Plasma processing of materials is a critical technology to several of the largest manufacturing industries in the worldâ€"electronics, aerospace, automotive, steel, biomedical, and toxic waste management. This book describes the relationship between plasma processes and the many industrial applications, examines in detail plasma processing in the electronics industry, highlights the scientific foundation underlying this technology, and discusses education issues in this multidisciplinary field. The committee recommends a coordinated, focused, and well-funded research program in this area that involves the university, federal laboratory, and industrial sectors of the community. It also points out that because plasma processing is an integral part of the infrastructure of so many American industries, it is important for both the economy and the national security that America maintain a strong leadership role in this technology.

Plasma processing of semiconductors is an interdisciplinary field requiring knowledge of both plasma physics and chemical engineering. The two authors are experts in each of these fields, and their collaboration results in the merging of these fields with a common terminology. Basic plasma concepts are introduced painlessly to those who have studied undergraduate electromagnetics but have had no previous exposure to plasmas. Unnecessarily detailed derivations are omitted; yet the reader is led to understand in some depth those concepts, such as the structure of sheaths, that are important in the design and operation of plasma processing reactors. Physicists not accustomed to low-temperature plasmas are introduced to chemical kinetics, surface science, and molecular spectroscopy. The material has been condensed to suit a nine-week graduate course, but it is sufficient to bring the reader up to date on current problems such as copper interconnects, low-k and high-k dielectrics, and oxide damage. Students will appreciate the web-style layout with ample color illustrations opposite the text, with ample room for notes. This short book is ideal for new workers in the semiconductor industry who want to be brought up to speed with minimum effort. It is also suitable for Chemical Engineering students studying plasma processing of materials; Engineers, physicists, and technicians entering the semiconductor industry who want a quick overview of the use of plasmas in the industry.

We are at a critical evolutionary juncture in the research and development of low-temperature plasmas, which have become essential to synthesizing and processing vital nanoscale materials. More and more industries are increasingly dependent on plasma technology to develop integrated small-scale devices, but physical limits to growth, and other challenges, threaten progress. Plasma Processing of Nanomaterials is an in-depth guide to the art and science of plasma-based chemical processes used to synthesize, process, and modify various classes of nanoscale materials such as nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and semiconductor nanowires. Plasma technology enables a wide range of academic and industrial applications in fields including electronics, textiles, automotives, aerospace, and biomedical. A prime example is the semiconductor industry, in which engineers revolutionized microelectronics by using plasmas to deposit and etch thin films and fabricate integrated circuits. An overview of progress and future potential in plasma processing, this reference illustrates key experimental and theoretical aspects by presenting practical examples of: Nanoscale etching/deposition of thin films Catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires Silicon nanoparticle synthesis Functionalization of carbon nanotubes Self-organized nanostructures Significant advances are expected in nanoelectronics, photovoltaics, and other emerging fields as plasma technology is further optimized to improve the implementation of nanomaterials with well-defined size, shape, and composition. Moving away from the usual focus on wet techniques embraced in chemistry and physics, the author sheds light on pivotal breakthroughs being made by the smaller plasma community. Written for a diverse audience working in fields ranging from nanoelectronics and energy sensors to catalysis and nanomedicine, this resource will help readers improve development and application of nanomaterials in their own work. About the Author: R. Mohan Sankaran received the American Vacuum Society’s 2011 Peter Mark Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to tandem plasma synthesis.

Plasma Processing of Semiconductors contains 28 contributions from 18 experts and covers plasma etching, plasma deposition, plasma-surface interactions, numerical modelling, plasma diagnostics, less conventional processing applications of plasmas, and industrial applications. Audience: Coverage ranges from introductory to state of the art, thus the book is suitable for graduate-level students seeking an introduction to the field as well as established workers wishing to broaden or update their knowledge.

Pattern transfer by dry etching and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor de position are two of the cornerstone techniques for modern integrated cir cuit fabrication. The success of these methods has also sparked interest in their application to other techniques, such as surface-micromachined sen sors, read/write heads for data storage and magnetic random access memory (MRAM). The extremely complex chemistry and physics of plasmas and their interactions with the exposed surfaces of semiconductors and other materi als is often overlooked at the manufacturing stage. In this case, the process is optimized by an informed "trial-and-error" approach which relies heavily on design-of-experiment techniques and the intuition of the process engineer. The need for regular cleaning of plasma reactors to remove built-up reaction or precursor gas products adds an extra degree of complexity because the interaction of the reactive species in the plasma with the reactor walls can also have a strong effect on the number of these species available for etching or deposition. Since the microelectronics industry depends on having high process yields at each step of the fabrication process, it is imperative that a full understanding of plasma etching and deposition techniques be achieved.

This book provides a survey of the latest research and developments in plasma technology. In an easy and comprehensive manner, it explores what plasma is and the technologies utilized to produce plasma. It then investigates the main applications and their benefits. Different from other books on the topic that focus on specific aspects of plasma technology, the intention is to provide an introduction to all aspects related to plasma technologies. This book will be an ideal resource for graduate students studying plasma technologies, in addition to researchers in physics, engineering, and materials science Features Accessible and easy to understand Provides simple yet exhaustive explanations of the foundations Explores the latest technologies and is filled with practical applications and case studies