Abstract: An apparatus, such as an ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) apparatus, including a precursor source configured for depositing material on a heated substrate in a deposition reactor by sequential self-saturating surface reactions. The apparatus includes an in-feed line for feeding precursor vapor from the precursor source to a reaction chamber and a structure configured for utilizing heat from a reaction chamber heater for preventing condensation of precursor vapor into liquid or solid phase between the precursor source and the reaction chamber. Also various other apparatus and methods are presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate, in which method a substrate placed in a reaction space (21) is subjected to alternately repeated surface reactions of at least two vapor-phase reactants for the purpose of forming a thin film. According to the method, said reactants are fed in the form of vapor-phase pulses repeatedly and alternately, each reactant separately from its own source, into said reaction space (21), and said vapor-phase reactants are brought to react with the surface of the substrate for the purpose of forming a solid-state thin film compound on said substrate. According to the invention, the gas volume of said reaction space is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump essentially totally between two successive vapor-phase reactant pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus in which a plurality of ALD reactors are placed in a pattern in relation to each other, each ALD reactor being configured to receive a batch of substrates for ALD processing, and each ALD reactor comprising a reaction chamber accessible from the top. A plurality of loading sequences is performed with a loading robot. Each loading sequence comprises picking up a substrate holder carrying a batch of substrates in a storage area or shelf, and moving said substrate holder with said batch of substrates into the reaction chamber of the ALD reactor in question.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing conformal thin films by sequential self saturating chemical reactions on heated surfaces is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a movable single or dual-lid system that has a substrate holder attached to a reaction chamber lid. In other embodiments, the apparatus comprises an exhaust flow plug, a gas distribution insert, a local heater or a minibatch system. Various methods suitable for ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) are also enclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for removing substances from gases discharged from gas phase reactors. In particular, the invention provides a method for removing substances contained in gases discharged from an ALD reaction process, comprising contacting the gases with a “sacrificial” material having a high surface area kept at essentially the same conditions as those prevailing during the gas phase reaction process. The sacrificial material is thus subjected to surface reactions with the substances contained in the gases to form a reaction product on the surface of the sacrificial material and to remove the substances from the gases. The present invention diminishes the amount of waste produced in the gas phase process and reduces wear on the equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus in which a plurality of ALD reactors are placed in a pattern in relation to each other, each ALD reactor being figured to receive a batch of substrates for ALD processing, and each ALD reactor comprising a reaction chamber accessible from the top. A plurality of loading sequences is performed with a loading robot. Each loading sequence comprises picking up a substrate holder carrying a batch of substrates in a storage area or shelf, and moving said substrate holder with said batch of substrates into the reaction chamber of the ALD reactor in question.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus in which precursor vapor is guided along at least one in-feed line into a reaction chamber of a deposition reactor, and material is deposited on surfaces of a batch of vertically placed substrates by establishing a vertical flow of precursor vapor in the reaction chamber and having it enter in a vertical direction in between said vertically placed substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as an ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) apparatus, including a precursor source configured for depositing material on a heated substrate in a deposition reactor by sequential self-saturating surface reactions. The apparatus includes an in-feed line for feeding precursor vapor from the precursor source to a reaction chamber and a structure configured for utilizing heat from a reaction chamber heater for preventing condensation of precursor vapor into liquid or solid phase between the precursor source and the reaction chamber. Also various other apparatus and methods are presented.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing thin films onto a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a gas exchange plate that is positioned within a reaction chamber having a platform. The gas exchange plate may be positioned above or below the platform and comprises a first plurality of passages and a second plurality of passages machined therein. The first plurality of passages is in fluid communication with a first reactant source and a purge gas source. Similarly, the second plurality of passages is in fluid communication with a second reactant source and a purge gas source. The first and the second plurality of passages are fluidly connected to first and second plurality of apertures that open to the reaction chamber. Gases are removed from the reaction space through third plurality of apertures within the gas exchange plate that are in fluid communication with exhaust space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate, in which method a substrate placed in a reaction space (21) is subjected to alternately repeated surface reactions of at least two vapor-phase reactants for the purpose of forming a thin film. According to the method, said reactants are fed in the form of vapor-phase pulses repeatedly and alternately, each reactant separately from its own source, into said reaction space (21), and said vapor-phase reactants are brought to react with the surface of the substrate for the purpose of forming a solid-state thin film compound on said substrate. According to the invention, the gas volume of said reaction space is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump essentially totally between two successive vapor-phase reactant pulses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing thin films onto a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a gas injection structure that is positioned within a reaction chamber that has a platform. The gas injection structure may be positioned above or below the platform and comprises a first gas injector and a second gas injector. The first gas injector is in fluid communication with a first reactant source and a purge gas source. Similarly, the second gas injector is in fluid communication with a second reactant source and a purge gas source. The first and second injectors include hollow tubes with apertures opening to the reaction chamber. In one configuration, the tubes are in the form of interleaved branching tubes forming showerhead rakes. Methods are provided for deposition, in which multiple pulses of purge and reactant gases are provided for each purge and reactant step.