摘要 |
An apparatus and method is disclosed for holding semiconductor wafer samples that are to be stained with treatment chemicals prior to microanalysis. The apparatus includes at least one slotted support member and a handle which may be attached to or integral with the support member. The number of slots in the support member correspond to at least the number of wafer samples that are to be retained in the slots. Preferably, three support members are spaced parallel to each other and the slots in all three support members are aligned in parallel planes so that larger wafer samples can be seated within the slots on more than one support member and the handle is attached perpendicular to and bisects each member. Also two bending rods are disposed on opposite sides of the handle perpendicular to the support members for bending the support members to open the slots to receive the wafer samples. It is also preferred that the apparatus be formed from a hard plastic material, such as fire resistant polypropylene, or any other material that is sufficiently resistant to the staining chemicals and that can be machined to incorporate slots suitable to receive and retain the wafer samples without crushing the samples. In the practice of the invention, the wafer is sectioned into the number of samples required by the testing procedure. The samples are inserted into the slots in the support member, which retain the samples, which can then be simultaneously prepared for testing. The apparatus can be used during treatment and transportation of the samples in the various steps of sample preparation necessary prior to performing SEM on the samples.
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