Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for deposition of thin films are provided. A deposition reactor is provided comprising: a first station configured to contain a substrate, the first station comprising a first heating element; a second station configured to contain the substrate, the second station comprising a second heating element, wherein the first station is configured to contact the substrate with a first reactant in the first station in substantial isolation from the second station such that a layer of the first reactant is deposited on the substrate, wherein the first heating element is configured to heat the first station to a first station temperature during contacting of the substrate with the first reactant, wherein the second station is configured to contact the substrate with a second reactant in the second station substantially in the absence of the first reactant.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a flange for a process tube in an apparatus for processing substrates, e.g., a vertical furnace. The flange may be provided with an opening for in use giving access to the process chamber of the process tube and a cooling channel for allowing a cooling fluid to flow there through and cool the flange. A material with a heat conductivity between 0.1 and 40 W/m K may be at least partially provided in between the cooling fluid and the rest of the flange.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a plurality of substrates is provided. The apparatus may have a process tube creating a process chamber and a door configured to support substrates in the process chamber and to seal the process chamber. The apparatus may have a gas injector to provide process gas into the process chamber. The gas injector may be operably connected to a process gas line in a purge chamber to purge the connection between the gas injector and the process gas line.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition furnace for depositing silicon nitride films is disclosed. The furnace includes a process chamber elongated in a substantially vertical direction and a wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in the process chamber. A process gas injector inside the process chamber is provided with vertically spaced gas injection holes to provide gas introduced at a feed end in an interior of the process gas injector to the process chamber. A valve system connected to the feed end of the process gas injector is being constructed and arranged to connect a source of a silicon precursor and a nitrogen precursor to the feed end for depositing silicon nitride layers. The valve system may connect the feed end of the process gas injector to a cleaning gas system to provide a cleaning gas to remove silicon nitride from the process gas injector and/or the process chamber.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition furnace for depositing silicon nitride films is disclosed. The furnace includes a process chamber elongated in a substantially vertical direction and a wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in the process chamber. A process gas injector inside the process chamber is provided with vertically spaced gas injection holes to provide gas introduced at a feed end in an interior of the process gas injector to the process chamber. A valve system connected to the feed end of the process gas injector is being constructed and arranged to connect a source of a silicon precursor and a nitrogen precursor to the feed end for depositing silicon nitride layers. The valve system may connect the feed end of the process gas injector to a cleaning gas system to provide a cleaning gas to remove silicon nitride from the process gas injector and/or the process chamber.

Abstract: Batch furnace assembly for processing wafers, comprising a process chamber housing defining a process chamber and having a process chamber opening, a wafer boat housing defining a water boat chamber, a door assembly, a differential pressure sensor, and a controller. The door assembly has a closed position in which it closes off the process chamber opening. The door assembly defines in a closed position a door assembly chamber having a purge gas inlet for supplying purge gas to the door assembly chamber for gas sealingly separating the process chamber from the wafer boat chamber. The differential pressure sensor assembly fluidly connects to the door assembly chamber and is configured to determine a pressure difference between a pressure in the door assembly chamber and a reference pressure in a reference pressure chamber. The controller is configured to establish whether the pressure difference is in a desired pressure range.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for forming a layer, by sequentially repeating a layer deposition cycle to process a substrate disposed in a reaction chamber. The deposition cycle comprising: supplying a first precursor into the reaction chamber for a first pulse period; supplying a second precursor into the reaction chamber for a second pulse period. At least one of the first and second precursors may be supplied into the reaction chamber for a pretreatment period longer than the first or second pulse period before sequentially repeating the deposition cycles.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition furnace for depositing silicon nitride films is disclosed. The furnace having a process chamber elongated in a substantially vertical direction and a wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in the process chamber. A process gas injector inside the process chamber is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced gas injection holes to provide gas introduced at a feed end in an interior of the process gas injector to the process chamber. A valve system connected to the feed end of the process gas injector is being constructed and arranged to connect a source of a silicon precursor and a nitrogen precursor to the feed end for depositing silicon nitride layers. The valve system may connect the feed end of the process gas injector to a cleaning gas system to provide a cleaning gas to remove silicon nitride from the process gas injector and/or the processing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus 1 for processing a plurality of substrates 3 is provided. The apparatus may have a process tube 5 creating a process chamber 7; a heater 9 surrounding the process tube 5; a flange 11 for supporting the process tube; and a door 15 configured to support a wafer boat 17 with a plurality of substrates 3 in the process chamber and to seal the process chamber 7. An exhaust operably connected to the process chamber 7 may be provided to remove gas from the process chamber via a first exhaust duct 19. The apparatus may be provided with an extractor chamber 21 surrounding the first exhaust duct where it connects to the process chamber and connected to a second exhaust duct 23 to remove gas from the extractor chamber.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition furnace for depositing silicon nitride films, is discloses. The furnace comprising a process chamber elongated in a substantially vertical direction and a wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in the process chamber. A process gas injector is provided inside the process chamber extending in a substantially vertical direction over substantially a wafer boat height and comprising a feed end connected to a source of a silicon precursor and a source of a nitrogen precursor and a plurality of vertically spaced gas injection holes to provide gas from the feed end to the process chamber. The furnace may comprise a purge gas injection system to provide a purge gas into the process chamber near a lower end of the process chamber.

