Patent Publication Number: US-2005115671-A1

Title: Substrate treating apparatus and substrate treating method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate treating method for treating various types of substrates represented by a semiconductor wafer, a glass substrate for a liquid crystal display device, a glass substrate for a plasma display, a substrate for an optical disk, a substrate for a magnetic disk, a substrate for a magneto-optic disk, and a substrate for a photomask.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      In the steps of fabricating a semiconductor device, cleaning treatment for cleaning a surface of a semiconductor wafer, etching treatment for removing an unnecessary thin film from the surface of the semiconductor wafer, and so on are repeatedly performed. Today when a semiconductor product line is diversified, and a fabrication process is finely divided, a higher-level cleaning technique has been required for a substrate treating apparatus used for cleaning the semiconductor wafer.  
      The substrate treating apparatus for cleaning a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer is roughly classified into a sheeting apparatus for treating substrates one at a time (single substrate processing) and a batch type apparatus for together treating a plurality of (e.g., 50) substrates. In the batch-type substrate treating apparatus, the plurality of substrates are together dipped in a treatment liquid tank and treated, so that the transition of contamination from a non-device formation surface to a device formation surface of the substrate and the transition of contamination between the substrates cannot be avoided. When an attempt is made to circulate and reuse a treatment liquid in the treatment liquid tank so as to achieve cost reduction, contamination is stored in the treatment liquid, so that the cleanness of the substrate is gradually degraded.  
      Such a problem does not arise in the sheeting substrate treating apparatus, so that high cleanness can be uniformly obtained for a plurality of substrates. However, all sheeting substrate treating apparatuses conventionally provided are for a single application such as an application for removing particles, an application for pretreatment before diffusion or before film formation, an application for removing a resist residue (a polymer) after dry etching or ashing, an application for cleaning in the vicinity of one surface and a peripheral end surface of a substrate, and an application for gas phase etching. Consequently, a plurality of different types of treating apparatuses must be installed in a clean room depending on a process to be executed. Therefore, the sheeting substrate treating apparatus is suitable for mass production but is unsuitable for limited production of diversified products.  
      In the sheeting substrate treating apparatus, one surface of the substrate can be subjected to highly uniform treatment. However, it is difficult to subject both surfaces of the substrate to suitable cleaning treatment depending on the state of each of the surfaces. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain high cleanness for both the surfaces.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An object of the present invention is to provide a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate treating method capable of subjecting a substrate to a plurality of types of treatments (particularly, cleaning treatment) and therefore, capable of satisfactorily coping with limited production of diversified products.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a substrate treating apparatus and a substrate treating method capable of subjecting both surfaces of a substrate to good treatment (particularly, cleaning treatment).  
      A substrate treating apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises at least two types of treatment units, and a substrate carrying mechanism for carrying a substrate into/out of at least the two types of treatment units. At least the two types of treatment units are selected out of a chemical liquid treatment unit for holding and rotating a substrate by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism as well as supplying a chemical liquid from a chemical liquid nozzle to the substrate to treat the substrate, a scrubbing unit for holding and rotating a substrate by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism to supply deionized water to the substrate as well as scrubbing a surface of the substrate with a scrub brush, a polymer removal unit for holding and rotating a substrate by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism as well as supplying a polymer removal liquid to the substrate to remove a residue on the substrate, a peripheral end surface treatment unit for holding and rotating a substrate by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism as well as supplying a treatment liquid to an area including the whole of one surface and a peripheral end surface of the substrate so as to selectively remove an unnecessary material in the area, and a gas phase treatment unit for supplying a vapor including a chemical liquid and a vapor including a chemical gas to a substrate held in a substrate holding mechanism to treat the substrate.  
      By this configuration, at least the two types of treatment units, together with the substrate carrying mechanism, are provided in the one substrate treating apparatus. Accordingly, the substrate can be continuously subjected to the two or more types of treatments by the one substrate treating apparatus. This makes it possible to satisfactorily cope with limited production of diversified products.  
      The chemical liquid treatment unit is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type treatment unit comprising the substrate holding and rotating mechanism for holding and rotating substrates, and the chemical liquid nozzle for supplying a chemical liquid to the substrate to be treated which is held and rotated by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism, for treating the substrates one at a time. The chemical liquid treatment unit may further comprise a rinsing liquid nozzle for supplying a rinsing liquid (deionized water) for eliminating the chemical liquid from the substrate.  
      The scrubbing unit is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type treatment unit comprising the substrate holding and rotating mechanism for holding and rotating a substrate, and the scrub brush for scrubbing a surface of the substrate which is held and rotated by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism. The scrubbing unit may further comprise a protective liquid nozzle for supplying a protective liquid (e.g., deionized water) to a surface (e.g., a lower surface) opposite to a surface to be treated of the substrate (e.g., an upper surface of the substrate in a case where the substrate is held in a horizontal posture).  
      The scrubbing unit may further comprise a droplet jet supply section for supplying a jet of droplets of the treatment liquid to the surface of the substrate. By cleaning the surface of the substrate by the jet of droplets, foreign matter on the surface of the substrate can be effectively removed while restraining the destruction of a micropattern (a gate pattern, etc.) on the surface of the substrate. The droplet jet supply section may be a two-fluid spray nozzle for mixing a liquid and a gas to form the jet of droplets.  
      The two-fluid spray nozzle has a casing having a liquid inlet, a gas inlet, and a discharge outlet. Used as such a two-fluid spray nozzle may be one of an internal mixing type such that a mixture of a gas and a liquid is produced in a mixing chamber in the casing to spray droplets from the discharge outlet and one of an external mixing type such that a mixture of a gas and a liquid is produced outside the casing in the vicinity of the discharge outlet to form droplets outside the casing. The two-fluid spray nozzle of either type may be used.  
      It is preferable that the two-fluid spray nozzle is constructed in the form of a scan nozzle which is movable in at least a range from the center to the peripheral end of the substrate. Alternatively, a range where the scan nozzle moves may be a range from the peripheral end of the substrate to the other peripheral end through the center thereof (a substantial diameter range of the substrate). In this case, by spraying droplets to the surface of the substrate in at least the step of moving the two-fluid spray nozzle from the center to the peripheral end of the substrate, thereby allowing foreign matter on the surface of the substrate (an unnecessary material separated from the surface of the substrate (a resist residue, etc.)) to be effectively eliminated outward from the surface of the substrate.  
      The polymer removal unit is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type treatment unit, and may comprise a substrate holding and rotating mechanism for holding and rotating the substrate and a polymer removal liquid nozzle for supplying a polymer removal liquid to the surface of the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism. The polymer removal unit may further comprise a rinsing liquid nozzle for supplying a rinsing liquid (deionized water) toward the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism. The polymer removal unit may further comprise a droplet jet supply section for supplying a jet of droplets of the treatment liquid toward the surface of the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism. The droplet jet supply section may be composed either of the above-mentioned two-fluid spray nozzle. The polymer removal unit may further comprise a shielding member having a substrate opposite surface opposed to the surface of the substrate to be treated and a shielding member movement section for bringing the shielding member nearer to/away from the surface of the substrate.  
      The peripheral end surface treatment unit is a sheeting treatment unit, and may comprise the substrate holding and rotating mechanism for holding and rotating the substrate almost horizontally, a treatment liquid supply section for supplying a treatment liquid for cleaning to a lower surface of the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism, a shielding member having a substrate opposite surface opposed to an upper surface of the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism, and a shielding member moving mechanism for bringing the shielding member nearer to/away from the upper surface of the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism. It is preferable that the substrate holding and rotating mechanism comprises a plurality of clamp members for interposing the peripheral end surface of the substrate, and the substrate treating apparatus further comprises a clamp member driving mechanism for releasing or canceling the clamping of the substrate by the plurality of clamp members while the substrate is being rotated by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism. Further, it is preferable that the substrate holding and rotating mechanism comprises two groups of clamp members each having at least two clamp members for clamping the peripheral end surface of the substrate, and there is provided two clamp member driving mechanisms for independently driving the two groups of clamp members, to allow switching from the clamping of the substrate by one of the two groups of clamp members (a first clamping state) to the clamping of the substrate by the other one of the two groups of clamp members (a second clamping state) while the substrate is being rotated by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism by the actions of the two clamp member driving mechanisms. It is preferable that in the step of the switching, the operations of the two clamp member driving mechanisms are controlled such that an intermediate state where the substrate is clamped by both the groups of clamp members occurs.  
      The gas phase treatment unit is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type treatment unit comprising the substrate holding mechanism and a vapor supply section for supplying a vapor including a chemical liquid or a vapor including a chemical gas to the substrate held in the substrate holding mechanism. It is preferable that the gas phase treatment unit further comprises a substrate temperature adjustment section for adjusting the temperature of the substrate held in the substrate holding mechanism to a predetermined temperature.  
      A chemical liquid used for producing the vapor in the gas phase treatment unit may be a chemical liquid containing an acid such as a hydrofluoric acid, a nitric acid, an acetic acid, a hydrochloric acid, a sulfuric acid, an oxalic acid, or a citric acid or a chemical liquid containing an alkali such as ammonia. Further, the chemical liquid may be a mixed liquid obtained by adding an oxidizing agent such as a hydrogen peroxide solution or ozone or an organic solvent such as methanol to the oxide or the alkali.  
      In the gas phase treatment unit, the chemical gas used for producing the vapor may be a gas containing any one of an anhydrous hydrofluoric acid gas, an ammonia gas, a hydrogen chloride gas, a nitrogen dioxide gas, and an SO 3  gas, or a mixed gas of two or more types of the gases. The vapor including the chemical gas may be a mixture of the chemical gas and a vapor or a mixture of the chemical gas and a vapor including an organic solvent such as methanol, or a vapor obtained by further mixing the mixture with the carrier gas such as an inert gas.  
      It is preferable that the substrate treating apparatus further comprises a reversing unit for reversing the front and back surfaces of the substrate carried by the substrate carrying mechanism from one of at least the two types of treatment units.  
      By this configuration, the front and back surfaces of the substrate can be reversed between the two types of treatment units, thereby making it possible to subject each of the front and the back surfaces of the substrate to treatment which differs between the two types of treatment units. Consequently, both the surfaces of the substrate can be respectively subjected to most suitable treatment. More specifically, after the treatment for one of the surfaces of the substrate is completed by the given treatment unit, the substrate is carried into the reversing unit to reverse the substrate, the substrate which has been reversed is carried into the other treatment unit to treat the substrate, thereby making it possible to treat the other surface of the substrate. Consequently, treatment suitable for each of the surfaces of the substrate can be performed, thereby making it possible to satisfactorily treat both the surfaces of the substrate.  
      When at least the two types of treatment units comprise the scrubbing unit, it is preferable that the scrubbing unit scrubs the surface of the substrate which has been reversed by the reversing unit.  
      By this configuration, after the treatment for one of the surfaces (e.g., a device formation surface) is completed by the given treatment unit (a chemical liquid treatment unit, a polymer removal unit, a peripheral end surface treatment unit, or a gas phase treatment unit), the substrate is carried into the reversing unit to reverse the substrate, and the substrate which has been reversed is carried into the scrubbing unit to treat the substrate, thereby making it possible to subject the other surface of the substrate (e.g., a non-device formation surface) to scrubbing treatment. Consequently, the one surface of the substrate (e.g., the device formation surface) is satisfactorily treated, and the other surface of the substrate (the non-device formation surface) can be satisfactorily scrubbed, that is, both the surfaces of the substrate can be satisfactorily treated.  
      It is preferable that at least the two types of treatment units comprise the chemical liquid treatment unit and the scrubbing unit. By this configuration, the substrate can be subjected to the chemical liquid treatment and the scrubbing treatment within one substrate treating apparatus. More specifically, for example, the one surface of the substrate (e.g., the device formation surface) can be subjected to chemical liquid treatment for cleaning before diffusion or cleaning before film formation in the chemical liquid treatment unit, and the other surface of the substrate (e.g., the non-device formation surface) can be then subjected to scrubbing treatment (e.g., cleaning treatment for cleaning an electrostatic chuck trace) in the scrubbing unit. If the front and back surfaces of the substrate are reversed by the reversing unit before the substrate is carried into the scrubbing unit, the treatment for the other surface in the scrubbing unit can be satisfactorily performed.  
      In the scrubbing unit, when the substrate is held in a substantially horizontal posture by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism, and the upper surface of the substrate (e.g., the non-device formation surface) is subjected to scrubbing treatment, it is preferable that a protective liquid for protecting the lower surface of the substrate (e.g., the device formation surface) is supplied to the lower surface from a protective liquid nozzle. Consequently, it is possible to protect the lower surface of the substrate and to prevent a contaminant from detouring from the upper surface to the lower surface of the substrate.  
      The chemical liquid treatment in the chemical liquid treatment unit may comprise etching treatment for supplying an etchant containing a chemical liquid such as a hydrofluoric acid to the surface of the substrate from the chemical liquid nozzle, to etch the substrate. Alternatively, the chemical liquid treatment may comprise chemical liquid cleaning treatment for supplying a cleaning liquid containing a chemical liquid such as a hydrofluoric acid, an SC1 (a mixture of ammonia and a hydrogen peroxide solution) or SC2 (a mixture of a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution), to remove foreign matter on the surface of the substrate.  
      The chemical liquid treatment may comprise resist stripping treatment for supplying a resist stripping liquid as one type of chemical liquid. The chemical liquid treatment may comprise polymer removal treatment for supplying a polymer removal liquid serving as one type of chemical liquid to the surface of the substrate from the chemical liquid nozzle and removing a resist residue (a polymer) remaining on the surface of the substrate after the resist stripping treatment.  
      The resist stripping liquid may be a mixture of a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution.  
