Patent ID: 6197694
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: C23C,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for processing a semiconductor wafer having a silicon surface thereon to form a layer over said silicon surface which consists essentially of:a) placing said wafer in a vacuum chamber having at least one single-wall portion transparent to light of at least infrared frequency to allow external radiant heating of said wafer;b) radiantly heating said silicon surface to a first temperature of from about 800.degree. C. to about 950.degree. C. by infra-red energy passing through said at least one single-wall portion of said vacuum chamber;c) heating said silicon surface to said first temperature, commencing a flow of between 5-50 liters/minute of hydrogen gas through said vacuum chamber for a period of from about 0.5 to about 4 minutes while maintaining said wafer at said first temperature to thereby clean said silicon surface on said wafer by removing oxide and any other contaminants from said surface;d) thereafter, without removing said wafer from said vacuum chamber, cooling said silicon surface down to a second temperature low enough to permit formation of a layer over said cleaned silicon surface; ande) then forming a layer on said cleaned silicon surface of said semiconductor wafer in said same vacuum chamber while continuing said heating of said silicon surface to maintain said surface at said second temperature.