JP6264248B2 - Film forming method and sputtering apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a film forming method and a sputtering apparatus for forming a film on a substrate by sputtering (in other words, film formation; the same applies hereinafter), and more specifically, an inductively coupled plasma by supplying high-frequency power to an antenna. The present invention relates to a film forming method and a sputtering apparatus that generate (abbreviated ICP) to sputter a target.

  For example, as a material for a thin film transistor (TFT) for a high-precision display, for example, IGZO (In-Ga-Zn-O / indium-gallium-zinc-oxygen), ITZO (In-Sn-Zn-O / indium-tin-zinc-) Oxide semiconductors such as oxygen) are attracting attention. Such an oxide semiconductor thin film for TFT often uses a magnetron discharge in which an electric field and a magnetic field are orthogonal to each other, and allows electrons emitted from the cathode to move along a continuous locus in the vicinity of the target. Although it is formed by sputtering, in the conventional film formation method by general magnetron sputtering, a heterogeneous film (for example, a film having a varied film composition, etc.) is formed at the start and end of film formation. There is a problem of being done.

  In the conventional general magnetron sputtering method, referring to FIG. 1, plasma is generated by a high-frequency or direct-current target power applied to the target, and the target is sputtered to the substrate using the target power. Since the plasma generation and sputtering are in an integrated relationship, film formation is performed even when the plasma is unstable when the plasma is turned on and when the plasma is turned off. This is the film quality (for example, film composition) It is because it is a cause to disturb.

  As a film forming method capable of solving such a problem, for example, in Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1, a cathode including a target (this is called a target device in Patent Document 1) is made movable. An improved film forming method and sputtering apparatus have been proposed that enable plasma lighting and plasma extinguishing at positions where the target and the substrate do not face each other and suppress unstable film formation during plasma lighting and plasma extinguishing. ing.

JP2013-64171A

The 61st Japan Society of Applied Physics Spring Academic Lecture Proceedings (Spring 2014 Aoyama Gakuin University) 18p-E10-16 “IGZO film quality uniformity and TFT reliability using a large sputter cathode”

  In the technique described in Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1, in addition to a target as a film forming material, a high voltage for sputtering (for example, about −1 kV) is applied to the target as a film forming material. In order to move the cathode including the target in a vacuum vessel holding the vacuum, it is necessary to provide a power cooling unit for cooling, an electric insulation mechanism, a water cooling mechanism for cooling a high temperature part such as a target, etc. Becomes complicated. As a result, there are problems that the causes of troubles increase and the cost of the apparatus increases.

  Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of suppressing the formation of a heterogeneous film at the start and end of film formation without providing a target moving mechanism.

In the film forming method according to the present invention, high frequency power is supplied to an antenna provided in a vacuum vessel into which a sputtering gas is introduced to generate inductively coupled plasma, which is applied to the plasma and a target. In a sputtering apparatus for forming a film on a substrate by sputtering a target using a target bias voltage, at the start of film formation, the high frequency power is supplied to the antenna and the plasma is generated. Sputtering was started by applying the target bias voltage to the target. At the end of film formation, the target bias voltage applied to the target was stopped and sputtering was stopped, and then the antenna was supplied to the antenna. Stop the high frequency power to extinguish the plasma ,
In addition, at the start of film formation, after the plasma is generated by supplying the high frequency power to the antenna, the target bias voltage applied to the target is gradually increased from zero to a predetermined value, and the film formation is completed. In some cases, the target bias voltage applied to the target is gradually reduced and stopped, and then the high-frequency power supplied to the antenna is stopped to extinguish the plasma .

  According to this film formation method, at the start of film formation, high frequency power is supplied to the antenna to generate plasma, and then sputtering is started by applying a target bias voltage to the target. However, it is possible to avoid film formation at an unstable time. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the formation of a heterogeneous film at the start of film formation.

  At the end of film formation, the target bias voltage applied to the target is stopped and sputtering is stopped, and then the high frequency power supplied to the antenna is stopped to extinguish the plasma. Film formation at a stable time can be avoided. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the formation of a heterogeneous film at the end of film formation.

