WO2019185187A1

WO2019185187A1 - Method for vacuum processing of a substrate, and apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate

Info

Publication number: WO2019185187A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/086638
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anke Hellmich; Gerd Orgeich
Original assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
Priority date: 2018-03-28
Filing date: 2018-12-21
Publication date: 2019-10-03
Also published as: TW202003885A

Abstract

A method for vacuum processing of a substrate is described. The method includes coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material using a pulsed laser deposition source provided in a processing region; and moving the substrate through the processing region along a transportation path.

Description

METHOD FOR VACUUM PROCESSING OF A SUBSTRATE, AND APPARATUS FOR VACUUM PROCESSING OF A SUBSTRATE

FIELD

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for vacuum processing of a substrate, and an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate. Embodiments of the present disclosure particularly relate to methods and apparatuses for physical vapor deposition, for example, pulsed laser deposition used in the manufacture of devices with coated substrates.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Techniques for layer deposition on a substrate include, for example, physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). A physical vapor deposition process can be used to deposit a material layer on the substrate, such as a layer of a conductive material. Substrates provided on substrate carriers can be transported through a processing system. In order to perform multiple processing measures on the substrate, an in-line arrangement of processing modules can be used or a processing system may be arranged in a cluster arrangement. A plurality of materials such as organic materials, conductive layers, metals, also including oxides, nitrides or carbides thereof, may be used for deposition on a substrate. Coated materials may be used in several applications and in several technical fields. For instance, substrates for displays are often coated by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process.

[0003] With development of new display technologies and a tendency towards larger display sizes, there is an ongoing demand for layers or layer systems used in displays that provide an characteristic for e.g. a display to be manufactured. Particularly, OLED layers of an OLED display may be sensitive deposition of subsequent layers. Accordingly, deposition of layers which may, for example, not deteriorate, an organic material on a substrate can be highly advantageous. [0004] In view of the above, new methods for vacuum processing of a substrate, and apparatuses for vacuum processing of a substrate, that overcome at least some of the problems in the art are beneficial.

SUMMARY

[0005] In light of the above, a method for vacuum processing of a substrate, an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate, and a use of a laser deposition source in the processing of a substrate are provided. Further aspects, benefits, and features of the present disclosure are apparent from the claims, the description, and the accompanying drawings.

[0006] According to an embodiment, a method for vacuum processing of a substrate is provided. The method includes coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material using a pulsed laser deposition source provided in a processing region; and moving the substrate through the processing region along a transportation path.

[0007] According to an embodiment, a method for vacuum processing of a substrate is provided. The method includes moving at least a portion of a pulsed laser deposition source provided in a processing region with respect to a substrate; and coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material provided by the pulsed laser deposition source.

[0008] According to an embodiment, a method for vacuum processing of a substrate is provided. The method includes directing a pulsed laser on a cylindrical target; rotating the cylindrical target to expose varying portions of the cylindrical target the pulsed laser; coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material from the cylindrical target; and moving the substrate and the cylindrical target relative to each other.

[0009] According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a device is provided. The method includes a method for vacuum processing of a substrate according to embodiments described herein, wherein an anode or a cathode of an OLED device or a backplane of a transistor are produced. [0010] According to an embodiment, an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes at least one pulsed laser deposition source providing material on the substrate; and a substrate position in a deposition region provided by the at least one pulsed laser deposition source wherein the apparatus is configured to move the substrate through the processing region and/or move at least a portion of the at least one pulsed laser deposition source past the substrate position.

[0011] According to an embodiment, a use of a pulsed laser deposition source in processing a substrate in a vacuum processing apparatus is provided, wherein the pulsed laser deposition source includes a laser, optionally an Excimer laser and/or UV laser; and a target, which may optionally be rotatable, onto which the laser beam is directed during deposition, wherein the target is a cylindrical target and rotates during processing, while a laser beam is provided as a laser line; and wherein particles ablated by the laser beam from the target are deposited onto a surface of the substrate, or onto a material layer previously deposited on the substrate.

