Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
  • G01N29/02—Analysing fluids
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/18—Water
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
  • B08B3/10—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
  • B08B3/12—Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
  • H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
  • H01L21/02—Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
  • H01L21/02041—Cleaning
  • H01L21/02043—Cleaning before device manufacture, i.e. Begin-Of-Line process
  • H01L21/02052—Wet cleaning only
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
  • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
  • H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
  • H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
  • H01L21/67017—Apparatus for fluid treatment
  • H01L21/67028—Apparatus for fluid treatment for cleaning followed by drying, rinsing, stripping, blasting or the like
  • H01L21/6704—Apparatus for fluid treatment for cleaning followed by drying, rinsing, stripping, blasting or the like for wet cleaning or washing
  • H01L21/67057—Apparatus for fluid treatment for cleaning followed by drying, rinsing, stripping, blasting or the like for wet cleaning or washing with the semiconductor substrates being dipped in baths or vessels
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
  • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
  • H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
  • H01L21/67242—Apparatus for monitoring, sorting or marking
  • H01L21/67253—Process monitoring, e.g. flow or thickness monitoring
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/17—Nitrogen containing
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/17—Nitrogen containing
  • Y10T436/176152—Total nitrogen determined
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/20—Oxygen containing
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/20—Oxygen containing
  • Y10T436/207497—Molecular oxygen
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/20—Oxygen containing
  • Y10T436/207497—Molecular oxygen
  • Y10T436/209163—Dissolved or trace oxygen or oxygen content of a sealed environment

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a dissolved nitrogen concentration monitoring method, substrate cleaning method, and substrate cleaning apparatus for a wafer cleaning process.
• the present invention relates to a dissolved nitrogen concentration monitoring method, substrate cleaning method, and substrate cleaning apparatus for monitoring the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid into which a substrate, such as a wafer, is dipped.
• a substrate cleaning process using dipping, single- wafer, or like method is performed to remove factors
• Such factors include organic substances, metal impurities, particles (fine particles), and chemical oxide films.
• a substrate cleaning process employs various types of cleaning methods depending on the purpose.
• a substrate is dipped into a cleaning liquid contained in a cleaning bath, and ultrasonic waves are irradiated onto the cleaning liquid where the substrate is dipped.
• ultrasonic waves are called megasonic waves, whose frequency range is around 1 MHz. It is generally recognized that use of ultrasonic waves in a frequency range of around 1 MHz reduces damage to the substrate and increases the effectiveness of cleaning micro particles of submicron sizes on the substrate.
• the particle removal efficiency is known to be affected by the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid. Specifically, in a
• the particle removal efficiency for substrate increases. If the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid is monitored and controlled to be in a certain range during the cleaning process, effective removal of particles is theoretically possible.
• Patent Document 1 gas components contained in a fluid medium are introduced into a container through a polymer membrane, and the concentration of the gas components are calculated based on changes in the thermal conductivity in the container.
• This method has been employed to monitor the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid .
• Irradiation of ultrasonic waves onto sample water containing nitrogen gas generates hydrogen
• Patent Document 2 A method based on this mechanism has been proposed for calculating the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a sample (Patent Document 2) .
• the ion amount derived from nitrogen atoms is measured by a resistivity meter, and the dissolved nitrogen concentration of the sample is calculated based on the ion amount .
• Patent Document 1 Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H03-176640
• Patent Document 2 Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-131308
• the dissolved oxygen concentration of gas components are measured using the polarography method or the like, and measurements of the dissolved oxygen
• a dissolved nitrogen concentration monitoring method directed to monitoring a dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid when an ultrasonic wave is irradiated onto the cleaning liquid in which a substrate is dipped.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration monitoring method is characterized by comprising the steps of: measuring an increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration of the cleaning liquid, which is due to an oxygen molecule generated from a water molecule as a result of a radical reaction caused by ultrasonic wave irradiation; and calculating a dissolved nitrogen concentration of the cleaning liquid from the measured increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration based on a predetermined relationship between a dissolved nitrogen
• cleaning liquid is calculated from an increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration measured by a dissolved oxygen concentration meter based on dissolved gas information
• the dissolved gas information is compiled in advance for each of cleaning conditions of the substrate.