  Moreover, according to this film forming method, the above-described effects can be achieved without providing a target moving mechanism.

Incidentally, at the start of the film formation, after generating the plasma at the minimum power gradually increases the high frequency power supplied to the antenna, the target bias voltage to the target, then further, the antenna The high-frequency power supplied to the battery may be gradually increased to a predetermined value.

A sputtering apparatus according to the present invention generates an inductively coupled plasma by supplying a high frequency power from a high frequency power source to an antenna provided in a vacuum vessel into which a sputtering gas is introduced, and the plasma and a target bias power source A sputtering apparatus that forms a film on a substrate by sputtering the target using a target bias voltage applied to the target from the target, and controls the high-frequency power source and the target bias power source, and (a) film formation A function of starting the sputtering by applying the target bias voltage to the target from the target bias power source after generating the plasma by supplying the high frequency power from the high frequency power source to the antenna at the start of b) At the end of film formation, the target via A control device having a function of stopping the high-frequency power supplied to the antenna and extinguishing the plasma after stopping the target bias voltage applied to the target from a power source to stop sputtering. equipped with a,
And (c) the target bias that is applied to the target from the target bias power source after generating the plasma by supplying the high frequency power from the high frequency power source to the antenna at the start of film formation. A function of gradually increasing the voltage from zero to a predetermined value; and (d) at the end of film formation, the target bias voltage applied to the target from the target bias power source is gradually decreased and stopped. It further has a function of stopping the high-frequency power supplied to the antenna from a high-frequency power source and extinguishing the plasma .

The invention according to claim 1 has the following effects.
(A) At the start of film formation, plasma is generated by supplying high frequency power to the antenna, and then sputtering is started by applying a target bias voltage to the target. Can be avoided. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the formation of a heterogeneous film at the start of film formation. At the end of film formation, the target bias voltage applied to the target is stopped and sputtering is stopped, and then the high frequency power supplied to the antenna is stopped to extinguish the plasma. Film formation at a stable time can be avoided. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the formation of a heterogeneous film at the end of film formation.

(A) Furthermore, according to the present invention, the above-described effects can be achieved without providing a target moving mechanism. Therefore, since the apparatus configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where a target moving mechanism is provided, the cause of trouble can be reduced and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

(C) Further, in the present invention, high-density plasma can be generated in a wide range near the surface of the target by inductively coupled plasma generation, so that the surface of the target can be expanded over a wide range compared to the magnetron sputtering method. Can be used uniformly. In the case of the magnetron sputtering method, only a specific region where the electric field and the magnetic field are orthogonal to each other is cut into a donut shape, whereas in the case of the present invention, there is no such limitation. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the target can be increased.

(D) According to the present invention, the following further effects can be obtained. That is, if the target bias voltage is sharply turned on and off at the start and end of film formation, the target bias voltage applied to the target may be disturbed by a transient phenomenon, and the film quality formed during that time may be disturbed. Since the target bias voltage is gradually increased at the start of film formation and gradually decreased at the end of film formation as in the invention, disturbance of the target bias voltage due to a transient phenomenon can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the disturbance of the film quality due to the disturbance of the target bias voltage. Therefore, the effect of suppressing the formation of a heterogeneous film at the start and end of film formation can be enhanced.

According to invention of Claim 2 , in addition to having the same effect as said (a)-(c) of invention of Claim 1, there exists the following further effect. That is, if the plasma is ignited by suddenly supplying a high-frequency power of a predetermined value to the antenna, the plasma is turbulent transiently and it tends to continue for a long time, but the high-frequency power supplied to the antenna is gradually increased as in the present invention. By increasing the size and generating plasma with the minimum power, the transient disturbance of the plasma can be reduced. Then, after applying the target bias voltage to the target in that state, the plasma disturbance before and after the target bias voltage application can be suppressed by increasing the high-frequency power supplied to the antenna to a predetermined value. The disturbance of the film quality can be suppressed. Therefore, the effect of suppressing the formation of a heterogeneous film at the start of film formation can be enhanced.

