Atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition web coating with in situ monitoring of film thickness

Spectral reflectometry was implemented as a method for in situ thickness monitoring in a spatial atomic layer deposition (ALD) system. Al2O3 films were grown on a moving polymer web substrate at 100 degrees C using an atmospheric pressure ALD web coating system, with film growth of 0.11-0.13 nm/cycle. The modular coating head design and the in situ monitoring allowed for the characterization and optimization of the trimethylaluminum and water precursor exposures, purge flows, and web speed. A thickness uniformity of +/- 2% was achieved across the web. ALD cycle times as low as 76 ms were demonstrated with a web speed of 1 m/s and a vertical gap height of 0.5 mm. This atmospheric pressure ALD system with in situ process control demonstrates the feasibility of low-cost, high throughput roll-to-roll ALD. (C) 2014 American Vacuum Society.