Abstract: Batch furnace assembly for processing wafers, comprising a process chamber housing defining a process chamber and having a process chamber opening, a wafer boat housing defining a water boat chamber, a door assembly, a differential pressure sensor, and a controller. The door assembly has a closed position in which it closes off the process chamber opening. The door assembly defines in a closed position a door assembly chamber having a purge gas inlet for supplying purge gas to the door assembly chamber for gas sealingly separating the process chamber from the wafer boat chamber. The differential pressure sensor assembly fluidly connects to the door assembly chamber and is configured to determine a pressure difference between a pressure in the door assembly chamber and a reference pressure in a reference pressure chamber. The controller is configured to establish whether the pressure difference is in a desired pressure range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus comprising a reaction chamber provided with a substrate rack for holding a plurality of substrates in the reaction chamber. The substrate rack may have a plurality of spaced apart substrate holding provisions configured to hold the plurality of substrates. The apparatus may have an illumination system constructed and arranged to irradiate radiation with a range from 100 to 500 nanometers onto a top surface of the substrates.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a substrate processing apparatus for processing a plurality of substrates. The apparatus comprising a reactor mounted in the apparatus and configured for processing substrates and a reactor mover for moving the reactor for maintenance. The reactor mover is constructed and arranged with a lift to move the reactor to a lower height to allow for access to the reactor by a maintenance worker.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a flange for a process tube in an apparatus for processing substrates, e.g., a vertical furnace. The flange may be provided with an opening for in use giving access to the process chamber of the process tube and a cooling channel for allowing a cooling fluid to flow there through and cool the flange. A material with a heat conductivity between 0.1 and 40 W/m K may be at least partially provided in between the cooling fluid and the rest of the flange.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a vapor phase reactant to a reaction chamber is disclosed. The apparatus may include: a first chamber configured for holding a source chemical with a first fill level; and a second chamber configured for holding the source chemical with a second fill level and in fluid communication with the first chamber via a fluid channel below the first and second fill levels. The apparatus may also include: a second chamber inlet opening in fluid communication with a pressurizing gas feed provided with a flow controller configured for controlling a flow of a pressurizing gas in the second chamber to control the first fill level in the first chamber. Methods for dispensing a vapor phase reactant are also provided.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments herein, methods and apparatuses for deposition of thin films are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus comprising a reaction chamber provided with a substrate rack for holding a plurality of substrates in the reaction chamber. The substrate rack may have a plurality of spaced apart substrate holding provisions configured to hold the plurality of substrates. The apparatus may have an illumination system constructed and arranged to irradiate radiation with a range from 100 to 500 nanometers onto a top surface of the substrates.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system is disclosed for delivering hydrogen peroxide to a semiconductor processing chamber. The system includes a process canister for holding a H2O2/H2O mixture in a liquid state, an evaporator provided with an evaporator heater, a first feed line for feeding the liquid H2O2/H2O mixture to the evaporator, and a second feed line for feeding the evaporated H2O2/H2O mixture to the processing chamber, the second feed line provided with a second feed line heater. The evaporator heater is configured to heat the evaporator to a temperature lower than 120° C. and the second feed line heater is configured to heat the feed line to a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature of the evaporator.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a vapor phase reactant to a reaction chamber is disclosed. The apparatus may include: a first chamber configured for holding a source chemical with a first fill level; and a second chamber configured for holding the source chemical with a second fill level and in fluid communication with the first chamber via a fluid channel below the first and second fill levels. The apparatus may also include: a second chamber inlet opening in fluid communication with a pressurizing gas feed provided with a flow controller configured for controlling a flow of a pressurizing gas in the second chamber to control the first fill level in the first chamber. Methods for dispensing a vapor phase reactant are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for forming a layer, by sequentially repeating a layer deposition cycle to process a substrate disposed in a reaction chamber. The deposition cycle comprising: supplying a first precursor into the reaction chamber for a first pulse period; supplying a second precursor into the reaction chamber for a second pulse period. At least one of the first and second precursors may be supplied into the reaction chamber for a pretreatment period longer than the first or second pulse period before sequentially repeating the deposition cycles.