Since the inventions described in claims 3 and 4 correspond to the inventions described in claims 1 and 2 , respectively, the same effects as the effects exhibited by those inventions can be obtained.

It is a time chart which shows an example of the film-forming method by the conventional general magnetron sputtering method. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of the sputtering device which enforces the film-forming method concerning this invention. It is a schematic plan view which looks up the antenna periphery of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 from the bottom. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the film-forming method concerning this invention. It is a time chart which shows an example of the film-forming method concerning this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the more specific example of the sputtering device which enforces the film-forming method concerning this invention. It is a time chart which shows the other example of the film-forming method concerning this invention. It is a time chart which shows the further another example of the film-forming method concerning this invention.

An example of a sputtering apparatus for carrying out the film forming method according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 is a view in which the periphery of the antenna of the apparatus shown in FIG. In Figure 2, the feeding unit of the high frequency power P _R to each antenna 20 is schematically shown, for the power supply unit will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The sputtering apparatus includes a vacuum vessel 2 that is evacuated by a vacuum evacuation device 4, and the vacuum vessel 2 is electrically grounded.

  A sputtering gas 10 is introduced into the vacuum vessel 2. In this example, the gas is introduced from the gas source 6 via the flow rate regulator 8. The gas 10 is, for example, argon gas. When reactive sputtering is performed, the gas 10 may be a mixed gas of argon gas and active gas (for example, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, etc.).

A substrate holder 14 for holding a substrate 12 on which a thin film is formed is provided in the vacuum vessel 2. As in this example, the substrate bias voltage V _S may be applied to the substrate holder 14 from the substrate bias power supply 16. The substrate bias voltage V _S may be a negative DC voltage, a negative pulse voltage, an AC voltage, or the like. Reference numeral 40 denotes an insulating part having a vacuum sealing function.

  The substrate 12 is, for example, a glass substrate or a semiconductor substrate, but is not limited thereto.

  A target 30 is disposed in the vacuum container 2 at a position facing the substrate 12. The target 30 has, for example, a square shape in plan view (see FIG. 3). The target 30 is held by a target holder (backing plate) 32 provided on the upper surface portion 3 of the vacuum vessel 2. The target holder 32 has a water passage (not shown) through which cooling water flows so that the target 30 is cooled with water. An insulating part 42 having a vacuum sealing function is provided between the target holder 32 and the vacuum vessel 2.

  The material of the target 30 may be set according to the film formed on the substrate 12. For example, when an oxide semiconductor thin film is formed on the substrate 12, the target 30 is, for example, IGZO (In-Ga-Zn-O / indium-gallium-zinc-oxygen), ITZO (In-Sn-Zn). -O / indium-tin-zinc-oxygen) or the like, but the material of the target 30 is not limited to this.

A target bias power supply 34 for applying a target bias voltage V _T to the target 30 is connected via a target holder 32 in this example. The target bias voltage V _T is a voltage that attracts ions in the plasma 22 (to be referred to as positive ions in this application), which will be described later, and causes the target 30 to sputter, for example, (a) negative DC voltage, (b) positive / negative. Alternate pulse voltage, (c) AC voltage. The AC voltage may be a high-frequency voltage in the order of MHz such as 13.56 MHz, or may be a low-frequency voltage having a frequency (for example, about 10 kHz to 100 kHz) lower than the output (for example, 13.56 MHz) of the high-frequency power supply 24. When the low frequency voltage is used, it is easy to avoid interference with the plasma generation operation using the high frequency power supply 24.

The target bias voltage V _T output from the target bias power supply 34 may be determined according to, for example, the material of the target 30. For example, when the target 30 is conductive, the negative DC voltage shown in the above (a) may be used, or the voltages shown in (b) and (c) may be used. In the case where the target 30 is an insulator, the positive and negative alternating pulse voltages shown in (b) above or the AC voltage shown in (c) above may be used. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the surface of the insulator from being covered with the positive charge of the inflowing ions to stop the sputtering.

