Patent ID: 8153536

Claim:
A semiconductor wafer transfer device associated with semiconductor processing equipment that includes a first environment having a growth chamber for gas-phase epitaxial deposition and a second, lower temperature environment, the device comprising: a support member; a plurality of gas outlet ports in the support member for discharging gas; at least one gas inlet port in the support member for receiving one or more gases from one or more external gas sources; at least one passageway from the inlet port to the outlet ports having gas flowing within, the gas comprising an active portion that is chemically reactive with one or more semiconductor materials so as to limit decomposition or sublimation of a surface of a wafer comprising such materials; and temperature control means to control the temperature of the transfer device and gases flowing therein; wherein the temperature of the second environment is lower than the temperature of the first environment, and as the transfer device transfers the wafer from the growth chamber of the first environment to the second environment, the transfer device bathes with the gas until the wafer surface temperature falls below temperatures at which decomposition or sublimation of the wafer surface in the absence of the gas are significant.