Patent ID: 8992791
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A cleaning method of a semiconductor wafer for removing a convex defect caused on a surface of a semiconductor wafer by a volume expansion due to an alteration of a crystal structure of a part of the surface of the semiconductor at which a local stress is applied by a foreign substance in a slurry when the surface of the semiconductor wafer is polished with the slurry, the method comprising: an oxidation treatment for applying liquid containing ozone on the surface of the semiconductor wafer to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer and a part of the convex defect formed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer to form an oxide film on the surface of the semiconductor wafer except for a non-oxidized part of the defect; a liquid phase etching for applying liquid containing hydrogen fluoride on the surface of the semiconductor wafer, the liquid phase etching etching the oxide film at a higher etching rate than the defect such that the non-oxidized part of the defect remains to convexly project from the surface of the semiconductor wafer for selectively etching to remove and dissolve the oxide film formed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer; and a gas phase etching for applying gas containing hydrogen fluoride on the surface of the semiconductor wafer to etch the non-oxidized part of the defect convexly projected to dissolve and remove the defect.