      Usable as the polymer removal liquid is at least one of a liquid containing an organic alkaline solution, a liquid containing an organic acid, a liquid containing an inorganic acid, and a liquid containing ammon fluorides. Examples of the liquid containing an organic alkaline solution include a liquid containing at least one of DMF (dimethylformamide), DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide), hydroxylamine, and choline. Examples of the liquid containing an organic acid include a liquid containing at least one of a citric acid, an oxalic acid, an iminodi acid, and a succinic acid. Examples of the liquid containing an inorganic acid include a liquid containing at least one of a hydrofluoric acid and a phosphoric acid. In addition thereto, examples of the polymer removal liquid include a liquid containing at least one of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, tetrahydrothiophene 1.1-dioxide, isopropanolamine, monoethanolamine, 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol, catechol, N-methyl pyrrolidone, aromatic diol, perflene, and phenol. More specifically, examples of the polymer removal liquid include at least one of a mixture of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, tetrahydrothiophene 1.1-dioxide, and isopropanolamine, a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and monoethanolamine, a mixture of 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol, hydroxylamine, and catechol, a mixture of 2-(2-aminoethoxy) ethanol and N-methyl pyrrolidone, a mixture of monoethanolamine, water, and aromatic diol, and a mixture of perflene and phenol. The other examples of the polymer removal liquid include a liquid containing at least one of amines such as triethanolamine, and pentamethyl diethylenetriamine, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, etc.  
      The chemical liquid nozzle for supplying the polymer removal liquid may be a normal straight nozzle (normal nozzle) However, it is preferable that the chemical liquid nozzle is composed of a two-fluid spray nozzle, as described above. Consequently, chemical resist residue removal treatment using the polymer removal liquid can be performed under assist due to a physical force.  
      At least the two types of treatment units may comprise the chemical liquid treatment unit and the polymer removal unit. By this configuration, the substrate can be subjected to the chemical liquid treatment and the polymer removal treatment within one substrate treating apparatus.  
      More specifically, when the chemical liquid nozzle in the chemical liquid treatment unit comprises a nozzle for supplying a resist stripping liquid for stripping the resist film on the surface of the substrate which is held by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism (it may be a straight nozzle or a two-fluid spray nozzle), resist stripping treatment and the subsequent polymer removal treatment can be performed within one substrate treating apparatus.  
      The resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment are performed by separate treatment units (separate treatment chambers) within one substrate treating apparatus, thereby making it possible to prevent such recontamination that a resist which has been stripped once from the substrate by the resist stripping treatment adheres to the inner wall of the treatment chamber, and falls down to adhere to the substrate again. Even when an acidic (inorganic) chemical liquid such as a mixture of a hydrofluoric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution is used for the resist stripping treatment, and an organic chemical liquid is used for the polymer removal treatment, cross contamination of the chemical liquids can be restrained or prevented. Consequently, the respective chemical liquids (particularly, the polymer removal liquid) can be recovered and reused while restraining the contamination thereof.  
      Furthermore, at least the two types of treatment units may comprise the scrubbing unit and the polymer removal unit. The substrate can be subjected to the polymer removal treatment and the scrubbing treatment within one substrate treating apparatus. More specifically, the one surface of the substrate (e.g., the device formation surface) can be subjected to the above-mentioned polymer removal treatment in the polymer removal unit, and the other surface (e.g., the non-device formation surface) of the substrate can be then subjected to scrubbing treatment (e.g., cleaning treatment for cleaning an electrostatic chuck trace) in the scrubbing unit, for example. If the surface and the reverse surface of the substrate are reversed by the reversing unit before the substrate is carried into the scrubbing unit, the treatment for the other surface in the scrubbing unit can be satisfactorily performed.  
      The polymer removal treatment in the polymer removal unit may comprise the step of supplying a polymer removal liquid to the substrate from the polymer liquid supply nozzle, the step of supplying a rinsing liquid to the substrate from the rinsing liquid supply nozzle to eliminate the polymer removal liquid on the substrate, and the step of supplying a jet of droplets of deionized water to the substrate by the droplet jet supply section to precisely eliminate a resist residue within a micropattern on the surface of the substrate.  
      At least the two types of treatment units may comprise the polymer removal unit and the peripheral end surface treatment unit. By this configuration, the substrate can be subjected to the polymer removal treatment and the peripheral end surface treatment within one substrate treating apparatus. More specifically, the one surface of the substrate (e.g., the device formation surface) can be subjected to the above-mentioned polymer removal treatment in the polymer removal unit, and an area including the other surface (e.g., the non-device formation surface) and a peripheral end surface of the substrate can be then selectively subjected to unnecessary material removal treatment (e.g., cleaning treatment for cleaning an electrostatic chuck trace) in a state where it does not affect the one surface of the substrate in the peripheral end surface treatment unit, for example.  
      The treatment by the peripheral end surface treatment unit may be treatment for spreading the treatment liquid to an area from the lower surface to the peripheral end surface of the substrate by rotating the substrate with the substrate held almost horizontally by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism as well as supplying the treatment liquid (e.g., a mixture of a hydrofluoric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution) to the lower surface of the substrate. In this case, the effect of the treatment liquid may be prevented from being exerted on the device formation area on the upper surface (the device formation surface) of the substrate by opposing the substrate opposite surface of the shielding member to the upper surface of the substrate in close proximity thereto or supplying an inert gas (a nitrogen gas, etc.) between the substrate opposite surface and the substrate.  
      At least the two types of treatment units may comprise the chemical liquid treatment unit and the gas phase treatment unit. By this configuration, the substrate can be subjected to the treatment by the chemical liquid treatment unit and the treatment by the gas phase treatment unit within one substrate treating apparatus.  
      The treatment by the gas phase treatment unit may be selective gas phase etching treatment for selectively removing a BPSG (Boro-phospho silicate glass) film on the substrate, for example, without substantially affecting an oxide film (e.g., a silicon oxide film) formed on the same substrate. More specifically, good selective etching is allowed by supplying a vapor including a hydrofluoric acid (a hydrofluoric acid vapor) to the substrate as well as keeping the temperature of the substrate at such a temperature that the etching selection ratio of the BPSG film to the oxide film can be made high.  
      It is preferable that the chemical liquid treatment unit further comprises a droplet jet supply section for supplying a jet of droplets of the treatment liquid to the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism. In this case, the treatment by the chemical liquid treatment unit may comprise treatment for supplying a jet of droplets of a treatment liquid (a chemical liquid or deionized water) onto the substrate, to remove a reaction product entering a micropattern on the substrate by the physical action of the jet of droplets, for example. That is, the chemical liquid treatment unit may simultaneously have the function of removing foreign matter on the surface of the substrate by a physical force.  
      In addition thereto, the treatment by the chemical liquid treatment unit may further comprise treatment for rinsing the surface of the substrate by a rinsing liquid (deionized water) and drying treatment for drying the surface of the substrate after the rinsing treatment.  
      When the substrate is dried by the chemical liquid treatment unit, the drying treatment may be treatment for bringing the substrate opposite surface of the shielding member nearer to the surface of the substrate as well as rotating the substrate to shake down the droplets on the substrate to dry the substrate in a state where an inert gas (a nitrogen gas, etc.) is supplied between the substrate and the substrate opposite surface. The drying treatment is thus performed in an inert gas atmosphere, thereby making it possible to prevent a water mark from being formed on the surface of the substrate where a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion are mixed.  
      A substrate treating method according to an aspect of the present invention comprises at least two steps out of a chemical liquid treating step for supplying a chemical liquid to a substrate which is held and rotated by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism to treat a substrate, a scrubbing step for supplying deionized water to a substrate which is held and rotated by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism as well as scrubbing a surface of the substrate with a scrub brush to remove foreign matter on the surface of the substrate, a polymer removing step for supplying a polymer removal liquid to a substrate which is held and rotated by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism, to remove a residue on the substrate, a peripheral end surface treating step for supplying a treatment liquid to an area including the whole of one of surfaces and a peripheral end surface of a substrate which is held and rotated by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism, to selectively remove an unnecessary material in the area, and a gas phase treating step for supplying a vapor including a chemical liquid or a vapor including a chemical gas to a substrate held in a substrate holding mechanism to treat the substrate.  
      It is preferable that at least the two steps are continuously carried out through a substrate carrying step for carrying the substrate without accommodating, between the steps, the substrate in an accommodation chamber capable of accommodating a plurality of substrates.  
      The substrate treating method may further comprise a reversing step for reversing the front and back surfaces of the substrate between at least the two steps.  
      In this case, it is preferable that the scrubbing step is carried out after the reversing step, to subject a non-device formation surface which is opposite to a device formation surface of the substrate to scrubbing treatment.  
      At least the two steps may comprise the chemical liquid treating step and the scrubbing step. In this case, it is preferable that the device formation surface of the substrate is subjected to chemical liquid treatment in the chemical liquid treating step, and a non-device formation surface which is opposite to the device formation surface of the substrate is subjected to the scrubbing treatment in the scrubbing step.  
      At least the two steps may comprise the chemical liquid treating step and the polymer removing step, the chemical liquid may be supplied to the device formation surface of the substrate to perform chemical liquid treatment in the chemical liquid treating step, and the device formation surface of the substrate may be subjected to polymer removal treatment in the polymer removing step.  
      More specifically, the chemical liquid treating step may comprise the step of supplying a resist stripping liquid as the chemical liquid to the device formation surface of the substrate, to strip the resist film on the device formation surface.  
      The resist film on the substrate can be striped by such a method, and the treatment for removing the polymer on the substrate can be then performed.  
      The resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment may be performed by different treatment chambers. Consequently, the resist adhering to the inner wall of the chamber can be prevented from adhering to the substrate again, and the resist stripping liquid and the polymer removal liquid can be prevented from being mixed with each other.  
      If the resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment are performed in the same treatment chamber, the necessity of carrying the substrate between the treatment chambers between the treatments can be eliminated, thereby making it possible to successively perform the polymer removal treatment without drying the substrate after the resist stripping treatment. More specifically, the polymer removal treatment can be performed by supplying the resist stripping liquid-to the substrate to perform the resist stripping treatment, then supplying a rinsing liquid such as deionized water to the surface of the substrate to replace the resist stripping liquid with the rinsing liquid, and then supplying the polymer removal liquid to the substrate without passing through the drying treatment of the substrate (shaking and drying treatment for shaking down a liquid). Consequently, the surface of the substrate can be subjected to the polymer removal treatment in a wet state from the beginning, thereby allowing the polymer removal efficiency to be improved.  
      Since the substrate need not be carried between the resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment, it is possible to shorten the overall substrate treatment time period as well as to reduce the number of treatment chambers to miniaturize the substrate treating apparatus.  
      When the resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment are performed in the same treatment chamber, it is preferable that an inorganic polymer removal liquid (e.g., a mixed liquid of a hydrofluoric acid and deionized water) can be used as a polymer removal liquid. Consequently, an inorganic chemical liquid can be used for both the resist stripping liquid and the polymer removal liquid, thereby making it possible to prevent an inorganic chemical liquid and an organic chemical liquid from being mixed with each other.  
      At least the two steps may include the scrubbing step and the polymer removing step. The device formation surface of the substrate may be subjected to polymer residue removal treatment in the polymer removing step, and a non-device formation surface which is opposite to the device formation surface of the substrate may be subjected to scrubbing treatment in the scrubbing step.  
      At least the two steps may include the polymer removing step and the peripheral end surface treating step. The device formation surface of the substrate may be subjected to polymer removal treatment in the polymer removing step, and unnecessary materials on a non-device formation surface which is opposite to the device formation surface and a peripheral end surface of the substrate may be selectively removed in the peripheral end surface treating step.  
      At least the two steps may include the gas phase treating step and the chemical liquid treating step. The device formation surface of the substrate may be subjected to the gas phase treatment in the gas phase treating step, and may be subjected to the chemical liquid treatment in the chemical liquid treating step.  
      In the chemical liquid treating step, a jet of droplets of the treatment liquid may be supplied to the device formation surface.  
      A substrate treating apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a substrate holding and rotating mechanism for holding and rotating a substrate, a resist stripping liquid nozzle for supplying a resist stripping liquid to a substrate to be treated which is held and rotated by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism, and a polymer removal liquid nozzle for supplying a polymer removal liquid to the substrate to be treated which is held and rotated by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism.  
      By this configuration, the resist stripping treatment using the resist stripping liquid can be performed in a state where the substrate to be treated is held and rotated by the substrate holding and rotating mechanism, and the polymer removal treatment using the polymer removal liquid can be then performed. Since the substrate need not be carried between the resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment (e.g., carried between treatment chambers), therefore, the substrate need not be dried once after the resist stripping treatment and before the polymer removal treatment. Consequently, the polymer removal treatment can be performed with a wet state after the resist stripping treatment held, thereby allowing the polymer removal treatment to be efficiently performed.  
      Furthermore, the drying step after the resist stripping treatment can be omitted, thereby allowing the overall substrate treatment time period to be shortened. Further, the number of treatment chambers can be made smaller, so that the substrate treating apparatus can be made smaller in size, as compared with that in a case where the resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment are performed by separate treatment chambers.  
      It is preferable that after the resist stripping treatment, the substrate held in the substrate holding and rotating mechanism is subjected to the polymer removal treatment after being supplied with the rinsing liquid such as the deionized water from the rinsing liquid nozzle in order to eliminate the resist stripping liquid on the substrate.  
      It is preferable that the polymer removal liquid nozzle supplies an inorganic polymer removal liquid (e.g., a dilute hydrofluoric acid solution). Consequently, the polymer removal liquid can be an inorganic chemical liquid, similarly to the resist stripping liquid composed of an acid (inorganic) chemical liquid such as a mixture of a hydrofluoric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution, thereby allowing the mixing of the organic chemical liquid and the inorganic chemical liquid to be restrained.  
