Particulate-free epitaxial process

Claim 2

In a cold purge process for preparing a reactor chamber for the gas phase formation of an epitaxial layer on a wafer positioned within the reactor chamber by communicating a flow of conditioning gas into the reactor chamber, the reactor chamber system including radiant energy lamp means for heating the chamber to effect said gas phase processing, the improvement comprising: during said gas flow step, operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level below that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply radiant energy at a relatively low flux intensity to substantially eliminate static-induced particle transport to the wafer.

Claim 3

In a cold purge process for conditioning a semiconductor reactor chamber for gas phase processing of a wafer therein prior to heating the wafer for the gas phase processing by flowing at least one purging gas through the chamber, the reactor chamber system including radiant energy lamp means for effecting said heating for gas phase processing, the improvement comprising: during said purging step, operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level less than that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply a relatively low level intensity of radiant energy flux for decreasing electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates.

Claim 4

In a cold purge process for conditioning a semiconductor reactor chamber for gas phase processing of a wafer therein prior to heating the wafer for the gas phase processing by flowing at least one purging gas through the chamber, the reactor chamber system including radiant energy lamp means for effecting said heating for gas phase processing, the improvement comprising: during said purging step, operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level less than that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply a relatively low level intensity of radiant energy flux for decreasing electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates.

Claim 5

The improved cold purge conditioning process of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: orienting the wafer substantially vertically within the reactor chamber.

Claim 6

An improved purge process for conditioning a cold semiconductor reactor chamber for gas phase processing of a wafer therein prior to heating the wafer for the gas phase processing, comprising flowing at least one purging gas through the chamber and, during said purging step, heating the wafer to a temperature between about 180° C. and below said gas phase processing temperature, for decreasing electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates.

Claim 7

An improved purge process for conditioning a cold semiconductor reactor chamber for gas phase processing of a wafer therein prior to heating the wafer for the gas phase processing, comprising flowing at least one purging gas through the chamber and, during said purging step, heating the wafer to a temperature between about 180° C. and below said gas phase processing temperature, for decreasing electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates.

Claim 8

The process of claim 2 or 4 wherein the flow rate of said purging gas is selected to decrease electrostatic attraction.

Claim 9

The process of claim 2 or 4 wherein the gas flow rate and chamber pressure are selected to decrease eddy current injection.

Claim 10

The process of claim 2 or 4 wherein the wafer is oriented substantially vertically.

Claim 11

In a cold purge process for conditioning a gas phase reactor chamber and a wafer therein for deposition of a layer on the wafer using a gas phase deposition process, the reactor chamber including radiant energy lamp means for heating the wafer to effect said deposition, the improvement comprising first, communicating at least one gas into the chamber for purging air from the chamber; second, communicating a carrier gas into the chamber preparatory to initiation of the gas phase deposition process; and third, during at least said second gas flow step operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level below that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply radiant energy at a relatively low intensity level for decreasing the number of particles deposited on the wafer.

Claim 12

In a cold purge process for conditioning a gas phase reactor chamber and a wafer therein for deposition of a layer on the wafer using a gas phase deposition process, the reactor chamber including radiant energy lamp means for heating the wafer to effect said deposition, the improvement comprising first, communicating at least one gas into the chamber for purging air from the chamber; second, communicating a carrier gas into the chamber preparatory to initiation of the gas phase deposition process; and third, during at least said second gas flow step operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level below that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply radiant energy at a relatively low intensity level for decreasing the number of particles deposited on the wafer.

Claim 13

The process of claim 8 wherein the low intensity radiant energy is also applied during the first gas flow step.

Claim 14

The process of claim 9 further comprising, using a heating source, heating the wafer during the first and second gas flow steps to a temperature between about 180° C. and below the epitaxial deposition temperature to further decrease particle deposition on the wafer.

Claim 15

The process of claim 9 further comprising, using a second heating source, heating the wafer during at least said second gas flow step to a temperature between 180° C. and below the epitaxial deposition temperature to further decrease particle deposition on the wafer.

Claim 16

The process of claim 11 wherein the heating source is an RF heating source.

Claim 17

The process of claim 11 wherein the heating source is an electric resistance heating source.

Claim 18

An improved predeposition cold purge sequence for preparing a gas phase reactor for gas phase epitaxial growth of a layer on a wafer positioned in the reactor, the reactor chamber system including radiant energy lamp means for effecting said heating for gas phase processing, the improvement comprising: orienting the wafer substantially vertically within the reactor; passing nitrogen gas through the reactor for the purpose of purging air from the reactor; passing hydrogen gas through the reactor for the purpose of purging air from the reactor and stabilizing the hydrogen gas flow through the reactor; and throughout said gas flow steps operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level below that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply relatively low intensity infrared radiant energy to the chamber to substantially eliminate the electrostatic attraction-induced deposition of particles onto the wafer.

