Patent ID: 6299724
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: C23F,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for gas phase etching or cleaning a substrate using an HF/enabling chemical treatment process, the apparatus comprising:a) a processing chamber isolatable from the atmosphere for receiving and treating the substrate;b) a gas supply system for providing an etching gas mixture in the processing chamber, the gas supply system including:i) a source of an inert carrier gas operable to optionally provide carrier gas to the processing chamber at a flow rate determined by the user;ii) a source of anhydrous HF gas operable to optionally provide HF gas to the processing chamber at a flow rate independent of the carrier gas flow rate; andiii) a cooled source of enabling chemical gas of an enabling chemical compound which is liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, the cooled source of enabling chemical gas comprising a tank containing a volume of said enabling chemical compound in liquid form, the cooled source of enabling chemical gas in fluid communication with the process chamber and operable to optionally provide enabling chemical gas at a flow rate independent of both the carrier gas and the HF gas flow rates;c) a fluid pathway extending from the cooled source of enabling chemical gas to the processing chamber;the volume of said enabling chemical compound in liquid form cooled to a temperature below the temperature of said fluid pathway and said processing chamber.