Plasma process chambers employing distribution grids having focusing surfaces thereon enabling angled fluxes to reach a substrate, and related methods

摘要

Plasma process chambers employing distribution grids having focusing surfaces thereon enabling angled fluxes to reach a substrate, and associated methods are disclosed. A distribution grid is disposed in a chamber between the plasma and a substrate. The distribution grid includes a first surface facing the substrate and a focusing surface facing the plasma. A passageway extends through the distribution grid, and is sized with a width to prevent the plasma sheath from entering therein. By positioning the focusing surface at an angle other than parallel to the substrate, an ion flux from the plasma may be accelerated across the plasma sheath and particles of the flux pass through the passageway to be incident upon the substrate. In this manner, the angled ion flux may perform thin film deposition and etch processes on sidewalls of features extending orthogonally from or into the substrate, as well as angled implant and surface modification.