Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for cleaning semiconductor wafers using a dilute aqueous solution including at least 80% deionized water, sulfuric acid, an oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide, and a small amount of hydrofluoric acid (HF), preferably in the range of about 5 ppm to about 12 ppm. The automated system mixes the water, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and HF to form a cleaning solution having a target HF concentration within the preferred range, for example at 8 ppm. Subsequently, the system maintains the HF concentration at least within about 0.5 ppm to about 1 ppm of the target HF concentration. Thus the system allows effective and predictable cleaning of semiconductor wafers while minimizing damage to metal features, and minimizing cost and waste disposal impacts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating the surface of a substrate includes generating ozone in a generation chamber by using an optical source and transporting the ozone to a treatment chamber containing the substrate. The surface treatment utilizes an optical energy source and the generated ozone. The generation chamber and the treatment chamber are initially isolated from one another, which allows for the selective regulation of delivering ozone from the generation chamber to the treatment chamber. Preferably, a single optical source both generates ozone in the generation chamber and serves to clean and/or planarize the surface in the treatment chamber.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) conductor and the process of making the conductor. The conductor may be a monofilament conductor, a clad conductor or a coaxial conductor. A trench is formed in a dielectric layer. An outer material layer is deposited on the dielectric layer and in the trench, thick enough that the outer material layer merges together in a seam over the trench forming a void under the seam. The outer material layer is dielectric for the monofilament conductor, a cladding material for the clad conductor and conducting material for the coaxial conductor. The void is filled with a conductor for a monofilament or clad conductors. An inner dielectric liner layer is formed on the walls of the void and a core conductor is formed on the liner layer for the coaxial conductor.

Abstract: An aqueous etchant composition containing about 0.01 to about 15 percent by weight of sulfuric acid and about 0.01 to about 20 percent by weight of hydrogen peroxide or about 1 to 30 ppm of ozone is effective in removing polymer residue from a substrate, and especially from an integrated circuit chip having aluminum lines thereon.