Abstract: A thin film deposition system cleaning method is capable of efficiently removing reaction products deposited on surfaces of component members of a thin film deposition system. A thermal processing system 1 capable of carrying out the thin film deposition system cleaning method includes a controller 100. The controller 100 controls a heating means so as to heat the interior of a reaction tube 2 at a temperature in the range of 400° C. to 700° C. The controller 100 controls a cleaning gas supply means for supplying a cleaning gas containing fluorine and hydrogen fluoride through a process gas supply pipe 17 into the reaction tube 2 to remove deposits deposited on surfaces exposed to an atmosphere in the reaction tube 2.

Abstract: A method for forming a silicon nitride film first deposits a silicon nitride film on a target substrate by CVD in a process field within a reaction container. This step is arranged to supply a first process gas containing a silane family gas and a second process gas containing a nitriding gas to the process field, and set the process field at a first temperature and a first pressure, for a first time period. The method then nitrides a surface of the silicon nitride film in the process field. This step is arranged to supply a surface-treatment gas containing a nitriding gas to the process field without supplying the first process gas, and set the process field at a second temperature and a second pressure, for a second time period shorter than the first time period.

Abstract: A film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process includes a cleaning gas supply circuit, a concentration measuring section, and an information processor. The cleaning gas supply circuit is configured to supply a cleaning gas into a reaction chamber to perform cleaning of removing from an inner surface of the reaction chamber a by-product film derived from a film formation gas. The concentration measuring section is disposed in an exhaust system to monitor concentration of a predetermined component contained in exhaust gas from the reaction chamber. The information processor is configured to compare a measurement value obtained by the concentration measuring section with a preset value and to thereby determine an end point of the cleaning.

Abstract: An impurity-doped silicon nitride or oxynitride film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas containing a silane family gas, a second process gas containing a nitriding or oxynitriding gas, and a third process gas containing a doping gas. This method alternately includes first to fourth steps. The first step performs supply of the first and third process gases to the field. The second step stops supply of the first to third process gases to the field. The third step performs supply of the second process gas to the field while stopping supply of the first and third process gases to the field, and includes an excitation period of exciting the second process gas by an exciting mechanism. The fourth step stops supply of the first to third process gases to the field.

Abstract: A silicon oxide film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field configured to be selectively supplied with an Si-containing gas, an oxidizing gas, and a deoxidizing gas. This method alternately includes first to fourth steps. The first step is arranged to perform supply of the Si-containing gas to the process field while stopping supply of the oxidizing and deoxidizing gases to the process field. The second step is arranged to stop supply of the Si-containing, oxidizing, and deoxidizing gases to the process field. The third step is arranged to perform supply of the oxidizing and deoxidizing gases to the process field at the same time, while stopping supply of the Si-containing gas to the process field. The fourth step is arranged to stop supply of the Si-containing, oxidizing, and deoxidizing gases to the process field.

Abstract: A hemispherical grained (HSG) film is oxidized to form an oxidized layer at the surface part of the HSG film, and then the oxidized layer is etched to be removed. The size of the hemispherical grains after etching is smaller than that as formed.

Abstract: A processing system of the present invention includes: a reaction container in which a substrate to be processed is placed, a process-gas supplying mechanism that supplies a process gas into the reaction container at a process to the substrate, a cleaning-gas supplying mechanism that supplies a corrosive cleaning gas into the reaction container at a cleaning process, a gas-discharging-way member connected to the reaction chamber, a heating unit that heats a specific portion of the reaction container and the gas-discharging-way member, a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the specific portion, a temperature controlling unit that controls the heating unit based on a detection value detected by the temperature detecting unit in such a manner that the specific portion becomes to a predetermined target temperature, and a temperature changing unit that changes the target temperature between at the process to the substrate and at the cleaning process.

Abstract: A film formation method for a semiconductor process is arranged to form a thin film on a target substrate by CVD, while supplying a first process gas for film formation and a second process gas for reacting with the first process gas to a process field accommodating the target substrate. The method alternately includes first to fourth steps. The first step performs supply of the first and second process gases to the process field. The second step stops supply of the first and second process gases to the process field. The third step performs supply of the second process gas to the process field while stopping supply of the first process gas to the process field. The fourth step stops supply of the first and second process gases to the process field.

Abstract: A film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process includes a source gas supply circuit to supply into a process container a source gas for depositing a thin film on target substrates, and a mixture gas supply circuit to supply into the process container a mixture gas containing a doping gas for doping the thin film with an impurity and a dilution gas for diluting the doping gas. The mixture gas supply circuit includes a gas mixture tank disposed outside the process container to mix the doping gas with the dilution gas to form the mixture gas, a mixture gas supply line to supply the mixture gas from the gas mixture tank into the process container, a doping gas supply circuit to supply the doping gas into the gas mixture tank, and a dilution gas supply circuit to supply the dilution gas into the gas mixture tank.