[0012] Generally, in embodiments described herein, the deposition source(s) may include at least one pulsed laser deposition (PLD) source, which may be used alternatively or additionally, namely in combination, with other types of sources and deposition sources as described herein with respect to embodiments. Hence, unless otherwise stated or technically not feasible in certain embodiments, a pulsed laser deposition source may be used additionally or, if feasible, alternatively, to for example evaporation sources, particularly for organic materials.

[0013] Embodiments are also directed at apparatuses for carrying out the disclosed methods and include apparatus parts for performing each described method aspect. These method aspects may be performed by way of hardware components, a computer programmed by appropriate software, by any combination of the two or in any other manner. Furthermore, embodiments according to the disclosure are also directed at methods for operating the described apparatus. The methods for operating the described apparatus include method aspects for carrying out every function of the apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments. The accompanying drawings relate to embodiments of the disclosure and are described in the following:

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for vacuum processing of a substrate according to embodiments described herein;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate according to embodiments described herein;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate according to further embodiments described herein;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate according to embodiments described herein;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pulsed laser deposition source according to embodiments described herein; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pulsed laser deposition source according to further embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the figures. Within the following description of the drawings, the same reference numbers refer to same components. Generally, only the differences with respect to individual embodiments are described. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure and is not meant as a limitation of the disclosure. Further, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. It is intended that the description includes such modifications and variations.

[0016] With development of new display technologies and a tendency towards larger display sizes, there is an ongoing demand for layers or layer systems used in displays that provide an improved characteristics. As an example, an improved PVD sources may be provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure allow for layer deposition and/or thin film coating with materials with low energy impact on a substrate or a layer stack on a substrate. Embodiments may particularly relate to pulsed laser deposition of for example transparent conductive layers. Particularly, transparent conductive layers may be deposited on sensitive substrates and/or sensitive layers, e.g. on organic layers of a top emission OLED display device.

[0017] The term“pulsed laser deposition” (or PLD), as used herein, is intended to mean is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique where a pulsed laser beam is focused inside a vacuum chamber to impinge on or to strike a target of the material that is to be deposited. This material is vaporized from the target which deposits the material as a thin film on a substrate. This process can occur in high vacuum, optionally in ultra-high vacuum, or in the presence of a background gas, such as, in a non-limiting example, oxygen, which may be used to deposit oxides, e.g. to fully oxygenate the deposited films.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for vacuum processing of a substrate according to embodiments described herein. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes, in block 1100, coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material using a pulsed laser deposition source provided in a deposition region, and moving (see block 1200) the substrate through the deposition region along a transportation path. The substrate may be move while the substrate or the first material layer coated with the material. The PLD source can be moving or stationary while the substrate or the first material layer is irradiated with the particles. By coating the substrate or the first material layer, an thin film deposition process is conducted. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a PLD source can be provide as a line source as described herein. [0019] According to some embodiments, the target material, i.e. the material to be deposited on a substrate, can be a transparent conductive material. For example, material can be a transparent conductive oxide. The material may be selected from, ITO, IZO, ZnO, IGZO, and combinations thereof. According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the layer can be up to 150 nm or of even larger thickness. For example, the layer thickness can be 50 nm or above. Additionally or alternatively, the layer thickness can be 250 nm or below.

[0020] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the method may further include depositing a first material layer, such as an organic layer over the substrate. The PLD coating can be provided on or over the first layer. In some implementations, the method further includes moving the substrate along the transportation path into a deposition region, and depositing the at least one second material layer, a material deposited over the first material layer, over the substrate surface or over the first material layer. At least one of the first material layer and the second material layer can be deposited while the substrate is stationary e.g. on the transportation path. Alternatively, at least one of the first material layer and the second material layer can be deposited while the substrate is moved along the transportation path.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the PLD source can be provided as a line source. For example, the line source can have a longer dimension extending essentially along a substrate dimension. The line source may be longer than a substrate dimension, e.g. at least 10 %. The line source can be provided by a target, such as a cylindrical target and laser source. The laser beam can be shaped to be focused as a line along the length or line direction of the target. The laser impinges on the target to release atoms and/or molecules from the target to be deposited on the substrate.

