Carbon contamination of optical elements in an exposure tool is minimized by incorporating a hydrocarbon getter. Embodiments include EUV lithography tools provided with at least one hydrocarbon getter comprising a substrate and a high energy source, such as an electron gun or separate EUV source, positioned to direct an energy beam, having sufficient energy to crack heavy hydrocarbons and form carbon, on the substrate. Embodiments also include exposure tools equipped with a hydrocarbon getter comprising an energy source positioned to impinge a beam of energy on a quartz crystal thickness monitor, a residual gas analyzer, and a controller to control the electron-current and maintain the amount of hydrocarbons in the system at a predetermined low level.