Process for preparing a functional thin film by way of the chemical reaction among active species and apparatus therefor

Claim 1

An apparatus for forming a functional silicon- or germanium-containing amorphous deposited film on a substrate which comprises: (1) a film-forming chamber having a film-forming space including a substrate holder having an electric heater for positioning said substrate in said film-forming chamber; (2) an exhaust pipe in fluid communication with said film-forming chamber, said exhaust pipe connected to a pump means through a valve; and (3) means for supplying gaseous film-forming materials which is in fluid communication with said film-forming chamber characterized in that said means for supplying film-forming materials comprises: (a) a first gas-introducing means for providing an active species (H), said first gas-introducing means including an activation space for generating said active species (H) having a first means for supplying microwave discharge energy thereto and a means for providing a gaseous hydrogen-containing material into said activation space in order to produce said active species (H), (b) a second gas-introducing means for providing a gaseous silicon- or germanium-containing material (X) capable of reacting with said active species (H) to form a reaction product (HX) capable of forming said functional deposited film on said substrate in the film-forming chamber, and (c) a transportation means having a mixing space provided with a second means for supplying microwave discharge energy separate from said first means for supplying microwave discharge energy for promoting reaction with said active species and which is in fluid communication with said first gas-introducing means, said second gas-introducing means, and said film-forming chamber, and into which said active species (H) and said gaseous silicon- or germanium-containing material (X) are introduced, mixed and exposed to microwave in order to form said reaction product (HX), which then passes into said film-forming chamber.

Claim 2

An apparatus for forming a functional silicon- or germanium-containing amorphous deposited film on a substrate which comprises: (1) a film-forming chamber having a film-forming space including a substrate holder having an electric heater for positioning said substrate in said film-forming chamber; (2) an exhaust pipe in fluid communication with said film-forming chamber, said exhaust pipe connected to a pump means through a valve; and (3) means for supplying gaseous film-forming materials which is in fluid communication with said film-forming chamber characterized in that said means for supplying film-forming materials comprises: (a) a first gas-introducing means for providing an active species (H), said first gas-introducing means including an activation space for generating said active species (H) having a first means for supplying microwave discharge energy thereto and a means for providing a gaseous hydrogen-containing material into said activation space in order to produce said active species (H), (b) a second gas-introducing means for providing a gaseous silicon- or germanium-containing material (X) capable of reacting with said active species (H) to form a reaction product (HX) capable of forming said functional deposited film on said substrate in the film-forming chamber, and (c) a transportation means having a mixing space provided with a second means for supplying microwave discharge energy separate from said first means for supplying microwave discharge energy for promoting reaction with said active species and which is in fluid communication with said first gas-introducing means, said second gas-introducing means, and said film-forming chamber, and into which said active species (H) and said gaseous silicon- or germanium-containing material (X) are introduced, mixed and exposed to microwave in order to form said reaction product (HX), which then passes into said film-forming chamber.