Target bias power source 34, as a target bias voltage V _T, may be designed to output one kind of voltage of the voltage of the (a) ~ (c), can be output by switching a plurality of types of voltages Things can be used.

  With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the antenna 20 is disposed in the vacuum container 2 and in the vicinity of the surface of the target 30. More specifically, in this example, the two antennas 20 are respectively disposed along opposite sides of the quadrangular target 30 so as to sandwich the target 30 from both sides. When the planar shape of the target 30 is rectangular, each antenna 20 is preferably arranged along the long side of the target 30. In this example, each antenna 20 is a rod-like conductor having a shape that is straight (i.e., linear) except for both ends, and both ends are bent upward and penetrate the upper surface portion 3 of the vacuum vessel 2. A part protrudes on the upper surface part 3. The penetration part is provided with an insulating part 41 having a vacuum sealing function.

Each antenna 20, in this example, the high frequency power P _R is supplied in parallel from the high frequency power source 24 via a matching circuit 26. More specifically, the matching circuit 26 is connected to one end of each antenna 20, and the other end of each antenna 20 is grounded. One end of the high frequency power supply 24 is also grounded. However, a high frequency power supply 24 and a matching circuit 26 may be provided for each antenna 20. Frequency of the high frequency power P _R output from the high frequency power source 24 is, for example, is a common 13.56 MHz, the invention is not limited thereto.

  Although it is preferable to arrange the two antennas 20 as described above as in this example, the surface of the target 30 can be more uniformly sputtered and the surface can be used more uniformly. The two antennas 20 may be arranged along one side of the target 30.

  Each antenna 20 may have a solid structure, or a cooling water channel may be provided inside, for example, each antenna 20 may be tubular or cylindrical, and each antenna 20 may be flowed through each antenna 20 by flowing cooling water. A water cooling structure for cooling may be used.

  The sputtering apparatus further includes a controller 46 that controls the high frequency power supply 24 and the target bias power supply 34. The control device 46 will be described later.

  An example of a film forming method in the sputtering apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the time chart of FIG.

First, film formation is prepared (step 100). Specifically, the substrate 12 on which a thin film is to be formed is placed on the substrate holder 14 in the vacuum vessel 2, the inside of the vacuum vessel 2 is evacuated by the evacuation device 4, and a sputtering gas is placed in the vacuum vessel 2. 10 is introduced and the inside of the vacuum vessel 2 is maintained at a predetermined pressure. This pressure may be set within a range in which the plasma 22 can be easily generated and a film having excellent characteristics can be formed on the substrate 12. For example, it may be about 0.1 Pa to 10 Pa, more specifically about 1 Pa to 3 Pa. More specifically, the substrate bias voltage V _S may be applied to the substrate 12 from the substrate bias power supply 16 as needed to the substrate holder 14.

At the start of film formation, from the high frequency power source 24 to each antenna 20 to supply high frequency power P _R (step 101) to generate an inductively coupled plasma 22 in a vacuum chamber 2 (step 102). That is, by supplying a high frequency power P _R to each antenna 20, a high-frequency current flows through each antenna 20, thereby high-frequency magnetic field is generated around each antenna 20, the induced electric field whereby the high frequency current in the opposite direction Occur. Due to this induced electric field, electrons are accelerated in the vacuum chamber 2 to ionize the gas 10 in the vicinity of the antenna 20 and generate plasma 22 in the vicinity of the antenna 20. Since this method is inductively coupled plasma generation, high-density plasma 22 can be generated. Moreover, at this stage, since the target bias voltage V _T that attracts ions in the plasma 22 is not applied to the target 30, the target 30 is not sputtered despite the high-density plasma 22. . That is, film formation on the substrate 12 is not performed.

Thereafter, for example, after elapse of a predetermined time t ₁ (see FIG. 5) from the generation of the plasma, a target bias voltage V _T is applied to the target 30 from the target bias power supply 34 (step 103), and the target 30 is moved by ions in the plasma 22. Sputtering is performed to start film formation on the substrate 12 (step 104). Further, the film formation is continued for a desired time (step 105). This increases the film thickness of the thin film formed on the substrate 12.