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for removing substances from gases discharged from gas phase reactors. In particular, the invention provides a method for removing substances contained in gases discharged from an ALD reaction process, comprising contacting the gases with a “sacrificial” material having a high surface area kept at essentially the same conditions as those prevailing during the gas phase reaction process. The sacrificial material is thus subjected to surface reactions with the substances contained in the gases to form a reaction product on the surface of the sacrificial material and to remove the substances from the gases. The present invention diminishes the amount of waste produced in the gas phase process and reduces wear on the equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate, in which method a substrate placed in a reaction space (21) is subjected to alternately repeated surface reactions of at least two vapor-phase reactants for the purpose of forming a thin film. According to the method, said reactants are fed in the form of vapor-phase pulses repeatedly and alternately, each reactant separately from its own source, into said reaction space (21), and said vapor-phase reactants are brought to react with the surface of the substrate for the purpose of forming a solid-state thin film compound on said substrate. According to the invention, the gas volume of said reaction space is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump essentially totally between two successive vapor-phase reactant pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate, in which method a substrate placed in a reaction space (21) is subjected to alternately repeated surface reactions of at least two vapor-phase reactants for the purpose of forming a thin film. According to the method, said reactants are fed in the form of vapor-phase pulses repeatedly and alternately, each reactant separately from its own source, into said reaction space (21), and said vapor-phase reactants are brought to react with the surface of the substrate for the purpose of forming a solid-state thin film compound on said substrate. According to the invention, the gas volume of said reaction space is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump essentially totally between two successive vapor-phase reactant pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate, in which method a substrate placed in a reaction space (21) is subjected to alternately repeated surface reactions of at least two vapor-phase reactants for the purpose of forming a thin film. According to the method, said reactants are fed in the form of vapor-phase pulses repeatedly and alternately, each reactant separately from its own source, into said reaction space (21), and said vapor-phase reactants are brought to react with the surface of the substrate for the purpose of forming a solid-state thin film compound on said substrate. According to the invention, the gas volume of said reaction space is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump essentially totally between two successive vapor-phase reactant pulses.

Abstract: A method of growing a thin film onto a substrate placed in a reaction chamber according to the ALD method by subjecting the substrate to alternate and successive surface reactions. The method includes providing a first reactant source and providing an inactive gas source. A first reactant is fed from the first reactant source in the form of repeated alternating pulses to a reaction chamber via a first conduit. The first reactant is allowed to react with the surface of the substrate in the reaction chamber. Inactive gas is fed from the inactive gas source into the first conduit via a second conduit that is connected to the first conduit at a first connection point so as to create a gas phase barrier between the repeated alternating pulses of the first reactant entering the reaction chamber. The inactive gas is withdrawn from said first conduit via a third conduit connected to the first conduit at a second connection point.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate by the ALD process. The apparatus comprises a reaction chamber into which the substrate can be disposed; a plurality of inlet channels communicating with said reaction chamber, said inlet channels being suited for feeding the reactants employed in a thin-film growth process in the form of vapor-phase pulses into said reaction chamber; at least one outlet channel communicating with said reaction chamber, said outlet channel being suited for the outflow of reaction products and excess amounts of reactants from said reaction space; and a pre-reaction chamber arranged immediately upstream of the reaction chamber, said pre-reaction chamber forming a first reaction zone, in which the reactants of successive vapor-phase pulses can be reacted with each other in the vapor phase to form a solid product, whereas said reaction chamber forming a second reaction zone can be operated under conditions conducive to ALD growth of a thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing conformal thin films by sequential self saturating chemical reactions on heated surfaces is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a movable single or dual-lid system that has a substrate holder attached to a reaction chamber lid. In other embodiments, the apparatus comprises an exhaust flow plug, a gas distribution insert, a local heater or a minibatch system. Various methods suitable for ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) are also enclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for growing a thin film onto a substrate is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a plurality of substrates, each having a width and a length, are placed in a reaction space and the substrates are subjected to surface reactions of vapor-phase reactants according to the ALD method to form a thin film on the surfaces of the substrates. The reaction space comprises an elongated gas channel having a cross-section with a width greater that the height and which has a length which is at least 2 times greater than the length of one substrate in the direction of the gas flow in the channel, the channel having a folded configuration with at least one approximately 180 degree turn in the direction of the gas flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of thin films. In particular, the invention concerns a method of growing a thin film onto a substrate, in which method the substrate is placed in a reaction chamber and is subjected to surface reactions of a plurality of vapor-phase reactants according to the ALD method. The present invention is based on replacing the mechanical valves conventionally used for regulating the pulsing of the reactants, which valves tend to wear and intrude metallic particles into the process flow, with an improved precursor dosing system. The invention is characterized by choking the reactant flow between the vapour-phase pulses while still allowing a minimum flow of said reactant, and redirecting the reactant at these times to an other destination than the reaction chamber. The redirection is performed with an inactive gas, which is also used for ventilating the reaction chamber between the vapour-phase pulses.