| abstract |
Methods of treating the interior of a plasma region are described. The methods include a preventative maintenance procedure or the start-up of a new substrate processing chamber having a remote plasma system. A new interior surface is exposed within the remote plasma system. The (new) interior surfaces are then treated by sequential steps of (1) forming a remote plasma from hydrogen-containing precursor within the remote plasma system and then (2) exposing the interior surfaces to water vapor. Steps (1)-(2) are repeated at least ten times to complete the burn-in process. Following the treatment of the interior surfaces, a substrate may be transferred into a substrate processing chamber. A dielectric film may then be formed on the substrate by flowing one precursor through the remote plasma source and combining the plasma effluents with a second precursor flowing directly to the substrate processing region. |