Patent ID: 6537926
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A substantially uniform thickness oxide layer-containing semiconductor wafer which is produced by a process which comprises the steps of:loading a semiconductor wafer having a surface which is subject to formation of an oxide layer thereon but which is substantially oxide layer-free, into an oxidation furnace under an inert atmosphere while maintaining the furnace at a low loading temperature; adjusting the temperature of the wafer in the furnace to a low oxidizing temperature while maintaining the wafer under an inert atmosphere; subjecting the wafer to initial oxidation at the low oxidizing temperature sufficiently to form an initial oxide layer on the wafer surface, the initial oxide layer being up to about 10 Angstroms thick; increasing the temperature of the furnace to a high oxidizing temperature while maintaining the wafer under an inert atmosphere; subjecting the wafer to final oxidation at the high oxidizing temperature sufficiently to increase the thickness of the oxide layer to a selective final thickness of about 20-100 Angstroms; and recovering the resultant final thickness oxide layer-containing wafer from the furnace.