The present invention relates to a substrate cleaning system and a substrate cleaning method for cleaning a substrate. The substrate cleaning system (50) includes a heater (51), a chemical-liquid diluting module (52), and a cleaning module. A temperature of the diluted-chemical-liquid mixed by the chemical-liquid diluting module (52) is determined to be higher than normal a temperature and lower than a glass transition point of a cleaning member. The cleaning member scrubs the substrate (W) with the diluted chemical liquid having the determined temperature supplied to the substrate (W).

Methods and tools for de-bonding and cleaning substrates are disclosed. A method includes de-bonding a surface of a first substrate from a second substrate, and after de-bonding, cleaning the surface of the first substrate. The cleaning comprises physically contacting a cleaning mechanism to the surface of the first substrate. A tool includes a de-bonding module and a cleaning module. The de-bonding module comprises a first chuck, a radiation source configured to emit radiation toward the first chuck, and a first robot arm having a vacuum system. The vacuum system is configured to secure and remove a substrate from the first chuck. The cleaning module comprises a second chuck, a spray nozzle configured to spray a fluid toward the second chuck, and a second robot arm having a cleaning device configured to physically contact the cleaning device to a substrate on the second chuck.

Some embodiments are directed to a wafer polishing tool. The wafer polishing tool includes a first polisher, a second polisher downstream of the first polisher, a third polisher downstream of the second polisher, and a fourth polisher downstream of the third polisher. The first polisher receives a wafer having a front side and a back side with integrated circuit component devices disposed on the front side of the wafer, and polishes a center region on the back side of the wafer. The second polisher receives the wafer via transporting equipment and buffs the center region of the back side of the wafer. The third polisher receives the wafer via the transporting equipment and polishes a back side edge region of the wafer. The fourth polisher receives the wafer via the transporting equipment and buffs the back side edge region of the wafer.

A substrate processing module capable of improving a cleaning efficiency of an object to be cleaned is disclosed. The substrate processing module includes a gas supply device configured to supply a gas to a gap between a cleaning member and a surface to be cleaned. The gas supply device is configured to generate a fine bubble through the cleaning member.

Methods and tools for de-bonding and cleaning substrates are disclosed. A method includes de-bonding a surface of a first substrate from a second substrate, and after de-bonding, cleaning the surface of the first substrate. The cleaning comprises physically contacting a cleaning mechanism to the surface of the first substrate. A tool includes a de-bonding module and a cleaning module. The de-bonding module comprises a first chuck, a radiation source configured to emit radiation toward the first chuck, and a first robot arm having a vacuum system. The vacuum system is configured to secure and remove a substrate from the first chuck. The cleaning module comprises a second chuck, a spray nozzle configured to spray a fluid toward the second chuck, and a second robot arm having a cleaning device configured to physically contact the cleaning device to a substrate on the second chuck.

A wafer polishing process includes polishing a central area on the back side of a wafer, polishing a peripheral area on the back side of the wafer, buffing the central area, and buffing the peripheral area. The process can significantly reduce scratch-related wafer breakage, can correct focus spots on wafers, and can replace cleaning processes that use chemical etchants. Polishing and buffing can include polishing and buffing the bevel region. Further improvements include polishing with abrasive pads having a soft backing, polishing or buffing with pads having relatively soft abrasive particles, polishing or buffing with abrasive pads made from abrasive particles that have been sorted and selected for regularity of shape, irrigating the surface being polished or buffed with an aqueous solution that includes a friction-reducing agent, and buffing with abrasive pads having 20k or finer grit or non-abrasive pads.

An object is to eliminate a harmful effect when a film is bonded by wiping an adhering sealant (30a). Characterized is a wiping device (200) including a stage (230) that supports a sheet-like member (220), a wiping means (210) that wipes an adhering object (30a) adhering on a peripheral portion of the sheet-like member (220), a wiping cloth (241) that is attachably and detachably provided for the wiping means (210), and a solvent (261) that adheres to the wiping cloth (241), in which the wiping means (210) is provided with the wiping cloth (241), makes the solvent (261) adhere to the wiping cloth (241), and wipes the adhering object (30a), or a stack manufacturing apparatus (1000) including such a wiping device (200).

A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a metal gate stack including a metal gate electrode over the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes applying an oxidizing solution containing an oxidizing agent over the metal gate electrode to oxidize the metal gate electrode to form a metal oxide layer on the metal gate electrode.

A foam brush that has nodules on an outer diameter surface of the brush that have a pitch to diameter ratio (P/D) of between 1.2 and 1.5 and a nodule height to nodule diameter ratio of 0.2 to 0.5 can be used to achieve improved small particle and organic residue removal from substrates following CMP processing. CMP cleaning brushes of the disclosure may also be prepared with foams that are relatively soft and have a compression strength of less than 90 grams/cm.sup.2. CMP cleaning brushes with such P/D and H/D ratios, and optionally a compression strength of less than 90 grams/cm.sup.2 can be used in a variety of CMP cleaning processes including post copper CMP processes.

A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system include apparatus and methods to clean brushes used to scrub substrates, including brush cleaning using periodic chemical treatment. One or more embodiments include a method of operating the CMP system to rotate a first one or more scrubber brushes while the first one or more scrubber brushes are in contact with a first substrate, performing, concurrent with the rotating during the first time duration, a cleaning operation for a second one or more scrubber brushes, performing, during a second time duration of the cleaning cycle, the cleaning operation for the first one or more scrubber brushes, and rotating, concurrent with the performing the cleaning operation during the second time duration, the second one or more scrubber brushes while the second one or more scrubber brushes are in contact with a second substrate.