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Liquid Source Vaporization System

HORIBA is one of the leading providers of high performance vaporizers. HORIBA’s liquid source vaporizers are used throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process to safely and efficiently deliver liquid precursors in gas phase to the point of use. Wherever a liquid precursor requires vaporizing in vacuum or atmospheric pressure, HORIBA have a vaporizing technique to offer a vaporizer to meet your requirements. HORIBA have more than 30 years vaporizing knowhow using direct injection, mixed injection, bubbling and baking vaporization techniques.

HORIBA’s Liquid Source Vaporizers can vaporize liquid materials stably and efficiently. Our vaporizers can also be linked to HORIBA’s range of automatic refill systems to provide safe and continuous delivery of vapor to the point of use. There is no downtime as bulk precursor tanks can be exchanged without interrupting the manufacturing process.

Advanced processes are stretching the boundaries of critical chemistry vaporization technology

Vaporization of critical process chemistries is not an easy task. To begin with, advanced processes are constantly changing and using novel chemistries for which data may be limited. In some instances, researchers may need vaporization equipment for chemistries whose identities they don’t want to disclose. Once the chemical properties are determined, the job of balancing liquid flows, carrier gas flows, upstream and downstream pressures and materials compatibility can start. Often a carrier gas is required, and the carrier flow must be carefully calculated and controlled during process. The temperature of the vaporizers is also key – balancing the required temperature vs the potential to heat-induced damage to the liquid.  The determination of the right vaporization method leads to the careful selection and specification of the supporting instruments – gas / liquid flow controllers / meters, vaporization nozzles and temperature controllers. Not an easy process but a process in which HORIBA is a global leader.

Vaporization Carrier Gas
Direct Vaporization

HORIBA has vaporization solutions ranging from fractional grams/minute to >25g/min. As a solutions provider, we can not only recommend vaporization components like our VC and MV series but we can also provide a fully integrated system like our LSC / LU. By using our world-leading gas and liquid mass flow controllers and meters in conjunction with our vaporizers, users are assured accurate and repeatable vaporization of critical process chemistries. 

Triple Point

The graph in the left shows the different possible states of matter. There are two ways to get from a liquid to a gaseous state. The first method involves increasing the temperature while holding the pressure steady, as indicated by the arrow with the broken line broken line. This method is commonly used in everyday settings—to boil water and convert it to steam, for example. Heating a liquid takes time, however, which makes rapid vaporization difficult. On the other hand, one can also heat the liquid in advance and then abruptly reduce the pressure, as illustrated by the arrow with the solid line Solid line. The pressure in the vaporization section of the injector can be reduced instantaneously, and this makes it possible to vaporize a liquid source instantaneously.

Principle of Vaporization

Injection Method

The following list covers the major steps involved in vaporizing a liquid source and supplying it to the process chamber.

  1. The liquid source's flow rate is measured, and the amount of liquid is feedback controlled by the valve.

  2. The liquid is instantaneously and completely vaporized.

  3. The gas is released without being allowed to condense back into its liquid form.

Vaporization systems that use the injection method sequentially carry out steps 1, 2 and 3 listed above. The VC series units measure the liquid flow of the liquid source using a mass flow meter, and do not use a carrier gas. The MI/MV series units use a mass flow meter for measurement, and feature a mass flow controller that introduces a carrier gas into the unit to vaporize the liquid source.

Gas and Liquid Mixture Method

This vaporization method is used in the MI/MV series. Since the pressure of the carrier gas is higher ahead of the nozzle inside the injector, it can be heated efficiently. The liquid source and the heated carrier gas are mixed together in the gas/liquid mixing area just before the nozzle, the pressure is reduced as they pass through the nozzle, which vaporizes the mixture.
Vaporization efficiency is higher than with traditional vaporization methods. When this method is used, larger flows can be generated, and the generation temperature can be reduced.

Optimal vaporization methods for different liquids

In semiconductor devices, which continue to require greater integration and detail, a variety of liquid sources are used to accentuate the characteristics of the films created. HORIBA STEC offers vaporization systems that are optimized to make the most of the characteristics of the various liquid sources used in today's cutting-edge processes.

See HORIBA's Liquid Source Vaporization System

Related Products

MV-2000
MV-2000

Mixed Injection System Liquid Vaporizer

LSC series
LSC series

Compact Baking System

VC Series
VC Series

Direct Liquid Injection System

LE Series
LE Series

Large Flow Liquid Source Vaporization Control System

LU Series
LU Series

Liquid Auto Refill System

LF-F/LV-F Series
LF-F/LV-F Series

Digital Liquid Mass Flow Meters / Controllers

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