[0022] As the line sources length covers one dimension of the substrate, the other dimension of the substrate can be covered, i.e. the substrate can be coated along the other dimension, by moving the substrate past the line source. A dynamic deposition process can be provided. According to additional or alternative modifications, the target may be moved past the substrate. In such an implication, the laser may be stationary, the target may mover and the laser beam may be guided and/or focused in the moving target. [0023] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the target may be a cylindrical target and may rotate during layer deposition. The target material may move relative to the laser beam, i.e. may rotate below the laser beam. Thus, a uniform utilization of the target can be provided.

[0024] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the target may be a planar target. The target material may move relative to the laser beam, i.e. may translate back and forth below the laser beam. For example, the target materials can be provided as a planar target. Additionally or alternatively, the laser beam may be scanned over the target, particularly for use of a planar target. The laser beam striking the planar target may be shaped in the form of a line, similar to the laser beam described above with respect to a cylindrical target.

[0025] The deposition region can be a region within a vacuum chamber of a vacuum processing system. The deposition region can be separated from a further vacuum chamber other, for example, using at least one of locks, valves and separation devices, such as a gas separation shielding. Accordingly, a pressure regime and a processing gas conditions for the PLD process can be provided and can be separated from neighboring vacuum conditions. According to some embodiments, the method may provide a combination of a dynamic process and a stationary or static deposition process. The terms“stationary” and “static” as used throughout the present disclosure can be understood in the sense that the substrate is substantially not moving with respect to the vacuum chamber and/or the deposition sources provided in the deposition region.

[0026] Specifically, the organic deposition process can be a static deposition process, e.g., for display processing. A static deposition process can be understood as a deposition process with a static position, a deposition process with an essentially static position, or a deposition process with a partially static position of the substrate. In view of this, a static deposition process, in which the substrate position can in some cases be not fully without any movement during deposition, can still be distinguished from a dynamic deposition process. The OLED deposition process may also be a dynamic deposition process. The PLD process may be a dynamic deposition process, i.e. wherein the substrate moves past the deposition region, for example past one or more line sources. [0027] As described above, according to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the PLD source, or at least a portion of the PLD source, such as the target, can be moving or stationary, for example, while the substrate and/or the first material layer is irradiated with the particles. In some implementations, the PLD source can be moving with respect to the transportation path while the substrate is transported along the transportation path. Specifically, both the substrate and the source can be moving while the substrate or the first material layer is coated. In other implementations, the PLD source can be stationary while the substrate passes the PLD source. As an example, the PLD source, and particularly a cylindrical rotatable target, can be stationary while the substrate or the first material layer is coated with material from the PLD source. The stationary PLD source allows for a simple configuration of the apparatus.

[0028] The PLD source can be vertically arranged and/or horizontally scanned over the substrate. The term“vertical direction” is understood to distinguish over“horizontal direction”. That is, the“vertical direction” relates to a substantially vertical orientation of the line of the source, wherein a deviation of a few degrees, e.g. up to 10° or even up to 30°, from an exact vertical direction or vertical movement is still considered as a “substantially vertical direction”. The vertical direction can be substantially parallel to the force of gravity. Likewise, the“horizontal direction” relates to a substantially horizontal direction, e.g. movement of the PLD source, wherein a deviation of a few degrees, e.g. up to 10° or even up to 30°, from an exact horizontal direction or horizontal movement is still considered as a “substantially horizontal direction” or a “substantially horizontal movement”.

