Specific Process Knowledge/Wafer and sample drying

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Drying Comparison Table

Equipment Spin dryer 1 Spin dryer 2 Spin dryer 3 Spin dryer 4 Single wafer spin dryer 1 Single wafer spin dryer 2 Single wafer spin dryer 3 Critical point dryer Ethanol fume dryer N2 guns
Location
  • C-1
  • B-1
  • D-3
  • E-5
  • B-1
  • C-1
  • D-3
  • D-3
  • C-1
  • In fumehoods and at chemical benches
Purpose
  • Drying
  • Drying
  • Drying
  • Drying
  • Rinsing + drying
  • Drying
  • Drying
  • Drying
  • Drying sensitive samples. E.g. with cantilevers
  • Drying sensitive samples. E.g. with cantilevers
  • Drying all kind of samples.
Batch size
  • 1-25 100 mm wafers
  • 1-25 100 mm wafers
  • 1-25 100 mm wafers
  • 1-25 150 mm wafers
  • 1-25 50 mm wafers
  • 1-25 100 mm wafers
  • 1-25 150 mm wafers
  • one 100 mm wafer
  • one 100 mm wafer
  • one 100 mm wafer
  • 1 to 5 wafers per run. Sizes: 2”, 4" or 6"
  • Pieces (up to 10x10mm)
  • 1-25 50 mm wafers
  • 1-25 100 mm wafers
  • Pieces if a suitable carrier is available
  • One sample at a time
Allowed materials
  • No restrictions
  • Only for RCA cleaned wafers
  • No restrictions
  • No restrictions
  • No restrictions
  • No restrictions
  • No restrictions
  • Si,SiO2, Si3N4
  • Quartz and Pyrex
  • InAlP, GaAs
  • SU8
  • No restriction except for polymers
  • No restriction

Spin dryers

A tool used for drying wafers. A single cassette of wafers is placed in a stainless steel rotor. The wafers are centered just off the axis of rotation, and rotated at high RPM so that centrifugal force “locks” the wafers in place.

Some of the tools have DI water connected, and can be used for both rinsing and drying of wafers, while other tools do not and can only be used for drying. All wafers have to be washed in a wetbench cleaning station before going into the spin dryer, regardless of using the rinse function or not.


The user manual, technical information, and contact information can be found in LabManager: Spin dryer 1 Spin dryer 2 Spin dryer 3 Spindryer 4 (4",6")


Process information

Standard process is 120 seconds for 100mm wafers or 180 seconds for 150mm wafers, at 2000 RPM - drying only.

If rinsing is used as well, the standard process is 60 seconds of rinse at 500 RPM, followed by 120/180 seconds of drying at 2000 RPM.


Single wafer spin dryers

Single wafer spin dryers is useful for drying wafers if you only have one or few wafers to dry. The rotation speed is typically 45*60rpm for 30-45 sec.


Critical point dryer

If your wafers are fragile or having thin membranes, cantilevers or suspended bridges that risk to stick or adhere to the surface it can be a good idea to dry your wafers in the critical point dryer.

Critical point dryer is placed to the right of the spin dryer 3 in D-3


Ethanol fume dryer

If your wafers are fragile or having thin membranes, cantilevers or suspended bridges that risk to stick or adhere to the surface it can be a good idea to dry your wafers in the ethanol fume dryer. Ethanol is heated to 70°C and your wafers are placed in the fumes of Ethanol which will make the water to evaporate from the surface.

Ethanol fume dry is placed to the right of the spin dryer 1 in C-1



Nitrogen guns

Nitrogen guns are valuable for drying small substrate pieces or samples that otherwise cannot go into the outer drying tools.