Patent ID: 8034725

Claim:
A multi-station sequential deposition apparatus for depositing a material on a semiconductor substrate, the deposition apparatus comprising: a first station for heat soaking the semiconductor substrate without depositing the material; one or more additional stations for depositing the material on the semiconductor substrate; and a controller comprising instructions for introducing the semiconductor substrate to a first station of the deposition chamber; heating the semiconductor substrate in the first station while flowing a purge gas over the substrate, wherein the purge gas is substantially free of a reactant process gas being delivered in other stations of the deposition chamber and wherein no reactant gas flows to the substrate through the showerhead at the first station while the substrate is in the first station; moving the semiconductor substrate from the first station to a second station; flowing the reactant process gas onto the semiconductor substrate while positioned in the second station, thereby depositing the material on the semiconductor substrate; and removing the semiconductor substrate from the deposition chamber.