Patent ID: 6641677
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of cleaning a semiconductor structure, comprising:providing a substantially enclosed treatment vessel having a fail-shut effluent valve; substantially filling said treatment vessel with a gas inert to said semiconductor structure for creating an atmosphere of inert gas inside said substantially enclosed treatment vessel; positioning a semiconductor structure within said substantially enclosed treatment vessel; rinsing said semiconductor structure with DI water in said atmosphere of inert gas within said substantially enclosed treatment vessel; submerging said semiconductor structure in a DI water bath in said substantially enclosed treatment vessel, said DI water bath having a surface with said gas; forming a substantially continuous layer of a drying liquid upon said surface of said DI water bath, said layer forming a drying liquid-DI water interface; contacting said semiconductor structure with said continuous layer of said liquid; retaining said DI water bath below said liquid; and displacing said DI water bath through said fail-shut effluent valve by feeding additional inert gas into said treatment vessel, such that said continuous layer of drying liquid substantially wipes down said semiconductor structure.