Abstract: A method an apparatus for drying a wafer, and an apparatus for cleaning and drying a wafer are provided. In the apparatus for cleaning and drying a wafer, the wafer is dipped into a cleaning solution in a cleaning tank. The wafer is then dried using a drying gas in a drying chamber disposed over the cleaning tank. A shutter separates the cleaning tank from the drying tank. A wafer boat moves the wafer vertically between the cleaning tank and the drying tank. Nozzles for providing the cleaning solution onto the wafer are disposed at both inner sides of the drying tank. The nozzles are connected to a drying gas supply unit to alternately and periodically provide the drying gas onto the wafer.

Abstract: A method of detecting a defect in a semiconductor device may involve immersing a substrate into a chemical solution. The substrate may support a metal wiring and an insulation layer may cover the metal wiring. The chemical solution may permeate through the defect such as a pinhole and/or a crack (for example) of the insulation layer, and may corrode the metal wiring. The metal wiring may be inspected for corrosion to detect the defect of the insulation layer. The method may be implemented before packaging the semiconductor device.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers includes a chamber, a bubbler having a vapor generating part for generating alcohol vapor and a spray pipe for spraying the alcohol vapor into the chamber, a gas supply nozzle for spraying gas into the chamber to dry the wafers, a liquid supply nozzle for supplying cleaning liquid into the chamber and a discharge system. The spray pipe of the bubbler has a liquid retention portion that keeps condensate of the alcohol vapor from issuing into the chamber. The gas supply nozzle has a spray outlet configured to spray the same amount of the drying gas onto all of the wafers in the chamber. The liquid supply nozzle has liquid supply openings only in a side portion thereof so that liquid alcohol will not become trapped therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning substrates includes a supporting member supporting substrates in an upright position, and a liquid supplying member including a first nozzle disposed at one side of a vertical centerline of the substrates, and a second nozzle is disposed at another side of the vertical centerline of the substrates. Each of the first and second nozzles may include first injection holes to inject cleaning liquid toward lower ends of the substrates or regions adjacent to the lower ends of the substrates.

Abstract: A resist removing composition having a superior capability for removing a resist, polymer, organometallic polymer and etching by-products such as metal oxide, which does not attack underlying layers exposed to the composition and which does not leave residues after a rinsing step. The resist removing composition contains alkoxy N-hydroxyalkyl alkanamide and a swelling agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a drying room in which a support member for supporting a plurality of wafers is disposed. The apparatus further includes a drying gas-supply element for supplying a drying gas to the substrates supported by the support member. The drying gas-supply element includes nozzles located within the drying room and arranged in a plurality of groups, and supply pipes for supplying a drying gas to the nozzles. Nozzles belonging to a first group are formed such that the density of the openings in a spray port is higher in a front region than in other regions, and nozzles belonging to a second group are formed such that density of openings in a spray port is higher in a rear region than in other regions. Different supply pipes can be connected to nozzles belonging to different groups, and a flow control valve can be installed in each of the supply pipes.

Abstract: A wafer guide includes a horizontal support panel and at least three vertical panels attached on one surface of the support panel. Each of the vertical panels has a vertical body panel and a plurality of protrusions upwardly extended from a top surface of the vertical body panel. Gap regions between the protrusions act as slots for holding wafers. Sidewalls of the slots have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a top view, and bottom surfaces of the slots also have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a cross sectional view that crosses the vertical panels.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a cleaning apparatus and method can prevent adsorption of nano-size particles by wafers. The apparatus includes a cleaning chamber for filling with a cleaning solution for cleaning an object and a drying chamber disposed over the cleaning chamber for drying the object by supplying drying fluid from an upper part. It also includes a transferring unit for transferring the object by moving it between the cleaning and drying chambers. Further, it includes a moveable exhaust plate disposed between the drying chamber and the cleaning chamber for dividing the two chambers and for exhausting the drying fluid supplied to the drying chamber. The drying fluid flows in a uniform laminar flow in the drying chamber.

Abstract: A wafer guide includes a horizontal support panel and at least three vertical panels attached on one surface of the support panel. Each of the vertical panels has a vertical body panel and a plurality of protrusions upwardly extended from a top surface of the vertical body panel. Gap regions between the protrusions act as slots for holding wafers. Sidewalls of the slots have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a top view, and bottom surfaces of the slots also have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a cross sectional view that crosses the vertical panels.