The predetermined time t ₁ is a time to wait until the plasma 22 is stabilized when the plasma is turned on. If the time is too short, the plasma 22 may not be stable yet. If the time is too long, the throughput decreases. It is preferably within the range of about 60 seconds, and more preferably within the range of about 5 seconds to 30 seconds.

At the end of film formation, first, the target bias voltage V _T applied to the target 30 is stopped to stop sputtering (step 106), and film formation on the substrate 12 is ended (step 107). Then, for example, after a predetermined time t ₂ from the sputtering stop (see FIG. 5), to stop the high frequency power P _R which has been supplied to the antenna 20 (step 108), extinguish the plasma 22 (step 109). Thus, the film forming process for the substrate 12 is completed.

The predetermined time t ₂ is a time for waiting for the influence of the target bias voltage V _T applied to the target 30 to completely disappear when the target bias voltage V _T is stopped. If the time is too short, the influence of the target bias voltage V _T remains. If the length is too long, the throughput decreases. For example, it is preferably in the range of about 1 second to 10 seconds, and more preferably in the range of about 2 seconds to 5 seconds.

According to the above film forming method, at the start of the film formation, after plasma is generated 22 by supplying a high frequency power P _R to the antenna 20, to start the sputtering by applying a target bias voltage V _T to the target 30 Therefore, it is possible to avoid film formation when the plasma 22 is unstable when the plasma is turned on. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the formation of a heterogeneous film (for example, a film having a varied film composition; the same applies hereinafter) on the substrate 12 at the start of film formation. And during the formation of the finished, after stopping the sputtering stop target bias voltage V _T which has been applied to the target 30, since the stop frequency power P _R which has been supplied to the antenna 20 the plasma is extinguished 22, It is possible to avoid film formation when the plasma 22 is unstable when the plasma is extinguished. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the formation of a heterogeneous film on the substrate 12 at the end of film formation. As a result, it is possible to solve the above-mentioned problems that the conventional general magnetron sputtering method has.

  Moreover, according to this film forming method, the above-described effects can be achieved without providing a target moving mechanism. That is, it is not necessary to provide a cathode moving mechanism including a target as described in Non-Patent Document 1 or a target moving mechanism as described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, since the apparatus configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where a target moving mechanism is provided, the cause of trouble can be reduced and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in this film forming method, high-density plasma 22 can be generated in the vicinity of the surface of the target 30 by inductively coupled plasma generation, so that the surface of the target 30 is wider than that of the magnetron sputtering method. Can be used uniformly in a range. In the case of the magnetron sputtering method, only a specific region where the electric field and the magnetic field are orthogonal to each other is cut into a donut shape, whereas in the case of this film forming method, there is no such limitation. Therefore, the utilization efficiency of the target 30 can be increased.

The sputtering apparatus includes a control device 46 having a function of controlling the high-frequency power source 24 and the target bias power source 34 to perform the film forming method. More specifically, the control device 46 in this example, at the start of (a) deposition, by supplying a high-frequency power P _R after generating the plasma 22 to the antenna 20 from the high frequency power source 24, the target bias power source 34 A function of applying a target bias voltage V _T to the target 30 to start sputtering, and (b) at the end of film formation, the target bias voltage V _T applied to the target 30 from the target bias power supply 34 is stopped and sputtering is performed. the after stopping, and a function to stop the high frequency power P _R which has been supplied to the antenna 20 the plasma is extinguished 22.

  Therefore, the sputtering apparatus can achieve the same effects as the effects provided by the film forming method.

  A more specific example of a sputtering apparatus for carrying out the film forming method according to the present invention is shown in FIG. In the following, differences from the above-described example will be mainly described.

  This sputtering apparatus has a structure in which a load lock chamber 54 is connected to a vacuum vessel 2 (hereinafter referred to as a film forming chamber 50) of the sputtering apparatus shown in FIG. ing.

