Patent ID: 9293319
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method of removing metal from a portion of a substrate, comprising: exposing the substrate and the metal to a first gaseous oxidizing environment comprising at least one oxidizing agent and at least one reducing agent; exposing the substrate and the metal to a first gaseous reducing environment comprising at least one reducing agent and at least one oxidizing agent; exposing the substrate and the metal to a second gaseous oxidizing environment comprising at least one oxidizing agent and at least one reducing agent after exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous oxidizing environment and after exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous reducing environment; and exposing the substrate and the metal to a second gaseous reducing environment comprising at least one reducing agent and at least one oxidizing agent after exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous oxidizing environment and after exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous reducing environment; wherein if exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous oxidizing environment occurs prior to exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous reducing environment, exposing the substrate and the metal to the second gaseous oxidizing environment occurs prior to exposing the substrate and the metal to the second gaseous reducing environment; and wherein if exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous oxidizing environment occurs subsequent to exposing the substrate and the metal to the first gaseous reducing environment, exposing the substrate and the metal to the second gaseous oxidizing environment occurs subsequent to exposing the substrate and the metal to the second gaseous reducing environment.