Method for the treatment of a surface of a metal-carbide substrate for use in semiconductor manufacturing processes as well as such a metal-carbide substrate

摘要

The invention relates to a method for the treatment of a surface of a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate, said substrate being used in semiconductor manufacturing processes. The invention also relates to a SiC substrate for use in semiconductor manufacturing processes treated with the method according to the invention. According to the invention, said method comprising the steps of selective etching the surface of said SiC substrate using a reactive gas mixture, thereby creating a carbon surface layer on said substrate, and removing said carbon surface layer being created on said substrate. Thus, with the method steps according to the invention, SiC substrates can be obtained with a surface structure that complies with the highest standards as regard to dimensions and purity as required in semiconductor manufacturing processes. In particular, SiC substrates treated according to the steps of the invention are highly suitable for use as wafer boats for handling and containing semiconductor wafers on which subsequent treatment process steps of the semiconductor manufacturing processes (such as semiconductor layer deposition or temperature annealing) are performed under accurate, well controlled working conditions (temperature, pressure and vacuum).