Patent ID: 7482282
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for cleaning oxide from nickel silicide within a semiconductor contact during the manufacture of a wafer with one or more semiconductor devices, comprising the steps of: performing an SC performing a first rinse cycle on the wafer comprising introducing said wafer to a rinse solution for a time ranging from about 2 minutes to about 15 minutes, whereby the wafer comprising a nickel silicide contact is introduced to a rinse solution comprised of deionized water, thereby removing the SC performing an HCl cycle, whereby the wafer comprising a nickel silicide contact is introduced to an HCl solution for a time ranging from about 2 minutes to about 15 minutes, said HCl solution ranging from approximately 50 parts water to 1 part HCl by volume to approximately 200 parts water to 1 part HCl by volume, thereby removing oxygen atoms from the nickel oxide of the nickel silicide; and performing a second rinse cycle on the wafer, whereby the wafer comprising a nickel silicide contact is introduced to a rinse solution comprised of deionized water, thereby removing the HCl solution from the wafer.