Patent ID: 6596650
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device, comprising the steps of:(a) synthesizing moisture, at a first temperature, from oxygen gas and hydrogen gas by use of a catalyst in a moisture synthesizing portion, to produce synthesized moisture; (b) transferring the synthesized moisture into a single wafer heat treatment chamber of an oxidation furnace, to form a wet oxidative atmosphere over a first major surface of a wafer inside the chamber, while keeping the moisture in a gaseous state; and (c) performing thermal oxidation treatment of a silicon member over the first major surface of the wafer, in the wet oxidative atmosphere in the single wafer heat treatment chamber, by lamp-heating the first major surface of the wafer up to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein the temperature of at least a portion of the single wafer heat treatment chamber is kept at a third temperature lower than the second temperature, so as to prevent moisture condensation from taking place.