KR20170103051A - Method of atmospheric pressure plasma discharge - Google Patents
Method of atmospheric pressure plasma discharge Download PDFInfo
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- KR20170103051A KR20170103051A KR1020160024911A KR20160024911A KR20170103051A KR 20170103051 A KR20170103051 A KR 20170103051A KR 1020160024911 A KR1020160024911 A KR 1020160024911A KR 20160024911 A KR20160024911 A KR 20160024911A KR 20170103051 A KR20170103051 A KR 20170103051A
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- helium
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- argon
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
- H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
- H05H1/24—Generating plasma
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/32009—Arrangements for generation of plasma specially adapted for examination or treatment of objects, e.g. plasma sources
- H01J37/32082—Radio frequency generated discharge
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
- H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes
- H01J37/32431—Constructional details of the reactor
- H01J37/3244—Gas supply means
- H01J37/32449—Gas control, e.g. control of the gas flow
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
- H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
- H05H1/24—Generating plasma
- H05H1/46—Generating plasma using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy
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- Electromagnetism (AREA)
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Abstract
An atmospheric plasma discharge method and apparatus are presented. In the atmospheric plasma discharge method proposed in the present invention, argon is injected into a chamber to maintain the internal pressure of the chamber at a predetermined level. When the internal pressure of the chamber is maintained at a predetermined level, Performing helium plasma discharge using injected helium; stopping helium implantation after performing helium plasma discharge; performing helium plasma discharge; stopping helium implantation; And filling the chamber with a mixed gas.
Description
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for helium addition for VHF atmospheric plasma ignition.
The discharge of the VHF atmospheric plasma is such that electrons accelerated by an electric field collide with gas molecules (that is, atoms) and gas molecules are ionized.
The factors for the plasma discharge are as follows. First, it requires a sufficient number of electrons to ignite the plasma. And it needs energy of electrons higher than ionization energy. The higher the frequency, the lower the kinetic energy of the electron as the pressure increases, and the plasma ignition becomes more difficult.
The ionization energy of argon (Ar) is 15.76 eV. The ionization energy of helium (He) is 24.59 eV. Helium is ignited at less energy because of the longer lifetime of the metastable state (ie, the excited state) helium, despite the higher ionization energy.
In an atmospheric plasma process, helium with a low discharge voltage is generally used. Helium is expensive and it is economically advantageous to replace it with argon. However, in an atmospheric plasma discharge in an argon atmosphere, a high voltage is required and it is difficult to obtain a stable plasma.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a plasma display apparatus capable of discharging helium (He) first and then stopping helium inflow and injecting argon at a low voltage to discharge an Ar plasma discharge (that is, a glow discharge) And a method and apparatus for discharging argon.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an atmospheric plasma discharge method comprising the steps of: injecting argon into a chamber to maintain an internal pressure of a chamber at a predetermined level of pressure; maintaining the internal pressure of the chamber at a predetermined level, Implanting helium into the pre-implanted chamber, performing a helium plasma discharge using the implanted helium, stopping the helium implantation after performing helium plasma discharge, helium implantation after performing helium plasma discharge, And injecting a predetermined gas to fill the chamber with the mixed gas.
The step of injecting argon into the chamber to maintain the internal pressure of the chamber at a predetermined magnitude of pressure provides only electrons for igniting the plasma without performing the argon plasma discharge.
The plasma begins to ignite the VHF atmospheric plasma as the electrons accelerated by the electric field collide with the gas molecules and ionize the gas molecules.
And the mixed plasma discharge is performed using the mixed gas to reduce the discharge voltage.
In another aspect, the atmospheric pressure plasma discharge apparatus proposed in the present invention includes a chamber into which a gas is injected, and a control unit that controls injection of the gas.
The control unit injects argon into the chamber to maintain the internal pressure of the chamber at a predetermined level, and when the internal pressure of the chamber is maintained at a predetermined level of pressure, helium is injected into the chamber After the helium plasma discharge is performed using the injected helium, the helium injection is stopped.
When argon is injected into the chamber and the pressure inside the chamber is maintained at a predetermined level of pressure, only the electrons are ignited to ignite the plasma without performing the argon plasma discharge.
After the helium plasma discharge is performed, the control unit stops the helium implantation and injects a predetermined gas to fill the chamber with the mixed gas.
According to embodiments of the present invention, in order to perform an argon (Ar) plasma discharge (that is, a glow discharge), first, helium (He) is discharged, Argon can be discharged.