Abstract: The surface of an insulating film disposed on an electronic device substrate is irradiated with plasma based on a process gas comprising at least an oxygen atom-containing gas, to thereby form an underlying film at the interface between the insulating film and the electronic device substrate. A good underlying film is provided at the interface between the insulating film and the electronic device substrate, so that the thus formed underlying film can improve the property of the insulating film.

Abstract: A method for forming a silicon oxide film includes disposing a silicon oxide film on a surface of a target substrate, and performing a reformation process on the silicon oxide film. The reformation process is performed by annealing the silicon oxide film while exposing the silicon oxide film to oxygen radicals and hydroxyl group radicals.

Abstract: A vertical CVD apparatus is arranged to process a plurality of target substrates all together to form a silicon germanium film. The apparatus includes a reaction container having a process field configured to accommodate the target substrates, and a common supply system configured to supply a mixture gas into the process field. The mixture gas includes a first process gas of a silane family and a second process gas of a germane family. The common supply system includes a plurality of supply ports disposed at different heights.

Abstract: A film-formation method for a semiconductor process includes seed film formation and main film formation. In the seed film formation, a metal-containing raw material gas and a first assist gas to react therewith are supplied into a process container, which accommodates a target substrate having an underlying layer, thereby forming a seed film on the underlying layer by CVD. In the main film formation, the raw material gas and a second assist gas to react therewith are supplied into the process container, thereby forming a main film on the seed film by CVD. The seed film formation includes first and second periods performed alternately and continuously. In each first period, the raw material gas is supplied into the process container while the first assist gas is stopped. In each second period, the first assist gas is supplied into the process container while the raw material gas is stopped.

Abstract: In a film-formation method for a semiconductor process, a silicon germanium film is formed on a target substrate by CVD in a process field within a reaction container. Then, a silicon coating film is formed to cover the silicon germanium film by CVD in the process field, while increasing temperature of the process field from the first temperature to a second temperature. Then, a silicon film is formed on the coating film by CVD in the process field.

Abstract: An oxidation method is capable of forming oxide films in an improved interfilm thickness uniformity. The oxidation method includes the steps of supplying an oxidizing gas and a reducing gas into a processing vessel 22 capable of being evacuated and holding a plurality of workpieces W arranged at predetermined pitches, and creating a process atmosphere containing active oxygen species and active hydroxyl species in the processing vessel 22 through the interaction of the oxidizing gas and the reducing gas. At least either of the oxidizing gas and the reducing gas is jetted into an upstream region S1, a middle region S2 and a downstream region S3, with respect to the flowing direction of the gas, of a processing space S containing the workpieces W.

Abstract: The present invention is a thermal processing method of conducting a thermal process to an object to be processed, a base film having been formed on a surface of the object to be processed, the base film consisting of a SiO2 film or a SiON film. The method includes: an arranging step of arranging the object to be processed in a processing container; and a laminating step of supplying a source gas and an ammonia gas alternatively and repeatedly, so as to form a silicon nitride film on the base film repeatedly, the source gas being selected from a group consisting of dichlorosilane, hexachlorodisilane and tetrachlorosilane.

Abstract: A method for subjecting target substrates to a heat process under a vacuum pressure includes a transfer step, heating-up and pressure-reducing step, and heat-processing step. The transfer step is arranged to transfer into a reaction chamber a holder that supports the substrates at intervals. The heating-up and pressure-reducing step following the transfer step is arranged to heat up the reaction chamber to a process temperature, and exhaust the reaction chamber to a process pressure. During the heating-up and pressure-reducing step, the reaction chamber is set at the process pressure after being set at the process temperature, to form a state where the reaction chamber has the process temperature under a pressure higher than the process pressure. The heat-processing step following the heating-up and pressure-reducing step is arranged to subject the substrates to the heat process at the process temperature and process pressure.

Abstract: An oxidation method for a semiconductor process, which oxidizes a surface of a target substrate, includes heating a process container that accommodates the target substrate, and supplying hydrogen gas and oxygen gas into the process container while exhausting the process container. The oxidation method also includes causing the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas to react with each other in the process container at a process temperature and a process pressure to generate water vapor, and oxidizing the surface of the target substrate by the water vapor. The process pressure is set at 2000 Pa (15 Torr) or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for cleaning a thin film forming apparatus. In a typical embodiment, deposits originating from process gases for forming a thin film and deposited on the inner surface of a reaction tube are removed by etching by supplying a cleaning gas into the reaction tube while heating the interior of the reaction tube at a predetermined temperature. The inner surface of the reaction tube roughened by etching is subjected to a planarizing step. The planarizing step is performed by supplying a gas containing hydrogen fluoride into the reaction tube while keeping the interior of the reaction tube 2 at a low temperature, such as a room temperature. The planarizing step is effective in preventing the reduction of deposition rate in a thin film forming process.

Abstract: The present invention is a thermal processing unit including: a heating-furnace body whose upper end has an opening; a heating unit provided on an inside wall of the heating-furnace body; a reaction container consisting of a single tube contained in the heating-furnace body; a gas-discharging-pipe connecting portion formed at an upper portion of the reaction container; and a first temperature controlling unit provided around the gas-discharging-pipe connecting portion.