Waferpedia

Plasma-Therm

Versaline

Deposition4"Plasma-Therm Versaline family
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The Plasma-Therm Versaline is a platform used for Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), and deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) of silicon. The Versaline PECVD variant is configured for 4-inch wafers. The Versaline DRIE variant provides etch selectivity to photoresist of 100:1, to SiO2 as high as 340:1, and to Al2O3 of approximately 1000:1.[1]

Versaline — Inventory photo
Fig. 01VersalineInventory photo[2]

Wafer size

4"

Power

1 kW 2 MHz[3]

Gas delivery

100:1[1]

What it is

The Plasma-Therm Versaline is a semiconductor deposition platform used for plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.[4][6]

How it works

The Versaline name also appears on plasma-based etch tools, and inductively coupled plasma systems use separate source and bias power paths to control plasma density and ion energy independently.[5]

Where it fits in the process flow

The Plasma-Therm Versaline sits in the thin-film deposition portion of a semiconductor process flow.[6]

Applications

The Plasma-Therm Versaline is used for plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition in nanofabrication environments.[4][6]

What do the numbers mean?

Power & electrical2

ICP source
1 kW 2 MHz[3]
Accurate?
Plasma generators
500 W, 13.56 MHz[3]
Accurate?

Wafer handling3

Wafer size
up to 4 inches[3]
Accurate?
Wafer size
4 inch[1]
Accurate?
Substrate Compatibility
Silicon, Germanium[1]
Accurate?

Gas & chemistry3

Processable materials
Silicon, SiO2, Si3N4, SiOxNy, polymer films such as PMMA, photoresist, polyimide[3]
Accurate?
Silicon etch selectivity to photoresist
100:1[1]
Accurate?
Etch Selectivity to Photoresist
100:1[1]
Accurate?

Optics & imaging3

Endpoint detection
Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) for SOI[1]
Accurate?
Endpoint Detection
Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) for SOI endpoint detection[1]
Accurate?
Etch Masks
Photoresists, ebeam resists, silicon oxide, ALD Al2O3[1]
Accurate?

Control & software2

Versaline Software[2]
Accurate?
Additional Hardware
PM Modules (x3), Brooks MX 600, HDD, Versaline Software, Manuals[2]
Accurate?

Configuration & options23

3 Chamber Deposition[2]
Accurate?
PCVD Versaline Chambers (x2)[2]
Accurate?
HDP-CVD Versaline Chamber[2]
Accurate?
PM Modules (x3)[2]
Accurate?
Brooks MX 600[2]
Accurate?
With:[2]
Accurate?
HDD[2]
Accurate?
Manuals[2]
Accurate?
He-back-side cooling
Yes[3]
Accurate?
Process types
PECVD, CVD, DRIE, ICP etching[4]
Accurate?
Number of deposition chambers
3 (2 PCVD Versaline chambers, 1 HDP-CVD Versaline chamber)[2]
Accurate?
Silicon etch selectivity to SiO2
340:1[1]
Accurate?
Silicon etch selectivity to Al2O3
1000:1[1]
Accurate?
Trench aspect ratio
50:1[1]
Accurate?
Isolated line aspect ratio
200:1[1]
Accurate?
PECVD Capability
Yes[4]
Accurate?
CVD Capability
Yes, 3 chamber deposition[2]
Accurate?
Chambers
PCVD Versaline Chambers (x2), HDP-CVD Versaline Chamber[2]
Accurate?
Etch Capability
DRIE of silicon[1]
Accurate?
Etch Selectivity to SiO2
As high as 340:1[1]
Accurate?
Etch Selectivity to Al2O3
Approximately 1000:1[1]
Accurate?
Achievable Trench Aspect Ratio
Up to 50:1[1]
Accurate?
Achievable Isolated Line Aspect Ratio
200:1[1]
Accurate?