1 is a view for explaining a breakdown voltage for an atmospheric plasma discharge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating an atmospheric plasma discharge method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an atmospheric plasma discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a graph illustrating the ratio of helium to argon injected into a chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a graph for explaining an increase in a plasma discharge region according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a graph illustrating the amount of gas entering the chamber in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a graph illustrating helium usage according to a thickness of a thin film according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 is a view for explaining a breakdown voltage for an atmospheric plasma discharge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 1a and 1b are d = 15㎛, neon at 10-100kPa gas (Ne), helium (He), argon (Ar), experimental breakdown voltage (Breakdown voltage) and the Paschen curve according to the nitrogen (N 2) Paschen curve. (Reference: BAARS-HIBBE, L., et al., Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics , 2005, 38.4: 510.) High frequency glow discharges at atmospheric pressure with micro-structured electrode arrays. . The standard deviation of FIG. 1A represents the margin of deviation between the three manufactured mean squared error (MSE) samples. 1B shows the voltage-current characteristics of a DC Low Pressure Electrical Discharge Tube (cited by ROTH, JR Industrial Plasma Engineering Volume 1 Principles, Bristol and Philadelphia, 1995).
Referring to FIG. 1, at normal pressure, argon (Ar) has a breakdown voltage that is greater than helium (He).
The voltage that holds the plasma discharge (i. E., The glow discharge) is less than the breakdown voltage. When a high voltage is applied for the plasma discharge, the arc is easily discharged and induces defects on the substrate.
From these three facts, in order to perform an argon (Ar) plasma discharge (that is, a glow discharge), firstly helium (He) is discharged and then helium inflow is stopped and argon is injected, We propose a method of discharging.
In an atmospheric plasma process, helium with a low discharge voltage is generally used. Helium is expensive and it is economically advantageous to replace it with argon. However, in an atmospheric plasma discharge in an argon atmosphere, a high voltage is required and it is difficult to obtain a stable plasma. The proposed atmospheric plasma discharge method can obtain stable plasma at normal pressure.
2 is a flowchart illustrating an atmospheric plasma discharge method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the conventional atmospheric plasma discharge method, argon is injected into a chamber to maintain a pressure inside the chamber at a predetermined level (step 210). When the internal pressure of the chamber is maintained at a predetermined level, A helium plasma discharge is performed 230, a helium plasma discharge is performed, a helium implantation is stopped, and a predetermined gas is injected into the chamber to inject a mixed gas into the
In
In
In
In
In
Compared with the plasma process using only helium, the proposed atmospheric plasma discharge method can reduce the amount of helium used and reduce the process cost.
3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an atmospheric plasma discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The proposed atmospheric plasma discharge apparatus includes a
The control unit, that is, the
If the internal pressure of the
Helium plasma discharge is performed using injected helium. In other words, helium is added to perform argon-helium mixed plasma discharge. The plasma begins to ignite the VHF atmospheric plasma as the electrons accelerated by the electric field collide with the gas molecules and ionize the gas molecules.
After performing the helium plasma discharge,
After helium plasma discharge is performed,
Compared with the plasma process using only helium, the proposed atmospheric plasma discharge apparatus can reduce the amount of helium used and reduce the process cost.
4 is a graph illustrating the ratio of helium to argon injected into a chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 (a) shows an injection flow rate 410 of argon injected into the chamber after the start of plasma ignition, FIG. 4 (b) shows an injection flow rate 420 of helium, FIG. Plasma ignition is initiated (440), and helium plasma discharge is performed by injecting helium for a period of time. After helium plasma discharge is performed, helium is stopped and argon is injected only after a certain period of time. Over time, the proportion of argon increases.
After the atmospheric helium plasma discharge, a desired gas (for example, argon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, etc.) may be injected. Even after stopping the helium implantation after the plasma discharge, the plasma is continuously maintained using the mixed gas to be introduced. Thus, the discharge voltage can be reduced by performing the mixed plasma discharge using the mixed gas.
5 is a graph for explaining an increase in a plasma discharge region according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, a plasma discharge region of argon at 50 MHz, an argon-helium plasma discharge region at 50 MHz, a plasma discharge region of argon at 60 MHz, and an argon-helium plasma discharge region at 60 MHz were shown.
The larger the pd value in the atmospheric pressure region, the larger the breakdown voltage is required. At the same power condition, a plasma discharge at a higher pd value means that the breakdown voltage is reduced.
Table 1 shows the plasma discharge region of argon at 50 MHz, the argon-helium plasma discharge region at 50 MHz, the plasma discharge region of argon at 60 MHz, and the argon-helium plasma discharge region at 60 MHz.
