Patent ID: 6896740

Claim:
A method of cleaning a structure comprising: positioning a structure within an at least substantially enclosed treatment vessel; performing an etching process on a portion of said structure within said at least substantially enclosed treatment vessel; substantially filling said at least substantially enclosed treatment vessel with a gas inert to said structure and inert to said at least substantially enclosed treatment vessel, creating an atmosphere of inert gas inside said at least substantially enclosed treatment vessel; rinsing said structure with DI water in said atmosphere of inert gas; submerging said structure in a DI water bath in said at least substantiallly enclosed treatment vessel, said DI water bath forming a surface with said atmosphere of inert gas; forming a continuous layer of a liquid upon said surface of said DI water bath, said continuous layer of said liquid comprising an anhydrous liquid; contacting substantially all of said structure with said continuous layer of said liquid; and entraining said DI water bath below said continuous layer of said liquid.