Patent ID: 6376387
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: C01B,C30B,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of processing a wafer, which includes:(a) locating a wafer in a wafer processing chamber of a system for processing a wafer; (b) forming a silicon layer on the wafer while located in the wafer processing chamber; (c) transferring the wafer from the wafer processing chamber to a loadlock chamber of the system while remaining substantially unexposed to air, the wafer being transferred through a slitvalve opening of the loadlock chamber into the loadlock chamber; (d) closing the slitvalve opening; (e) introducing ozone gas in the loadlock chamber; (f) exposing the wafer to the ozone gas after being transferred from the processing chamber and while located in the loadlock chamber; and (g) removing the wafer from the loadlock chamber out of the system, the wafer being removed through a door opening of the loadlock chamber, the door opening being a different opening than the slitvalve opening.