The case where an oxide semiconductor thin film is formed on the glass substrate 12 will be described as an example. After the substrate 12 is placed on the substrate holder 58 in the load lock chamber 54 through the door 64 from the atmosphere, the substrate 12 is loaded by the vacuum exhaust device 56. The lock chamber 54 is evacuated to a predetermined degree of vacuum (for example, 5 × 10 ⁻⁵ Pa or less). At this time, the inside of the film forming chamber 50 is also evacuated to the same extent by the evacuation apparatus 4. Thereafter, the gate valve 52 is opened, and the substrate transfer device 60 transfers the substrate 12 from the load lock chamber 54 to the film formation chamber 50 as indicated by the arrow A and places it on the substrate holder 14. A vacuum seal portion 62 such as a bellows is provided at a portion where the substrate transfer device 60 penetrates the wall surface of the load lock chamber 54.

After the gate valve 52 is closed, the film forming chamber 50 is evacuated to a predetermined degree of vacuum (for example, 5 × 10 ⁻⁵ Pa or less) by the evacuation device 4, and then the gas 10 whose flow rate is adjusted by the flow rate regulator 8 is introduced Then, the inside of the film forming chamber 50 is maintained at a predetermined pressure (for example, about 1 Pa to 3 Pa as described above). The gas 10 to be introduced is, for example, argon gas, but may be a mixed gas of argon and oxygen.

  After that, film formation is performed in the film formation chamber 50 by the method described above with reference to, for example, Step 101 to Step 109 in FIG. The material of the target 30 is, for example, IGZO (In-Ga-Zn-O) described above. As a result, an IGZO film can be formed on the glass substrate 12.

After the film formation is completed, the plasma 22 is extinguished (see step 109 in FIG. 4), and after the supply of the gas 10 is stopped, the inside of the film formation chamber 50 is evacuated by the evacuation apparatus 4 to the predetermined degree of vacuum (for example, 5 × 10). ^-5 Pa or less). At this time, the inside of the load lock chamber 54 is also evacuated to the same extent by the evacuation device 56. Thereafter, the gate valve 52 is opened, and the substrate transport apparatus 60 transports the film-formed substrate 12 from the film formation chamber 50 to the load lock chamber 54 as indicated by the arrow A and places it on the substrate holder 58. Then, after the gate valve 52 is closed, the inside of the load lock chamber 54 is returned to the atmospheric pressure state (that is, after leakage or venting), and then the substrate 12 is taken out into the atmosphere through the door 64. Thus, a series of film forming processes is completed.

  By the way, the planar shape of the target 30 may be other than the quadrangle (square or rectangle) described above. For example, it may be circular.

  The shape of the antenna 20 is not limited to a linear shape except for the both end portions described above, and other shapes may be used. For example, the shape of the antenna 20 may be linear as a whole, or may be U-shaped, U-shaped, coiled, or the like. Moreover, the shape according to the planar shape of the target 30 may be sufficient. For example, when the planar shape of the target 30 is circular, the planar shape of the antenna 20 may be circular.

  Further, the antenna 20 may be an antenna having the following structure described in JP2013-206652. That is, the antenna 20 has an inner conductor, an outer conductor that covers at least the entire length of the inner conductor, and a dielectric that is provided between the inner conductor and the outer conductor to electrically insulate between the two conductors. It may have a coaxial structure and may have a water cooling structure in which cooling water is allowed to flow inside at least one of the inner conductor and the outer conductor to cool the antenna. A high frequency power source is connected to one end of the inner conductor of the antenna via a matching circuit, and the other end of the inner conductor is grounded. The outer conductor is made of a nonmagnetic material, and the outer conductor is grounded only at one end thereof.

  Next, with respect to other examples of the film forming method and the sputtering apparatus, differences from the above-described example will be mainly described.

For example, as in the example shown in FIG. 7, at the start of the film formation, after supplying the high frequency power P _R to the antenna 20 to generate plasma 22, a predetermined target bias voltage V _T applied to the target 30 from zero gradually increased to a value, at the end of film formation, after stopping gradually reduced target bias voltage V _T which has been applied to the target 30, to stop the high frequency power P _R which has been supplied to the antenna 20 A film forming method of extinguishing the plasma 22 may be employed. The pattern in which the target bias voltage V _T is gradually raised or lowered may be curved instead of the straight line as shown in FIG.

