Method and apparatus for wafer electroless plating

A method for semiconductor wafer electroless plating, comprising:

• receiving a wafer in a dry state in an upper region of a chamber volume;
• moving a platen upward from a lower region of the chamber volume to support the wafer as received in the upper region of the chamber volume;
• moving the platen with the wafer supported thereon downward to the lower region of the chamber volume to a position within a fluid bowl located within the lower region of the chamber volume so as to cause the platen to engage a seal positioned against an interior surface of the fluid bowl;
• and
• dispensing an electroless plating solution within a liquid retaining volume defined around the platen and at a location below the wafer and at a location above the seal, wherein the electroless plating solution is dispensed to fill the liquid retaining volume and rise up and flow over a top surface of the wafer in a substantially uniform manner;
• moving the platen with the wafer supported thereon upward so as to disengage the seal such that the electroless plating solution drains from the liquid retaining volume and such that the electroless plating solution is removed from the top surface of the wafer;
• holding the platen with the wafer supported thereon at a rinsing position within the fluid bowl;
• rinsing the top surface of the wafer at the rinsing position within the fluid bowl and
• moving the platen with the wafer supported thereon upward from the rinsing position to a wafer handoff and drying position within the upper region of the chamber volume.