• the cleaning conditions of the substrate include an ultrasonic output power level.
• the dissolved gas information indicates that as the ultrasonic output power level increases, the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration corresponding to a specific dissolved nitrogen concentration increases.
• the cleaning conditions of the substrate include an overflow rate of a cleaning liquid.
• the dissolved gas information indicates that as the overflow rate decreases, a rate of change in the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration increases with respect to the dissolved nitrogen concentration.
• the cleaning liquid is water.
• the substrate cleaning method of the present invention is a method for cleaning a substrate by irradiating an ultrasonic wave onto a cleaning liquid into which the substrate is dipped.
• the increase amount of the dissolved oxygen concentration in the cleaning liquid which is due to an oxygen molecule generated from a water molecule as a result of a radical reaction caused by ultrasonic wave irradiation, is measured.
• the mixture ratio of a cleaning liquid with dissolved nitrogen gas, which is to be introduced into a cleaning bath is adjusted so that the increase amount of the dissolved oxygen concentration is in a specific range where the cleaning performance is high.
• the substrate cleaning apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for cleaning a substrate by irradiating an ultrasonic wave to a cleaning liquid into which the substrate is dipped.
• This apparatus measures the increase amount of the dissolved oxygen concentration in the cleaning liquid, which is due to an oxygen molecule generated from a water molecule as a result of a radical reaction caused by ultrasonic wave
• this apparatus adjusts the mixture ratio of a cleaning liquid with dissolved nitrogen gas, which is to be introduced into a cleaning bath, so that the increase amount of the dissolved oxygen concentration is in a specific range where the cleaning performance is high.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid is calculated from the measured increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration based on a predetermined relationship between the dissolved nitrogen concentration and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration can be calculated by measuring the dissolved oxygen concentration of a cleaning liquid, no complicated operation is required. Since the relationship between the dissolved nitrogen concentration and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration is predetermined, the dissolved nitrogen concentration can be accurately calculated using this relationship. Cost reduction is also possible as use of expensive dissolved nitrogen concentration meters is not necessary, and real-time measurement is possible since the dissolved oxygen concentration can be measured using a
• cleaning liquid can be made without complicated operations.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration of the cleaning liquid is calculated from the increase amount of dissolved oxygen
• dissolved oxygen concentration measured by a dissolved oxygen concentration meter As an inexpensive dissolved oxygen concentration meter can be used for measurement of the dissolved nitrogen
• the dissolved gas information is produced in advance for each of substrate cleaning conditions, even when a cleaning condition is changed, the dissolved nitrogen
• the aforementioned substrate cleaning conditions include the ultrasonic output power level. Even when the output power level of ultrasonic waves irradiated onto a cleaning liquid is changed, the dissolved nitrogen concentration can be accurately calculated based on the dissolved gas information that
• the aforementioned dissolved gas information indicates that as the ultrasonic output power level increases, the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration corresponding to a specific dissolved nitrogen concentration increases. By increasing the ultrasonic output power level, the calculatable value of the dissolved nitrogen concentration increases, and the accuracy of measurement thereof increases.
• the aforementioned substrate cleaning conditions include the overflow rate of a cleaning liquid. Even when the overflow rate of a cleaning liquid is changed, the dissolved nitrogen concentration can be accurately calculated based on the dissolved gas information that corresponds to the changed overflow rate.
• the aforementioned dissolved gas information indicates that as the overflow rate decreases, the rate of change in the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration increases with respect to the dissolved nitrogen concentration. By decreasing the overflow rate, the dissolved nitrogen
• the mixture ratio of a cleaning liquid with dissolved nitrogen gas, which is to be introduced into a cleaning bath is adjusted so that the increase amount of the dissolved oxygen concentration is in a specific range where the cleaning performance is high.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus to which a monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied .
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring unit that performs a monitoring method according a present embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram showing changes in the dissolved oxygen concentration of ultrapure water with a dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 of 0.2 ppm when ultrasonic waves are irradiated onto the ultrapure water.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the dissolved oxygen concentration of ultrapure water with a dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 of 13.5 ppm when ultrasonic waves are irradiated onto the ultrapure water.
• FIGs. 5 (a) and (b) are diagrams that indicate a
• FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram plotting each of the ultrasonic output power levels
• FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram depicting approximation equations for each ultrasonic output power level.
• FIGs. 6 (a) and (b) are diagrams that indicate a
• FIG. 6 (a) is a diagram plotting each of the overflow rates
• FIG. 6 (b) is a diagram depicting approximation equations of overflow rates.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a dissolved nitrogen concentration calculation process executed during performance of a monitoring method according an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the increase amount of the dissolved oxygen concentration ADQ2 an d the particle removal efficiency.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus to which a monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring unit that performs the monitoring method according the present embodiment.
• an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 1 is comprised of a supply unit 10, a coupling bath 21, an
• the supply unit 10 supplies a cleaning liquid, such as ultrapure water, to a cleaning bath 20.
• the coupling bath 21 houses the cleaning bath 20.
• the irradiation unit 30 is disposed at the bottom of the coupling bath 21 and irradiates ultrasonic waves onto inside the cleaning bath 20.
• the monitoring unit 40 monitors the dissolved nitrogen concentration of the cleaning liquid supplied to inside the cleaning bath 20.
• the supply unit 10 has a first supply valve 11 that supplies ultrapure water with dissolved nitrogen gas to a below-described mixed bath and a second supply valve 12 that supplies degassed ultrapure water to the below-described mixed bath.
• the ultrapure water with dissolved nitrogen gas and the degassed ultrapure water are mixed at a location downstream from the first supply valve 11 and the second supply valve 12.
• the mixed pure water is supplied to a liquid introduction pipe, which will be described below, via a pipe installed inside the cleaning bath 20.
• the cleaning bath 20 has a wafer holder 22 that holds inside a wafer W, e.g., a semiconductor wafer, and stores the mixed ultrapure water while the wafer holder 22 is holding a substrate W.
• the substrate W is thereby dipped into the mixed cleaning liquid in the cleaning bath 20.
• Liquid introduction pipes 23 are arranged at a lower portion of the cleaning bath 20, so that the liquid introduction pipes 23 supply the mixed ultrapure water to the cleaning bath at a predetermined
• the coupling bath 21 is connected with a supply line (not shown) other than the supply unit 10 and is supplied with water at a predetermined overflow rate.
• the irradiation unit 30 irradiates the ultrasonic waves onto the mixed ultrapure water in the cleaning bath 20 via the water stored in the coupling bath 21.
• the wafer W dipped in the mixed ultrapure water is thereby cleaned. It is preferable to use ultrasonic waves whose frequency ranges from 400 kHz to 1 MHz .
• the monitoring unit 40 includes a sampling pipe 41, a pump 42, a dissolved oxygen concentration meter 43, and a determination unit 44.
• the sampling pipe 41 extracts the mixed ultrapure water in a predetermined amount.
• the pump 42 is connected to the sampling pipe 41 and supplies a predetermined amount of mixed ultrapure water to a below-described dissolved oxygen concentration meter.
• the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 43 which is connected to the pump 42 at a location downstream thereof, measures the dissolved oxygen concentration of the mixed ultrapure water and sends electric signals
• the determination unit 44 determines the dissolved nitrogen concentration in the cleaning bath 20 based on the electric signals sent from the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 43.