When turning on or off the target bias voltage V _T sharply at the start or end of the film formation, the target bias voltage V _T applied to the target 30 is disturbed by transients, it is conceivable that disturbed quality to be formed therebetween However, the target bias voltage V _T is gradually increased at the beginning of film formation and gradually decreased at the end of film formation as in this film formation method, thereby suppressing disturbance of the target bias voltage V _T due to a transient phenomenon. Therefore, the disturbance of the film quality due to the disturbance of the target bias voltage V _T as described above can be suppressed. Therefore, the effect of suppressing the formation of a heterogeneous film at the start and end of film formation can be enhanced.

Referring to the sputtering apparatus corresponding to the above film forming method, the control device 46 described above constitute a sputtering apparatus, at the start of (a) deposition, and supplying high-frequency power P _R from the high frequency power source 24 to the antenna 20 A function of gradually increasing the target bias voltage V _T applied from the target bias power source 34 to the target 30 from zero to a predetermined value after the plasma 22 is generated, and (b) at the end of film formation, the target bias power source 34 from after stopping gradually reduced target bias voltage V _T which has been applied to the target 30, further a function of stopping the high-frequency power P _R, which has been supplied from the high frequency power source 24 to the antenna 20 to extinguish plasma 22 You may have.

  The sputtering apparatus provided with such a control device 46 can exhibit the same operational effects as the operational effects exhibited by the film forming method.

Further, for example, as in the example shown in FIG. 8, at the start of the film formation, after generating a plasma 22 with a minimum power gradually increasing the high frequency power P _R is supplied to the antenna 20 (in FIG. 8 in a part reference), by applying a target bias voltage V _T to the target 30, then further gradually increasing the high frequency power P _R is supplied to the antenna 20 to a predetermined value (see portion b in FIG. 8), the film forming method of May be adopted. Pattern of gradually increasing the high frequency power P _R, instead of the straight shape as shown in FIG. 8, may be curved. Between a portion and the b portion in FIG. 8, may be provided time t ₃ when keeping the value of the high frequency power P _R at a constant, it may be continued with a part and a part b without providing it .

The high frequency power P _R after the target bias voltage V _T is stopped and the sputtering is stopped may be stopped at once as in the example shown in FIG. 8, or may be stopped after being gradually reduced.

When the antenna 20 to suddenly supplying high-frequency power P _R of a predetermined value to try to light the plasma 22, transiently plasma 22 is disturbed and though it follows easily long, supplied to the antenna 20 as the film forming method by generating a plasma 22 with a minimum power gradually increases to a high frequency power P _R of, it is possible to reduce the transient disturbance of the plasma 22. And after applying a target bias voltage V _T to the target 30 in that state, by increasing the high frequency power P _R is supplied to the antenna 20 to a predetermined value, suppressing the disturbance of the target bias voltage V _T before and after the application of the plasma 22 Therefore, disturbance of the film quality at the start of film formation can be suppressed. Therefore, the effect of suppressing the formation of a heterogeneous film at the start of film formation can be enhanced.

Referring to the sputtering apparatus corresponding to the above film forming method, the control device 46 described above constitute a sputtering apparatus, at the start of the film formation, gradually increase the high frequency power P _R is supplied from the high frequency power source 24 to the antenna 20 after generating the plasma 22 at minimum power and, by applying a target bias voltage V _T to the target 30 from the target bias power source 34, then further, from the high frequency power source 24 a high-frequency power P _R is supplied to the antenna 20 to a predetermined value You may further have the function to enlarge gradually.

  The sputtering apparatus provided with such a control device 46 can exhibit the same operational effects as the operational effects exhibited by the film forming method.

