CFD simulation of CVD reactors in the CH3SiCl3(MTS)/H2 system using a two-step MTS decomposition and one-step SiC growth models

In this study, we report on a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the chemical vapor deposition reactor of silicon carbide (SiC) in the methyltrichlorosilane (MTS, CH₃SiCl₃)/H₂ system. The formation of SiC thin film is controlled by various process parameters, such as temperature and pressure. In this study, we propose a reaction mechanism of MTS decomposition to SiC growth on a substrate surface for CVD reactors in the CH₃SiCl₃(MTS)/H₂ system. The reaction mechanism has two gas-phase pyrolysis reactions and one SiC film formation reaction. However, we individually build and validate MTS decomposition and SiC growth models to reduce uncertainty. An in-house version of reactingFoam, a reactive flow solver within OpenFOAM v2006, was used as the simulation tool. Our model accurately reproduced MTS decomposition for T = 1100-1350 K and [H₂]/[MTS] = 2.65-14 at p = 101,325 Pa. Then, the MTS decomposition model was coupled with the SiC growth model, and the coupled model was applied to the SiC deposition data. The model could reproduce multiple datasets through validation studies.