<Table 1>
<Table 2>
6 is a graph illustrating the amount of gas entering the chamber in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
6 (a) is a graph showing the flow rate of argon 610, FIG. 6 (b) is a
First, argon is injected into the chamber to maintain the pressure inside the chamber at a predetermined level. Argon is injected into the chamber to maintain the pressure inside the chamber at a high pressure. At this time, the injected argon does not perform the argon plasma discharge but provides only electrons to ignite the plasma.
If the inner pressure of the chamber is maintained at a predetermined magnitude of pressure, helium is injected into the chamber where argon has been pre-injected at
For atmospheric argon plasma discharge, helium is implanted into a chamber of argon-pre-implanted argon atmosphere. Because helium has a lower discharge voltage than argon, the argon helium gas mixture has a lower plasma discharge voltage than argon.
From
After the helium plasma discharge is performed, helium implantation is stopped at
After the helium plasma discharge is performed, the helium implantation is stopped and a predetermined gas is injected at
7 is a graph illustrating helium usage according to a thickness of a thin film according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The deposition rate of the Si thin film according to an embodiment of the present invention is 2000 nm / min.
The proposed atmospheric plasma discharge method and apparatus are for obtaining stable plasma at normal pressure.
The plasma discharge method in the present invention is summarized in two ways. First, helium is injected into an argon atmosphere chamber for atmospheric argon plasma discharge. Because helium has a lower discharge voltage than argon, the argon helium gas mixture has a lower plasma discharge voltage than argon. Even after stopping the helium implantation after the plasma discharge, the plasma is maintained. Second, a desired gas (for example, argon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, etc.) is injected after the atmospheric helium plasma discharge and the helium injection is stopped. This method can reduce the process cost by reducing the amount of helium used, compared with a plasma process using only helium.
According to the proposed atmospheric-pressure plasma discharge method and apparatus, it is confirmed that the amount of helium gas for obtaining a 1000 nm thin film is reduced ten times as compared with the conventional technology.
The apparatus described above may be implemented as a hardware component, a software component, and / or a combination of hardware components and software components. For example, the apparatus and components described in the embodiments may be implemented within a computer system, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable array (FPA) A programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the processing apparatus may be described as being used singly, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the processing apparatus may have a plurality of processing elements and / As shown in FIG. For example, the processing unit may comprise a plurality of processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations are also possible, such as a parallel processor.
The software may include a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing, and may be configured to configure the processing device to operate as desired or to process it collectively or collectively Device can be commanded. The software and / or data may be in the form of any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage media, or device , Or may be permanently or temporarily embodied in a transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed over a networked computer system and stored or executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on one or more computer readable recording media.
The method according to an embodiment may be implemented in the form of a program command that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program instructions to be recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and configured for the embodiments or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. For example, it is to be understood that the techniques described may be performed in a different order than the described methods, and / or that components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, Lt; / RTI > or equivalents, even if it is replaced or replaced.
Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (8)
Injecting argon into the chamber to maintain the internal pressure of the chamber at a predetermined magnitude of pressure;
Injecting helium into the chamber where argon has been pre-injected if the chamber's internal pressure is maintained at a predetermined magnitude of pressure;
Performing helium plasma discharge using injected helium; And
Stopping helium implantation after performing helium plasma discharge
Wherein the plasma discharge is performed at a predetermined temperature.
The step of injecting argon into the chamber to maintain the chamber's internal pressure at a predetermined magnitude of pressure comprises:
Without performing the argon plasma discharge, only the electrons for igniting the plasma
Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge method.
In the plasma, electrons accelerated by an electric field collide with gas molecules, and gas molecules are ionized to start ignition of the VHF atmospheric plasma
Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge method.
After the helium plasma discharge is performed, the helium implantation is stopped and a predetermined gas is injected to fill the chamber with the mixed gas
Further comprising the steps of:
The mixed plasma discharge is performed using the mixed gas to reduce the discharge voltage
Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge method.
A chamber into which gas is injected; And
A control unit for controlling the injection of the gas
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein,
Argon is injected into the chamber to maintain the internal pressure of the chamber at a predetermined level, and when the internal pressure of the chamber is maintained at a predetermined level of pressure, helium is injected into the chamber in which argon has previously been injected, To perform helium plasma discharge and then to stop the helium implantation
Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge device.
When argon is injected into the chamber and the pressure inside the chamber is maintained at a predetermined level of pressure, argon plasma discharge is not performed and only electrons are supplied to ignite the plasma
Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge device.
Wherein,
After the helium plasma discharge is performed, the helium implantation is stopped and a predetermined gas is injected to fill the chamber with the mixed gas
Atmospheric pressure plasma discharge device.
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