• the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 43 is, for example, a dissolved oxygen concentration meter using the polarography method. In the polarography method, two types of metals are dipped in an electrolyte solution, and a certain voltage is applied between the two metals to cause an oxidation reduction reaction. Then the current proportional to the dissolved oxygen concentration of the electrolyte solution is measured.
• the determination unit 44 has a receiving section 45, a storage section 46, a control section 47, and a display 48.
• the receiving section 45 receives electric signals from the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 43.
• the storage section 46 stores dissolved gas information, which indicates a predetermined relationship between the dissolved nitrogen concentration and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration.
• control section 47 calculates the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid from the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration measured by a dissolved oxygen concentration meter based on the dissolved gas information, which indicates the relationship between the dissolved nitrogen concentration of the cleaning liquid and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration thereof.
• the display 48 displays the dissolved nitrogen concentration calculated by the control section 47.
• the control section 47 performs overall control of each section of the monitoring unit 40 and reads out a program stored in the storage section 46 to execute the below-described dissolved nitrogen concentration calculating process (FIG. 7) .
• the particle removal efficiency of a cleaning method using ultrasonic waves is affected by the dissolved nitrogen concentration of ultrapure water. Specifically, it is known that the particle removal efficiency for a wafer increases when the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid is in a specific range. In view of this theory, the present
• the inventors focused on dissolved oxygen concentration, which can be effortlessly measured at low costs, and found out a method for monitoring the dissolved nitrogen concentration of a cleaning liquid.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration is calculated based on the dissolved oxygen concentration during irradiation of ultrasonic waves. The specifics of this monitoring method are explained in the text to follow.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram showing changes in the dissolved oxygen concentration of ultrapure water when ultrasonic waves are irradiated onto ultrapure water.
• ultrapure water with a dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 of 0.2 ppm is used to explain changes in the dissolved oxygen concentration.
• the cleaning bath 20 in FIGs. 3 and 4 is a rectangular water bath made of 3.0 mm-thick plates of quartz glass. The internal dimensions of this bath were 270 mm wide ⁇ 69 mm deep ⁇ 270 mm high, and its capacity was 5 L. The volume of ultrapure water supplied to the cleaning bath 20 is 5 L/min.
• the frequency and output power level of the used ultrasonic waves were 950 kHz and 1200 W (watt density 5.6 W/cm ⁇ ), respectively.
• irradiated area of a vibration plate was 80 mm ⁇ 270 mm, and ultrasonic waves were irradiated onto the whole bottom surface of the cleaning bath 20.
• irradiation of ultrasonic waves onto ultrapure water with an initial dissolved oxygen concentration Dg of approximately 0.25 ppm causes the dissolved oxygen concentration to increase to approximately 0.8 ppm.
• the dissolved oxygen concentration of the ultrapure water decreases to the level of the initial dissolved oxygen concentration.
• ultrapure water is increased by ultrasonic wave irradiation.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the dissolved oxygen concentration of ultrapure water when ultrasonic waves are irradiated onto ultrapure water.
• the dissolved oxygen concentration of ultrapure water when ultrasonic waves are irradiated onto ultrapure water.
• dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 is 13.5 ppm.
• the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration ADQ2 is 0 ppm.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration of the ultrapure water can be monitored by performing the aforementioned calculation. For example, if changes in the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration ADQ2 are monitored, the increase and decrease in the dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 can be monitored using the above equation. If the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration ADQ2 corresponding to an arbitrary dissolved nitrogen concentration is calculated and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration of a cleaning liquid ADQ2 is monitored, it is possible to determine whether the dissolved nitrogen
• concentration of the cleaning liquid is greater, smaller, or equal to the arbitrary dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 ⁇
• the present inventors conducted a survey to identify factors influencing the relationship between the dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 of ultrapure water and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration thereof ADQ2 ⁇
• the survey identified that this relationship is influenced by the following factors: (1) the output power level of ultrasonic waves irradiated onto the ultrapure water; and (2) the overflow rate of ultrapure water supplied to the cleaning bath 20.
