Patent ID: 6875289

Claim:
A method of rinsing a microelectronic device comprising: immersing at least a portion of a surface of the microelectronic device within an immersion vessel containing a liquid bath; separating the microelectronic device from the liquid bath into a gas environment and, during such separation, forming a meniscus at an interface between the surface of the microelectronic device and the liquid bath; and delivering a cleaning enhancement substance into the gas environment and specifically directed to the meniscus that is formed while the microelectronic device is separated from the liquid bath, the delivery of cleaning enhancement substance being conducted as a series of gas streams formed by a nozzle with a series of delivery orifices arranged along the direction of extension of the meniscus along the surface of the microelectronic device so that a gradient in the surface tension of the liquid at the meniscus is created.