      The resist stripping liquid nozzle may be a straight nozzle or a two-fluid spray nozzle. Similarly, the polymer removal liquid nozzle may be a straight nozzle or a two-fluid spray nozzle.  
      A substrate treating method according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a substrate holding and rotating step for holding and rotating a substrate by a substrate holding and rotating mechanism arranged in a treatment chamber, a resist stripping step for supplying a resist stripping liquid to the surface of the substrate which is held and rotated in the substrate holding and rotating step, to strip a resist film on the substrate, and a polymer removing step for supplying a polymer removal liquid to a surface of the substrate which is held in the substrate holding and rotating step after the resist stripping step.  
      It is preferable that the polymer removing step comprises the step of supplying an inorganic polymer removal liquid to the substrate.  
      The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative plan view for explaining the configuration of a substrate treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative transverse sectional view for explaining the configuration of a chemical liquid treatment unit;  
      FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ) are illustrative sectional views showing an example of the configuration of a two-fluid spray nozzle;  
       FIG. 4  is an illustrative sectional view showing the configuration of a scrubbing unit;  
       FIG. 5  is an illustrative view for explaining an example of the configuration of a polymer removal unit;  
       FIG. 6  is an illustrative sectional view for explaining the configuration of a bevel cleaning unit;  
       FIG. 7  is an illustrative partially enlarged sectional view for explaining bevel cleaning treatment;  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view for explaining the arrangement and the operation of a clamp member provided in a spin chuck;  
       FIG. 9  is an illustrative sectional view for explaining the configuration of a gas phase cleaning unit;  
       FIG. 10  is an illustrative plan view showing a first specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus;  
      FIGS.  11 (a),  11 ( b ), and  11 ( c ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the configuration shown in  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is an illustrative plan view showing a second specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus;  
      FIGS.  13 ( a ) to  13 ( e ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the configuration shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  is an illustrative plan view showing a third specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus;  
      FIGS.  15 ( a ),  15 ( b ), and  15 ( c ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the configuration shown in  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 16  is an illustrative plan view showing a fourth specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus;  
       FIG. 17  is an illustrative sectional view for explaining treatment in a bevel cleaning unit in the configuration shown in  FIG. 16 ;  
       FIG. 18  is an illustrative plan view showing a fifth specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus; and  
      FIGS.  19 ( a ) to  19 ( d ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the configuration shown in  FIG. 18 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative plan view for explaining the configuration of a substrate treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The substrate treating apparatus is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type apparatus for subjecting a substrate W, which is represented by a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate for a liquid crystal display device, to treatment using a treatment liquid or a treating gas.  
      The substrate treating apparatus comprises a substrate treatment section  1  for treating the substrate W, an indexer section  2  coupled to the substrate treatment section  1 , and treatment fluid boxes  3  and  4  accommodating a structure for supplying/discharging a treatment fluid (a liquid or a gas).  
      The indexer section  2  comprises a cassette holder  21  capable of holding a plurality of cassettes C for accommodating the substrate W (FOUP (Front Opening Unified Pod), SMIF (Standard Mechanical Interface) pod, OC (Open Cassette), etc. accommodating a plurality of substrates W in a sealed state), and an indexer robot  22  for accessing the cassette C held in the cassette holder  21  to take out the substrate W, which has not been treated yet, from the cassette C or accommodate the substrate W, which has already been treated, in the cassette C. Each of the cassettes C comprises a plurality of shelves (not shown) for stacking the plurality of substrates W with the substrates slightly spaced in the vertical direction and holding the stacked substrates W. The substrates W can be respectively held in the shelves. Each of the shelves is so constructed as to come into contact with a peripheral edge on a lower surface of the substrate W to hold the substrate W from below. The substrate W is accommodated within the cassette C in such a substantially horizontal posture that its surface directed upward and its reverse surface directed downward.  
      The substrate treatment section  1  comprises a substrate carrying robot  11  arranged near its center as viewed from the top, and a frame  30  on which the substrate carrying robot  11  is mounted. In the frame  30 , a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) unit arrangement sections  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  are provided so as to surround the substrate carrying robot  11 , and a substrate reversing unit  12  is further mounted at a position which can be accessed by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
      An arbitrary treatment unit selected out of a chemical liquid treatment unit MP, a scrubbing unit SS, a polymer removal unit SR, a bevel cleaning unit CB, and a gas phase cleaning unit VP can be mounted on each of the unit arrangement sections  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34 . That is, the frame  30  provides a platform common among the plurality of types (five types in the present embodiment) of treatment units, and is so constructed that a plurality of types (a maximum of four types) of treatment units can be arbitrarily combined and carried thereon. This makes it possible to easily cope with a process corresponding to a new material or a process corresponding to miniaturization. When two types of treatment units are carried on the frame  30 , one treatment unit of the first type and three treatment units of the second type can be also carried thereon, or two treatment units of the first type and two treatment units of the second type can be also carried thereon in conformity with a treatment tact.  
      The substrate carrying robot  11  can receive the substrate W, which has not been treated yet, from the indexer robot  22 , and can transfer the substrate W, which has already been treated, to the indexer robot  22 . The substrate carrying robot  11  can access the treatment units arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  to  34  and the substrate reversing unit  12 , and can receive and transfer the substrate W from and to the treatment units and the substrate reversing unit  12 .  
      More specifically, the substrate carrying robot  11  comprises, for example, a base fixed to the frame  30  in the substrate treating apparatus, an up-and-down base mounted on the base so as to be movable up and down, a rotating base mounted on the up-and-down base so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis, and a pair of substrate holding hands mounted on the rotating base. The pair of substrate holding hands is constructed so as to be respectively movable back and forth in directions nearer to/away from the axis of rotation of the rotating base. By such a configuration, the substrate carrying robot  11  can direct the substrate holding hands toward any one of the indexer robot  22 , the treatment units arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 , and the substrate reversing unit  12  to move the substrate holding hands back and forth in the state, thereby allowing the substrate W to be delivered.  
      The pair of substrate holding hands is appropriately used such that one of them is used for holding the substrate W which has not been treated yet and the other one is used for holding the substrate W which has already been treated. The pair of substrate holding hands may be operated so as to receive the substrate W by one of the substrate holding hands from the counterpart substrate holding hand and transfer the substrate W by the other substrate holding hand to the counterpart substrate holding hand in receiving and transferring the substrate W from and to the indexer robot  22 , the treatment units arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 , and the substrate reversing unit  12 .  
      The indexer robot  22  is operated so as to take out the substrate W, which has not been treated yet, from any one of the cassettes C to transfer the substrate W to the substrate carrying robot  11  as well as to receive the substrate W, which has already been treated, from the substrate carrying robot  11  to accommodate the substrate W in the cassette C. The substrate W which has already been treated may be accommodated in the cassette C in which the substrate W has been accommodated in an untreated state. Alternatively, the cassettes C which accommodate the substrate W which has not been treated yet and the cassettes C which accommodate the substrate W which has already been treated may be classified so that the substrate W which has already been treated is accommodated in the cassette C other than the cassette C in which the substrate W has been accommodated in an untreated state.  
      The substrate carrying robot  11  can carry the substrate W into the substrate reversing unit  12  to reverse the surface and reverse surface of the substrate W. Therefore, in the treatment units arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 , either one of a device formation surface and a non-device formation surface of the substrate W can be treated.  
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative sectional view for explaining the configuration of the chemical liquid treatment unit MP. The chemical liquid treatment unit MP is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type treatment unit for subjecting a substrate W in a substantially circular or disk shape such as a semiconductor wafer, for example, to treatment using a treatment liquid, and comprises in a treatment chamber  60  a spin chuck  51  for holding the substrate W in a substantially horizontal posture as well as rotating the substrate W around a substantially vertical axis of rotation passing through its center.  
      The spin chuck  51  comprises a spin base  63  fixed to an upper end of a rotating shaft  62  rotated by a chuck rotation driving mechanism  61  and having a substantially circular disk shape and a plurality of clamp members  64  spaced at substantially equal angles at a plurality of positions of a peripheral edge of the spin base  63  for clamping the substrate W thereamong. The rotating shaft  62  is a hollow shaft, and a lower surface treatment liquid supply pipe  65 , to which a chemical liquid or deionized water serving as a treatment liquid is selectively supplied, is inserted through the rotating shaft  62 . The lower surface treatment liquid supply pipe  65  extends to a position in close proximity to the center of a lower surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  51 , and has a lower surface nozzle  66  for discharging the treatment liquid toward the center of the lower surface of the substrate W at its front end.  
      To the lower surface treatment liquid supply pipe  65 , a chemical liquid (particularly, an etchant) from a chemical liquid supply source can be supplied through a chemical liquid supply valve  67 , and deionized water from a deionized water supply source can be supplied through a deionized water supply valve  68 .  
      A shield plate  52  in a circular disk shape having approximately the same diameter as that of the substrate W and having a substrate opposite surface  52  a opposed to an upper surface of the substrate W on its lower surface is provided above the spin chuck  51 . A rotating shaft  71  along an axis common to the rotating shaft  62  in the spin chuck  51  is fixed to an upper surface of the shield plate  52 . The rotating shaft  71  is a hollow shaft, and a treatment liquid nozzle  72  for supplying a treatment liquid (a chemical liquid from a chemical liquid supply valve  72 A or deionized water from a deionized water supply valve  72 B) to the upper surface of the substrate W is inserted in the rotating shaft  71 . Further, a nitrogen gas supply passage  73  for supplying a nitrogen gas serving as an inert gas toward the center of the upper surface of the substrate W is formed between an inner wall surface of the rotating shaft  71  and an outer wall surface of the treatment liquid nozzle  72 . The nitrogen gas supplied from the nitrogen gas supply passage  73  is supplied to a space between the upper surface of the substrate W and the lower surface of the shield plate  52 , to form an air current directed toward a peripheral edge of the substrate W. A nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas supply valve  73 A is supplied to the nitrogen gas supply passage  73 .  
      The rotating shaft  71  is mounted in a state where it hangs from the vicinity of a front end of an arm  74  provided along a substantially horizontal direction. In relation to the arm  74 , there is provided a shield plate up-and-down driving mechanism  75  for raising and lowering the shield plate  52  between a proximity position where it comes nearer to the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  51  and a retreat position where it greatly retreats toward a position above the spin chuck  51  by raising and lowering the arm  74 . Further, in relation to the arm  74 , there is provided a shield plate rotation driving mechanism  76  for rotating the shield plate  52  in substantial synchronization with the rotation of the substrate W by the spin chuck  51 .  
      The vicinity of the upper surface of the substrate W can be held in a nitrogen gas atmosphere by bringing the substrate opposite surface  52   a  of the shield plate  52  nearer to the upper surface of the substrate W as well as introducing a nitrogen gas between the substrate opposite surface  52   a  and the substrate W. By subjecting the substrate W to spin drying treatment in this state, the occurrence of a water mark at the time of drying can be restrained. Particularly in cleaning treatment requiring high-precision cleaning as before a silicide process, the substrate W can be also dried by etching an oxide film using a hydrofluoric acid, and then restraining the occurrence of a water mark while restraining the growth of a natural oxide film, for example. Further, high exchangeability is obtained by rotating the substrate W at high speed, thereby making it possible to keep the loss (film thickness reduction) of a sidewall (a sidewall adhering to a sidewall of a gate) at the time of hydrofluoric acid etching to a minimum.  
      The spin chuck  51  is accommodated in a treatment cup  53  in the shape of a closed-end container. A discharge groove  81  for discharging a treatment liquid which has been used for treating the substrate W is formed so as to surround the spin chuck  51 , and a recovery groove  82  for recovering the treatment liquid (particularly, a chemical liquid) which has been used for treating the substrate W is further formed so as to surround the discharge groove  81 . The discharge groove  81  and the recovery groove  82  are partitioned by a cylindrical partition wall  83  formed therebetween. Further, a discharge line  84  for introducing the treatment liquid to a discharge treatment facility (not shown) is connected to the discharge groove  81 , and a recovery line  85  for introducing the treatment liquid to a recovery treatment facility (not shown) is connected to the recovery groove  82 .  
      A splash guard  54  for preventing the treatment liquid from the substrate W from being scattered outward is provided above the treatment cup  53 . The splash guard  54  has a shape which is substantially symmetrical about an axis of rotation of the substrate W, and an inner surface of its upper part is a discharged liquid acquisition section  91  having a laterally-facing V shape in cross section opened so as to be opposed to the axis of rotation of the substrate W. Further, a recovered liquid acquisition section  92  formed in the shape of a concavely-curved downward-inclined surface directed radially outward in the rotation of the substrate W is formed below the splash guard  54 . A partition wall accommodation groove  93  for receiving the partition wall  83  in the treatment cup  53  is formed in the vicinity of an upper end of the recovered liquid acquisition section  92 .  
      In relation to the splash guard  54 , there is provided a splash guard up-and-down driving mechanism  94  including a ball screw mechanism or the like, for example. The splash guard up-and-down driving mechanism  94  moves the splash guard  54  up and down between a recovery position (a position shown in  FIG. 2 ) where the recovered liquid acquisition section  92  is opposed to a peripheral end surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  51  and a discharge position where the discharged liquid acquisition section  91  is opposed to an end surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  51 . Further, the splash guard up-and-down driving mechanism  94  makes the splash guard  54  retreat to a retreat position below the discharge position when the substrate W is carried into/out of the spin chuck  51 .  
      The chemical liquid treatment unit MP further comprises a movement nozzle  95  capable of moving a position where a treatment liquid (a chemical liquid or deionized water) is supplied on the substrate W while supplying the treatment liquid to the surface of the substrate W. The movement nozzle  95  is composed of a straight nozzle (normal nozzle) in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a resist stripping liquid serving as a chemical liquid (e.g., a high-temperature and high-concentration chemical liquid such as a mixture of a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution) and deionized water serving as a rinsing liquid are selectively supplied to the movement nozzle  95 . Consequently, resist stripping treatment can be performed.  
