particularly preferably 5 to 20 cm.
- the extension of the coating parallel to the transport direction may be through the opening of the plasma source, in particular the position of the opening (s) of the gas distributor, and / or the width of a diaphragm perpendicular to
- Transport direction between the plasma source and the substrate carrier can be determined.
- Plasma source for (CH 3 ) 3 Al and N 2 0 in the range of 0.5 to 10 slm (standard liters per minute), preferably in the range of 3 to 8 slm.
- the refractive index of the alumina layer can be varied and controlled by the gas flow rate, in particular by the ratio of (CH 3 ) 3 Al and N 2 O.
- A10 X : H layers with a refractive index> 1.57 can be deposited.
- Further layer properties of the aluminum oxide layer can be:
- Layer thickness 4 - 30 nm, preferably 4 - 20 nm, more preferably 4 - 15 nm
- satisfactory quality and satisfactory life can be below 600 ° C, preferably below 500 ° C and more preferably in the range of 200 to 400 ° C.
- Figure 17 shows the reflection spectrum 211 for a single SiN x : H antireflection layer and the reflection spectrum 212 for a SiN / SiNO double layer, each deposited by ICP-PECVD using a method according to the invention. Numerically simulated data is shown with dashed lines.
- planar magnetrons and tubular magnetrons and inductively and / or capacitively coupled or microwave excited plasma sources for different coating methods such as PVD (physical vapor deposition) or PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) or others
- Plasma processes e.g., activation, etching, cleaning, implanting.
- a layer system of single layers can be deposited without vacuum interruption, similar to that explained with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.
- the continuous flow system and the process can not only for the production of PERX or other silicon cells by means of PECVD, for applying a
- barrier layers for example Ag, Al, Cu, NiV
- barrier layers for example Ag, Al, Cu, NiV
- the continuous flow system can be used as a platform for various pretreatment and
- PECVD plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
- Aspect 1 Continuous installation for coating substrates, comprising:
- a vacuum lock for introducing the substrates or for discharging the
- Substrate carrier having a plurality of substrates.
- a continuous flow system according to aspect 1, wherein the vacuum lock further comprises a flow channel arrangement for evacuating and flooding the chamber, the flow channel arrangement having a first channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber and a second channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber, the first channel and the second channel are disposed on opposite sides of the chamber.
- Aspect 3 Continuous installation according to aspect 1 or aspect 2, wherein at least one
- Process module a plasma source, a gas supply device for feeding a plurality
- Aspect 4 Continuous installation according to aspect 3, wherein the at least one process module with the plasma source comprises a first gas suction device whose suction opening is arranged along a conveying direction of the substrates upstream of the plasma source, and a second gas suction device, the suction opening along the conveying direction
- Aspect 5 Continuous installation according to Aspect 3 or Aspect 4, wherein the plasma source and the gas supply device are combined in a plant component which is used as a module by the Continuous system is removable.
- Aspect 6 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, further comprising: a transport device for continuously transporting a train from
- a transfer module for transferring the substrate carrier between the
- Vacuum lock and the transport device wherein the transfer module between the vacuum lock and the process module or the process modules is arranged.
- Aspect 7 Continuous installation according to aspect 6, wherein the transfer module a
- Heater with temperature control optionally with the heater configured to heat the substrates from both sides.
- Aspect 8 Continuous installation according to aspect 6 or aspect 7, wherein
- the vacuum lock is a vacuum lock for introducing the substrates, and the pass-through installation also has a second vacuum lock for discharging the substrates, the second vacuum lock having:
- a second chamber for receiving the substrate carrier and a second flow channel arrangement for evacuating and flooding the second chamber, the second flow channel arrangement having a third channel for evacuating and flooding the second chamber and a fourth channel for evacuating and flooding the second chamber, the third channel and the fourth channel are disposed on opposite sides of the second chamber.
- Aspect 9 Continuous installation according to aspect 8, wherein the pass-through system further comprises: a second transfer module for transferring the substrate support from the
- Aspect 10 Continuous flow system according to aspect 8 or aspect 9, wherein the flow plant is configured, the substrates between the first vacuum lock and the second
- Aspect 11 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the continuous system has a plurality of process modules and at least one transfer chamber arranged between two process modules.
