Abstract: An on-line method of cleaning contaminants from at least one interior surface in plasma chambers comprises blasting one or more interior surfaces of a plasma chamber with dry ice to remove contaminants from the one or more surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for simulating a standard wafer in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The apparatus includes a support layer suitable for being handled by the semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Applied to the support layer is a mixture including a process agent and a material. During use, the present invention simulates a standard production wafer including material similar to that in the mixture of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of improving the post-etch corrosion resistance of aluminum-containing wafers by performing a two-step post-etch passivation sequence which does not involve a plasma. In the first step the pressure is high, relative to typical passivation procedures, and the wafer temperature is relatively low. In the second step, the pressure is ramped down and the wafer temperature is ramped up. This two-step approach results in a more-efficient removal of chlorine from the wafer, and hence improved corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for simulating a standard wafer in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The apparatus includes a support layer suitable for being handled by the semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Applied to the support layer is a mixture including a process agent and a material. During use, the present invention simulates a standard production wafer including material similar to that in the mixture of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for simulating a standard wafer in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The apparatus includes a support layer suitable for being handled by the semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Applied to the support layer is a mixture including a process agent and a material. During use, the present invention simulates a standard production wafer including material similar to that in the mixture of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inventive multiple-chemistry etching method suited for etching through selected portions of layers in a layer stack in a plasma processing chamber. The layer stack preferably includes at least an anti-reflective layer and a metallization layer disposed below the anti-reflective layer. The method includes a first etching step where the anti-reflective layer of the layer stack is at least partially etched with a first chemistry, the first chemistry comprising an etchant chemical and a polymer-forming chemical. Once the first etching step is complete, the method proceeds to a second etching step where at least part of the metallization layer of the layer stack is etched with a second chemistry different from the first chemistry.