• the text to follow explains the relationship between D ⁇ 2 and ADQ2 at different ultrasonic output power levels and at different overflow rates of ultrapure water.
• FIGs. 5 (a) and (b) are diagrams that indicate a
• FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram plotting measurements of the ultrasonic output power levels.
• FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram depicting approximation equations for each ultrasonic output power levels.
• FIG. 5(a) depicts the results of selecting 900 W (watt density: 4.2 W/cm 2 ), 1000 W (watt density: 4.6 W/cm 2 ), 1100 W (watt density: 5.1 W/cm 2 ), and 1200 W (watt density: 5.6 W/cm 2 ) as ultrasonic output power levels and plotting values
• FIG. 5(a) The plotted values of FIG. 5(a) were obtained from measurement conducted using the cleaning bath 20, which is a rectangular water bath made of 3.0 mm-thick plates of quartz glass. The internal dimensions of this bath were 270 mm wide ⁇ 69 mm deep ⁇ 270 mm high, and its capacity is 5 L. The volume of ultrapure water supplied to the cleaning bath 20 was 5 L/min. The frequency of the used ultrasonic waves was 950 kHz. The irradiated area of a transducer was 80 mm ⁇ 270 mm, and ultrasonic waves were irradiated onto the whole bottom surface of the cleaning bath 20.
• FIGs. 6 (a) and (b) are diagrams that indicate the relationship between the dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 of ultrapure water and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration thereof ADQ2 f° r each overflow rate of ultrapure water.
• FIG. 6 (a) is a diagram plotting each measurement of the overflow rates.
• FIG. 6 (b) is a diagram depicting
• FIG. 6(a) depicts the results of selecting 5 L/min, 2.5 L/min, and 1 L/min as overflow rates of ultrapure water and plotting values indicating the relationship between D ⁇ 2 and
• FIG. 6(b) The plotted values of FIG. 6(a) were obtained from measurement conducted using the cleaning bath 20, which is a rectangular water bath made of 3.0 mm-thick plates of quartz glass. The internal dimensions of this bath were 270 mm wide ⁇ 69 mm deep ⁇ 270 mm high, and its capacity is 5 L. The frequency and output power level of the used ultrasonic waves were 950 kHz and 1200 W
• the irradiated area of a transducer was 80 mm ⁇ 270 mm, and ultrasonic waves were irradiated onto the whole bottom surface of the cleaning bath 20.
• dissolved gas information it is preferable to compile in advance dissolved gas information, as shown in FIGs. 3 and 4, on cleaning conditions, such as ultrasonic output power level and overflow rate, and to store the compiled information in the storage section 46.
• An approximation equation that corresponds to the ultrasonic output power level or overflow rate actually used in a wafer cleaning process can be selected from the dissolved gas
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a dissolved nitrogen
• a predetermined amount of mixed ultrapure water is extracted from the cleaning bath 20 (step S71) .
• the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 43 is used to measure the initial dissolved oxygen concentration Dg prior to ultrasonic wave irradiation (step S72) .
• ultrasonic waves at a predetermined output power level are irradiated onto the cleaning bath 20, a predetermined amount of mixed ultrapure water is extracted from the cleaning bath 20 (step S73), and the dissolved oxygen concentration DQ2 during ultrasonic wave irradiation is measured by the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 43 (step S74) .
• the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration ADQ2 is calculated by subtracting the initial dissolved oxygen concentration Dg from the measured dissolved oxygen concentration DQ2 (step S75) .
• an approximation equation corresponding to the predetermined overflow rate or ultrasonic output power level is read out from the storage section 46 (step S76), and the approximation equation read out from the storage section 46 is used to calculate the dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 of the mixed ultrapure water from the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration ADQ2 measured in step S75 (step S77) . Upon completion thereof, the dissolved nitrogen concentration calculation process is terminated.
