Abstract: A solid solution-comprising ceramic article useful in semiconductor processing, which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas. The solid solution-comprising ceramic article is formed from a combination of yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide. In a first embodiment, the ceramic article includes ceramic which is formed from yttrium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 90 mole % to about 70 mole %, and zirconium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 10 mole % to about 30 mole %. In a second embodiment, the ceramic article includes ceramic which is formed from zirconium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 96 mole % to about 94 mole %, and yttrium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 4 mole % to about 6 mole %.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for bonding an electrostatic chuck to a component of a substrate support are provided herein. In some embodiments, an adhesive for bonding components of a substrate support may include a matrix of silicon-based polymeric material having a filler dispersed therein. The silicon based polymeric material may be a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structure having a molecular weight with a low molecular weight (LMW) content ? D3-D10 of less than about 500 ppm. In some embodiments, the filler may comprise between about 50 to about 70 percent by volume of the adhesive layer. In some embodiments, the filler may comprise particles of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), aluminum nitride (AlN), yttrium oxide (Y2O3), or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the filler may comprise particles having a diameter of about 10 nanometers to about 10 microns.

Abstract: A filled polymer composition having improved plasma resistance is disclosed. The composition includes a particle filler dispersed in a polymer matrix. The particle filler can be Nb2O5, YF3, AlN, SiC or Si3N4 and rare earth oxides. In an embodiment, the composition is utilized as a bonding adhesive for electrostatic chuck, bonding adhesive for shower head, bonding adhesive for liner, sealing material, O-ring, or plastic component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to compositions of metal oxyfluoride-comprising glazes or metal fluoride-comprising glazes, glass ceramics, and combinations thereof which are useful as plasma-resistant solid substrates or plasma resistant protective coatings over other substrates. Also described are methods of fabricating various structures which incorporate such compositions, including solid substrates and coatings over the surface of a substrate which has a melting point which is higher than about 1600° C., such as aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, quartz, silicon carbide, silicon nitride.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to component structures which are useful as apparatus in plasma processing chambers. Portions of the component structures are bonded together using oxyfluoride-comprising glazes, glass ceramics, and combinations thereof. The bonding material is resistant to halogen-containing plasmas and exhibits desirable mechanical properties.

Abstract: A ceramic article which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas used in semiconductor processing. The ceramic article includes ceramic which is multi-phased, typically including two phase to three phases. The ceramic is formed from yttrium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 50 mole % to about 75 mole %; zirconium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 10 mole % to about 30 mole %; and at least one other component, selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, scandium oxide, neodymium oxide, niobium oxide, samarium oxide, ytterbium oxide, erbium oxide, cerium oxide, and combinations thereof, at a molar concentration ranging from about 10 mole % to about 30 mole %.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for removing polymer from a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus utilized to remove polymer from a substrate includes a processing chamber having a chamber wall and a chamber lid defining a process volume, a substrate support assembly disposed in the processing chamber, and a remote plasma source coupled to the processing chamber through an outlet port formed within the chamber wall, the outlet port having an opening pointing toward an periphery region of a substrate disposed on the substrate support assembly, wherein the remote plasma source is fabricated from a material resistant to hydrogen species.

Abstract: Particulate generation has been a problem in semiconductor device processing in highly corrosive plasma environments. The problem is exacerbated when the plasma is a reducing plasma. Empirically produced data has shown that the formation of a plasma spray coated yttrium-comprising ceramic such as yttrium oxide, Y2O3—ZrO2 solid solution, YAG, and YF3 provides a low porosity coating with smooth and compacted surfaces when such ceramics are spray coated from a powder feed having an average effective diameter ranging from about 22 ?m to about 0.1 ?m. These spray-coated materials reduce the generation of particulates in corrosive reducing plasma environments.

Abstract: An article which is resistant to corrosion or erosion by chemically active plasmas and a method of making the article are described. The article is comprised of a metal or metal alloy substrate having on its surface a coating which is an oxide of the metal or metal alloy. The structure of the oxide coating is columnar in nature. The grain size of the crystals which make up the oxide is larger at the surface of the oxide coating than at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate, and wherein the oxide coating is in compression at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate. Typically the metal is selected from the group consisting of yttrium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, scandium, hafnium, niobium or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Specialty ceramic materials which resist corrosion/erosion under semiconductor processing conditions which employ a corrosive/erosive plasma. The corrosive plasma may be a halogen-containing plasma. The specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a controlled electrical resistivity which suppresses plasma arcing potential.

Abstract: A ceramic article useful in semiconductor processing, which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas. The ceramic article is formed from a combination of yttrium oxide and zirconium oxide. In a first embodiment, the ceramic article includes ceramic which is formed from yttrium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 90 mole % to about 70 mole %, and zirconium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 10 mole % to about 30 mole %. In a second embodiment, the ceramic article includes ceramic which is formed from zirconium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 96 mole % to about 94 mole %, and yttrium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 4 mole % to about 6 mole %.

Abstract: A ceramic article which is resistant to erosion by halogen-containing plasmas used in semiconductor processing. The ceramic article includes ceramic which is multi-phased, typically including two phase to three phases. The ceramic is formed from yttrium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 50 mole % to about 75 mole %; zirconium oxide at a molar concentration ranging from about 10 mole % to about 30 mole %; and at least one other component, selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, scandium oxide, neodymium oxide, niobium oxide, samarium oxide, ytterbium oxide, erbium oxide, cerium oxide, and combinations thereof, at a molar concentration ranging from about 10 mole % to about 30 mole %.

Abstract: Methods of applying specialty ceramic materials to semiconductor processing apparatus, where the specialty ceramic materials are resistant to halogen-comprising plasmas. The specialty ceramic materials contain at least one yttrium oxide-comprising solid solution. Some embodiments of the specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a resistivity which reduces the possibility of arcing within a semiconductor processing chamber.

Abstract: Composite materials containing silicon, titanium, carbon, and nitrogen, formed by spark plasma sintering of ceramic starting materials to a high relative density, demonstrate unusually high electrical conductivity as well as high-performance mechanical and chemical properties including hardness, fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance. This combination of electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties makes these composites useful as electrical conductors in applications where high-performance materials are needed due to exposure to extreme conditions such as high temperatures, mechanical stresses, and corrosive environments.

Abstract: Composite materials containing silicon, titanium, carbon, and nitrogen, formed by spark plasma sintering of ceramic starting materials to a high relative density, demonstrate unusually high electrical conductivity as well as high-performance mechanical and chemical properties including hardness, fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance. This combination of electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties makes these composites useful as electrical conductors in applications where high-performance materials are needed due to exposure to extreme conditions such as high temperatures, mechanical stresses, and corrosive environments.