A method for processing a semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes transferring the semiconductor wafer above a wafer placement device having a plate to align an edge of the semiconductor wafer with a first buffer member positioned in a peripheral region of the plate and to align a center of the semiconductor wafer with a second buffer member positioned in a central region of the plate. Each of the first buffer member and the second buffer member has a stiffness that is less than that of the plate. The method further includes lowering down the semiconductor wafer to place the semiconductor wafer over the plate.

A wafer drying apparatus is disclosed. The wafer drying apparatus may include a drying chamber housing providing a drying space, in which a wafer is disposed, a supercritical fluid supplying part configured to supply a supercritical fluid into the drying space, a wafer heating part configured to heat the wafer disposed in the drying space, and a wafer cooling part configured to cool the wafer disposed in the drying space. The wafer cooling part may include a cooling plate disposed below a place, on which the wafer is loaded, and a cooling conduit inserted in the cooling plate.

Disclosed is a high-pressure annealing device including a nozzle assembly. The high-pressure annealing device is configured to prevent, when gas is supplied to the inside of a chamber of the high-pressure annealing device through a gas nozzle, damage generated during coupling of the gas nozzle to a gas supply module.

Embodiments disclosed herein include an apparatus that includes an electrostatic chuck (ESC). The electrostatic chuck may include a first body that is electrically conductive, and a ceramic insert on the first body with an electrode embedded within the ceramic insert. In an embodiment, the apparatus may further include a facility plate that is coupled to the ESC. The facility plate may include a second body that is electrically conductive with a hole through the second body. In an embodiment, a DC input connector is provided through the hole, and an RF feed line is coupled to the second body. In an embodiment, a pin of the DC input connector is electrically isolated from the RF feed line.

A cleaning system includes at least one cleaning module configured to receive a substrate after a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process and to remove contaminants on the substrate using a cleaning solution. The cleaning system further includes a cleaning solution supply system configured to supply the cleaning solution to the at least one cleaning module. The cleaning solution supply system includes at least one temperature control system. The at least one temperature control system includes a heating device configured to heat the cleaning solution, a cooling device configured to cool the cleaning solution, a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the cleaning solution, and a temperature controller configured to control the heating device and the cooling device.

A member for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a disk-shaped or annular ceramic heater, a metal base, an adhesive element bonding the metal base and the ceramic heater, an adhesive protective element disposed between the ceramic heater and the metal base to extend along a periphery of the adhesive element, and an anti-adhesion layer disposed between the adhesive element and the protective element, the anti-adhesion layer preventing adhesion between the adhesive element and the protective element.

A chuck assembly includes a chuck base including a lower base and an upper base that is on the lower base, a ceramic plate on the upper base, an isolator ring enclosing an outer sidewall of the lower base, a focus ring on an edge portion of the lower base and the isolator ring, the focus ring enclosing an outer sidewall of the upper base, and a pad that is between the edge portion of the lower base and the focus ring. The pad may contain a nonmetal conductive material.

A wafer placement table includes a ceramic base having a wafer placement surface on its top surface and incorporating an electrode, a cooling base provided on a bottom surface side of the ceramic base, and a refrigerant flow channel groove provided in the cooling base so as to open at a bottom surface of the cooling base.

An electrostatic chuck 10 includes a dielectric substrate 100, a base plate 200 which supports the dielectric substrate 100, and a joining layer 300 which joins the dielectric substrate 100 and the base plate 200. A value of a dielectric tangent of the joining layer 300 when a temperature of the joining layer 300 is 20 C. is set as a reference value. In the electrostatic chuck 10, when the temperature of the joining layer 300 has changed from 20 C. to 60 C., a range in which the value of the dielectric tangent of the joining layer 300 fluctuates falls within a range from 50% to 200% of the reference value.

A substrate processing apparatus includes an electrostatic charging unit and a processing unit. The electrostatic charging unit includes an electrostatic charger positively charging a first main surface of a substrate. The processing unit includes a processing chamber, and performs a process which includes at least one of heating of the substrate in the processing chamber and supply of a processing gas to the substrate and which involves the generation of metal ions in the processing chamber.