Patent ID: 7235495

Claim:
A method of making an oxide layer, comprising the steps of: a. cleaning a semiconductor substrate to provide a bare semiconductor surface; b. forming a substantially saturated or saturated oxide layer directly or indirectly on the bare semiconductor surface of a semiconductor substrate such that the substantially saturated or saturated oxide layer has a thickness in the range of from about 8 angstroms to about 20 angstroms, wherein the forming step comprises chemically growing a saturated or substantially saturated oxide on the semiconductor surface; and c. precision etching the thickness of the substantially saturated or saturated oxide layer in a uniform manner and by an amount in the range of from 0.5 angstrom to about 18 angstroms, wherein precision etching comprises the steps of: i. providing the semiconductor substrate having a saturated or substantially saturated oxide on the semiconductor surface in a bath of non-etching liquid; ii. introducing an etching chemical into the bath while at least partially enveloping the semiconductor substrate in eddy currents of the bath liquid and increasing the concentration of etching chemical in a non-step manner throughout the bath; and iii. introducing non-etching liquid into the bath resulting from step (c.ii) while at least partially enveloping the semiconductor substrate in eddy currents of the bath liquid and decreasing the concentration of etching chemical in a non-step manner throughout the bath.