Patent ID: 9109295
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: C25D

Abstract:
1. An electroplating apparatus for depositing copper on a semiconductor substrate having one or more recessed features, the apparatus comprising: (a) an electrolyte concentrator module configured for concentrating an electrolyte comprising a dissolved copper salt by removing water from the electrolyte using water evaporation, the electrolyte concentrator module comprising an inlet port configured for receiving a non-concentrated electrolyte from a source of non-concentrated electrolyte, an outlet port configured for delivering warm concentrated electrolyte to a concentrated electrolyte reservoir, a dry air port configured for introducing dry air, a wet air port configured for removing wet air containing evaporated water, and a heater configured for maintaining the electrolyte in the concentrator module at a temperature of at least about 40° C.; (b) the concentrated electrolyte reservoir in fluidic communication with the concentrator module, wherein the reservoir is configured for receiving the warm concentrated electrolyte from the concentrator module and for delivering the warm concentrated electrolyte to an electroplating cell; (c) the electroplating cell in fluidic communication with the concentrated electrolyte reservoir, wherein the electroplating cell is configured for receiving the warm concentrated electrolyte from the concentrated electrolyte reservoir, and for bringing the warm concentrated electrolyte in contact with the semiconductor substrate at the electrolyte temperature of at least about 40° C. ; and (d) a controller comprising program instructions for