- Aspect 12 Continuous flow system according to aspect 1 1, wherein the transfer chamber to the
- Aspect 13 Continuous flow system according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the continuous flow system is configured, a nitrogen-containing first process gas and a
- Aspect 14 Continuous flow system according to aspect 13, wherein the continuous flow system is configured to supply an oxygen-containing third process gas and an aluminum-containing fourth process gas into another process module with a further plasma source.
- Aspect 14 Continuous flow system according to aspect 13 or aspect 14, wherein the
- Continuous flow plant is a continuous plant for the production of solar cells, in particular for the production of one of the following solar cells is: Passaged Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) cell; PERT (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Totally Diffused Back Surface Field) cell; PERL (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Locally Diffused Back Surface Field) cell; Heterojunction solar cell; Solar cell with passivated contacts.
- PERC Passaged Emitter Rear Cell
- PERT Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Totally Diffused Back Surface Field
- PERL Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell with Locally Diffused Back Surface Field
- Heterojunction solar cell Solar cell with passivated contacts.
- Aspect 16 Continuous installation according to aspect 13, wherein the continuous installation a
- Aspect 17 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the continuous installation is a continuous installation for coating crystalline silicon wafers.
- Aspect 18 Continuous flow system according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the vacuum lock is configured such that a pressure difference between
- Substrate support surfaces of the substrate support is at most 10 Pa, preferably at most 5 Pa, more preferably at most 4 Pa, when in a pumpdown or
- Aspect 19 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, which belongs to
- Aspect 20 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein a cycle time of the continuous installation is less than 60 s, preferably less than 50 s, more preferably less than 45 s.
- Aspect 21 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein an average transport speed in the continuous installation is at least 26 mm / s, preferably at least 30 mm / s, more preferably at least 33 mm / s.
- Aspect 22 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein a working time for pumping off the vacuum lock is less than 25 s, preferably less than 20 s, more preferably less than 18 s.
- a flow system according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the chamber of the vacuum lock comprises a chamber top and a chamber bottom and a first and a second inner surface.
- Aspect 24 Continuous installation according to Aspect 23 as a function of Aspect 2, wherein the
- Flow channel arrangement is configured, a gas flow in both a first region between the first inner surface and one of the first inner surface
- Aspect 25 Continuous flow system according to aspect 24, wherein a ratio of a first
- Distance dl between the first inner surface and the first substrate carrier surface to a length L of the substrate carrier is less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, more preferably less than 0.025.
- Aspect 26 Continuous flow system according to aspect 24 or aspect 25, wherein a ratio of a second distance d2 between the second inner surface and the second one
- Substrate carrier surface to a length L of the substrate carrier is less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, more preferably less than 0.025.
- Aspect 27 Continuous installation according to one of the aspects 23 to 26, wherein the
- Vacuum lock is configured so that a ratio of a first flow resistance between the substrate carrier and the first inner surface to a second
- Flow resistance between the substrate carrier and the second inner surface is between 0.95 and 1.05, preferably between 0.97 and 1.03.
- Aspect 28 Continuous installation according to one of the aspects 23 to 27, wherein a
- Substrate support surface maximum lOPa preferably not more than 5 Pa, more preferably not more than 4 Pa, if in an evacuation or flooding of the chamber a
- Pressure change rate in the chamber exceeds 100 hPa / s, preferably 300 hPa / s.
- Aspect 29 Continuous flow system according to one of the aspects 23 to 28, wherein the substrate carrier is positioned between the first and the second inner surface, that
- d) is a first distance between the first substrate carrier surface and the first inner surface and d 2 is a second distance between the second substrate carrier surface and the second inner surface.
- Aspect 30 A flow system according to any one of the preceding aspects as dependent on Aspect 2, wherein the flow channel assembly is configured to flood and / or evacuate the chamber a gas flow directed perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the first channel at at least a portion of a first substrate support surface and at least one region to produce a second substrate carrier surface and
- Aspect 31 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, dependent on aspect 2, wherein the first channel and the second channel are parallel to one another.
- Aspect 32 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects as a function of Aspect 2, wherein the first channel and the second channel are arranged on end faces of the chamber of the vacuum lock.
- Aspect 33 A flow plant according to any one of the preceding aspects as dependent on Aspect 2, wherein the first channel and the second channel are spaced apart by at least a length of the substrate support.
- Aspect 34 Continuous flow system according to one of the preceding aspects as a function of aspect 2, wherein the first channel and the second channel are arranged with respect to a center plane of the chamber mirror-symmetrical to each other.
- Aspect 35 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects as a function of Aspect 2, wherein the flow channel arrangement has a further first channel, which is in fluid communication with the first channel through at least one overflow opening, and / or wherein the flow channel arrangement has a further second channel at least one second overflow opening with the second channel in one
- Aspect 36 Continuous installation according to Aspect 35, further comprising means for
- Equalization of the flow between the first channel and the further first channel which has the at least one overflow opening, wherein optionally the
- Overflow is smaller than a cross section of the other first channel
- Aspect 37 Continuous flow system according to one of the preceding aspects, dependent on Aspect 2, wherein the flow channel arrangement is configured to generate the gas flow during flooding and / or evacuation of the chamber in such a way that at a first
- Substrate carrier surface and a second substrate carrier surface a pressure gradient in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the at least one channel is minimized.
- Aspect 38 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects as a function of aspect 2, wherein the first channel and the second channel extend perpendicular or parallel to a transport direction of the substrate carrier in the continuous system.
- a flow system according to any one of the preceding aspects as dependent on aspect 2, wherein the flow system is configured to position the substrate support non-overlapping with the first channel and the second channel upon flooding and evacuating the chamber.
- Aspect 40 A continuous flow installation according to one of the preceding aspects, dependent on Aspect 2, wherein the first channel and the second channel each have an opening for a fluid connection to a flooding device and / or an evacuation device.
- Aspect 41 A continuous flow plant according to any one of the preceding aspects as dependent on aspect 2, wherein the vacuum lock further comprises a gas baffle for deflecting a flow of gas against a wall of the chamber during flooding.
- Aspect 42 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the vacuum lock further comprises at least one connecting piece for connection to an evacuation device and / or a flooding device.
- Aspect 43 Continuous installation according to one of the preceding aspects, wherein the continuous installation further comprises at least one valve arrangement which is provided between the chamber and the evacuation device and / or flooding device.
- Aspect 44 Continuous flow system according to aspect 43, wherein the valve arrangement comprises a first valve and a second valve, which are dimensioned differently.
- a continuous flow system according to aspect 44, wherein the continuous flow system comprises a controller for driving the first valve and the second valve for a two-stage flooding or a two-stage evacuation of the chamber.
- Aspect 46 Continuous installation according to one of the aspects 42 to 45, further with mutually symmetrically designed fluid connection lines between the
- Aspect 47 Continuous flow system according to aspect 46, wherein the fluid communication lines connect the opposite sides of the chamber to a common evacuation device or to a common flooding device.
- Aspect 48 Method of Coating Substrates in a Continuous Flow Plant Using
- Process module or multiple process modules the method comprising:
- At least one of the first and second vacuum locks has a chamber for receiving a substrate carrier having substrates held thereon.
- Aspect 49 The method of aspect 48, wherein the at least one of the first and second vacuum locks comprises a flow channel arrangement for evacuating and flooding the chamber, the flow channel arrangement having a first channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber and a second channel for evacuating and flooding the chamber; wherein the first channel and the second channel are disposed on opposite sides of the chamber.
- Aspect 50 Method according to aspect 48 or aspect 49, wherein the first vacuum lock and the second vacuum lock are each configured such that a pressure difference between substrate carrier surfaces of the substrate carrier is at most 10 Pa, preferably at most 5 Pa, particularly preferably at most 4 Pa when in a pumpdown process or
- Aspect 51 A method according to any one of aspects 48 to 50, wherein the substrates are crystalline
- Silicon wafers are.
- Aspect 52 Method according to one of aspects 48 to 51, wherein the continuous processing plant processes at least 4,000 substrates per hour, preferably at least 5,000 substrates per hour.
- Aspect 53 Method according to one of the aspects 48 to 52, wherein a cycle time of the
- Continuous flow system less than 60 s, preferably less than 50 s, more preferably less than 45 s.
- Aspect 54 Method according to any one of aspects 48 to 53, wherein a mean Transport speed in the continuous system at least 26 mm / s, preferably at least 30 mm / s, more preferably at least 33 mm / s.
- Aspect 55 The method of any one of aspects 48 to 54, wherein a duration of operation of the vacuum lock is less than 25 seconds, preferably less than 20 seconds, more preferably less than 18 seconds.
- Aspect 56 The method of any of aspects 48 to 55, wherein the chamber has a chamber top and a chamber bottom, and first and second inner surfaces.
