Patent ID: 6204205
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for forming a high quality oxide on the surface of a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of:providing a semiconductor substrate having a silicon based surface, placing said semiconductor substrate in a heat treatment furnace, said heat treatment furnace comprising an inert gas;thermally forming an oxide layer on said silicon based substrate, forming an oxidized silicon-based surface;first annealing said oxidized silicon-based surface by introducing a first annealing agent comprising H.sub.2 into said heat treatment furnace while maintaining a first temperature between about 800 and 1200 degrees C. for a first time span of between about 20 and 40 seconds; andsecond annealing said oxidized silicon-based surface by introducing a second annealing agent comprising N.sub.2 into said heat treatment furnace while maintaining said second temperature of between about 800 and 1200 degrees C. during a second time span of between about 20 and 40 seconds; andcooling the oxidized, silicon based surface in the presence of both the inert gas and the first and second annealing agents.