Jump to content

Specific Process Knowledge/Thin film deposition/Electroplating-Ni: Difference between revisions

Choi (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Choi (talk | contribs)
Line 2: Line 2:
== Technotrans microform.200 ==
== Technotrans microform.200 ==


[[image:choi_2017_Machine_overview.jpg|200x200px|right|thumb|Electroplating-Ni positioned in cleanroom 1]]
[[image:choi_2017_Machine_overview.jpg|200x200px|right|thumb|Electroplating-Ni positioned in cleanroom A-1]]


The Technotrans microform.200 (Electroplating-Ni in LabManager) is a machine capable of depositing nickel electrochemically. This is done by lowering the sample into an electrolyte containing nickel ions and then apply a voltage across the sample and the anode. The anode is a basket filled with nickel pellets. The cathode is the sample to be coated with nickel.
The Technotrans microform.200 (Electroplating-Ni in LabManager) is a machine capable of depositing nickel electrochemically. This is done by lowering the sample into an electrolyte containing nickel ions and then apply a voltage across the sample and the anode. The anode is a basket filled with nickel pellets. The cathode is the sample to be coated with nickel.
Line 16: Line 16:
The minimal charge accepted by the software on the machine is 0.1 Ah (Ampere-hours). This corresponds to roughly 2 µm of nickel on a four inch wafer. You can abort a program prematurely to achieve even lower thicknesses, but this requires manual control of the machine.
The minimal charge accepted by the software on the machine is 0.1 Ah (Ampere-hours). This corresponds to roughly 2 µm of nickel on a four inch wafer. You can abort a program prematurely to achieve even lower thicknesses, but this requires manual control of the machine.
   
   
The maximum allowed thickness is ~1,4 mm (1400 µm), since higher a thickness will make the release of the sample difficult. This corresponds to a charge of 53-54 Ah on a four inch wafer.
The maximum allowed thickness is ~1,4 mm (1400 µm), since a higher thickness will make the release of the sample difficult and likely damage the sample holder. This corresponds to a charge of 53-54 Ah on a four inch wafer.
   
   
The plating bath is an aqueous solution of nickel sulphamate, boric acid and sulfamic acid. The bath is moderately acidic (pH = 3,5 - 3,8) and the temperature of the bath is 51-52°C. The sample will spin at 60 RPM during deposition.
The plating bath is an aqueous solution of nickel sulfamate, boric acid and sulfamic acid. The bath is moderately acidic (pH = 3,5 - 3,8) and the temperature of the bath is around 52°C. The sample will spin at 60 RPM during deposition.
   
   
Uniformity across a 4" wafer is around 5% for the standard processes (the edge being slightly thicker than the center of the sample). Running at high current densities will deposit a nickel layer that is quite soft. Decreasing current density will increase tensile strength of the deposited nickel.
Uniformity across a 4" wafer is around 5% for the standard processes (the edge being slightly thicker than the center of the sample). Running at high current densities will deposit a nickel layer that is quite soft. Decreasing current density will increase tensile strength of the deposited nickel.