Claim 19

An improved predeposition cold purge sequence for preparing a gas phase reactor for gas phase epitaxial growth of a layer on a wafer positioned in the reactor, the reactor chamber system including radiant energy lamp means for effecting said heating for gas phase processing, the improvement comprising: orienting the wafer substantially vertically within the reactor; passing nitrogen gas through the reactor for the purpose of purging air from the reactor; passing hydrogen gas through the reactor for the purpose of purging air from the reactor and stabilizing the hydrogen gas flow through the reactor; and throughout said gas flow steps operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level below that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply relatively low intensity infrared radiant energy to the chamber to substantially eliminate the electrostatic attraction-induced deposition of particles onto the wafer.

Claim 20

An improved low particulate gas phase process for depositing a layer on a wafer within an initially cold reactor chamber at a suitable wafer temperature, comprising first, communicating at least one gas into the chamber for purging air from the chamber; second, communicating a carrier gas into the chamber preparatory to initiation of the deposition process; third, heating the wafer throughout at least said second gas flow step to a temperature between about 180° C. and below said deposition temperature for substantially eliminating electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates; and fourth, heating the wafer to said deposition temperature and supplying reactant gas to said chamber for depositing said layer thereon.

Claim 21

An improved low particulate gas phase process for depositing a layer on a wafer within an initially cold reactor chamber at a suitable wafer temperature, comprising first, communicating at least one gas into the chamber for purging air from the chamber; second, communicating a carrier gas into the chamber preparatory to initiation of the deposition process; third, heating the wafer throughout at least said second gas flow step to a temperature between about 180° C. and below said deposition temperature for substantially eliminating electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates; and fourth, heating the wafer to said deposition temperature and supplying reactant gas to said chamber for depositing said layer thereon.

Claim 22

The process of claim 15 wherein the temperature during said third, heating step is about 180° C.

Claim 23

In a gas phase process for depositing a layer on a wafer within an initially cold reactor chamber at a suitable wafer temperature, the reactor chamber system including radiant energy lamp means for effecting said heating for gas phase processing, the improvement comprising first, communicating at least one gas into the chamber for purging air from the chamber; second, communicating a carrier gas into the chamber preparatory to initiation of the deposition process; third, operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level below that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply radiant energy to the chamber at an intensity level substantially below that required to heat the wafer to said deposition temperature for substantially eliminating electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates; and fourth, heating the wafer to said deposition temperature and supplying reactant gas to said chamber for depositing said layer thereon.

Claim 24

In a gas phase process for depositing a layer on a wafer within an initially cold reactor chamber at a suitable wafer temperature, the reactor chamber system including radiant energy lamp means for effecting said heating for gas phase processing, the improvement comprising first, communicating at least one gas into the chamber for purging air from the chamber; second, communicating a carrier gas into the chamber preparatory to initiation of the deposition process; third, operating the radiant energy lamp means at a power level below that used for said gas phase processing heating to supply radiant energy to the chamber at an intensity level substantially below that required to heat the wafer to said deposition temperature for substantially eliminating electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particulates; and fourth, heating the wafer to said deposition temperature and supplying reactant gas to said chamber for depositing said layer thereon.

Claim 25

The process of claim 17 wherein said deposition temperature is about 1100° C.

Claim 26

In an improved cold purge process for preparing a reactor chamber system for the gas phase deposition of an epitaxial layer on a wafer positioned within the reactor chamber system, the reactor chamber system including means for heating the wafer to effect the epitaxial deposition, the improvement comprising: including in the reactor system supplemental radiant energy lamp means for heating the chamber; communicating a flow of conditioning gas into the rector chamber; and, during said gas flow step operating at least the radiant energy lamp means at a power level selected to decrease electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particles without heating the wafer to the deposition temperature.

Claim 27

In an improved cold purge process for preparing a reactor chamber system for the gas phase deposition of an epitaxial layer on a wafer positioned within the reactor chamber system, the reactor chamber system including means for heating the wafer to effect the epitaxial deposition, the improvement comprising: including in the reactor system supplemental radiant energy lamp means for heating the chamber; communicating a flow of conditioning gas into the rector chamber; and, during said gas flow step operating at least the radiant energy lamp means at a power level selected to decrease electrostatic attraction between the wafer and particles without heating the wafer to the deposition temperature.