Patent ID: 6949145

Claim:
A method for removing at least one contaminant from a surface, comprising: applying at least one reactant to the surface, the at least one reactant selected from a group consisting of ozone, hydrogen, nitrogen, nitrogen oxides, nitrogen triflouride, helium, argon, neon, sulfur trioxide, oxygen, fluorine, fluorocarbon gases, ethanol, acetone, ethanol-acetone mixtures, isopropyl alcohol, methanol, methyl formate, methyl iodide, and ethyl bromide, the at least one reactant in a form selected from a group consisting of a gas and a vapor, the at least one reactant sufficient for reacting with the at least one contaminant on the surface, wherein the at least one contaminant is other than a metal contaminant; allowing the at least one reactant to condense on the surface; and applying cryogenic material to the surface.