Applied Materials, Inc.
RF FREQUENCY CONTROL AND GROUND PATH RETURN IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESS CHAMBERS

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate in an etch process chamber includes: pulsing RF power from an RF bias power supply to a lower electrode disposed in a substrate support of the etch process chamber at a first frequency of about 200 kHz to about 700 kHz over a first period to create a plasma in a process volume of the etch process chamber, wherein a conductance liner surrounds the process volume to provide a ground path for an upper electrode of the etch process chamber; and pulsing RF power from the RF bias power supply to the lower electrode at a second frequency of about 2 MHz to about 13.56 MHz over the first period.