      Specifically, a treatment liquid from an outlet port of a mixing valve  86  is supplied to the movement nozzle  95  through a treatment liquid supply pipe  87 . The mixing valve  86  is provided with three inlet ports. To the inlet ports, a sulfuric acid at high temperature (e.g., a sulfuric acid heated to approximately 80° C.) is supplied through a sulfuric acid valve  88 , and a hydrogen peroxide solution (e.g., a hydrogen peroxide solution at room temperature) is supplied through a hydrogen peroxide valve  89 , and deionized water is supplied through a deionized water supply valve  90 . Further, a throughflow pipe with an agitating fin  96  for agitating the treatment liquid from the mixing valve  86  is set in the treatment liquid supply pipe  87 .  
      By this configuration, the sulfuric acid and the hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed using the mixing valve  86  by opening the sulfuric acid valve  88  and the hydrogen peroxide valve  89  in a state where the deionized water supply valve  90  is closed, and are sufficiently agitated using the throughflow pipe with the agitating fin  96 , to produce an SPM (sulfuric acid/hydrogen peroxide mixture) solution containing H 2 SO 5  having a strong oxidative force. The SPM solution is discharged to the surface of the substrate W from the movement nozzle  95  as a resist stripping liquid. Further, deionized water can be supplied to the movement nozzle  95  through the treatment liquid supply pipe  87  and the throughflow pipe with the agitating fin  96  from the mixing valve  86  by closing the sulfuric acid valve  88  and the hydrogen peroxide valve  89  and opening the deionized water supply valve  90 , and can be discharged toward the surface of the substrate W from the movement nozzle  95 . A deionized water nozzle for supplying deionized water to the substrate W may be provided separately from the movement nozzle  95  for supplying the resist stripping liquid.  
      In resist stripping treatment using a mixture of a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution, the growth and the reduction of an oxide film can be also restrained in a resist stripping process around a gate formed on the substrate W. Further, the stripping of a resist after ion implantation is also allowed, thereby making it possible to reduce damage to the substrate W, as compared with that in a case where the resist is stripped by dry ashing.  
      The throughflow pipe with the agitating fin  96  is so constructed that a plurality of agitating fins each composed of a rectangular plate-shaped member, which is twisted at an angle of approximately 180 degrees with the direction of liquid flow taken as its axis, are arranged within its pipe member by making an angle around a center axis of the pipe along the direction of liquid flow alternately differing by 90 degrees, examples of which include the one provided under a trade name “MX Series: Inline Mixer” by Noritake Co., Ltd. and ADVANCE ELECTRIC CO., LTD. In the throughflow pipe with the agitating fin  96 , the mixture of the sulfuric acid and the hydrogen peroxide solution is sufficiently agitated, so that a chemical reaction (H 2 SO 4 +H 2 O 2 →H 2 SO 5 +H 2 O) between the sulfuric acid and the hydrogen peroxide solution occurs, to produce an SPM solution containing H 2 SO 5  having a strong oxidative force. In the case, heat (reaction heat) is generated by the chemical reaction. By the heat generation, the liquid temperature of the SPM solution is reliably raised to a high temperature (e.g., not less than 80° C. and more specifically, approximately 120° C.) at which the resist film formed on the surface of the substrate W can be satisfactorily stripped.  
      A nozzle movement mechanism  98  for moving the movement nozzle  95  is coupled to the movement nozzle  95 . While the substrate W is being rotated by the spin chuck  51 , the treatment liquid is supplied from the movement nozzle  95  while moving the movement nozzle  95 , thereby allowing uniform treatment for the upper surface of the substrate W.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example in which a resist stripping liquid is supplied as a chemical liquid to the movement nozzle  95 . A surface treatment liquid such as a fluoric acid for cleaning the surface of the substrate or etching treatment, SC1 (a mixture of ammonia and a hydrogen peroxide solution), or SC2 (a mixture of a hydrochloric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution) may be supplied as a chemical liquid to the movement nozzle  95 .  
      The chemical liquid treatment unit MP further comprises a two-fluid spray nozzle  100  for supplying a jet of droplets of a treatment liquid to the surface of the substrate W. To the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 , the chemical liquid can be supplied through a chemical liquid supply valve  115 , deionized water can be supplied through a deionized water supply valve  116 , and an inert gas such as a nitrogen gas can be supplied through an inert gas supply valve  117 . Further, the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  is coupled to a swinging arm  118 . The swinging arm  118  is swung along the upper surface of the substrate W by a nozzle swinging mechanism  119 , and is raised or lowered by a nozzle up-and-down mechanism  120 . Thus, the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  swings on the substrate W, and is moved by drawing an arc leading to a peripheral edge of the substrate W from the center of the radius in the rotation of the substrate W, for example.  
      A polymer removal liquid, for example, can be supplied as a chemical liquid to the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 . Consequently, treatment for removing a resist residue (a polymer) remaining on the surface of the substrate W after resist stripping treatment can be satisfactorily performed by the chemical action of the polymer removal liquid and the physical action due to collisions of a jet of droplets. Further, fine particles can be together removed. Only the deionized water, for example, may be supplied to the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 , thereby making it possible to satisfactorily remove particles adhering to the surface of the substrate W by the physical action due to collisions of a jet of droplets of the deionized water.  
      It is preferable that a pre-dispensing function is carried on each of the nozzles. This allows the chemical liquid to be discharged at a stable temperature.  
      FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( b ) are illustrative sectional views showing an example of the configuration of the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 .  FIG. 3 ( a ) illustrates the configuration of a so-called external mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle, and  FIG. 3 ( b ) illustrates the configuration of a so-called internal mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle.  
      In the external mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle shown in  FIG. 3 ( a ), a liquid inlet section  101  and a gas inlet section  102  having a larger diameter than that of the liquid inlet section  101  are coaxially fitted to each other, to constitute its casing.  
      The liquid inlet section  101  almost penetrates the gas inlet section  102 , a liquid supply passage  101  a formed inside thereof communicates with an outer space in the vicinity of a front end of the two-fluid spray nozzle, and its inlet forms a liquid inlet port  107 .  
      On the other hand, the gas inlet section  102  has a gas inlet port  108  on its side surface, and the gas inlet port  108  communicates with a space  103  formed between its inner wall and an outer wall of the liquid inlet section  101  inside the gas inlet section  102 . A front end of the liquid inlet section  101  is formed in a collar shape expanding outward, and a gas passage  104  for communicating the space  103  and the outside space in the vicinity of the front end of the two-fluid spray nozzle is formed in the collar-shaped end.  
      By this configuration, when a liquid is supplied to the liquid supply passage  101   a  and a gas is supplied from a gas inlet  102   a , the liquid and the gas are mixed in air outside the casing in an outer space  105  in the vicinity of the front end of the two-fluid spray nozzle, thereby forming droplets. The droplets are sprayed along the direction in which the liquid and the gas are blown off, that is, the axial direction of the liquid inlet section  101 . It is preferable that the gas introduced into the gas inlet  108  is an inert gas such as dry air or a nitrogen gas.  
      On the other hand, the internal mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle shown in  FIG. 3 ( b ) has a casing which connects a gas inlet section  111 , a liquid inlet section  110 , and a droplet formation and discharge section  112 , and is constructed by connecting them. The gas inlet section  111 , the liquid inlet section  110 , and the droplet formation and discharge section  112  respectively have tubular shapes, and are connected in series to constitute a two-fluid spray nozzle  100 .  
      The droplet formation and discharge section  112  is connected to a lower end of the liquid inlet section  110 , and has a tapered part  112   a  whose inner diameter decreases downward and a straight part  112   b  connecting with a lower end of the tapered part  112   a  and having the shape of a straight pipe whose inner diameter is uniform.  
      The gas inlet section  111  has a large diameter portion engaged with the upper side of the liquid inlet section  110  and a small diameter portion connecting with a lower part of the large diameter portion to reach an inner space of the tapered part  112   a  in the droplet formation and discharge section  112 . A gas inlet passage  111   a  in a tapered shape is formed inside the gas inlet section  111 , and its inlet forms a gas inlet port  113 .  
      A liquid inlet port  114  for introducing a liquid is formed so as to be opened sideward in the liquid inlet section  110 . The liquid inlet port  114  communicates with a ring-shaped space SP 1  between the small diameter portion of the gas inlet section  111  and the inner wall of the liquid inlet section  110 . The space SP 1  communicates with an inner space SP 3  (a mixing chamber) of the tapered part  112   a  of the droplet formation and discharge section  112  through a ring-shaped space SP 2  between the small diameter portion of the gas inlet section  111  and the inner wall of the droplet formation and discharge section  112 .  
      In the internal mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle  100 , a gas supplied from the gas inlet port  113  and a liquid supplied through the spaces SP 1  and SP 2  from the liquid inlet port  114  are mixed in the space SP 3 . As a result, droplets are formed. The droplets are accelerated by the tapered part  112   a , and are sprayed toward the substrate W through the straight part  112   b . A jet of the droplets has significantly good straight properties by the function of the straight part  112   b.    
      Comparison is made between the external mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle and the internal mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle. The external mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle has the disadvantage that the straight properties of the droplets are not better, as compared with the internal mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle, so that the jet of droplets expand in an umbrella shape. On the other hand, the external mixing type two-fluid spray nozzle has the advantage that the pressure of the gas is not returned toward the liquid because the mixture of the liquid and the gas does not exist inside thereof, so that the flow rate of the liquid is hardly changed even if the flow rate of the gas is changed.  
      The movement nozzle  95  may be composed of a two-fluid spray nozzle. Alternatively, the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  may be replaced with a straight nozzle.  
       FIG. 4  is an illustrative sectional view showing the configuration of a scrubbing unit SS. The scrubbing unit SS is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type treatment unit comprising a spin chuck  130  which is rotated with-a substrate W held almost horizontally, a chuck rotating mechanism  132  for applying a rotating force to a rotating shaft  131  in the spin chuck  130 , a scrub brush  133  for scrubbing an upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  130 , and a two-fluid spray nozzle  134  for supplying a jet of droplets of a treatment liquid to the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  130 . Further, the scrubbing unit SS comprises a chemical liquid nozzle  135  for supplying a chemical liquid (e.g., a thin etchant) to the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  130 , an upper surface deionized water nozzle  136  for similarly supplying deionized water to the upper surface of the substrate W, and a lower surface deionized water nozzle  137  for supplying deionized water to a lower surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  130 .  
      The chemical liquid is supplied to the chemical liquid nozzle  135  through a chemical liquid supply valve  140 , the deionized water is supplied to the upper surface deionized water nozzle  136  through a deionized water supply valve  141 , and the deionized water is supplied to the lower surface deionized water nozzle  137  through a treatment liquid supply pipe  143  inserted through the hollow rotating shaft  131  from a deionized water supply valve  142 . The lower surface deionized water nozzle  137  is coupled to an upper end of the treatment liquid supply pipe  143 , to discharge the deionized water toward the rotation center of the lower surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  130 . The deionized water expands radially outward in the rotation through the lower surface of the substrate W upon receipt of a centrifugal force, to lead to the whole area of the lower surface of the substrate W.  
      Furthermore, to the two-fluid spray nozzle  134 , deionized water is supplied from a deionized water supply valve  145 , and an inert gas (a nitrogen gas, etc.) is supplied from an inert gas supply valve  146 . The two-fluid spray nozzle  134  is coupled to a swinging arm  147  which swings along the substrate W. A nozzle swinging mechanism  148  and a nozzle up-and-down mechanism  149  are coupled to the swinging arm  147 . The swinging arm  147  is swung by the functions, so that the two-fluid spray nozzle  134  is swung in a range leading to the peripheral edge from the rotation center of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  130 . Further, the swinging arm  147  is raised and lowered so that the two-fluid spray nozzle  134  is displaced nearer to/away from the substrate W.  
      By rotating the spin chuck  130  as well as moving the two-fluid spray nozzle  134  toward the peripheral edge from the rotation center of the substrate W while discharging the jet of droplets of the treatment liquid from the two-fluid spray nozzle  134 , the whole surface of the substrate W can be subjected to cleaning treatment using the jet of droplets. In the cleaning treatment by the two-fluid spray nozzle  134 , particles can be removed without damaging a fine pattern on the substrate W, thereby restraining problems such as the destruction of a gate pattern on the substrate W.  
      It is preferable that the nozzle swinging mechanism  148  is controlled so as to variably control the speed of movement of the two-fluid spray nozzle  134 . Consequently, the speed of movement of the two-fluid spray nozzle  134  can be changed in the vicinity of the rotation center of the substrate W and in the vicinity of the peripheral edge thereof, thereby allowing each of portions of the substrate W to be uniformly cleaned.  
      On the other hand, the scrub brush  133  is held in one end of a swinging arm  150  with the scrub brush directed downward so as to be opposed to the substrate W held in the spin chuck  130 . The other end of the swinging arm  150  is coupled to a rotating shaft  151  along a vertical direction parallel to the rotating shaft  130 . A brush swinging mechanism  152  and a brush up-and-down mechanism  153  are coupled to the rotating shaft  151 . By the functions, the swinging arm  150  is swung along the substrate W so that the scrub brush  133  is moved back and forth between the rotation center and the peripheral edge of the substrate W, and the swinging arm  150  is moved up and down so that the scrub brush  133  is moved nearer to and away from the upper surface of the substrate W. The spin chuck  130  is rotated while the scrub brush  133  is brought into contact with the upper surface of the substrate W and is moved toward the peripheral edge from the rotation center of the substrate W, thereby performing brush cleaning treatment for the whole surface of the substrate W. At this time, the supply of the chemical liquid from the chemical liquid nozzle  135  and the supply of the deionized water from the upper surface deionized water nozzle  136  are concurrently performed. Usable as the scrub brush  133  is one made of a material such as polyvinylchloride, mohair, nylon, or polypropylene.  