[0029] When reference is made to the term“over”, i.e. one layer being over the other, it is understood that, starting from the substrate, a first material layer is deposited over the substrate, and the second material layer, deposited after the first material layer, is thus over the first layer and over the substrate. In other words, the term“over” is used to define an order of layers, layer stacks, and/or films wherein the starting point is the substrate. This is irrespective of whether the layer stack is considered upside down or not. The term“over” shall embrace embodiments where one or more further material layers are provided between the substrate and the first material layer and/or the first material layer and the second material layer. In other words, the first material layer is not directly disposed on the substrate and/or the second material layer is not directly disposed on the first material layer. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and the term“over” shall embrace embodiments where no further layers are provided between the substrate and the first material layer and/or the first material layer and the second material layer. In other words, the first material layer can be disposed directly on the substrate and can be in direct contact with the substrate. The second material layer can be disposed directly on the first material layer and can be in direct contact with the first material layer.

[0030] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, at least the second material layer can be a conductive layer. As an example, the second material layer can be a second conductive layer. As an example, the material of the second material layer is selected from the group consisting of IGZO, a metal, a metal alloy, titanium, aluminum, indium tin oxide (GGO), IZO, and any combination thereof.

[0031] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the substrate is transported along the transportation path in a substantially vertical orientation. As an example, the substrate or the first material layer is irradiated with the particles while the substrate is in a substantially vertical orientation. As used throughout the present disclosure, “substantially vertical” is understood particularly when referring to the substrate orientation, to allow for a deviation from the vertical direction or orientation of ±20° or below, e.g. of ±10° or below. This deviation can be provided for example because a substrate support with some deviation from the vertical orientation might result in a more stable substrate position. Yet, the substrate orientation, e.g., during the process and/or the deposition process is considered substantially vertical, which is considered different from the horizontal substrate orientation.

[0032] The term“substrate” as used herein shall embrace substrates which are typically used for display manufacturing. The substrates can be large area substrates. For example, substrates as described herein shall embrace substrates which are typically used for an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a OLED panel, and the like. For instance, a large area substrate can be GEN 4.5, which corresponds to about 0.67 m² substrates (0.73 x 0.92m), GEN 5, which corresponds to about 1.4 m² substrates (1.1 m x 1.3 m), GEN 6, which corresponds to about 2.8 m² substrates (1.85 m x 1.5 m), GEN 7.5, which corresponds to about 4.29 m² substrates (1.95 m x 2.2 m), GEN 8.5, which corresponds to about 5.7m² substrates (2.2 m x 2.5 m), or even GEN 10, which corresponds to about 8.7 m² substrates (2.85 m x 3.05 m). Even larger generations such as GEN 11 and GEN 12 and corresponding substrate areas can similarly be implemented.

[0033] The term“substrate” as used herein shall particularly embrace substantially inflexible substrates, e.g., a wafer, slices of transparent crystal such as sapphire or the like, or a glass plate. In particular, the substrates can be glass substrates and/or transparent substrates. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and the term“substrate” may also embrace flexible substrates such as a web or a foil. The term“substantially inflexible” is understood to distinguish over “flexible”. Specifically, a substantially inflexible substrate can have a certain degree of flexibility, e.g. a glass plate having a thickness of 0.5 mm or below, wherein the flexibility of the substantially inflexible substrate is small in comparison to the flexible substrates.

[0034] According to embodiments described herein, the method for vacuum processing of a substrate can be conducted using computer programs, software, computer software products and the interrelated controllers, which can have a CPU, a memory, a user interface, and input and output devices being in communication with the corresponding components of the apparatus.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an apparatus 100 for vacuum processing of a substrate 10 according to embodiments described herein. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the apparatus 100 includes at least one deposition region 110 having at least one PLD source 130, and a transportation path 20 extending through the at least one deposition region 110. The apparatus 100 can be configured to perform the method for vacuum processing of a substrate according to the embodiments described herein. In the following, the at least one PLD source 130 is exemplarily described. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto and that other geometries of a deposition system may be provided, e.g. a cluster type system.