Abstract: A wafer drying apparatus may include a porous member for absorbing alcohol. The alcohol may have a higher vapor pressure than water remaining on a wafer. The porous member may migrate from the center of the wafer to the edge of the wafer. Alcohol vapor evaporated from the porous member may push the water to the outside of the wafer.

Abstract: A wafer guide used in cleaning and/or drying processes of semiconductor wafers is provided. The wafer guide includes a horizontal support panel and at least three vertical panels attached on one surface of the support panel. Each of the vertical panels has a vertical body panel and a plurality of protrusions upwardly extended from a top surface of the vertical body panel. Gap regions between the protrusions act as slots for holding wafers. Sidewalls of the slots have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a top view, and bottom surfaces of the slots also have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a cross sectional view that crosses the vertical panels. Accordingly, contact areas between the wafers and the wafer guide are reduced to improve a drying efficiency of the wafers.

Abstract: A method of detecting a defect in a semiconductor device may involve immersing a substrate into a chemical solution. The substrate may support a metal wiring and an insulation layer may cover the metal wiring. The chemical solution may permeate through the defect such as a pinhole and/or a crack (for example) of the insulation layer, and may corrode the metal wiring. The metal wiring may be inspected for corrosion to detect the defect of the insulation layer. The method may be implemented before packaging the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A wafer guide includes a horizontal support panel and at least three vertical panels attached on one surface of the support panel. Each of the vertical panels has a vertical body panel and a plurality of protrusions upwardly extended from a top surface of the vertical body panel. Gap regions between the protrusions act as slots for holding wafers. Sidewalls of the slots have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a top view, and bottom surfaces of the slots also have a convex shaped profile when viewed from a cross sectional view that crosses the vertical panels.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a chamber for containing a fluid, a guide seated in the chamber, and a transfer robot for loading and/or unloading a plurality of wafers to and/or from the guide. The wafers are located on the guide. The guide has a supporting member for supporting a wafer and a stopper member for preventing the wafer from being inclined over a predetermined range. The stopper member is in contact with a wafer edge disposed at a higher position than a wafer edge supported by the supporting member. A wafer guide has a stopper member to prevent adjacent wafers from being inclined and coming in contact with each other. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a poor drying such as water spots (or watermarks) produced when wafers are adhered to each other in a drying process.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for drying a wafer, and an apparatus for cleaning and drying a wafer are provided. In the apparatus for cleaning and drying a wafer, the wafer is dipped into a cleaning solution in a cleaning tank. The wafer is then dried using a drying gas in a drying chamber disposed over the cleaning tank. A shutter separates the cleaning tank from the drying tank. A wafer boat moves the wafer vertically between the cleaning tank and the drying tank. Nozzles for providing the cleaning solution onto the wafer are disposed at both inner sides of the drying tank. The nozzles are connected to a drying gas supply unit to alternately and periodically provide the drying gas onto the wafer.

Abstract: A drying apparatus and method of drying a wafer including supplying a drying material for drying a wafer and controlling a flow of the drying material to uniformly or substantially dry the wafer. The flow of the drying material may be controlled by a vent unit including at least one part for controlling the flow of the drying material to uniformly or substantially uniformly dry the wafer.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for cleaning semiconductor substrates prevents the drying fluid used to dry the substrates from condensing. The apparatus has a chamber having an exhaust port that defines a path along which the drying fluid, e.g., IPA vapor, is exhausted. The degree to which the exhaust path is opened is regulated according to the pressure within the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning semiconductor substrates includes a chamber having a cleaning room and a drying room disposed over the cleaning room. The cleaning room and the drying room are separated or placed in communication with one another by a separation plate. An exhaust path is formed at a central portion of the separation plate. As de-ionized water (DI water) filling the cleaning room is drained during a dry process, the inside of the drying room is decompressed, and a drying fluid in the drying room flows from the drying room to the cleaning room along the exhaust path.

Abstract: An apparatus of drying semiconductor substrate using azeotrope effect and a drying method using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a bath for storing a fluid, a chamber located above the bath and an apparatus for supplying an organic solvent onto the surface of the fluid in the bath for forming an azeotrope layer at the surface of the fluid and for forming an organic solvent layer over the azeotrope layer. The organic solvent layer and the atmosphere thereon are heated by a heater. The apparatus may further include a drying gas conduit for introducing a drying gas into the chamber.

Abstract: A resist removing composition having a superior capability for removing a resist, polymer, organometallic polymer and etching by-products such as metal oxide, which does not attack underlying layers exposed to the composition and which does not leave residues after a rinsing step. The resist removing composition contains alkoxy N-hydroxyalkyl alkanamide and a swelling agent.