Patent ID: 9653282
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A method of processing a substrate, the method comprising: exposing a substrate having a silicon-containing layer to a first plasma generated from a first gas comprising at least one of hydrogen or a hydrogen compound to saturate a sub-oxide layer with hydrogen to form a saturated sub-oxide layer; exposing the substrate to a second plasma generated from a second gas comprising a nitrogen compound to remove a native oxide layer; and heating the substrate and exposing the substrate to a third gas comprising at least one of molecular chlorine or a chlorine compound to remove any remaining sub-oxide layer, wherein exposing a substrate to a first plasma occurs before both exposing the substrate to a second plasma and heating the substrate and exposing the substrate to a third gas, and wherein exposing the substrate to a second plasma occurs before heating and exposing the substrate to a third gas.