[0036] The apparatus 100 can include a substrate carrier 30 configured to support the substrate 10. The substrate carrier 30 having the substrate 10 positioned thereon can be transported along the transportation path 20. The substrate carrier 30 can include a plate or a frame configured for supporting the substrate 10, for example, using a support surface provided by the plate or frame. Optionally, the substrate carrier 30 can include one or more holding devices (not shown) configured for holding the substrate 10 at the plate or frame. The one or more holding devices can include at least one of mechanical and/or magnetic clamps.

[0037] In some implementations, the substrate carrier 30 includes, or is, an electrostatic chuck (E-chuck). The E-chuck can have a supporting surface for supporting the substrate thereon. In one embodiment, the E-chuck includes a dielectric body having electrodes embedded therein. The dielectric body can be fabricated from a dielectric material, preferably a high thermal conductivity dielectric material such as pyrolytic boron nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon nitride, alumina or an equivalent material; or the dielectric body may be fabricated from a very thin but less thermally-conductive material such as polyimide. The electrodes may be coupled to a power source which provides power to the electrodes to control a chucking force. The chucking force is an electrostatic force acting on the substrate to fix the substrate on the supporting surface.

[0038] In some implementations, the PLD source is a linear PLD source, such as a vertical linear PLD source. The term“linear” can be understood in the sense that the linear PLD source 130 has a major dimension and a minor dimension defining an material plume area of the material, wherein the minor dimension is less than the major dimension. For example, the minor dimension can be less than 10%, specifically less than 5% and more specifically less than 1% of the major dimension. The major dimension can extend substantially vertically. In other words, the at least one linear PLD source 130 can be a vertical linear PLD source.

[0039] In some implementations, the apparatus 100 is configured to move the substrate 10 through the at least one deposition region 110 along the transportation path 20 while the substrate 10 or the first material layer is coated. The term“deposition region” can be understood as a space or area where the substrate 10 can be provided or positioned so that the substrate 10 can be coated with the PLD source.

[0040] The term“vacuum” as used throughout the present disclosure can be understood as a space that is substantially devoid of matter, e.g., a space from which all or most of the air or gas has been removed, except for process gases that are used in a deposition process, such as a sputter deposition process. As an example, the term“vacuum” can be understood in the sense of a technical vacuum having a vacuum pressure of less than, for example, 10 mbar. One or more vacuum pumps, such as turbo pumps and/or cryo-pumps, can be connected to the one or more vacuum chambers providing the at least one processing region 110 and the at least one deposition region 120 for generation of the vacuum.

[0041] The term“transportation path” as used throughout the present disclosure can be understood as a path along which the substrate 10 or the substrate carrier 30 having the substrate 10 positioned thereon can be moved or conveyed, for example, through the at least one processing region 110 and the at least one deposition region 120. As an example, the transportation path can be a linear transportation path. The transportation path 20 can define a transport direction 1 for the substrate 10 or the substrate carrier 30 through the at least one processing region 110 and the at least one deposition region 120. The transportation path 20 can be a unidirectional transportation path or can be a bidirectional transportation path. Further, the transportation path may also be the path of a substrate in a cluster like substrate vacuum processing system.

[0042] The apparatus 100 can have at least two transportation paths, such as the transportation path 20 and another transportation path (not shown). The at least two transportation paths can be provided so that a first substrate carrier having a first substrate positioned thereon may overtake a second substrate on a second substrate carrier, for example, when the second substrate is being coated. The at least two transportation paths can extend substantially parallel to each other, for example, in the transport direction 1 of the substrate 10 or substrate carrier 30. In some implementations, the at least two transportation paths can be displaced with respect to each other in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction 1 of the substrate carrier. The term“substantially parallel” relates to a substantially parallel orientation e.g. of direction(s) and/or path(s), wherein a deviation of a few degrees, e.g. up to 10° or even up to 15°, from an exact parallel orientation is still considered as“substantially parallel”.