Vintage & configurations

Documented models & variants

DesignationGenerationVintageChangesSource
Versaline PECVD——Identified as Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition.Equipment inventory listing[4]
Versaline CVD——Listed as a CVD system with 3 Chamber Deposition, PCVD Versaline Chambers (x2), HDP-CVD Versaline Chamber, PM Modules (x3), Brooks MX 600, HDD, Versaline Software, and Manuals.Equipment inventory listing[2]
Plasmatherm Versaline CVD——3-chamber configuration with 2 PCVD Versaline chambers and 1 HDP-CVD Versaline chamber, plus 3 PM modules and Brooks MX 600 handlerEquipment inventory listing[2]
Plasma Therm Versaline LL ICP Deep Silicon Etcher (PT-DSE)——Configured for deep silicon etching using alternate gas technique similar to Bosch processsnfguide.stanford.edu[5]
Plasma Therm Versaline LL ICP Dielectric Etcher (PT-Ox)——Configured for etching silicon oxide and deep glass/quartzsnfguide.stanford.edu[5]
Plasma Therm Versaline LL ICP Metal Etcher (PT-MTL)——Configured for etching metals and metal-based compounds with volatile bi-productssnfguide.stanford.edu[5]
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What does it need to run?

Site utility requirements, footprint, and infrastructure needed to install and operate this tool. Sourced from public records.

  • ICP source1 kW 2 MHz[3]
  • Plasma generators500 W, 13.56 MHz[3]
  • Processable materialsSilicon, SiO2, Si3N4, SiOxNy, polymer films such as PMMA, photoresist, polyimide[3]
  • Silicon etch selectivity to photoresist100:1[1]
  • Etch Selectivity to Photoresist100:1[1]

Where are the manuals?

Publicly hosted documents referencing this tool, linked at their original location. Hosted by the linked institutions — availability may change.

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Not publicly documented

Field notes

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Frequently asked questions

What process does the Plasma-Therm Versaline perform?

The Plasma-Therm Versaline is used for plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.[4][6]

Not publicly documented

The following facts about the Versaline are absent from this record as of this revision. First-hand knowledge or a citation closes a gap; every submission is reviewed before publication.

  • No publicly documented production dates or lifecycle milestones (introduction, end of production, EOL) for the Versaline are on record.

    Answerable by: OEM historical records or a trade-press announcement

  • The control-system platform and OS era of the Versaline are not on record.

    Answerable by: an engineer who operated it or OEM installation records

  • No publicly documented failure modes or field errata for the Versaline are on record.

    Answerable by: a field service engineer, process engineer, or maintenance technician

  • The process node or technology generation of the Versaline is not on record.

    Answerable by: an OEM datasheet or a fab qualification report

  • No publicly documented compatible parts, consumables, or accessories for the Versaline are on record.

    Answerable by: an OEM parts catalog or a service engineer

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Sources & citations

Sources (12)Every fact above is drawn from these public sources
  1. [1]cnfusers.cornell.edu — cnfusers.cornell.educnfusers.cornell.edu
  2. [2]Inventory photo
  3. [3]pnf.uchicago.edupnf.uchicago.edu
  4. [4]Equipment inventory listing
  5. [5]snfguide.stanford.edu — snfguide.stanford.edusnfguide.stanford.edu
  6. [6]Capabilities | UD Nanofabrication Facility — udnf.udel.eduudnf.udel.edu
  7. [7]Plasma-Therm Versaline ICP RIE - Claire & John Bertucci Nanotechnology Laboratory - College of Engineering - Carnegie Me — nanofab.ece.cmu.edunanofab.ece.cmu.edu
  8. [8]Plasma-Therm Versaline PECVD OEI recipe development How-To - Equipment - nanoFAB Confluence — confluence.nanofab.ualberta.caconfluence.nanofab.ualberta.ca
  9. [9]Tool Details - Harvard CNS — cns1.rc.fas.harvard.educns1.rc.fas.harvard.edu
  10. [10]How to edit recipe — wiki.nanotech.ucsb.eduwiki.nanotech.ucsb.edu
  11. [11]IBE – When to Use Ion Beam Etching — blog.plasmatherm.com (Dec 22, 2021)web.archive.org
  12. [12]Plasma-Therm: MEMS/NEMS — plasma-therm.com (May 28, 2021)web.archive.org
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Last updated Oct 6, 2026.

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