Abstract: There is provided a cleaning solution spraying unit. The cleaning solution spraying unit comprises a number of nozzles installed in a nozzle base, along a top surface of a wafer, and radially spraying a cleaning solution on the wafer, wherein the nozzle base is positioned above the wafer; and a power unit rotating the nozzles at a predetermined angle relative to a line extending perpendicularly from the top surface of the wafer. In addition, provided is a wafer cleaning apparatus including the cleaning solution spraying unit with the above-described constitution.

Abstract: In a substrate transfer robot and a substrate cleaning apparatus, the substrate transfer robot transfers substrates between a container supported by a load port and a processing module for cleaning the substrates. The substrate transfer robot includes a driving member that provides a driving force to transfer the substrates, a blade that transfers the substrates using the driving force, and a sensor that senses impurities existing on the blade. When the impurities are detected, a controller can control the operation of the driving member. Thus, the contamination of other substrates in the container can be effectively prevented.

Abstract: A megasonic cleaner includes a rotatable wafer supporting member for supporting a wafer; a cleaning solution supply member for supplying a cleaning solution to a wafer placed on the wafer supporting member; at least two vibration transfer members for agitating cleaning solutions supplied to different areas of the wafer placed on the wafer supporting member; and a vibration generating member for oscillating the at least two vibration transfer members. The cleaner has at least two quartz rods for transferring oscillation energy. Using the quartz rods, oscillation energy is transferred to respective areas of a wafer to clean the wafer. Thus, a difference between cleaning efficiencies of wafer edge and center is reduced or substantially eliminated to achieve a uniform cleaning efficiency on an entire surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer drying apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, this apparatus includes a bath which can contain much deionized water so that semiconductor wafers soak in the deionized water; a chamber providing a space where vapor flows over the bath; a vapor supply line supplying vapor to the internal space of the chamber; an exhaust line discharging vapor contained in the chamber; a deionized water exhaust line discharging deionized water in the bath; a semiconductor wafer holder supporting the semiconductor wafer in the bath; and pitch guides placed at left and right sides of the semiconductor wafer, movable to a first position and a second position in a vertical direction, wherein the pitch guides are separated from the semiconductor wafer at the first position and contact the semiconductor wafer at the second position thus preventing the movement of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer drying apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, this apparatus includes a bath which can contain much deionized water so that semiconductor wafers soak in the deionized water; a chamber providing a space where vapor flows over the bath; a vapor supply line supplying vapor to the internal space of the chamber; an exhaust line discharging vapor contained in the chamber; a deionized water exhaust line discharging deionized water in the bath; a semiconductor wafer holder supporting the semiconductor wafer in the bath; and pitch guides placed at left and right sides of the semiconductor wafer, movable to a first position and a second position in a vertical direction, wherein the pitch guides are separated from the semiconductor wafer at the first position and contact the semiconductor wafer at the second position thus preventing the movement of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices is provided for forming a tungsten plug or polysilicon plug and minimizing the step-height of the intermediate insulating layer. An etching composition for this process is also provided as are semiconductor devices manufactured by this process. The method of manufacturing semiconductor devices includes the steps of forming a tungsten film having a certain thickness on an insulating layer and burying contact holes formed in the insulating layer constituting a specific semiconductor structure, and spin-etching the tungsten film using a certain etching composition such that the tungsten film is present only inside the contact holes not existing on the insulating film.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices is provided, including the formation of a conductive plug and the minimizing of the step-height of an interlayer dielectric layer. An etching composition is also provided for such a manufacturing method. The method of manufacturing semiconductor devices includes the steps of forming an insulating layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming contact holes in the insulating layer, forming a conductive layer over the insulating layer to burying the contact holes, rotating the semiconductor substrate, and etching the conductive layer by supplying an etching composition on the rotating semiconductor substrate, and spin-etching the tungsten layer using an etching composition such that the conductive layer remains only inside the contact holes and does not remain over the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for removing impurities and deposits formed in a contact hole of a semiconductor device. The method comprises the step of bathing the semiconductor device in a solution having concentrations of between about 25 to 35 weight percent of Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), 2 to 4 weight percent of H2O2, 0.05 to 0.25 weight percent of HF, and the remaining percent of deionized water. Such bathing is preferably carried out with the solution maintained at a constant temperature of between about 20 to 25° C. for about 1 to 5 minutes.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices is provided, including the formation of a conductive plug and the minimizing of the step-height of an interlayer dielectric layer. An etching composition is also provided for such a manufacturing method. The method of manufacturing semiconductor devices includes the steps of forming an insulating layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming contact holes in the insulating layer, forming a conductive layer over the insulating layer to burying the contact holes, rotating the semiconductor substrate, and etching the conductive layer by supplying an etching composition on the rotating semiconductor substrate, and spin-etching the tungsten layer using an etching composition such that the conductive layer remains only inside the contact holes and does not remain over the insulating layer.

Abstract: A circulation system for supplying one or more chemicals, or mixtures thereof, includes a chemical tank containing the chemical. A chemical supply line is connected at one end to the chemical tank, through which the chemical from the chemical tank is supplied to one of a processing section, for performing a specific semiconductor device fabrication process, and a bypass section, for collecting the chemical while the processing section is idle. A supply nozzle, connected to another end of the chemical supply line, is movable between the processing section and the bypass section, such that the supply nozzle is selectively oriented above one of the processing section and the bypass section. A primary chemical re-circulation line connects the processing section and the chemical tank, and a chemical bypass line connects the bypass section and a portion of the primary chemical re-circulation line.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for wafer treatment during the manufacture of semiconductor devices. The apparatus for wafer treatment includes a shaft, a chuck supported by the shaft for holding a wafer to be treated, a solution nozzle for supplying a treatment solution for wafer treatment onto the wafer, a gas supplier for supplying a gas to the back side of the wafer, and a heater for heating the gas supplied to the back side of the wafer. The use of this apparatus improves the uniformity of a treatment process such as an etching process or a cleaning process by minimizing the temperature changes of the treatment solution supplied onto the wafer mounted on the spin chuck of the apparatus during the wafer treatment process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices is provided for forming a tungsten plug or polysilicon plug and minimizing the step-height of the intermediate insulating layer. An etching composition for this process is also provided as are semiconductor devices manufactured by this process. The method of manufacturing semiconductor devices includes the steps of forming a tungsten film having a certain thickness on an insulating layer and burying contact holes formed in the insulating layer constituting a specific semiconductor structure, and spin-etching the tungsten film using a certain etching composition such that the tungsten film is present only inside the contact holes not existing on the insulating film. The etching composition includes at least one oxidant selected from the group comprising H.sub.2 O.sub.2, O.sub.2, IO.sub.4.sup.-, BrO.sub.3, ClO.sub.3, S.sub.2 O.sub.8.sup.-, KlO.sub.3, H.sub.5 IO.sub.6, KOH, and HNO.sub.3, at least one enhancer selected from the group comprising HF, NH.sub.4 OH, H.

Abstract: A wafer cleaning apparatus includes at least one nozzle fixing tube disposed in a wall of a cleaning bath. A plurality of injection nozzles are arranged on the nozzle fixing tube for spraying a compressed cleaning solution toward the wafer. A rotating device rotates the at least one nozzle fixing tube and the plurality of injection nozzles within a predetermined angle.