[0043] The transportation path(s) can be provided by respective tracks. As an example, the transportation path 20 can be provided by a track and the other transportation path can be provided by another track. As used throughout the present disclosure, the term“track” can be defined as a space or device that accommodates or supports the substrate carrier, which can be an E-chuck. As an example, the track can accommodate or support the substrate carrier mechanically (using, for example, rollers), contactlessly (using, for example, magnetic fields and respective magnetic forces), or using a combination thereof.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an apparatus 200 for vacuum processing of a substrate 10 according to further embodiments described herein. The apparatus 200 can be configured to perform the method for vacuum processing of a substrate according to some embodiments described herein.

[0045] According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the apparatus 200 is configured to move the at least one PLD source or at least a portion of the PLD source, such as the target 230, with respect to the transportation path while the substrate 10 or the first material layer is coated with material from the PLD source. As an example, the apparatus 200 includes a drive configured to move the target of the least one PLD source with respect to the transportation path 20. In some implementations, the drive can be configured to move the at least one PLD source substantially parallel to the transportation path 20. As an example, the drive can be configured to move the at least one PLD source in at least one of a first direction (indicated with reference numeral 2) parallel to the transportation path 20. The apparatus 200 can include a track 132 in the at least one processing region 110. The track 132 can be configured to movably support the target 230 of the at least one PLD source. As an example, the drive can be configured to move the at least one PLD source back and forth along the track 132. As an example, a laser 231 can be configured to irradiate the target 230 with a laser beam 233. For example, one or more optical elements selected from the group consisting of a mirror, a lens 232, a light guide, and an optical fibre can be provided. The one or more optical elements can shape the laser beam to have a line-shape. Further, at least one lens and/or at least one mirror can focus the laser beam, e.g. the line, onto the target 230.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an apparatus 500 for vacuum processing of a substrate 10 according to embodiments described herein. The apparatus 500 may include a plurality of regions, such as a first deposition region and at least one further deposition region 510. The plurality of regions can be provided in one vacuum system, such as adjacent vacuum chambers or even in one vacuum chamber.

[0047] The vacuum chambers or regions can be separated from adjacent regions by a valve having a valve housing 504 and a valve unit 505. After a substrate carrier 30 with the substrate 10 thereon is, as indicated by arrow 1, inserted in a region, such as the at least one processing region 510, the valve unit 505 can be closed. The atmosphere in the regions can be individually controlled by generating a technical vacuum. A transportation path 20, such as a linear transportation path, can be provided in order to transport the substrate carrier 30, having the substrate 10 thereon, into, through and out of the regions. The transportation path 20 can extend at least in part through deposition region. The apparatus 500 includes the at least one PLD source having a target 230 and a pulsed laser 231. A mirror 432 may guide a laser beam onto the target 230.

[0048] In FIG. 5, a deposition source according to embodiments is shown, which is a pulsed laser deposition source 60 (PLD source). With the PLD source 60, according to embodiments, the substrate 10 (not shown in FIG.5, see e.g. FIG. 6) or a first material layer on the substrate 10 are irradiated with particles by using a pulsed laser beam 65, which is directed onto a target. The substrate can be moved through the processing region along a transportation path, while the substrate 10 or the first material layer thereon is irradiated with the particles. The pulsed laser deposition source includes a laser 61. In embodiments, the laser may be a UV laser, e.g. an Excimer laser. The laser beam 65 is directed onto a target 63. The target may be stationary, or may optionally include a rotating cylinder comprising the target material. The laser is either directed or scanned onto the stationary target 63 or rotatable target, which has a surface area. The laser may also be dynamically and continuously deflected to incrementally scan at least a part of the surface area of the stationary target 63. According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, a line laser can be provided to impinge on the target. For example, at least one optical element such as a cylinder lens may be utilized to shape the laser beam into the shape of a line. The line can illuminate the target along the length direction (e.g. vertically) of the axis of a cylinder.

[0049] In FIG. 6, the pulsed laser deposition source 60 is shown having a rotating target 63, according to embodiments. The pulsed laser deposition source may be provided in a processing region with respect to a substrate provided on a transportation path, as was described with respect to embodiments. Particles may also be provided by a pulsed laser deposition source 60 while the pulsed laser deposition source is moved, e.g., when a substrate having a large area shall be treated with a PLD source having a particle beam much smaller than the substrate.

