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-- Sputtering process is widely used in semicondcutor industry. Mainly for metal film to
creat or modify eletrical characteristics. In optics Insustry, dielectric material film is
ususally required. Sputtering method is not popular and narrow down in certain products
like ITO, STN.LCD...
Plasma Sputtering:
Plasma Sputtering is also an important branch in PVD technology. In 1852, Grove founded
the sputtering deposition method. This method is well developed and applied to industry
during 200 years and lasting to morden time.
The main principle is to build a vaccum chamber and fill with Argon. By adding a high
voltage, the argon will arc to plasma state. The argon ion (Ar+) will toward to cathode with
high speed and sputter the target material (use target as cathode). The target atom or
molecular will be hit to substrate surface and condense as a film.
Instead of heat melting in evaporation method, the plasma Ar+ ion hit and sputter the target
is the main mechanism in plasma sputtering method. The target atom is knocked out by Ar+
ion, the knock force is so big and can accelerate target atom a high speed. With such
velocity, the target atom can hit and attach to substrate surface deeply. The film density is
good than evaporation.
RF Sputtering Deposition:
in DC systems, positive charge will accumlate on the cathode (target) and need 1012 volts to
sputter insulators. But such high voltage will easy make arcing and harm the target source
and produced film. It was improved by Wehner in 1955. An alternative voltage current in
Radio Frequency 13.5MHz was applied in DC system. With alternative characteristic, the
positive charge will stay in plasma zone and not to accumlate to cathode. The cathode can
sustain a high voltage difference and continue the sputtering work.
RF Sputtering
Magnetron Sputtering Deposition can't apply to high magnetic target. It will make a
concave consumption and not equally eliminate the thickness of target block. This will
harm the film quality and uniformity.