Patent ID: 6818565
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of growing an insulator layer on a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of:performing a clean procedure to remove contaminants from the surface of said semiconductor substrate, with said clean procedure resulting in growth of a first native oxide layer on surface of said semiconductor substrate; subjecting said semiconductor substrate and said first native oxide layer to an acid solution, resulting in removal of said first native oxide layer and resulting in ions from said acid solution now located on surface of said semiconductor substrate; removing said semiconductor substrate from said acid solution with said ions located on surface of said semiconductor substrate limiting regrowth of native oxide layer to a second native oxide layer, thinner than said first native oxide layer; with said ions remaining on surface of said semiconductor substrate, directly performing an anneal procedure in an argon ambient, in a chamber, resulting in removal of said second native oxide layer and removal of said ions; and performing a thermal oxidation procedure, in situ in said chamber, to grow said insulator layer on said semiconductor substrate.