Patent ID: 8585830

Claim:
A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device that applies exposure processing to the substrate by a liquid immersion method, and includes first, second and third processing units, comprising the steps of: forming a photosensitive film made of a photosensitive material on an upper surface of the substrate by said first processing unit before the exposure processing by said exposure device; rotating the substrate about a vertical axis while holding the substrate substantially horizontally in said second processing unit after the formation of said photosensitive film by said first processing unit and before the exposure processing by said exposure device; supplying a washing liquid onto the photosensitive film, formed on the upper surface of the substrate being rotated in said second processing unit; forming a liquid layer of the washing liquid having an upper surface that is exposed to atmosphere and in a free state, on the photosensitive film formed on the upper surface of the substrate by adjusting a rotation speed of the substrate in said second processing unit, the liquid layer of the washing liquid being formed to cover the entire upper surface of the substrate; stopping the supply of the washing liquid after forming the liquid layer of the washing liquid; supplying an inert gas from a nozzle for drying processing to a center of the liquid layer on the photosensitive film on the substrate such that the washing liquid at the center of the photosensitive film on the substrate is moved to a peripheral portion of the substrate in said second processing unit while the upper surface of the liquid layer on the photosensitive film on the substrate is exposed to atmosphere and is in a free state, after the supply of the washing liquid is stopped, an opening formed in the liquid layer being enlarged by a centrifugal force without the nozzle for drying processing being moved; removing the liquid layer on the photosensitive film on the substrate by increasing the rotation speed of the substrate after the opening formed in the liquid layer is enlarged such that the liquid layer is present only on the peripheral portion of the substrate; transporting the substrate after the washing processing to said exposure device; transporting the substrate from said exposure device; and applying development processing by said third processing unit to the substrate transported after the exposure processing by said exposure device.