[0050] Generally, the substrate may be moving along the transportation path or may be stationary on the transportation path, while the substrate or the first material layer is irradiated with the particles from the PLD source.

[0051] One or more material properties may be selectably chosen to be altered by the PLD source treatment. These properties may, e.g., be from the group consisting of physical properties, electrical properties, chemical properties, and optical properties.

[0052] The PLD source(s) as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 may be used or employed to deposit a (first or other) material layer over the substrate 10. Accoring to some At least one second material layer may be deposited over the substrate or over the first material layer, after the substrate or the first material layer has been irradiated with the particles from the PLD source. The first and second layers may also be provided by using other types of sources as described herein with respect to embodiments, or by employing those other types with the PLD source 60.

[0053] In an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate according to embodiments, at least one processing region having at least one pulsed laser deposition source may be provided. Further, at least one further deposition region having one or more deposition sources of various types may be provided. A transportation path typically extends through the at least one processing region and the at least one deposition region. The apparatus may be configured to irradiate the substrate 10 or the first material layer on the substrate with particles provided by the at least one pulsed laser deposition source 60.

[0054] Thereby, the pulsed laser deposition source 60 may, according to embodiments, may be movable with respect to the transportation path, while the substrate or a first material layer is irradiated with the particles. [0055] Typically, the pulsed laser deposition source includes a pulsed laser. This may, for example, be an UV laser, e.g. an Excimer laser. The target may be a rotatable target 63a, which is typically elongated, or the target 63 may be stationary. In either case, the laser is typically deflected repetitively over the length of the elongated target, or over the area of the stationary target.

[0056] Generally, a pulsed laser deposition source 60 is used, according to embodiments, which may be combined with further embodiments described herein, in processing a substrate 10 in a vacuum processing apparatus. Particles, or a particle plume 66 (see FIG. 6) ablated by the laser beam 65 from the target 63 are deposited onto a surface of the substrate 10, or onto a material layer previously deposited on the substrate 10.

[0057] The pulse length of the laser in typically in the order of nanoseconds to microseconds. The skilled person is well aware that the pulse length and energy density of the laser has a strong influence, together with the material properties of the target, on the nature of the deposition process.

[0058] According to one embodiment a method for vacuum processing of a substrate is provided. The method includes irradiating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with particles using a pulsed laser deposition source, provided in a processing region; and moving the substrate through the processing region along a transportation path while the substrate or the first material layer is irradiated with the particles.

[0059] According to some modifications, which may additionally or alternatively, be provided, the pulsed laser deposition source includes a laser, optionally a UV laser, and wherein the laser beam is directed: onto a rotating target, optionally onto a rotating cylinder comprising the target material or onto a stationary target having a surface area, wherein the laser is dynamically deflected to incrementally scan at least a part of the surface area.

[0060] According to yet further embodiments, a method for vacuum processing of a substrate is provided. The method includes moving a pulsed laser deposition source provided in a processing region with respect to a substrate provided on a transportation path; and irradiating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with particles provided by the pulsed laser deposition source while the target or the substrate is moved.

[0061] According to some modifications, which may additionally or alternatively, be provided, the substrate is moving along the transportation path or is stationary on the transportation path while the substrate or the first material layer is irradiated with the material. A method may include at least one of: depositing the first material layer over the substrate; and depositing at least one second material layer over the substrate or over the first material layer after the substrate or the first material layer has been irradiated with the particles. Particularly, at least one of the first material layer and the second material layer is deposited while the substrate is stationary or while the substrate is moved along the transportation path.

[0062] According to yet further modifications, which may additionally or alternatively, be provided, an anode or a cathode of an OLED device are produced therewith, or a backplane of a transistor.

