Patent ID: 8303791

Claim:
An electrochemical process comprising: providing a 125 mm or larger semiconductor wafer in electrical contact with a conducting surface, wherein at least a portion of the semiconductor wafer is in contact with an electrolytic solution, said semiconductor wafer functioning as a first electrode; providing a second electrode in the electrolytic solution, the first and second electrode connected to opposite ends of an electric power source; and irradiating a surface of the semiconductor wafer with a light source as an electric current is applied across the first and the second electrodes, wherein the electrochemical process is an electroplating process in which one or more elements from the group consisting of Ru, Re, Ni, Pd, Co, Pt, Rh, Cr, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, Ce, Ta, Hf, Ti, Al, V, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Nb, Mo, Ag, In, Sn, Sb, Te, W, Os, Ir, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi or any combination thereof is electroplated on the semiconductor wafer, wherein the light source is provided within a tool head that is in contact with the electrolyte solution and is pneumatically sealed from the electrolyte solution, wherein the irradiated surface of the semiconductor wafer is opposite to the side at which the electroplating process takes place, and wherein the conducting surface is a mesh electrode.