Patent ID: 8361340
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: B23K,C23G,H01J,H01L,H05K

Abstract:
1. A method of removing a metal oxide from a treating surface of a substrate, the method comprising: providing a substrate which is proximal to a base electrode having a grounded electrical potential, the substrate comprising a treating surface comprising the metal oxide; providing an energizing electrode that is proximal to the base electrode and the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the treating surface is exposed to the energizing electrode and wherein the base electrode and the energizing electrode and the substrate reside within a target area, wherein the energizing electrode is defined by an insulated plate comprising an array of protruding conductive tips, wherein the conductive tips are electrically connected by a conductive wire, wherein a portion of the array is separated into a first electrically connected group and a second electrically connected group wherein one of the first or second electrically connected group is connected to a DC voltage source that is positively biased and the other of the first or second electrically connected group is connected to a DC voltage source that is negatively biased, and wherein the DC voltage source that is positively biased and the DC voltage source that is negatively biased are electrically connected to a functional controller that is capable of alternating a supply of energy between the DC voltage source that is negatively biased and the DC voltage source that is positively biased; passing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas through the target area; energizing one of the first or second electrically connected group of conductive tips by activating the DC voltage source that is negatively biased to generate electrons within the target area, wherein at least a portion of the electrons attach to at least a portion of the reducing gas thereby forming a negatively charged reducing gas; contacting the treating surface with the negatively charged reducing gas to reduce the metal oxides on the treating surface of the substrate; and energizing the other of the first or second electrically connected group of conductive tips by activating the DC voltage source that is positively biased to retrieve excess electrons from the treating surface, wherein the group of conductive tips electrically connected to the DC voltage source that is negatively biased and the group of conductive tips electrically connected to the DC voltage source that is positively biased are not energized at the same time; wherein the energizing electrode further comprises an internal volume and a gas inlet in fluid communication with the internal volume, wherein at least a portion of the conductive tips have an internal passageway in fluid communication with the internal volume and wherein at least a portion of the reducing gas passes through the gas inlet into the internal volume and through the internal passageway into the target area.