• the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration O 2 which is due to a radical reaction in a cleaning liquid irradiated with ultrasonic waves, is measured.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 of the cleaning liquid is calculated from the measured increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration ADQ2 based on a predetermined relationship between the dissolved nitrogen concentration and the increase amount of dissolved oxygen concentration. Namely, as the dissolved nitrogen concentration D ⁇ 2 can be calculated by measuring the dissolved oxygen concentration DQ2 of the cleaning liquid, complicated operations are exempted. Also, since the relationship between the dissolved nitrogen
• concentration meter 43 is of the polarography type.
• the type of dissolved oxygen concentration meter is not limited to the polarography type. It may be of the galvanic cell type.
• the cleaning liquid is ultrapure water, but the type of the cleaning liquid is not limited to ultrapure water. It may be generally used water. Any cleaning liquid whose dissolved oxygen can be accurately measured by a dissolved oxygen concentration meter of the polarography type or the like may be used. A mixed solution of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia (SC-1, APM) with a high ability to remove particles and organic contaminant may be used as well .
• SC-1, APM hydrogen peroxide and ammonia
• a wafer W is cleaned as the target substrate of the cleaning process, but it is not limited to the wafer W.
• Another substrate such as a glass substrate for liquid crystal display or hard disk drives, may be cleaned as well.
• the mixture ratio of ultrapure water with dissolved nitrogen gas (the first supply valve 11) to degassed ultrapure water (the second supply valve 12) is adjusted to produce a cleaning liquid with dissolved nitrogen gas.
• the above embodiment is not limited thereto.
• the dissolved nitrogen concentration of ultrapure water may be directly adjusted by adjusting the pressure of nitrogen gas dissolved in the ultrapure water using a regulator (not shown) or the like.
• the present inventors conducted the following
• the silicon wafer cleaning experiment was conducted using the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
• the cleaning bath 20 is a rectangular water bath made of 3.0 mm-thick plates of quartz glass. The internal dimensions of this bath are 270 mm wide ⁇ 69 mm deep ⁇ 270 mm high, and its capacity is 5 L.
• the supply flow rate of ultrapure water supplied to the cleaning bath 20 was 5 L/min.
• the frequency of the used ultrasonic waves was 950 kHz, and the output was 1200 W (watt density: 5.6 W/cm 2 ) .
• transducer was 80 mm ⁇ 270 mm, and ultrasonic waves were irradiated onto the whole bottom surface of the cleaning bath 20.
• the amount of the valve opening of the first supply valve 11 that supplies ultrapure water with dissolved nitrogen gas and that of the second supply valve 12 that supplies degassed ultrapure water were adjusted.
• the flow rate was controlled to be 5 L/min.
• Ultrasonic waves were irradiated onto the ultrapure water in the cleaning bath 20.
• the value of ADQ2 was measured by the monitoring unit 40.
• a dissolved oxygen concentration meter of the polarography type was used as the dissolved oxygen
• the amount of the valve opening of the first supply valve 11 that supplies ultrapure water with dissolved nitrogen gas and that of the second supply valve 12 that supplies degassed ultrapure water were adjusted so that the ADQ2 values are 0 ppm, 0.05 ppm, 0.1 ppm, 0.2 ppm, 0.3 ppm, 0.35 ppm, 0.4 ppm, and 0.5 ppm.
• the cleaning experiment was conducted at these eight ADQ2 values.
• Fig. 8 shows the relationship between ADQ2 an d the
• the particle removal efficiency obtained from the results of the cleaning experiment.
• the particle removal efficiency is found to be high in the ADQ2 value range between 0.1 and 0.3 ppm.
• the mixture ratio of ultrapure water with dissolved nitrogen gas (the first supply valve 11) to degassed ultrapure water (the second supply valve 12) was adjusted so that the ADQ2 value ranges between 0.1 and 0.3 ppm. It is found that by making such an adjustment, cleaning with a high particle removal efficiency is possible without using a dissolved nitrogen concentration meter.

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