Abstract: An apparatus for processing an edge surface of a wafer comprises a lower chamber having a first supporting area configured to support the wafer, an upper chamber having a second supporting area, and a first channel formed by the first supporting area, the second supporting area and peripheral areas thereof. The upper chamber is engaged with the lower chamber to position the wafer between the first supporting area and the second supporting area. The first channel is configured to provide a first space to flow one or more chemical fluids for etching an edge area of the wafer. The upper chamber comprises a protrusion part being configured to resist against an outer edge of the wafer in order to align the central axis of the wafer with the central axis of the second supporting area. This disclosure can process the edge of wafers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing semiconductor wafer blanks comprises an enclosed chamber with upper and lower plates with a plurality of fluid openings leading from a source of chemical cleaning fluids, flushing fluid and dry nitrogen gas. The top plate also acts as a vacuum chuck to hold the wafer after the top surface has been cleaned and may rotate or oscillate to enhance the cleaning of the lower wafer surface. The method includes a chemical cleaning of the wafer top followed by processing the lower surface by pumping appropriate chemicals through the lower plate center toward the wafer periphery while the wafer is extremely close to the surface so that the outward moving fluids cover the wafer surface and are sparingly used. As the chemicals flow toward the periphery, their strength is renewed by the addition of new chemicals pumped through additional holes.