Patent ID: 6290779
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: C23C,C23F

Abstract:
A process for cleaning a metallic byproduct film from an interior surface of a chamber of an apparatus for processing a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:processing at least one substrate in said chamber by depositing a metallic film onto said substrate by chemical vapor deposition using a metal halide precursor whereby said metallic byproduct film is formed on said interior surface of said chamber, said metallic byproduct film comprising said metal and said halide,introducing a cleaning gas containing chlorine trifluoride into said chamber,introducing an oxidizing gas containing an oxidizing reagent into said chamber,establishing within said chamber an environment having a selected temperature and a selected pressure, to thereby react said cleaning gas and said oxidizing gas with said metallic byproduct film within said chamber to produce a volatile reaction product, anddischarging said volatile reaction product from said chamber.