Patent ID: 8455370

Claim:
A method for transferring semiconductor wafers between a first epitaxial growth environment where the wafer resides during periods of epitaxial growth and a second transfer environment where the wafer resides during other periods, which method comprises: bathing a surface of a wafer with one or more gases for a selected period of time, the gases comprising an active gas that is chemically reactive with the wafer surface so as to limit decomposition or sublimation of the surface, and then transferring the wafer from one of the first or second environments to the other; and continuing to bathe the wafer surface with the gas until the wafer surface temperature falls below temperatures at which decomposition or sublimation of the wafer surface in the absence of the gas are significant; wherein the wafer is bathed in the second environment, and the temperature of the second environment is lower than the temperature of the first environment; wherein the wafer is initially present in the first environment and then is transferred from the first environment to the second environment; or wherein the wafer is initially transferred from the first environment to the second environment and then is bathed with the one or more gases.