Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A wafer holder assembly, comprising: at least one wafer-holding arm;  a silicon pin engaged to an end of the at least one arm; and  an electrically conductive coating disposed on at least a portion of the pin. 2. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of titanium nitride and titanium aluminum nitride. claim 1 3. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 micrometers to about 10.0 micrometers. claim 1 4. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating includes a plurality of discrete regions. claim 1 5. The assembly according to  claim 1 , further including at least one main structural member joined to the at least one wafer-holding arm. claim 1 6. The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one main structural member includes opposed first and second main structural members. claim 5 7. An ion implantation system, comprising: a wafer holder assembly including  at least one wafer-holding arm;  a wafer-holding pin releasably engaged to an end of the at least one arm; and  a conductive coating disposed on the pin. 8. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the coating includes a material selected from the group consisting of titanium nitride and titanium aluminum nitride. claim 7 9. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the coating has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 micrometers to about 10.0 micrometers. claim 7 10. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the coating includes a plurality of discrete regions. claim 7 11. A method of processing a wafer, comprising: providing a wafer-holder assembly having at least one wafer-holding arm with a wafer-holding pin engaged an end of the at least one arm;  coating at least a portion of the pin with titanium nitride; and  subjecting the wafer to an ion beam. 12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the applied coating has a thickness in the range from about 0.5 micrometers to about 10.0 micrometers. claim 11 13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein coating the pin further includes coating the pin with discrete regions of titanium nitride. claim 12 14. A method of fabricating a wafer holder assembly, comprising: securing a silicon pin to an end of a wafer-holding arm extending from a wafer-holder assembly; and  coating the pin with titanium nitride. 15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the applied coating has a thickness in the range from about 0.5 micrometers to about 10.0 micrometers. claim 14 16. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein coating the pin further includes coating the pin with discrete regions of titanium nitride. claim 14