Patent ID: 7645392
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for preparing a oxidized surface of a first wafer for enhanced molecular bonding with a second wafer, which comprises treating the oxidized surface of the first wafer with a solution of NH 4 OH/H 2 O 2 at treatment parameters sufficient to etch about 10 Å to about 120 Å from the wafer surface, followed by treating the etched surface with hydrochloric acid species at a temperature below about 50° C. for a duration of less than about 10 minutes to remove isolated particles from the oxidized surface without increasing roughness or creating rough patches thereon to provide a cleaned surface capable of providing an increased bonding energy between the first and second wafers when those surfaces are bonded together compared to bonding of those surfaces without such treating of the oxidized surface of the first wafer.