[0063] According to another embodiment, an apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes at least one processing region having at least one pulsed laser deposition source; at least one deposition region having one or more deposition sources; and a transportation path extending through the at least one processing region and the at least one deposition region, wherein the apparatus is configured to irradiate the substrate or the first material layer on the substrate with particles provided a target and wherein the apparatus is configured to: move the substrate through the processing region along the transportation path while the substrate or a first material layer is irradiated with the particles; or move the at least one pulsed laser deposition source with respect to the transportation path while the substrate or a first material layer is irradiated with the particles.

[0064] According to yet further modifications, which may additionally or alternatively, be provided, the pulsed laser deposition source may include a pulsed laser, optionally a UV laser, optionally an Excimer laser, and a target onto which the laser is directed, wherein the target may be a rotatable target which is optionally elongated, or wherein the target is stationary. Particularly, the laser may be deflected repetitively over the length of the elongated target.

[0065] According to another embodiment, a use of a pulsed laser deposition source in processing a substrate in a vacuum processing apparatus is provided. The pulsed laser deposition source includes a laser, optionally an Excimer laser and/or UV laser; and a target, which may optionally be rotatable, onto which the laser beam is directed during deposition, wherein: the target is a cylindrical target and rotates during processing, while the laser is scanned over the length of the target or wherein the target is stationary and has a surface area, over which the laser is scanned during processing. Particles ablated by the laser beam from the target are deposited onto a surface of the substrate, or onto a material layer previously deposited on the substrate.

[0066] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A method for vacuum processing of a substrate, comprising: coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material using a pulsed laser deposition source provided in a processing region; and moving the substrate through the processing region along a transportation path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsed laser deposition source comprises: generating a laser beam with a laser, particularly a UV laser; and directing the laser beam onto a rotating target, particularly onto a rotating cylinder comprising the target material, or onto a planar target having a surface area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a pulsed laser is dynamically deflected to incrementally scan at least a part of the surface area of the planar target and/or the surface area is moved relative to the laser beam.

4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pulsed laser deposition source is a line source.

5. A method for vacuum processing of a substrate, comprising: moving at least a portion of a pulsed laser deposition source provided in a processing region with respect to a substrate; and coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material provided by the pulsed laser deposition source.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: moving the substrate along a transportation path while the substrate or the first material layer is coated with the material.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of, a metal, GGO, IZO, ZnO, IGZO, a transparent conductive oxide, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, further including at least one of: depositing the first material layer over the substrate, the first material layer including an organic material; and depositing the material over the first material layer.

9. A method for vacuum processing of a substrate, comprising: directing a pulsed laser on a cylindrical target; rotating the cylindrical target to expose varying portions of the cylindrical target the pulsed laser; coating the substrate or a first material layer on the substrate with a material from the cylindrical target; and moving the substrate and the cylindrical target relative to each other.

10. A method of manufacturing a device, comprising: a method for vacuum processing of a substrate according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein an anode or a cathode of an OLED device or a backplane of a transistor are produced.

11. An apparatus for vacuum processing of a substrate, comprising: at least one pulsed laser deposition source providing material on the substrate; and a substrate position in a deposition region provided by the at least one pulsed laser deposition source wherein the apparatus is configured to move the substrate through the processing region and/or move at least a portion of the at least one pulsed laser deposition source past the substrate position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pulsed laser deposition source is a line source.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 11 to 12 wherein the pulsed laser deposition source includes a pulsed laser, optionally a UV laser, optionally an Excimer laser, and a target.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pulsed laser is directed onto the target, particularly wherein the target may be a rotatable target which is optionally a cylindrical target.

15. Use of a pulsed laser deposition source in processing a substrate in a vacuum processing apparatus, wherein the pulsed laser deposition source includes: a laser, optionally an Excimer laser and/or UV laser; and a target, which may optionally be rotatable, onto which the laser beam is directed during deposition, wherein the target is a cylindrical target and rotates during processing, while a laser beam is provided as a laser line; and wherein particles ablated by the laser beam from the target are deposited onto a surface of the substrate, or onto a material layer previously deposited on the substrate.