- Aspect 57 The method of aspect 56 as dependent on aspect 49, wherein the flow channel assembly is configured to provide gas flow in both a first region between the first inner surface and one of the first inner surface
- Aspect 58 The method of aspect 57, wherein a ratio of a first distance dl between the first inner surface and the first substrate carrier surface to a length L of the substrate carrier is less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, more preferably less than 0.025.
- Aspect 59 A method according to aspect 57 or aspect 58, wherein a ratio of a second distance d2 between the second inner surface and the second one
- Substrate carrier surface to a length L of the substrate carrier is less than 0.1, preferably less than 0.05, more preferably less than 0.025.
- Aspect 60 The method of any one of aspects 57 to 59, wherein a ratio of a first flow resistance between the substrate carrier and the first inner surface to a second flow resistance between the substrate carrier and the second
- Aspect 61 Method according to one of the aspects 57 to 60, wherein a pressure difference between the first substrate carrier surface and the second substrate carrier surface is a maximum of 1 OPa, preferably a maximum of 5 Pa, more preferably a maximum of 4 Pa, if a rate of pressure change during evacuation or flooding of the chamber the chamber exceeds 100 hPa / s, preferably 300 hPa / s.
- Aspect 62 The method of any one of aspects 57 to 61, wherein the substrate carrier is positioned between the first and second inner surfaces jdi - d 2
- di is a first distance between the first substrate carrier surface and the first inner surface
- d 2 is a second distance between the second substrate carrier surface and the second inner surface
- Aspect 63 The method of any one of aspects 57 to 62, wherein upon flooding and / or evacuating the chamber, a gas flow directed perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the first channel is generated at at least a portion of a first substrate carrier surface and at least a portion of a second substrate carrier surface;
- Aspect 64 Method according to one of the aspects 48 to 63, which is carried out by the continuous flow system according to one of the aspects 1 to 47.
- the production costs for the coating of solar cells can be reduced.
- Highly efficient solar cells can be manufactured at low cost, making the solar cells more competitive for generating electricity.
- Good passivation layers of the front surface and the back surface may help reduce the recombination of the generated electrons or holes in the formed Si solar cell and prevent recombination of the charge carriers.
- the continuous flow system offers a scalable system concept, so that throughput and productivity can be met by adjusting the system parameters.
- the width of the continuous system and the substrate carrier can be increased in order to allow a larger throughput.
- the vacuum lock or the vacuum locks of the continuous flow system can or can be scalable, so that they can be adapted for different throughputs of substrates.
- the width and / or length of the vacuum locks can be selected according to the dimensions of the substrate carrier, which is to be channeled to achieve the desired target conversion.
- a reduction of plant pollution can be achieved. This leads to a Extension of the mean time between maintenance work. The average maintenance time can be reduced.
- Embodiments of the invention can be advantageously used for coating wafers.
- the continuous flow system according to the invention may be, for example, a coating system for rectangular or round wafers, without being limited thereto.
Abstract
Description
Claims
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DE102018004086.1A DE102018004086A1 (en) | 2018-05-18 | 2018-05-18 | Continuous flow system and method for coating substrates |
PCT/EP2019/058505 WO2019219292A2 (en) | 2018-05-18 | 2019-04-04 | Continuous flow system and method for coating substrates |
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EP (1) | EP3794159A2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN112236544A (en) |
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KR102168380B1 (en) * | 2019-07-18 | 2020-10-21 | 세메스 주식회사 | A cooling unit, and a substrate processing apparatus including the same |
KR20210149266A (en) * | 2020-06-01 | 2021-12-09 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Substrate fixing device, deposition processing equipment including same, and deposition processing method using same |
CN111739971B (en) * | 2020-08-03 | 2021-02-19 | 苏州迈正科技有限公司 | Film coating equipment, method and system, solar cell, assembly and power generation system |
JP2024508628A (en) | 2021-01-29 | 2024-02-28 | ピンク ゲーエムベーハー テルモジステーメ | Systems and methods for connecting electronic assemblies |
DE102021108635A1 (en) | 2021-01-29 | 2022-08-04 | Pink Gmbh Thermosysteme | System and method for connecting electronic assemblies |
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CN114351124A (en) * | 2022-01-14 | 2022-04-15 | 营口金辰机械股份有限公司 | Battery piece coating system |
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