      It is preferable that the brush swinging mechanism  152  is controlled such that the speed of movement of the scrub brush  133  is variably controlled, similarly to the two-fluid spray nozzle  134 . Consequently, the speed of movement of the scrub brush  133  can be changed in the vicinity of the rotation center of the substrate W and the vicinity of the peripheral edge thereof, thereby allowing each of portions of the substrate W to be uniformly cleaned.  
      In a case where the upper surface of the substrate W is subjected to physical cleaning treatment by the two-fluid spray nozzle  134  or the scrub brush  133 , if deionized water is supplied to the lower surface of the substrate W from the lower surface deionized water nozzle  137 , cover rinsing treatment for protecting the lower surface of the substrate W by a liquid film of deionized water can be performed. Consequently, a contaminant can be prevented from detouring toward the lower surface of the substrate W from the upper surface thereof to adhere to the substrate W again.  
      The scrubbing unit SS may comprise a nozzle having a cleaning effect by another physical action such as a ultrasonic nozzle for supplying to the substrate W a treatment liquid given ultrasonic vibration (e.g., vibration having a frequency of 1.5 MHz) or a high-pressure jet nozzle for spraying a treatment liquid toward the substrate W at high pressure in place of the two-fluid spray nozzle  134  or in addition to the two-fluid spray nozzle  134 .  
      It is preferable that a mechanism for all cleaning applications such as brush cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, high-pressure jet cleaning, and two fluid spray cleaning, for example, can be carried on one head (a swinging arm). It is preferable that two or more types of scrub brushes (e.g., ones made of different materials) can be carried on one head. These configurations make it possible to cope with a wider cleaning process.  
       FIG. 5  is an illustrative view for explaining an example of the configuration of the polymer removal unit SR. The polymer removal unit SR is a sheeting or single-substrate-processing type treatment unit for removing a polymer (a resist residue) adhering to a substrate W after the resist stripping treatment by the above-mentioned chemical liquid treatment unit MP and resist stripping treatment by ashing. More specifically, in the step of pattern-forming copper wiring, tungsten wiring, or polysilicon wiring, for example, etching treatment is performed for selectively removing a copper wiring film, a tungsten wiring film, or a polysilicon wiring film which are uniformly formed on the substrate W, and then resist stripping treatment is performed for removing a resist pattern used for the etching treatment. In such a case, the polymer removal unit SR is used to remove a resist residue which remains as a polymer without being removed by the resist stripping treatment.  
      The polymer removal unit SR comprises a spin chuck  160  for horizontally holding and rotating the substrate W in a treatment chamber  155 , and further comprises a chemical liquid nozzle  161  for supplying a chemical liquid for removing a polymer to an upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  160  and a deionized water nozzle  162  for supplying deionized water to the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  160 . Examples of the chemical liquid for polymer removal is as described above.  
      Used as the spin chuck  160  is one of a vacuum suction type (a vacuum chuck) capable of horizontally holding the substrate W by vacuum sucking a non-device formation surface (lower surface) of the substrate W in a state where a device formation surface of the substrate W is directed upward, for example. The spin chuck  160  of a vacuum suction type can rotate the held substrate W within a horizontal surface by rotating the substrate W around a vertical axis with the substrate W held therein, for example.  
      The spin chuck  160  is accommodated within a treatment cup  163 . The treatment cup  163  surrounds the spin chuck  160 , and has an annular discharge groove  164  for discharging deionized water or the like which has been used for treating the substrate W and an annular recovery groove  165  for recovering a chemical liquid which has been used for treating the substrate W at the bottom. The discharge groove  164  and the recovery groove  165  are partitioned by a cylindrical partition wall  166 , and an exhaust passage  167  having its one end facing the discharge groove  164  and opened is formed below the partition wall  166 . An in-cup exhaust pipe  168  extending toward an exhaust facility is connected to the other end of the exhaust passage  167 .  
      In relation to the treatment cup  163 , there is provided a splash guard  170  for acquiring a chemical liquid or deionized water to be scattered from the substrate W. The splash guard  170  has a shape which is substantially symmetrical about an axis of rotation of the substrate W, and an inner surface of its upper part is a discharged liquid acquisition section  171 , which is in a lateral-V-shape in cross section, opened so as to be opposed to the axis of rotation of the substrate W. Further, a recovered liquid acquisition section  172  having a downward-inclined curved surface directed radially outward in the rotation of the substrate W is formed below the splash guard  170 . A partition wall accommodation groove  173  for receiving the partition wall  166  in the treatment cup  163  is formed in the vicinity of an upper end of the recovered liquid acquisition section  172 .  
      The splash guard  170  is constructed so as to be raised and lowered to and from the treatment cup  163 , and can oppose the discharged liquid acquisition section  171  or the recovered liquid acquisition section  172  to a peripheral end surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  160  or can retreat downward from the position where the substrate W is held by the spin chuck  160  so as not to prevent the substrate W from being carried into or out of the spin chuck  160 . In a state where the discharged liquid acquisition section  171  is opposed to the peripheral end surface of the substrate W, the chemical liquid or the deionized water scattered from the substrate W can be acquired in the discharged liquid acquisition section  171 . The chemical liquid or the deionized water acquired in the discharged liquid acquisition section  171  flows down through the discharged liquid acquisition section  171 , to be collected in the discharge groove  164  in the treatment cup  163  and discharged toward a discharged liquid treatment facility (not shown) from the discharge groove  164 . In a state where the recovered liquid acquisition section  172  is opposed to the peripheral end surface of the substrate W, the treatment liquid (mainly, the chemical liquid) scattered from the substrate W can be acquired in the discharged liquid acquisition section  172 . The treatment liquid acquired in the recovered liquid acquisition section  172  flows down through the recovered liquid acquisition section  172 , to be collected in the recovery groove  165  in the treatment cup  163  and recovered in a recovered liquid treatment facility (not shown) from the recovery groove  165 .  
      A chemical liquid supply pipe  175  for supplying a chemical liquid from a chemical liquid supply source is connected to the chemical liquid nozzle  161 . A temperature adjuster  176  for adjusting the chemical liquid to a temperature suitable for treatment and a chemical liquid supply valve  177  for controlling the discharge of the chemical liquid from the chemical liquid nozzle  161  are interposed in this order from the chemical liquid supply source halfway in the chemical liquid supply pipe  175 .  
      A deionized water supply pipe  178  for supplying deionized water from a deionized water supply source is connected to the deionized water nozzle  162 . A deionized water supply valve  179  is interposed halfway in the deionized water supply pipe  178 . By opening or closing the deionized water supply valve  179 , it is possible to supply deionized water to the substrate W from the deionized water nozzle  162  or stop the supply of the deionized water to the substrate W.  
      The polymer removal unit SR further comprises a two-fluid spray nozzle  180  for supplying a jet of droplets of a treatment liquid to the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  160 . To the two-fluid spray nozzle  180 , a treatment liquid from a treatment liquid supply pipe  181  is supplied, and an inert gas (a nitrogen gas, etc.) is supplied from an inert gas supply valve  182 . A chemical liquid (e.g., a polymer removal liquid) from a chemical liquid supply valve  186  or deionized water from a deionized water supply valve  187  can be selectively supplied to the treatment liquid supply pipe  181 . Further, the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  is coupled to one end of a swinging arm  183  which swings along the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  160 . A nozzle swinging mechanism  184  for moving the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  on the substrate W by swinging the swinging arm  183  and a nozzle up-and-down mechanism  185  for moving the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  nearer to/away from the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  160  by raising and lowering the swinging arm  183  are coupled to the swinging arm  183 .  
      By such a configuration, even when the residue cannot be completely removed by the chemical liquid because it firmly adheres to the substrate W, the residue can be removed from the substrate W by a physical force due to a jet of droplets discharged from the two-fluid spray nozzle  180 . Further, when a chemical liquid (a polymer removal liquid, etc.) serving as a treatment liquid is supplied to the two-fluid spray nozzle  180 , the jet of droplets of the chemical liquid is supplied to the substrate W, thereby allowing a residue (a polymer, etc.) to be more efficiently removed by a multiplier effect of the chemical action of the chemical liquid and the physical action of the jet of droplets.  
       FIG. 6  is an illustrative sectional view for explaining the configuration of the bevel cleaning unit CB. The bevel cleaning unit CB in this example is a sheeting treatment unit, and has a large number of constituent elements similar to the constituent elements composing the chemical liquid treatment unit MP. In  FIG. 6 , sections having the same functions as those of the sections shown in  FIG. 2  are assigned the same reference numerals as those shown in  FIG. 2  and hence, the description thereof is not repeated.  
      The bevel cleaning unit CB in this example neither has a movement nozzle  95  and a structure relating thereto nor a two-fluid spray nozzle  100  and a structure related thereto. In the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, a chemical liquid or deionized water is supplied to a treatment liquid nozzle  72  for supplying a treatment liquid to an upper surface of a substrate W. In the bevel cleaning unit CB in this example, however, the deionized water is exclusively supplied to the treatment liquid nozzle  72 .  
      When the substrate W is held in a spin chuck  51 , treatment is started in a state where a shield plate  52  is lowered to a proximity position (e.g., a position where spacing between a substrate opposite surface  52   a  and an upper surface of the substrate W is 0.3 mm) where it comes nearer to the upper surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  51  and is held therein. That is, the spin chuck  51  is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed, so that the substrate W is rotated around a vertical axis passing through its center.  
      On the other hand, the shield plate  52  is rotated at approximately the same speed in the same direction as the substrate W in a state where it comes nearer to the upper surface of the substrate W. In this state, a chemical liquid supply valve  67  is opened, so that a chemical liquid is discharged from a lower surface nozzle  66  toward the center of a lower surface of the substrate W which is rotated together with the spin chuck  51 . The chemical liquid reaches the vicinity of the center of the lower surface of the substrate W, and is introduced into a peripheral edge of the substrate W through the lower surface of the substrate W upon receipt of a centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the substrate W. Consequently, the chemical liquid spreads throughout the whole area of the lower surface of the substrate W, so that the lower surface of the substrate W can be satisfactorily subjected to treatment using the chemical liquid.  
      The chemical liquid detours toward the upper surface of the substrate W through the peripheral edge of the substrate W, as illustrated in enlarged fashion in  FIG. 7 . The chemical liquid which has detoured is discharged outward from the substrate W by a centrifugal force after treating the peripheral end surface of the substrate W and a peripheral edge (a bevel portion) of the upper surface thereof. The treatment width at the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the substrate W can be controlled by the rotational speed of the spin chuck  51 , the flow rate of a nitrogen gas blown off from the center of the shield plate  52 , and the flow rate of the chemical liquid discharged from the lower surface nozzle  66 . Consequently, the chemical liquid can be prevented from reaching a central area which is an area inside the peripheral edge on the reverse surface of the substrate W and can restrict treatment in the central area. Since the upper surface of the substrate W is covered with the shield plate  52 , the reverse surface and the peripheral end surface of the substrate W can be subjected to selective etching treatment with high precision while protecting a device formation surface (upper surface) from the rebound of the chemical liquid.  
      When the whole area of the surface, the peripheral end surface, and the peripheral edge on the reverse surface of the substrate W are thus treated by the chemical liquid, the splash guard  54  is raised to a recovery position shown in  FIG. 6 . Consequently, the chemical liquid discharged outward from the substrate W is acquired in the recovered liquid acquisition section  92  in the splash guard  54 , and falls down toward the recovery groove  82  in the treatment cup  53  from a lower edge of the recovered liquid acquisition section  92  through the recovered liquid acquisition section  92 . The chemical liquid thus collected in the recovery groove  82  is recovered through the recovery line  85 , and is reused for the subsequent chemical liquid treatment.  
      After the substrate W is subjected to chemical liquid treatment over a predetermined time period in such a manner, the chemical liquid supply valve  67  is closed, so that the discharge of the chemical liquid from the lower surface nozzle  66  is stopped. The splash guard  54  is lowered from the recovery position to a discharge position where the discharged liquid acquisition section  91  in the splash guard  54  is opposed to an end surface of the substrate W held in the spin chuck  51 . On the other hand, the deionized water is supplied to the upper surface of the substrate W from the treatment liquid nozzle  72 , and the deionized water supply valve  68  is opened so that the deionized water is supplied toward the center of the lower surface of the substrate W from the lower surface nozzle  66 . The rotation of the spin chuck  51  is continued. Consequently, the deionized water supplied to the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate W expands throughout the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate W upon receipt of the centrifugal force. Consequently, rinsing treatment for washing away the chemical liquid adhering to the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate W is performed.  
      The deionized water, which has been subjected to the rinsing treatment, shaken down from the peripheral edge of the substrate W and scattered sideward is acquired in the discharged liquid acquisition section  91  in the splash guard  54  to lead to its lower edge through the discharged liquid acquisition section  91 , and falls down toward a discharge groove  81  in the treatment cup  53 , to be discharged through a discharge line  84 .  
      When the rinsing treatment is thus terminated, the discharge of the deionized water from the treatment liquid nozzle  72  is stopped. Further, the deionized water supply valve  68  is closed, so that the discharge of the deionized water from the lower surface nozzle  66  is stopped. The spin chuck  51  is rotated at high speed, to perform drying treatment for shaking down droplets adhering to the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate W by the centrifugal force to dry the substrate W. When the drying treatment is terminated, the shield plate  52  is raised to an upper retreat position, and the rotation of the spin chuck  51  is stopped. The splash guard  54  is lowered to the retreat position. In this case, the substrate W, which has been treated, held in the spin chuck  51  is carried out by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view for explaining the arrangement and the operation of clamp members  64  provided in the spin chuck  51 . In the spin chuck  51 , six clamp members F 1  to F 3  and S 1  to S 3  (the clamp member  64 ) are almost equally spaced at-a peripheral edge of the spin base  63  in a disk shape. Each of the clamp members F 1  to F 3  and S 1  to S 3  has a support  195  for point-contacting and supporting a lower surface at a peripheral edge of a substrate W and an clamp portion  196  for clamping a peripheral end surface of the substrate W, and is so constructed as to rotate around a vertical axis with the support  195  taken as its center. Consequently, the interposing portion  196  can take a clamping state where it is abutted against the peripheral end surface of the substrate W and a released state where it is caused to retreat from the peripheral end surface of the substrate W.  
