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Atomic Layer Deposition:
ALD 101
The Chip History CenterPreserving the History of Semiconductors for Future Generations
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Did you know that
chip makers
routinely make films
one atom at a time?
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Those atoms are better
organized than these tulips.
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It’s called:
Atomic Layer Deposition
or ALD• It’s much finer than either . . .
–Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
–or Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)
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CVD and PVD
throw down molecules haphazardly.
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ALD uses the natural bonds
on the base layer to self-assemble.
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Bonds in molecule ‘A’ hook up
with those on the green base layer.
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The bonds are like parking spaces for the A
atoms, filling up with more molecules.
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The A atoms also have bonds
for the yellow ‘B’ atoms.
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The atoms will not adhere . . .
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Unless they can find a bond.
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As more atoms flow over the surface of the
A atoms . . .
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The A level parking lot is filled up
with B atoms.
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Then it starts all over again.
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The A atoms are now linking to the open
bonds on the B atom layer.
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Soon the B level is filled up with A atoms
It won’t stop until the lot is saturated!
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But the atoms will only stick
were there are open bonds,
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making for perfectly uniform layers
a single atom thick.
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You can continue until the perfect film is
made to your exact specifications.
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And that’s ALD!
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Photography by
Dan Hutcheson
Story by
Jan & Dan Hutcheson
With many thanks for the support and
encouragement of
Aviza Technology
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The Chip History CenterPreserving the History of Semiconductors for Future Generations