Abstract: A multi-zone, combinatorial, single wafer showerhead is used to concurrently develop hardware, materials, unit processes, and unit process sequences. The multi-zone, combinatorial, single wafer showerhead utilizes showerhead pucks to perform process sequences on isolated regions of a single substrate. The showerhead pucks are designed so that they are easily interchangeable to allow the characterization of the interaction between hardware characteristics, process parameters, and their influence on the result of the process sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide vapor deposition tools. In one example, a vapor deposition tool includes housing. A substrate support is positioned within the housing and configured to support a substrate. A backing plate is positioned above the substrate support. A showerhead is positioned between the substrate support and the backing plate and has a plurality of openings therethrough. A fluid trap member is positioned around a periphery of the showerhead. A fluid trap member actuator is coupled to the fluid trap member and configured to move the fluid trap member between first and second positions relative to the backing plate.

Abstract: A multi-zone, combinatorial, single wafer showerhead is used to concurrently develop hardware, materials, unit processes, and unit process sequences. The multi-zone, combinatorial, single wafer showerhead utilizes showerhead pucks to perform process sequences on isolated regions of a single substrate. The showerhead pucks are designed so that they are easily interchangeable to allow the characterization of the interaction between hardware characteristics, process parameters, and their influence on the result of the process sequence.

Abstract: A multi-zone, combinatorial, single wafer showerhead is used to concurrently develop hardware, materials, unit processes, and unit process sequences. The multi-zone, combinatorial, single wafer showerhead utilizes showerhead pucks to perform process sequences on isolated regions of a single substrate. The showerhead pucks are designed so that they are easily interchangeable to allow the characterization of the interaction between hardware characteristics, process parameters, and their influence on the result of the process sequence.

Abstract: A system for processing a semiconductor substrate is provided. The system includes a mainframe having a plurality of modules attached thereto. The modules include processing modules, storage modules, and transport mechanisms. The processing modules may include combinatorial processing modules and conventional processing modules, such as surface preparation, thermal treatment, etch and deposition modules. In one embodiment, at least one of the modules stores multiple masks. The multiple masks enable in-situ variation of spatial location and geometry across a sequence of processes and/or multiple layers of a substrate to be processed in another one of the modules. A method for processing a substrate is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe a megasonic processing tool. A substrate support is positioned within a housing and is configured to support a substrate. A first liquid container is moveably coupled to the housing within the testing chamber to be positioned on a first location on the substrate and configured to hold a first body of liquid adjacent to the first location on the substrate. A second liquid container is moveably coupled to the housing within the testing chamber to be positioned on a second location on the substrate and configured to hold a second body of liquid adjacent to the second location on the substrate. The second body of liquid is isolated from the first body of liquid. At least one megasonic transducer is coupled to the housing and configured to perform at least one megasonic process on the first body of liquid and the second body of liquid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide vapor deposition tools. In one example, a vapor deposition tool includes housing. A substrate support is positioned within the housing and configured to support a substrate. A backing plate is positioned above the substrate support. A showerhead is positioned between the substrate support and the backing plate and has a plurality of openings therethrough. A fluid trap member is positioned around a periphery of the showerhead. A fluid trap member actuator is coupled to the fluid trap member and configured to move the fluid trap member between first and second positions relative to the backing plate.

Abstract: Combinatorial processing including rotation and movement within a region is described, including defining multiple regions of at least one substrate, processing the multiple regions of the at least one substrate in a combinatorial manner, rotating a head in one of the multiple regions to perform the processing, and repositioning the head relative to the one of the multiple regions while rotating the head during the processing.

Abstract: Combinatorial processing including rotation and movement within a region is described, including defining multiple regions of at least one substrate, processing the multiple regions of the at least one substrate in a combinatorial manner, rotating a head in one of the multiple regions to perform the processing, and repositioning the head relative to the one of the multiple regions while rotating the head during the processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a wafer has a first chamber and a component coupled to the first chamber. The first chamber has a first input to form de-ionized water droplets. The component is coupled to the first chamber to further atomize and apply the atomized de-ionized water droplets on the wafer.

Abstract: A single-substrate apparatus for wet chemical processing of one or multiple sides of a substrate is described. Embodiments of the present invention enable multiple chemicals to be applied to the substrate in succession and reclaimed substantially free of cross contamination between chemicals. In an embodiment of the present invention, a rotatable fluid diverter is positioned between a rotatable pedestal and a nonrotatable multi-level catch cup to funnel fluid shed from a substrate to a predetermined level of the catch cup. The rotatable fluid diverter is designed to expel fluid over a narrow spray angle and thereby enable the pitch of the levels in the catch cup to be reduced so that the chamber volume of the single-substrate apparatus is reduced. In another embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable pedestal is moveable so that the fluid shed from the substrate can be directed to away from the multi-level catch cup.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for cleaning a substrate that include a controller and a nozzle coupled to the controller. The controller is adapted to direct the nozzle to dispense a uniform fluid spray pattern onto a substrate. The controller is adapted create the uniform fluid spray pattern by adjusting at least one operational parameter of the nozzle to cause a predefined percentage of droplets to be within a predetermined size range. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.