Patent ID: 8709949

Claim:
A method for removing oxide comprising: providing an enclosed and controlled environment, the temperature of the enclosed and controlled environment maintained below 156 degrees Celsius; placing a focal plane array within the enclosed and controlled environment, the focal plane array comprising at least one interconnect component formed of indium, wherein an oxide layer is formed on the at least one interconnect component; supplying nitrogen gas within the enclosed and controlled environment to substantially purge the enclosed and controlled environment of oxygen; exposing the at least one interconnect component of the focal plane array to a formic acid vapor; and while exposing the at least one interconnect component to the formic acid vapor, exposing the at least one interconnect component to UV light, wherein the simultaneous exposure of the at least one interconnect component to the formic acid vapor and the UV light results in a substantial removal of the oxide layer formed on the at least one interconnect component.