Abstract: Specialty ceramic materials which resist corrosion/erosion under semiconductor processing conditions which employ a corrosive/erosive plasma. The corrosive plasma may be a halogen-containing plasma. The specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a controlled electrical resistivity which suppresses plasma arcing potential.

Abstract: A method of creating a plasma-resistant thermal oxide coating on a surface of an article, where the article is comprised of a metal or metal alloy which is typically selected from the group consisting of yttrium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, scandium, hafnium, niobium or combinations thereof. The oxide coating is formed using a time-temperature profile which includes an initial rapid heating rage, followed by a gradual decrease in heating rate, to produce an oxide coating structure which is columnar in nature. The grain size of the crystals which make up the oxide coating is larger at the surface of the oxide coating than at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate, and the oxide coating is in compression at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate.

Abstract: Specialty ceramic materials which resist corrosion/erosion under semiconductor processing conditions which employ a corrosive/erosive plasma. The corrosive plasma may be a halogen-containing plasma. The specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a controlled electrical resistivity which suppresses plasma arcing potential.

Abstract: Specialty ceramic materials which resist corrosion/erosion under semiconductor processing conditions which employ a corrosive/erosive plasma. The corrosive plasma may be a halogen-containing plasma. The specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a controlled electrical resistivity which suppresses plasma arcing potential.

Abstract: A method of creating a plasma-resistant thermal oxide coating on a surface of an article, where the article is comprised of a metal or metal alloy which is typically selected from the group consisting of yttrium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, scandium, hafnium, niobium or combinations thereof. The oxide coating is formed using a time-temperature profile which includes an initial rapid heating rage, followed by a gradual decrease in heating rate, to produce an oxide coating structure which is columnar in nature. The grain size of the crystals which make up the oxide coating is larger at the surface of the oxide coating than at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate, and the oxide coating is in compression at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate.

Abstract: An article which is resistant to corrosion or erosion by chemically active plasmas and a method of making the article are described. The article is comprised of a metal or metal alloy substrate having on its surface a coating which is an oxide of the metal or metal alloy. The structure of the oxide coating is columnar in nature. The grain size of the crystals which make up the oxide is larger at the surface of the oxide coating than at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate, and wherein the oxide coating is in compression at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate. Typically the metal is selected from the group consisting of yttrium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, scandium, hafnium, niobium or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are exemplary methods and apparatuses for fabricating a gas distribution showerhead assembly in accordance with one embodiment. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a gas distribution plate having a first set of through-holes for delivering processing gases into a semiconductor processing chamber. The first set of through-holes is located on a backside of the plate (e.g., Aluminum substrate). The method includes spraying (e.g., plasma spraying) a coating material (e.g., Ytrria based material) onto a cleaned surface of the gas distribution plate. The method includes removing (e.g., surface grinding) a portion of the coating material from the surface to reduce a thickness of the coating material. The method includes forming (e.g., UV laser drilling, machining) a second set of through-holes in the coating material such that the through-holes are aligned with the first-set of through-holes.

Abstract: Particulate generation has been a problem in semiconductor device processing in highly corrosive plasma environments. The problem is exacerbated when the plasma is a reducing plasma. Empirically produced data has shown that the formation of a plasma spray coated yttrium-comprising ceramic such as yttrium oxide, Y2O3—ZrO2 solid solution, YAG, and YF3 provides a low porosity coating with smooth and compacted surfaces when such ceramics are spray coated from a powder feed having an average effective diameter ranging from about 22 ?m to about 0.1 ?m. These spray-coated materials reduce the generation of particulates in corrosive reducing plasma environments.

Abstract: An article which is resistant to corrosion or erosion by chemically active plasmas and a method of making the article are described. The article is comprised of a metal or metal alloy substrate having on its surface a coating which is an oxide of the metal or metal alloy. The structure of the oxide coating is columnar in nature. The grain size of the crystals which make up the oxide is larger at the surface of the oxide coating than at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate, and wherein the oxide coating is in compression at the interface between the oxide coating and the metal or metal alloy substrate. Typically the metal is selected from the group consisting of yttrium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, scandium, hafnium, niobium or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Method of removing damaged silicon carbide crystalline structure from the surface of a silicon carbide component. The method comprises at least two liquid chemical treatment processes, where one treatment converts silicon carbide to silicon oxide, and another treatment removes silicon oxide. The liquid chemical treatments are typically carried out at a temperature below about 100° C. The time period required to carry out the method is generally less than about 100 hours.

Abstract: Specialty ceramic materials which resist corrosion/erosion under semiconductor processing conditions which employ a corrosive/erosive plasma. The corrosive plasma may be a halogen-containing plasma. The specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a controlled electrical resistivity which suppresses plasma arcing potential.

Abstract: Methods of applying specialty ceramic materials to semiconductor processing apparatus, where the specialty ceramic materials are resistant to halogen-comprising plasmas. The specialty ceramic materials contain at least one yttrium oxide-comprising solid solution. Some embodiments of the specialty ceramic materials have been modified to provide a resistivity which reduces the possibility of arcing within a semiconductor processing chamber.