      A first group of clamp members comprising three alternate clamp members F 1  to F 3  is synchronously driven by a first clamp member driving mechanism  191  (see  FIG. 6 ), and a second group of clamp members comprising the remaining three alternate clamp members S 1  to S 3  is synchronously driven by a second clamp member driving mechanism  192  (see  FIG. 6 ).  
      The first and second clamp member driving mechanisms  191  and  192  are so constructed that even if the spin chuck  51  is being rotated, the clamp members F 1  to F 3  and S 1  to S 3  are driven to be opened or closed. During the treatment of the substrate W, therefore, the clamp member driving mechanisms are so controlled as to allow switching from a first clamping state where the peripheral end surface of the substrate W is clamped by the first group of clamp members F 1  to F 3  to a second clamping state where the peripheral end surface of the substrate W is clamped by the second group of clamp members S 1  to S 3  through an intermediate clamping state where the peripheral end surface of the substrate W is clamped by both the first and second groups of clamp members F 1  to F 3  and S 1  to S 3 . When the clamp members enter the second clamping state, they are switched from the first clamping state through the intermediate clamping state. Such operations are repeatedly performed during the treatment of the substrate W so that the position where the substrate W is clamped on the peripheral end surface of the substrate W can be changed. Therefore, the treatment liquid can spread throughout the whole area of the peripheral end surface of the substrate W to perform good treatment over the whole periphery.  
       FIG. 9  is an illustrative sectional view for explaining the configuration of the gas phase cleaning unit VP. The gas phase cleaning unit VP is a sheeting treatment unit, and is used for the purpose of drying a hydrofluoric acid process, etching a silicon oxide film at a high selection ratio, and preventing organic matter, inorganic matter, and particles from adhering to a surface of activated silicon.  
      The gas phase cleaning unit VP comprises a hydrofluoric acid vapor generation chamber  243  storing a hydrofluoric acid solution  242  which is an example of a solution containing an acid in a sealed state within a housing  241 . A punching plate  244  formed with a large number of through holes for releasing a vapor including a hydrofluoric acid (a hydrofluoric acid vapor) downward is provided below the hydrofluoric acid vapor generation chamber  243 .  
      A hot plate  245  for holding a substrate W to be treated horizontally with the substrate W opposed to the punching plate  244  is arranged below the punching plate  244 . The hot plate  245  is fixed to an upper end of a rotating shaft  247  rotated around a vertical axis by a rotation driving mechanism  246  including a motor or the like.  
      Bellows  248  which contract up and down with respect to a bottom surface  241   a  of the housing  241  are provided outside, as viewed from the top, of the hot plate  245 . The bellows  248  are driven to extend/contract by a driving mechanism (not shown) between a sealed position where their upper edges are abutted against the periphery of the punching plate  244  to seal a space at a peripheral edge of the hot plate  245  to form a treatment chamber (a position indicated by a solid line in  FIG. 9 ) and a retreat position where the upper edges retreat below an upper surface  245   a  of the hot plate  245  (a position indicated by a broken line in  FIG. 9 ). The bellows  248  and the housing  241  thus form a treatment chamber having a double structure, so that safety is enhanced. In order to further enhance safety, it is preferable that a gas sensing system is employed to prepare for leakage of the hydrofluoric acid vapor.  
      An inner space of the bellows  248  is evacuated by an exhaust section  255  through an exhaust pipe  249  connected to the bottom surface  241   a  of the housing  241 . The exhaust section  255  may be a forced exhaust mechanism such as an exhaust blower or an ejector, or may be an exhaust facility provided in a clean room where the substrate surface treating apparatus is installed.  
      A carrying-in/carrying-out aperture  221  for carrying in/carrying out the substrate W is formed on a sidewall of the housing  241  beside the hot plate  245 . A shutter  238  is arranged in the carry-in/out aperture  221 . At the time of carrying in/carrying out the substrate W, the bellows  248  are lowered to the retreat position (the position indicated by the broken line in  FIG. 9 ), and the shutter  238  is opened, so that the substrate W is delivered between the substrate carrying robot  11  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the hot plate  245 .  
      A nitrogen gas supply pipe  254  for supplying a nitrogen gas serving as a carrier gas to a space  235  above a liquid surface of the hydrofluoric acid solution  242  is connected to the hydrofluoric acid vapor generation chamber  243 . Further, the space  235  can be connected to a hydrofluoric acid vapor supply passage  236  for introducing the hydrofluoric acid vapor to the punching plate  244  through a valve  237 . A nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas supply source  231  is supplied to the hydrofluoric acid vapor supply passage  236  through a flow rate controller (MFC)  232 , a valve  233 , and a nitrogen gas supply pipe  234 .  
      Furthermore, the nitrogen gas from the nitrogen gas supply source  231  is supplied to a nitrogen gas supply pipe  254  through a flow rate controller  252  and a valve  253 . The flow rate of the hydrofluoric acid vapor can be controlled at the flow rate of the nitrogen gas (inert gas) supplied to the nitrogen gas supply pipe  254 . Consequently, it is possible to realize treatment which makes it easy to manage the concentration of the hydrofluoric acid vapor supplied to the substrate W, is stable, and is superior in reproducibility.  
      The hydrofluoric acid solution  242  stored in the hydrofluoric acid vapor generation chamber  243  is prepared to the concentration of a so-called pseudo azeotropic composition (e.g., approximately 39.6% under atmospheric pressure and room temperature (20° C.)). In the hydrofluoric acid solution  242  having the pseudo azeotropic composition, water and hydrogen fluoride are equal in evaporation rate. Even if the hydrofluoric acid vapor is introduced into the punching plate  244  from the valve  237  through the hydrofluoric acid vapor supply passage  236  so that the hydrofluoric acid solution  242  in the hydrofluoric acid vapor generation chamber  243  is reduced, therefore, the concentration of the hydrofluoric acid vapor introduced into the hydrofluoric acid vapor supply passage  236  is kept unchanged.  
      When a gas phase etching process for removing an unnecessary material on the surface of the substrate W is carried out, the bellows  248  are raised to an adhesion position (the position indicated by the solid line in  FIG. 9 ) where they adhere to a peripheral edge of the punching plate  244 , and the valves  233 ,  253 , and  237  are opened. Consequently, the hydrofluoric acid vapor generated in the space  235  within the hydrofluoric acid vapor generation chamber  243  is pushed out toward the hydrofluoric acid vapor supply passage  236  through the valve  237  by the nitrogen gas from the nitrogen gas supply pipe  254 . The hydrofluoric acid vapor is further conveyed to the punching plate  244  by the nitrogen gas from the nitrogen gas supply pipe  234 . The hydrofluoric acid vapor is supplied to the surface of the substrate W through a through hole formed in the punching plate  244 .  
      On the surface of the substrate W, etching reaction occurs under involvement of water molecules in the vicinity of the substrate W, so that the unnecessary material is separated from the substrate W.  
      The etching rate by the hydrofluoric acid vapor greatly depends on the temperature of the substrate W. A current is carried into a heater inside the hot plate  245  so as to hold the substrate at a predetermined temperature.  
      In order to uniformly perform treatment within the surface of the substrate W, the hot plate  245  is rotated around a vertical axis at a predetermined speed by the rotation driving mechanism  246  through the rotating shaft  247 .  
       FIG. 10  is an illustrative plan view showing a first specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus. In the example of the configuration, two chemical liquid treatment units MP and two scrubbing units SS are respectively arranged in unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 . That is, the two types of treatment units are mounted on a frame  30  and contained therein. More specifically, the two scrubbing units SS are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  and  33  on the side of an indexer section  2 , and the two chemical liquid treatment units MP are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34  farther from the indexer section  2 . Further, a substrate reversing unit  12  for reversing the surface and the reverse surface of the substrate W carried from the treatment unit (here, the chemical liquid treatment units  32  and  34 ) by a substrate carrying robot  11  is arranged at a position nearer to a treatment fluid box  4  between the two chemical liquid treatment units MP in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34 .  
      FIGS.  11 ( a ),  11 ( b ), and  11 ( c ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the substrate treating apparatus in the first specific example shown in  FIG. 10 . The substrate W is a semiconductor wafer in this example. A plurality of device formation areas  302  separated by trenches  301  are formed on the surface of the substrate W, and a gate  303  is formed in each of the device formation areas  302 . FIGS.  11 ( a ) to  11 ( c ) illustrate a resist stripping and cleaning process of the substrate W carried out after the gate  303  is formed.  
      On a device formation surface Wa of the substrate W which has not been treated yet, for example, a resist  305  which has been used as a mask for dry etching for pattern formation of the gate  303  remains on the gate  303 . A residue (a resist residue: a polymer)  306  such as a reaction product at the time of dry etching adheres to a sidewall of the gate  303  and the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. Further, an electrostatic chuck trace (a contaminant)  307  at the time of dry etching adheres to a non-device formation surface Wb.  
      The substrate W which has not been treated yet is carried out of a cassette C by an indexer robot  22 , and is transferred to the substrate carrying robot  11 . At this time, the substrate W is in a horizontal posture where the device formation surface Wa is directed upward. The substrate W in this posture is carried into the chemical liquid treatment unit MP by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 11 ( a ), in the treatment chamber  60  in the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, a resist stripping liquid  308  composed of an SPM solution is supplied to the surface of the substrate W from the movement nozzle  95  so that resist stripping treatment is performed. That is, the spin chuck  51  is rotated while the movement nozzle  95  is swung along the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. Further, the sulfuric acid valve  88  and the hydrogen peroxide valve  89  are opened, so that the resist stripping liquid  308  is supplied to the movement nozzle  95 . Consequently, resist stripping treatment progresses on the whole surface of the substrate W.  
      After the resist stripping treatment is performed for only a sufficient time period to remove the resist  305  on the gate  303 , the supply of the resist stripping liquid  308  is stopped with the sulfuric acid valve  88  and the hydrogen peroxide valve  89  closed. Alternatively, the deionized water supply valve  90  is opened, to supply deionized water onto the substrate W and replace the resist stripping liquid on the substrate W. Thereafter, the deionized water supply valve  90  is closed, to make the movement nozzle  95  retreat toward the side of the spin chuck  51 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 11 ( b ), in the treatment chamber  60  in the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, a jet  309  of droplets of a polymer removal liquid is then supplied to the surface of the substrate W by the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 . That is, the polymer removal liquid (preferably, an inorganic liquid such as a dilute hydrofluoric acid solution) is supplied as a chemical liquid from the chemical liquid supply valve  115  to the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 , and an inert gas is further supplied from the inert gas supply valve  117 . On the other hand, at this time, the spin chuck  51  is rotated while the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  is swung back and forth in a range from the rotation center of the substrate W to the peripheral edge thereof. The range in which the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  swings may be a range from the peripheral edge of the substrate W to a peripheral edge on the opposite side of the substrate W through the rotation center of the substrate W (a range in which the nozzle crosses the substrate W through the rotation center).  
      By such treatment, the resist residue within the fine pattern on the substrate W is effectively removed simultaneously using the chemical action and the physical action by the jet of droplets of the polymer removal liquid. Moreover, within the same treatment chamber  60 , the resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment can be continuously performed with deionized water rinsing treatment interposed therebetween, thereby eliminating the necessity of drying the substrate W after the resist stripping treatment. Consequently, the polymer removal treatment can be efficiently performed, and a time period required for the whole of substrate treatment can be shortened. Further, the number of treatment chambers is reduced, thereby allowing the substrate treating apparatus to be miniaturized.  
      Because of the use of the SPM solution which is an inorganic acid chemical liquid in the resist stripping treatment, it is preferable that an inorganic polymer removal liquid is used as the polymer removal liquid. This allows the mixing of the inorganic chemical liquid and the organic chemical liquid to be restrained.  
      When the resist stripping treatment is terminated in the above-mentioned manner, the chemical liquid supply valve  115  and the inert gas supply valve  117  are closed to stop the supply of the polymer removal liquid to the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 . Alternatively, the deionized water supply valve  116  is opened to supply the deionized water to the two-fluid spraynozzle  100 . Consequently, the jet of droplets of the deionized water is supplied to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, so that the polymer removal liquid on the substrate W and the polymer residue separated from the substrate W are eliminated outward from the substrate W.  
      Thereafter, drying treatment for shaking down the droplets adhering to the substrate W is performed by closing the chemical liquid supply valve  115 , making the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  retreat toward the side of the spin chuck  51 , and rotating the spin chuck  51  at high speed. At this time, it is preferable that the shield plate  52  is lowered to a position in close proximity to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, and a nitrogen gas is supplied to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W from the nitrogen gas supply passage  73 , to perform the drying treatment of the substrate W in an inert gas atmosphere.  
