Patent ID: 7344983

Claim:
A method for the integrated pre-cleaning of a semiconductor surface and surface preparation for forming metal and silicide contacts thereon; wherein said method is implemented in a cluster tool for the removal of a dry chemical oxide by a gaseous medium operating under a vacuum condition; comprising a plurality of segmented steps of: providing a silicon semiconductor substrate having a native oxide film present on a surface thereof; uninterruptedly and continuously imparting said vacuum condition to said semiconductor surface during the implementation of said method having said oxide film thereon; performing said dry processing chemical oxide removal (COR) in a plasma-free application resulting in the absence of a plasma on said semiconductor surface for removing said native oxide film, while maintaining said vacuum condition so as to produce an oxygen-free semiconductor surface; and without breaking said vacuum condition in order to avoid an exposure of said surface to air, depositing a metal on said oxygen-free semiconductor surface and forming said silicide and metal contacts on said surface.