Patent ID: 8921296

Claim:
A solution for application onto a wafer surface, the wafer surface including a metallic capping layer, the solution effective for rinsing corrosion product of the metallic capping layer from the wafer surface while reducing corrosion of the metallic capping layer, the solution comprising, a surfactant, the surfactant configured to enhance wetting of the wafer surface and to inhibit further corrosion of the capping layer, the concentration of the surfactant in the solution being approximately in the range of 10 ppm to 2000 ppm; wherein the solution is maintained at a pH of approximately 1.8 to 1.9 during the application onto the wafer surface; wherein the surfactant is an amphoteric surfactant; further comprising oxalic acid dihydrate as a complexing agent configured to bind to corrosion product which has dissolved off of the wafer surface and into the solution; and further comprising hypophosphorous acid as a pH adjusting agent configured to reduce the pH of the solution to approximately 1.8 to 1.9 during the application onto the wafer surface.