      When the shield plate  52  is then introduced into the upper retreat position, and the rotation of the spin chuck  51  is stopped, so that the substrate W is carried out of the chemical liquid treatment unit MP by the substrate carrying robot  11 . The substrate carrying robot  11  carries the substrate W into the substrate reversing unit  12 . The substrate reversing unit  12  reverses the upper and lower surfaces of the carried substrate W. That is, the device formation surface Wa is a lower surface, and the non-device formation surface Wb is an upper surface. The substrate W in this posture is carried out of the substrate reversing unit  12  and is carried into the scrubbing unit SS by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
      In the scrubbing unit SS, the non-device formation surface Wb of the substrate W is scrubbed with the scrub brush  133 , as shown in  FIG. 11 ( c ). That is, the spin chuck  130  is rotated, and the deionized water supply valve  141  is opened so that deionized water is supplied to the non-device formation surface Wb from an upper surface deionized water nozzle  136 . In the state, the scrub brush  133  is lowered toward the rotation center of the substrate W so as to be brought into contact with the non-device formation surface Wb of the substrate W at predetermined contact pressure, and is then swung toward the peripheral edge of the substrate W. The scrub brush  133  is raised so as to be spaced apart from the non-device formation surface Wb when it reaches the peripheral edge of the substrate W, and is further moved upward from the rotation center of the substrate W. The scrub brush  133  is lowered toward the rotation center of the substrate W again. By repeating such operations, foreign matter on the non-device formation surface Wb of the substrate W (in this case, an electrostatic chuck trace  307 ) is discharged outward from the substrate W with the scrub brush  133 .  
      In order to restrain the detour of the foreign matter toward the device formation surface Wa which is the lower surface of the substrate W, it is preferable that cover rinsing treatment for opening the deionized water supply valve  142  to supply the deionized water to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W from a lower surface deionized water nozzle  137 , and covering and protecting the device formation surface Wa by a liquid film  310  of the deionized water is concurrently performed.  
       FIG. 12  is an illustrative plan view showing a second specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus. In the example of the configuration, two chemical liquid treatment units MP and two polymer removal units SR are respectively arranged in unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 . That is, the two types of treatment units are mounted on a frame  30  and contained therein. More specifically, the two polymer removal units SR are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  and  33  on the side of an indexer section  2 , and the two chemical liquid treatment units MP are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34  farther from the indexer section  2 . Although in the configuration shown in  FIG. 12 , a substrate reversing unit  12  is arranged at a position nearer to a treatment fluid box  4  between the two chemical liquid treatment units MP in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34 , the substrate reversing unit  12  need not be necessarily provided in treatment, described below.  
      FIGS.  13 ( a ) to  13 ( e ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the substrate treating apparatus in the second specific example shown in  FIG. 12 . In FIGS.  13 ( a ) to  13 ( e ), the same sections as the above-mentioned sections shown in FIGS.  11 ( a ) to  11 ( c ) are assigned the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS.  11 ( a ) to  11 ( c ). FIGS.  13 ( a ) to  13 ( e ) illustrate a resist stripping and cleaning process of the substrate W carried out after the gate  303  is formed.  
      The substrate W which has not been treated yet is carried out of a cassette C by an indexer robot  22 , and is transferred to the substrate carrying robot  11 . At this time, the substrate W is in a horizontal posture where the device formation surface Wa is directed upward. The substrate W in this posture is carried into the chemical liquid treatment unit MP by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 13 ( a ), in the treatment chamber  60  in the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, a resist stripping liquid  308  composed of an SPM solution is supplied to the surface of the substrate W from the movement nozzle  95  so that resist stripping treatment is performed. That is, the spin chuck  51  is rotated, and the movement nozzle  95  is swung along the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. Further, the sulfuric acid valve  88  and the hydrogen peroxide valve  89  are opened, so that the resist stripping liquid  308  is supplied to the movement nozzle  95 . Consequently, resist stripping treatment progresses on the whole surface of the substrate W.  
      After the resist stripping treatment is performed for only a sufficient time period to remove a resist  305  on a gate  303 , the supply of the resist stripping liquid  308  is stopped with the sulfuric acid valve  88  and the hydrogen peroxide valve  89  closed. Alternatively, the deionized water supply valve  90  is opened, to supply deionized water onto the substrate W and replace the resist stripping liquid on the substrate W. That is, as shown in  FIG. 13 ( b ), deionized water  311  is supplied to the device formation surface Wa (upper surface) of the substrate W from the movement nozzle  95 , and the deionized water supply valve  68  is opened so that deionized water  312  is supplied to the non-device formation surface Wb (lower surface) of the substrate W from the lower surface nozzle  66 . Consequently, both the surfaces of the substrate W are subjected to rinsing treatment.  
      Thereafter, the deionized water supply valves  90  and  68  are closed, so that the movement nozzle  95  is made to retreat toward the side of the spin chuck  51 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 13 ( c ), the shield plate  52  is lowered to a position in close proximity to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, and the spin chuck  51  and the shield plate  52  are further synchronously rotated at the same high speed in the same direction. Further, a nitrogen gas is supplied between the device formation surface Wa and the substrate opposite surface  52  a of the shield plate  52  from the nitrogen gas supply passage  73 . Consequently, the substrate W is subjected to spin drying treatment in an inert gas atmosphere.  
      The shield plate  52  is then introduced into the upper retreat position, and the rotation of the spin chuck  51  is stopped, so that the substrate W is carried out of the chemical liquid treatment unit MP by the substrate carrying robot  11 . The substrate carrying robot  11  carries the substrate W into the polymer removal unit SR.  
      In the polymer removal unit SR, the substrate W is held in the spin chuck  160  with the device formation surface Wa taken as an upper surface. The spin chuck  160  is rotated, and the chemical liquid supply valve  186  and the inert gas supply valve  182  are opened. Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 13 ( d ), a polymer removal liquid serving as a chemical liquid and a nitrogen gas serving as an inert gas are mixed by the two-fluid spray nozzle  180 , to form a mixed fluid, and a jet of droplets  313  of the polymer removal liquid contained in the mixed fluid is supplied to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. Consequently, the polymer  306  is efficiently removed by the multiplier effect of the chemical action of the polymer removal liquid and the physical action of the jet of droplets  313 .  
      Thereafter, the chemical liquid supply valve  186  and the inert gas supply valve  182  are closed, and the deionized water supply valve  179  is opened instead, so that deionized water is supplied to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W from the deionized water nozzle  162 . Consequently, the polymer removal liquid on the device formation surface Wa is replaced with the deionized water.  
      The deionized water supply valve  179  is then closed, and the deionized water supply valve  187  and the inert gas supply valve  182  are opened instead. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 13 ( e ), physical cleaning treatment using a jet of droplets  315  of the deionized water produced from the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  is performed. In this state, the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  is swung back and forth in a range from the rotation center of the substrate W to the peripheral edge thereof. The range in which the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  swings may be a range from the peripheral edge of the substrate W to a peripheral edge on the opposite side of the substrate W through the rotation center of the substrate W (a range in which the nozzle crosses the substrate W through the rotation center).  
      Thereafter, drying treatment for shaking down the droplets adhering to the substrate W is performed by closing the deionized water supply valve  187  and the inert gas supply valve  182 , making the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  retreat toward the side of the spin chuck  160 , and rotating the spin chuck  160  at high speed.  
      The polymer removal unit SR may comprise a shield plate, similarly to the chemical liquid treatment unit MP. When the shield plate is provided, it is preferable that the shield plate is lowered to a position in close proximity to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, and the inert gas is supplied between the shield plate and the device formation surface Wa, to perform the drying treatment of the substrate W in an inert gas atmosphere.  
      When the drying treatment is terminated, the rotation of the spin chuck  160  is stopped, so that the substrate W is carried out of the polymer removal unit SR by the substrate carrying robot  11 , is transferred to the indexer robot  22 , and is accommodated in the cassette C.  
      In the present embodiment, the resist stripping treatment is thus performed within the treatment chamber  60  in the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, the substrate after the resist stripping treatment is carried into the polymer removal unit SR, and polymer removal treatment is performed within the treatment chamber  155 . Therefore, a large amount of resist stripped from the substrate W by the resist stripping treatment in the chemical liquid treatment unit MP does not affect the subsequent polymer removal treatment. That is, when both the resist stripping treatment and the polymer removal treatment are performed within the treatment chamber  60 , the large amount of resist produced in the resist stripping treatment adheres to an inner wall of the treatment chamber  60 , and falls down during the polymer removal treatment and the subsequent spin drying treatment to adhere to the substrate W again, so that the substrate W may be contaminated again. This problem can be solved by the configuration of the present embodiment, so that the resist and the polymer can be precisely removed from the substrate W.  
      If a contaminant such as an electrostatic chuck trace on the side of the non-device formation surface Wb of the substrate W must be removed, an etchant (a cleaning liquid, e.g., a mixture of a hydrofluoric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution) may be supplied toward the non-device formation surface Wb from the lower surface nozzle  66  in the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, for example.  
       FIG. 14  is an illustrative plan view showing a third specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus. In the example of the configuration, two polymer removal units SR and two scrubbing units SS are respectively arranged in unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 . That is, the two types of treatment units are mounted on a frame  30  and contained therein. More specifically, the two scrubbing units SS are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  and  33  on the side of an indexer section  2 , and the two polymer removal units SR are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34  farther from the indexer section  2 . Further, a substrate reversing unit  12  for reversing the surface and the reverse surface of the substrate W carried from the treatment unit (here, the polymer removal unit SR) by the substrate carrying robot  11  is arranged at a position nearer to a treatment fluid box  4  between the two polymer removal units SR in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34 .  
      FIGS.  15 ( a ),  15 ( b ), and  15 ( c ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the substrate treating apparatus in the third specific example shown in  FIG. 14 . The substrate W is a semiconductor wafer in this example. A semiconductor device is formed on the substrate W, and a multilayer wiring layer  320  is further formed thereon. The multilayer wiring layer  320  comprises a copper wiring  321  and a low dielectric-constant film (a so-called Low-k film having a lower dielectric constant than that of silicon oxide)  322  serving as an interlayer insulating film, for example. An aperture  323  for interlayer connection is formed at a predetermined position on the copper wiring  321 . FIGS.  15 ( a ),  15 ( b ) and  15 ( c ) illustrate a process for removing a resist residue  326  which remains on the substrate W after resist used as a mask in dry etching treatment for forming the aperture  323  is stripped. That is, the resist residue  326  remains on a device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. Further, an electrostatic chuck trace  327  serving as a contaminant from an electrostatic chuck used at the time of dry etching treatment adheres to a non-device formation surface Wb of the substrate W.  
      The substrate W which has not been treated yet is carried out of the cassette C by the indexer robot  22 , and is transferred to the substrate carrying robot  11 . At this time, the substrate W is in a horizontal posture where the device formation surface Wa is directed upward. The substrate W in this posture is carried into the polymer removal unit SR by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
      In the polymer removal unit SR, the substrate W is held in the spin chuck  160  with the device formation surface Wa taken as an upper surface. As shown in  FIG. 15 ( a ), the spin chuck  160  is rotated, and the chemical liquid supply valve  177  is opened, so that a polymer removal liquid  328  serving as a chemical liquid is supplied to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W from the chemical liquid nozzle  161 . Consequently, the polymer removal liquid  328  spreads throughout the whole area of the substrate W, so that a resist residue  326  is removed, or adhesion to the substrate W is weakened. The polymer removal liquid may be supplied from the two-fluid spray nozzle  180 .  
      Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 15 ( b ), the chemical liquid supply valve  177  is closed, and the deionized water supply valve  179  is opened instead, so that deionized water  325  is supplied to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W from the deionized water nozzle  162 . Consequently, the polymer removal liquid on the device formation surface Wa is replaced with the deionized water  325 .  
      The deionized water supply valve  179  is then closed, so that physical cleaning treatment by the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  is performed, as shown in  FIG. 15 ( c ). That is, the deionized water supply valve  181  and the inert gas supply valve  182  are opened, so that a jet of droplets  329  of the deionized water is supplied toward the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W from the two-fluid spray nozzle  180 . In this state, the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  is swung back and forth in a range from the rotation center of the substrate W to the peripheral edge thereof. The range in which the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  swings is a range from the peripheral edge of the substrate W to a peripheral edge on the opposite side of the substrate W through the rotation center of the substrate W (a range in which the nozzle crosses the substrate W through the rotation center).  
      In such a way, the resist residue  326  whose adhesion is weakened by the action of the polymer removal liquid is eliminated from the substrate W. Particularly, the resist residue  326  adhering to an inner wall of a microscopic aperture for interlayer connection  323  is difficult to remove only by the supply of the polymer removal liquid  328  from the chemical liquid nozzle  161  but can be effectively eliminated outward from the substrate W by physical cleaning treatment by the two-fluid spray nozzle  180 .  
      Thereafter, drying treatment for shaking down the droplets adhering to the substrate W is performed by closing the deionized water supply valve  181  and the inert gas supply valve  182 , making the two-fluid spray nozzle  180  retreat toward the side of the spin chuck  160 , and rotating the spin chuck  160  at high speed.  
      The polymer removal unit SR may comprise a shield plate, similarly to the chemical liquid treatment unit MP. When the shield plate is provided, it is preferable that the shield plate is lowered to a position in close proximity to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, and an inert gas is supplied between the shield plate and the device formation surface Wa, to perform the drying treatment of the substrate W in an inert gas atmosphere.  
      When the drying treatment is terminated, the rotation of the spin chuck  160  is stopped, so that the substrate W is carried out of the polymer removal unit SR by the substrate carrying robot  11 . The substrate carrying robot  11  carries the substrate W into the substrate reversing unit  12 . The substrate reversing unit  12  reverses the upper and lower surfaces of the carried substrate W. That is, the device formation surface Wa is a lower surface, and the non-device formation surface Wb is an upper surface. The substrate W in this posture is carried out of the substrate reversing unit  12  and is carried into the scrubbing unit SS by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
      Treatment in the scrubbing unit SS is substantially the same as the above-mentioned treatment described with reference to  FIG. 11 ( c ) and hence, the description thereof is not repeated.  
       FIG. 16  is an illustrative plan view showing a fourth specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus. In the example of the configuration, two polymer removal units SR and two bevel cleaning units CB are respectively arranged in unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 . That is, the two types of treatment units are mounted on a frame  30  and contained therein. More specifically, the two bevel cleaning units CB are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  and  33  on the side of an indexer section  2 , and the two polymer removal units SR are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34  farther from the indexer section  2 .  
