Quartz tube chemical vapor deposition reactor

This wiki details the construction of a 2 kW NIRIM type MWCVD (microwave chemical vapour deposition) reactor at the Cardiff Diamond Foundry suitable for diamond deposition on up to 1 inch substrates. The CAD file, schematics, and images detailing the construction of the reactor as well as the LabVIEW VI (virtual instruments) to interface with the attached hardware are all free to use and modify. It is hoped that the authors will be acknowledged should the information within this wiki be of use and informed of any improvements made to the design.

All microwave components are supplied by Sairem, with the product codes below, while the vacuum chamber is composed of a quartz tube and largely ‘off the shelf’ KF fittings. To seal the quartz tube 2 trapped O-rings are compressed uniformly at each end with the sample positioned within the plasma through the use of a dielectric quartz rod and ceramic sample holder. Sample loading and repeatable placement within the plasma is then facilitated through sliding the central quartz rod along a pair of guide rails fixed between the top and bottom plates of the table structure. To reduce the footprint and support structure of the reactor the magnetron is placed underneath the vacuum chamber through the use of two E-bend waveguides while its power supply is attached vertically to the side of the support structure.

The MKS flow controllers and Vacuubrand pump controller are interfaced through RS232/USB with a laptop and operated with the LabVIEW VI provided below. In addition, the VI are able to read temperature from a Williamson pyrometer and provides a series of software interlocks to prevent potentially dangerous oxygen/hydrogen mixtures and over pressurisation of the predominantly quartz chamber.

The following images as well as the .dwg and .vi files are available as one one .zip file.

UPDATE: An upgraded version of the design utilising CF flanges and solving some of the issues of the KF iteration has been created in collaboration with Evince Technology, with the .dwg files available as one .zip file.

To view the .dwg files without an AutoCAD licence the free to download DWG Trueview program can be obtained at http://www.autodesk.com/products/dwg/viewers, with further CAD formats available on request.

For further information on the design and operation of the reactor please refer to the article A simple, space constrained NIRIM type reactor for chemical vapour deposition of diamond or contact Prof. Oliver Williams at:

WilliamsO ( at Cardiff.ac.uk )

Further information on the work of the Cardiff Diamond Foundry can be obtained from:

http://www.nanodiamond.co.uk/Home.html

 Sairem microwave components 
 * 3 stub tuner (Al3SMWR340D24X25MRR2PE-B)
 * Quartz window (FQAWR340RVAL)
 * Arc detection flange
 * Downstream source (DOWNSTREAMWR340SPSA50C)
 * Manual sliding short circuit	 (PCCMWR340L130PVMR1PE-B)
 * 2 kW 2.45 GHz MW generator (GMP20KSM56M230FST3IR)
 * 2 x E-bend waveguide	 (CDWR340E090AL080X080PE)
 * 1 x 900 mm waveguide (TRONCON GUIDE WR340 - 900mm)

DISCLAIMER: While best attempts have been made to ensure the safety of the design and software written to operate the reactor laid out within this wiki, CVD is not free from risk. As such, with the use of the attached plans and software comes the agreement that the reader holds the authors and their institution free from liability for any injuries and financial costs that may result from their use. In addition, the authors strongly recommend that adequate interlocks and operating procedures are put into place to ensure the safe operation of any resulting CVD reactors.