Patent ID: 8394228
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: B05B,B08B,G03F,H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for removing material from a semiconductor substrate, comprising a) a treatment chamber for receiving a semiconductor substrate having a surface therein; b) a source of a liquid sulfuric acid composition comprising sulfuric acid and/or its desiccating species and precursors; c) a liquid sulfuric acid composition dispensing orifice fluidly coupled to the source of the liquid sulfuric acid composition and positioned to dispense the liquid sulfuric acid composition onto the semiconductor substrate surface; d) a water vapor system that can provide water vapor in the treatment chamber to expose the liquid sulfuric acid composition to the water vapor in an amount effective to increase the temperature of the liquid sulfuric acid composition above the temperature of the liquid sulfuric acid composition prior to exposure to the water vapor; wherein the water vapor system is configured and the source of liquid sulfuric acid composition has a water/sulfuric acid molar ratio so that at the time of exposure to water vapor, the liquid sulfuric acid composition has a water/sulfuric acid molar ratio of no greater than about 5:1; and (e) a controller configured to execute program instructions, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the apparatus to cause the apparatus to perform the program instructions, and wherein the program instructions comprise: