Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus configured to perform a predetermined process on a target substrate accommodated in a process chamber, the process chamber is cleaned by alternately performing an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing oxygen within the process chamber, and an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing nitrogen within the process chamber.

Abstract: That surface of an electrode plate 20 which is opposite to a susceptor 10 has a projection shape. The electrode plate 20 is fitted in an opening 26a of shield ring 26 at a projection 20a. At this time, the thickness of the projection 20a is approximately the same as the thickness of the shield ring 26. Accordingly, the electrode plate 20 and the shield ring 26 form substantially the same plane. The major surface of the projection 20a has a diameter 1.2 to 1.5 times the diameter of a wafer W. The electrode plate 20 is formed of, for example, SiC.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a gate insulation film in a DRAM is formed, an oxide film constituting a base of the gate insulation film is plasma-nitrided. The plasma nitridation is performed with microwave plasma generated by using a plane antenna having a large number of through holes. Nitrogen concentration in the gate insulation film formed by the plasma nitridation is 5 to 20% in atomic percentage. Even without subsequent annealing, it is possible to effectively prevent a boron penetration phenomenon in the DRAM and to reduce traps in the film causing deterioration in driving capability of the device.

Abstract: The total film thickness T1N of silicon oxynitride film and silicon oxide film remaining as its underlying layer is measured. A measurement target substrate is re-oxidized, and, after the re-oxidization, the total film thickness (T2N) of the silicon oxynitride film, silicon oxide film and silicon oxide film resulting from the re-oxidization on the target substrate is measured. Separately, a reference substrate provided with silicon oxide film is re-oxidized, and, after the re-oxidization, the total film thickness T2 of the silicon oxide film and silicon oxide film resulting from the re-oxidization on the reference substrate is measured. Re-oxidization rate reduction ratio RORR of the measurement target substrate is calculated by the following formula (1) from the values of total film thicknesses T1N, T2N and T2. The nitrogen concentration of the silicon oxynitride film of the target substrate is determined from the calculated re-oxidization rate reduction ratio RORR. RORR (%)={(T2?T2N)/(T2?T1N)}×100 (1).

Abstract: Disclosed is an in-chamber preprocessing method for carrying out preprocessing in a chamber prior to carrying out plasma nitridation processing of an oxide film, formed on a substrate, in the chamber. The method includes a step of supplying an oxygen-containing processing gas into the chamber and converting the gas into plasma, thereby generating an oxidizing plasma in the chamber (step 1), and a step of supplying a nitrogen-containing processing gas into the chamber and converting the gas into plasma, thereby generating a nitriding plasma in the chamber (step 2).

Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus configured to perform a predetermined process on a target substrate accommodated in a process chamber, the process chamber is cleaned by alternately performing an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing oxygen within the process chamber, and an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing nitrogen within the process chamber.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a gate insulation film in a DRAM is formed, an oxide film constituting a base of the gate insulation film is plasma-nitrided. The plasma nitridation is performed with microwave plasma generated by using a plane antenna having a large number of through holes. Nitrogen concentration in the gate insulation film formed by the plasma nitridation is 5 to 20% in atomic percentage. Even without subsequent annealing, it is possible to effectively prevent a boron penetration phenomenon in the DRAM and to reduce traps in the film causing deterioration in driving capability of the device.

Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus configured to perform a predetermined process on a target substrate accommodated in a process chamber, the process chamber is cleaned by alternately performing an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing oxygen within the process chamber, and an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing nitrogen within the process chamber.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a gate insulation film in a DRAM is formed, an oxide film constituting a base of the gate insulation film is plasma-nitrided. The plasma nitridation is performed with microwave plasma generated by using a plane antenna having a large number of through holes. Nitrogen concentration in the gate insulation film formed by the plasma nitridation is 5 to 20% in atomic percentage. Even without subsequent annealing, it is possible to effectively prevent a boron penetration phenomenon in the DRAM and to reduce traps in the film causing deterioration in driving capability of the device.

Abstract: The total film thickness T1N of silicon oxynitride film and silicon oxide film remaining as its underlying layer is measured. A measurement target substrate is re-oxidized, and, after the re-oxidization, the total film thickness (T2N) of the silicon oxynitride film, silicon oxide film and silicon oxide film resulting from the re-oxidization on the target substrate is measured. Separately, a reference substrate provided with silicon oxide film is re-oxidized, and, after the re-oxidization, the total film thickness T2 of the silicon oxide film and silicon oxide film resulting from the re-oxidization on the reference substrate is measured. Re-oxidization rate reduction ratio RORR of the measurement target substrate is calculated by the following formula (1) from the values of total film thicknesses T1N, T2N and T2. The nitrogen concentration of the silicon oxynitride film of the target substrate is determined from the calculated re-oxidization rate reduction ratio RORR. RORR (%)={(T2?T2N)/(T2?T1N)}×100 (1).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a gate insulating film comprising an oxidation step wherein a silicon oxide film is formed by having an oxygen-containing plasma act on silicon in the surface of an object to be processed in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. The processing temperature in the oxidation step is more than 600° C. and not more than 1000° C., and the oxygen-containing plasma is formed by introducing an oxygen-containing processing gas containing at least a rare gas and an oxygen gas into the process chamber while introducing a high frequency wave or microwave into the process chamber through an antenna.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a gate insulation film in a DRAM is formed, an oxide film constituting a base of the gate insulation film is plasma-nitrided. The plasma nitridation is performed with microwave plasma generated by using a plane antenna having a large number of through holes. Nitrogen concentration in the gate insulation film formed by the plasma nitridation is 5 to 20% in atomic percentage. Even without subsequent annealing, it is possible to effectively prevent a boron penetration phenomenon in the DRAM and to reduce traps in the film causing deterioration in driving capability of the device.

Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus configured to perform a predetermined process on a target substrate accommodated in a process chamber, the process chamber is cleaned by alternately performing an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing oxygen within the process chamber, and an operation of generating plasma of a gas containing nitrogen within the process chamber.

Abstract: That surface of an electrode plate 20 which is opposite to a susceptor 10 has a projection shape. The electrode plate 20 is fitted in an opening 26a of shield ring 26 at a projection 20a. At this time, die thickness of the projection 20a is approximately the same as the thickness of the shield ring 26. Accordingly, the electrode plate 20 and the shield ring 26 form substantially the same plane. The major surface of the projection 20a has a diameter 1.2 to 1.5 times the diameter of a wafer W. The electrode plate 20 is formed of, for example, SiC.

Abstract: That surface of an electrode plate 20 which is opposite to a susceptor 10 has a projection shape. The electrode plate 20 is fitted in an opening 26a of shield ring 26 at a projection 20a. At this time, the thickness of the projection 20a is approximately the same as the thickness of the shield ring 26. Accordingly, the electrode plate 20 and the shield ring 26 form substantially the same plane. The major surface of the projection 20a has a diameter 1.2 to 1.5 times the diameter of a wafer W. The electrode plate 20 is formed of, for example, SiC.

Abstract: Provided is a parallel-plate-type processing apparatus (10), which performs plasma CVD and includes a chamber (11) to be cleaned. To perform cleaning of the chamber (11), plasma of a gas including fluorine is generated outside the chamber (11), and supplied into the chamber (11). During the cleaning, an RF power is applied to electrode plates (12, 17) inside the chamber (11).