Patent ID: 9719177
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: C23C,C23F,H01J

Claim:
1. A method of sputtering comprising: a) placing a wafer from which it is desired to remove metal oxide deposits on a support surface in a sputter etching chamber comprising an inlet for the introduction of ionizable gas, wherein the support surface located in said chamber is adapted to support the wafer to be etched in the chamber, and an actively-cooled element is located in the chamber adjacent said support surface; b) chilling said actively-cooled element to a temperature in the range of −50 to +10° C.; and c) ionizing an ionizable gas in said chamber to produce a plasma therefrom, said plasma etching said wafer to remove metal oxide deposits; wherein volatile compounds evolved from said wafer as a result of said etching are preferentially adsorbed onto said actively-cooled element as compared to other surfaces in said chamber, wherein said actively-cooled element comprises a dark space shield located at a base of said sputter etching chamber, wherein the etching chamber further comprises a getter sublimation pump located in said chamber, and wherein the etching chamber further comprises a layer of getter material deposited on a surface of said actively-cooled element.