      In the substrate treating apparatus in the fourth specific example, treatment for the same purpose as that in the case of the apparatus in the third specific example is performed, and treatment in the polymer removal unit SR is as shown in FIGS.  15 ( a ),  15 ( b ), and  15 ( c ), described above.  
      In the substrate treating apparatus in the forth specific example, the substrate W which has been treated in the polymer removal unit SR is carried out by the substrate carrying robot  11 , and is carried into the bevel cleaning unit CB in a posture where the device formation surface Wa is directed upward (that is, without being reversed by the substrate reversing unit  12 ). That is, in the example of the configuration, the substrate reversing unit  12  need not be necessarily provided.  
       FIG. 17  is an illustrative sectional view for explaining the treatment in the bevel cleaning unit CB. In  FIG. 17 , the same sections as the above-mentioned sections shown in FIGS.  15 ( a ),  15 ( b ), and  15 ( c ) are assigned the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS.  15 ( a ) to  15 ( c ). The substrate W is held in the spin chuck  51  and rotated with the device formation surface Wa directed upward. The shield plate  52  is brought nearer to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, and is synchronously rotated at the same speed in the same direction as the spin chuck  51 . Correspondingly, a nitrogen gas is blown off between the device formation surface Wa and the substrate opposite surface  52   a  of the shield plate  52  from the nitrogen gas supply passage  73 .  
      On the other hand, the chemical liquid supply valve  67  is opened, so that an etchant (a cleaning liquid: e.g., a mixture of a hydrofluoric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution)  330  serving as a chemical liquid is supplied to the center of the non-device formation surface Wa of the substrate W from the lower surface nozzle  66 . The etchant  330  expands radially outward in the rotation through the non-device formation surface Wb of the substrate W, to treat the whole area of the non-device formation surface Wb, and further leads to the peripheral edge of the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W through the peripheral end surface of the substrate W, to also treat the areas. Consequently, foreign matter (an electrostatic chuck trace  327  ) adhering to the non-device formation surface Wb is eliminated.  
      While the substrate W is being rotated, the whole area of the peripheral end surface of the substrate W can be cleaned throughout by varying a position to be interposed by the clamp member  64 , as described above.  
      When the chemical liquid supply valve  67  is then closed to stop the supply of the etchant, the deionized water supply valve  68  is opened, so that the deionized water is discharged from the lower surface nozzle  66 . Consequently, the etchant is eliminated from the non-device formation surface Wb, the peripheral end surface, and the peripheral edge of the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. At this time, the deionized water may be also discharged from the treatment liquid nozzle  72 , to concurrently subject the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W to deionized water rinsing treatment.  
      Thereafter, drying treatment for shaking down the droplets on the substrate W and dry the substrate W is performed by closing the deionized water supply valve  68  to stop the supply of the deionized water to the substrate W and rotating the spin chuck  51  at high speed. At this time, the shield plate  52  is held at a position in close proximity to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, to prevent the droplets from adhering due to rebound.  
      As in the treatment shown in FIGS.  15 ( a ),  15 ( b ) and  15 ( c ) and  FIG. 17 , it is preferable that after the substrate W having a low dielectric-constant film  322  formed therein is subjected to treatment using the treatment liquid, the substrate W is subjected to reduced-pressure drying treatment. The reason for this is that many of Low-k materials are generally porous and hygroscopic, and the dielectric constant thereof may be varied by taking in a gas at the time of etching and ashing, thereby causing the possibility of degrading device characteristics. The liquid and the gas which have entered into the inside of the material are difficult to remove only by spin drying treatment.  
      Therefore, in the substrate treating apparatus according to the present embodiment, a unit arrangement section (not shown) for arranging a reduced-pressure heating and drying unit is provided above the unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 . The reduced-pressure drying unit comprises a hot plate for heating the substrate W, a heat treatment chamber accommodating the hot plate, and an exhaust mechanism for evacuating the heat treatment chamber to reduce pressure. The substrate W is dried while simultaneously performing heating and pressure reduction by such a reduced-pressure heating and drying unit to evaporate and eliminate a residue (particularly, a liquid) entering a porous structure, thereby allowing the dielectric constant of the low dielectric-constant film  322  to be maintained.  
       FIG. 18  is an illustrative plan view showing a fifth specific example of the configuration of the substrate treating apparatus. In the example of the configuration, two chemical liquid treatment units MP and two vapor phase cleaning units VP are respectively arranged in unit arrangement sections  31  to  34 . That is, the two types of treatment units are mounted on a frame  30  and carried therein. More specifically, the two chemical liquid treatment units MP are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  31  and  33  on the side of an indexer section  2 , and the two gas phase cleaning units VP are respectively arranged in the unit arrangement sections  32  and  34  farther from the indexer section  2 .  
      FIGS.  19 ( a ) to  19 ( d ) are illustrative sectional views showing the steps of a substrate treatment process by the substrate treating apparatus in the fifth specific example shown in  FIG. 18 . The substrate W is a semiconductor wafer in this example. A gate oxide film  331 , a nitride film  332 , and a BPSG film  333  are stacked and formed on a device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. After the films are stacked and formed on the whole surface of the substrate W, a resist pattern is formed on the BPSG film  333 , and the BPSG film  333  is patterned, as shown in  FIG. 19 ( a ), by the resist pattern. Dry etching treatment is performed using the patterned BPSG film  333  as a mask, so that the nitride film  332  and the gate oxide film  331  are patterned, and trenches for device separation  335  are formed on the substrate W. A reaction product  336  at the time of dry etching also exists on the substrate W. Treatment shown in FIGS.  19 ( a ) to  19 ( d ) is a selective etching process for selectively removing the BPSG film  333  and the reaction product  336  from the substrate W while restraining the effect on the gate oxide film  331  (particularly, side etching) to a minimum.  
      The substrate W which has not been treated yet is carried out of the cassette C by the indexer robot  22 , and is transferred to the substrate carrying robot  11 . At this time, the substrate W is in a horizontal posture where the device formation surface Wa is directed upward. The substrate W in this posture is carried into the vapor phase cleaning unit VP by the substrate carrying robot  11 .  
      In the gas phase cleaning unit VP, the substrate W is placed on a hot plate  245  with the device formation surface Wa directed upward, and a vapor  337  including a hydrofluoric acid is supplied to the substrate W in a state where the substrate W is heated, as shown in  FIG. 19 ( a ). The hot plate  245  is controlled to adjust the temperature of the substrate W to a temperature at which a high etching selection ratio (e.g., 1000:1) of the BPSG film  333  to the gate oxide film  331  is obtained, thereby making it possible to remove the BPSG film  333  while restraining damage to the gate oxide film  331  (particularly, side etching) to a minimum.  
      After selective etching treatment using a hydrofluoric acid vapor is performed until the BPSG film  333  is completely removed, the substrate carrying robot  11  carries the substrate W out of the gas phase cleaning unit VP, and carries the substrate W into the chemical liquid treatment unit MP without changing the posture (that is, without being reversed by the substrate reversing unit  12 ). In the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, treatment for removing the reaction product  336  (particularly, one within the trench  335 ) which cannot be completely removed by the selective etching treatment using the hydrofluoric acid vapor is performed.  
      As shown in  FIG. 19 ( b ), in the chemical liquid treatment unit MP, physical cleaning treatment using the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  is first performed. At this time, deionized water from the deionized water supply valve  116  and an inert gas from the inert gas supply valve  117  are supplied to the two-fluid spray nozzle  100 . Consequently, the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  supplies a jet of droplets  338  of the deionized water toward the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W. At this time, the spin chuck  51  which holds the substrate W is rotated, and the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  is swung so as to move back and forth between the rotation center of the substrate W and the peripheral edge thereof. The range in which the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  swings may be a range from the peripheral edge of the substrate W to a peripheral edge on the opposite side of the substrate W through the rotation center of the substrate W (a range in which the nozzle crosses the substrate W through the rotation center).  
      By a physical force due to the jet of droplets of the deionized water, a reaction product  336  adhering to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W (particularly, an inner wall of the trench  335 ) is detached from the substrate W and is eliminated outward from the substrate W.  
      Thereafter, the deionized water supply valve  116  and the inert gas supply valve  117  are closed, to make the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  retreat toward the side of the spin chuck  51 , and the substrate W is then subjected to deionized water cleaning treatment.  
      That is, as shown in  FIG. 19 ( c ), the deionized water supply valve  90  is opened so that a deionized water  339  is supplied to the device formation surface Wa (upper surface) of the substrate W from the movement nozzle  95 , and the deionized water supply valve  68  is further opened so that a deionized water  340  is supplied to a non-device formation surface Wb (lower surface) of the substrate W from the lower surface nozzle  66 . Consequently, both the surfaces of the substrate W is subjected to rinsing treatment.  
      Thereafter, the deionized water supply valves  90  and  68  are closed, so that the movement nozzle  95  is made to retreat toward the side of the spin chuck  51 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 19 ( d ), the shield plate  52  is lowered to a position in close proximity to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, and the spin chuck  51  and the shield plate  52  are further synchronously rotated at the same high speed in the same direction. Further, a nitrogen gas is supplied between the device formation surface Wa and the substrate opposite surface  52   a  of the shield plate  52  from the nitrogen gas supply passage  73 . Thus, the substrate W is subjected to spin drying treatment in an inert gas atmosphere.  
      The gate oxide film  331 , the nitride film  332 , and the surface of the substrate W itself are exposed to the device formation surface Wa of the substrate W, so that there occur situations where a water mark is easily produced because hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions are mixed. Even under such situations, such good drying treatment that no water mark is produced is allowed by spin drying under an inert gas atmosphere.  
      After the gas phase cleaning treatment shown in  FIG. 19 ( a ), the deionized water cleaning treatment shown in  FIG. 19 ( c ) may be further added before the physical cleaning treatment by the two-fluid spray nozzle  100  shown in  FIG. 19 ( b ). In such a way, the gas phase cleaning treatment in  FIG. 19 ( a ) can be quickly stopped by the deionized water cleaning treatment, so that the gas phase cleaning treatment can be uniformly performed within the device formation surface Wa.  
      Although description has been made of the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention can be also embodied by another embodiment. For example, a combination of treatment units incorporated in the unit arrangement sections  31  to  34  may be one other than the foregoing. An arbitrary combination can be employed in a range of a combination of treatments which can be implemented by each of the treatment units. The treatments which can be implemented by the treatment units are together shown in the following Table 1.  
                                   TABLE 1                       Type of Treatment   MP   SS   SR   CB   VP                                                            FEOL   Cleaning before film   ∘   ∘                       formation/           before diffusion           Cleaning after   ∘   ∘           film formation           Cleaning after CMP   ∘   ∘           Cleaning after   ∘   ∘   ∘           etching           Cleaning after ashing   ∘   ∘   ∘           High-precision   ∘               ∘           etching           Reverse surface/       ∘       ∘           bevel cleaning           Reverse surface               ∘           etching           Wafer reproduction   ∘           Resist stripping   ∘       ∘           Selective etching                   ∘       BEOL   Cleaning after film   ∘   ∘           formation           Cleaning after CMP   ∘   ∘           Cleaning after   ∘   ∘   ∘           etching           Cleaning after ashing   ∘   ∘   ∘           Reverse surface/       ∘       ∘           bevel cleaning           Reverse surface               ∘           etching           Wafer reproduction   ∘           Resist stripping   ∘       ∘                  
 
      In Table 1, FEOL (Front End of the Line) indicates a preliminary process (a process before metal wiring of the first layer) in a semiconductor fabrication process. BEOL (Back End of the Line) indicates a process for forming multilayer wiring after the preliminary process. For example, reverse surface etching in the FEOL is treatment for selectively removing, when a polysilicon film and a nitride silicon film are formed by a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, the films adhering to a non-device formation surface (reverse surface). On the other hand, reverse surface etching in the BEOL is treatment for selectively removing, after a copper thin film for wiring is formed, for example, an unnecessary copper thin film adhering to a non-device formation surface (reverse surface).  
      The cleaning treatment before film formation is cleaning before film formation on the substrate W, and cleaning treatment before diffusion is cleaning before heat treatment for diffusing impurity ions implanted into the substrate W. Chemical liquids such as a hydrofluoric acid, SC1 (a mixture of ammonia and a hydrogen peroxide solution), and SC2 (a mixture of a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution), for example, are used for the cleaning treatment.  
      CMP indicates chemical mechanical polishing treatment. Further, high-precision etching represents etching treatment requiring high-precision in-plane uniformity, for example, etching of a gate oxide film. Wafer reproduction indicates treatment for stripping a structure formed on a surface and reusing a semiconductor wafer when problems such as a wiring mistake occur.  
      Furthermore, although in the above-mentioned embodiment, description has been made of a case where two types of treatment units are used, three types of treatment units, for example, a polymer removal unit SR, a bevel cleaning unit CB, and a scrubbing unit SS may be combined. The treatment in this case may be treatment for removing a resist residue on a device formation surface of a substrate W in the polymer removal unit SR, then removing a metal contaminate on a non-device formation surface and a peripheral end surface of the substrate W in the bevel cleaning unit CB, then reversing the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate W by a substrate reversing unit  12 , and then subjecting a non-device formation surface of the substrate W to scrubbing in the scrubbing unit SS. Of course, the four types of treatment units may be combined. Alternatively, if five unit arrangement sections are provided within the frame  30 , combinations of five types of treatment units are also possible.  
      Although in the above-mentioned embodiment, description has been made of a case where the four unit arrangement sections  31  to  34  are provided in the frame  30 , at least two unit arrangement sections may be provided. Other than that, the number of unit arrangement sections is not limited.  
      Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.  
      The present application corresponds to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2003-403575 filed with the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 2, 2003 and No. 2004-93487 filed with the Japanese Patent Office on Mar. 26, 2004, the disclosures of which are hereinto incorporated by reference.