2 Vacuum container 10 Gas 12 Substrate 20 Antenna 22 Plasma 24 High frequency power supply 30 Target 34 Target bias power supply 46 Controller _PR High frequency power V _T Target bias voltage

Claims (4)

A high frequency power is supplied to an antenna provided in a vacuum vessel into which a sputtering gas is introduced to generate inductively coupled plasma, and the target is applied using the plasma and a target bias voltage applied to the target. In a sputtering apparatus that forms a film on a substrate by sputtering
At the start of film formation, after supplying the high-frequency power to the antenna to generate the plasma, the target bias voltage is applied to the target to start sputtering,
At the end of the film formation, after stopping the target bias voltage applied to the target to stop sputtering, the high frequency power supplied to the antenna is stopped to extinguish the plasma,
Moreover , at the start of film formation, after the plasma is generated by supplying the high-frequency power to the antenna, the target bias voltage applied to the target is gradually increased from zero to a predetermined value,
At the end of film formation, characterized after stopping by the target bias voltage applied to the target is gradually decreased, extinguish the plasma stops the high frequency power was supplied to the antenna, that A film forming method. A high frequency power is supplied to an antenna provided in a vacuum vessel into which a sputtering gas is introduced to generate inductively coupled plasma, and the target is applied using the plasma and a target bias voltage applied to the target. In a sputtering apparatus that forms a film on a substrate by sputtering
At the start of film formation, after supplying the high-frequency power to the antenna to generate the plasma, the target bias voltage is applied to the target to start sputtering,
At the end of the film formation, after stopping the target bias voltage applied to the target to stop sputtering, the high frequency power supplied to the antenna is stopped to extinguish the plasma,
In addition , at the start of film formation, the high frequency power supplied to the antenna is gradually increased to generate the plasma with minimum power, and then the target bias voltage is applied to the target, and then further to the antenna. A film forming method , wherein the high-frequency power supplied is gradually increased to a predetermined value. A high frequency power is supplied from a high frequency power source to an antenna provided in a vacuum vessel into which a sputtering gas is introduced to generate inductively coupled plasma, and the target bias applied to the target from the target bias power source A sputtering apparatus for forming a film on a substrate by sputtering a target using a voltage,
The high frequency power source and the target bias power source are controlled, and (a) at the start of film formation, the high frequency power is supplied from the high frequency power source to the antenna to generate the plasma, and then the target bias power source A function of starting the sputtering by applying the target bias voltage to the target; and (b) stopping the sputtering by stopping the target bias voltage applied to the target from the target bias power source at the end of film formation. Later, a control device having a function to stop the high-frequency power supplied to the antenna and extinguish the plasma,
And ( c ) the target bias that is applied to the target from the target bias power source after generating the plasma by supplying the high frequency power from the high frequency power source to the antenna at the start of film formation. A function of gradually increasing the voltage from zero to a predetermined value; and ( d ) after the target bias voltage applied from the target bias power source to the target is gradually decreased and stopped at the end of film formation, stop the high frequency power was supplied to the antenna from the RF power source further has a function to extinguish the plasma, sputtering and wherein the. A high frequency power is supplied from a high frequency power source to an antenna provided in a vacuum vessel into which a sputtering gas is introduced to generate inductively coupled plasma, and the target bias applied to the target from the target bias power source A sputtering apparatus for forming a film on a substrate by sputtering a target using a voltage,
The high frequency power source and the target bias power source are controlled, and (a) at the start of film formation, the high frequency power is supplied from the high frequency power source to the antenna to generate the plasma, and then the target bias power source A function of starting the sputtering by applying the target bias voltage to the target; and (b) stopping the sputtering by stopping the target bias voltage applied to the target from the target bias power source at the end of film formation. Later, a control device having a function to stop the high-frequency power supplied to the antenna and extinguish the plasma,
The control device gradually increases the high-frequency power supplied from the high-frequency power source to the antenna at the start of film formation to generate the plasma with the minimum power, and then the target bias power source supplies the plasma to the target. A sputtering apparatus , further comprising a function of applying a target bias voltage and then gradually increasing the high-frequency power supplied from the high-frequency power source to the antenna to a predetermined value.

Images