Patent ID: 7247581

Claim:
An atomic layer deposition method for treating a plurality of discrete semiconductor substrates, comprising: placing the plurality of discrete semiconductor substrates in a reaction chamber, individual ones of the semiconductor substrates comprising upper and lower surfaces wherein at least a portion of the lower surface is resistant to treatment; simultaneously exposing the plurality of discrete semiconductor substrates to one or more of H, F and Cl within the reaction chamber to remove exposed native oxide from the upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrates; after removing the native oxide, simultaneously exposing the plurality of discrete semiconductor substrates to a first reactive material within the reaction chamber to form a first mass over at least some of the upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrates; removing the first reactive material from within the reaction chamber; and after removing the first reactive material, simultaneously exposing the plurality of discrete semiconductor substrates within the reaction chamber to a second reactive material to convert the first mass to a second mass.