Abstract: Polishing pads having varying protrusions and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a polishing pad includes a polishing pad substrate; a first protrusion on the polishing pad substrate, the first protrusion including a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, and a first hardness of the central region being greater than a second hardness of the peripheral region; and a first groove adjacent a first side of the first protrusion.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical planarization apparatus includes a multi-zone platen comprising a plurality of individually controlled concentric toroids. The rotation direction, rotation speed, applied force, relative height, and temperature of each concentric toroid is individually controlled. Concentric polishing pads are affixed to an upper surface of each of the individually controlled concentric toroids. The chemical mechanical planarization apparatus includes a single central slurry source or includes individual slurry sources for each individually controlled concentric toroid.

Abstract: A semiconductor cleaning solution for cleaning a surface of a semiconductor device, and a method of use and a method of manufacture of the cleaning solution are disclosed. In an embodiment, a material is polished away from a first surface of the semiconductor device and the first surface is cleaned with the cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may include a host having at least one ring. The host may have a hydrophilic exterior and a hydrophobic interior.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first post Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) cleaning on a wafer using a first brush. The first brush rotates to clean the wafer. The method further includes performing a second post-CMP cleaning on the wafer using a second brush. The second brush rotates to clean the wafer. The first post-CMP cleaning and the second post-CMP cleaning are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical planarization apparatus includes a multi-zone platen comprising a plurality of individually controlled concentric toroids. The rotation direction, rotation speed, applied force, relative height, and temperature of each concentric toroid is individually controlled. Concentric polishing pads are affixed to an upper surface of each of the individually controlled concentric toroids. The chemical mechanical planarization apparatus includes a single central slurry source or includes individual slurry sources for each individually controlled concentric toroid.

Abstract: A semiconductor cleaning solution for cleaning a surface of a semiconductor device, and a method of use and a method of manufacture of the cleaning solution are disclosed. In an embodiment, a material is polished away from a first surface of the semiconductor device and the first surface is cleaned with the cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may include a host having at least one ring. The host may have a hydrophilic exterior and a hydrophobic interior.

Abstract: In-situ defect count detection in post chemical mechanical polishing (post-CMP) is provided. Post-CMP is performed, in-situ and according to a recipe, on a surface of a semiconductor wafer within a post-CMP chamber. A light signal is scanned over a target area of the surface of the semiconductor wafer and a reflected light signal reflected from the target area is detected. A defect count of defects present in the target area is determined based on the reflected light signal reflected from the target area.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) tool includes a platen and a polishing pad attached to the platen, where a first surface of the polishing pad facing away from the platen includes a first polishing zone and a second polishing zone, where the first polishing zone is a circular region at a center of the first surface of the polishing pad, and the second polishing zone is an annular region around the first polishing zone, where the first polishing zone and the second polishing zone have different surface properties.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first gate structure over a substrate, where the first gate structure is surrounded by a first dielectric layer; and forming a mask structure over the first gate structure and over the first dielectric layer, where forming the mask structure includes selectively forming a first capping layer over an upper surface of the first gate structure; and forming a second dielectric layer around the first capping layer. The method further includes forming a patterned dielectric layer over the mask structure, the patterned dielectric layer exposing a portion of the mask structure; removing the exposed portion of the mask structure and a portion of the first dielectric layer underlying the exposed portion of the mask structure, thereby forming a recess exposing a source/drain region adjacent to the first gate structure; and filling the recess with a conductive material.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first post Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) cleaning on a wafer using a first brush. The first brush rotates to clean the wafer. The method further includes performing a second post-CMP cleaning on the wafer using a second brush. The second brush rotates to clean the wafer. The first post-CMP cleaning and the second post-CMP cleaning are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: The current disclosure describes techniques of protecting a metal interconnect structure from being damaged by subsequent chemical mechanical polishing processes used for forming other metal structures over the metal interconnect structure. The metal interconnect structure is receded to form a recess between the metal interconnect structure and the surrounding dielectric layer. A metal cap structure is formed within the recess. An upper portion of the dielectric layer is strained to include a tensile stress which expands the dielectric layer against the metal cap structure to reduce or eliminate a gap in the interface between the metal cap structure and the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) tool includes a platen and a polishing pad attached to the platen, where a first surface of the polishing pad facing away from the platen includes a first polishing zone and a second polishing zone, where the first polishing zone is a circular region at a center of the first surface of the polishing pad, and the second polishing zone is an annular region around the first polishing zone, where the first polishing zone and the second polishing zone have different surface properties.

Abstract: A method for CMP includes following operations. A metal layer is received. A CMP slurry composition is provided in a CMP apparatus. The CMP slurry composition includes at least a first oxidizer and a second oxidizer different from each other. The first oxidizer is oxidized to form a peroxidant by the second oxidizer. A portion of the metal layer is oxidized to form a first metal oxide by the peroxidant. The first metal oxide is re-oxidized to form a second metal oxide by the second oxidizer.

Abstract: The current disclosure describes techniques of protecting a metal interconnect structure from being damaged by subsequent chemical mechanical polishing processes used for forming other metal structures over the metal interconnect structure. The metal interconnect structure is receded to form a recess between the metal interconnect structure and the surrounding dielectric layer. A metal cap structure is formed within the recess. An upper portion of the dielectric layer is strained to include a tensile stress which expands the dielectric layer against the metal cap structure to reduce or eliminate a gap in the interface between the metal cap structure and the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wet chemical heating system and a method of transporting wet chemical. The method includes providing a wet chemical in a conduit, heating the wet chemical by a first radiative heating unit at a first portion of the conduit, including elevating a temperature of the wet chemical at the first portion of the conduit to a first temperature greater than a second temperature of the first portion of the conduit; and dispensing the wet chemical from the conduit.

Abstract: A method for CMP includes following operations. A metal stack is received. The metal layer stack includes at least a first metal layer and a second metal layer, and a top surface of the first metal layer and a top surface of the second metal layer are exposed. A protecting layer is formed over the second metal layer. A portion of the first metal layer is etched. The protecting layer protects the second metal layer during the etching of the portion of the first metal layer. A top surface of the etched first metal layer is lower than a top surface of the protecting layer. The protecting layer is removed from the second metal layer.

Abstract: A slurry composition, a semiconductor structure and a method for forming a semiconductor structure are provided. The slurry composition includes a slurry and a precipitant dispensed in the slurry. The semiconductor structure comprises a blocking layer including at least one element of the precipitant. The method includes using the slurry composition with the precipitant to polish a conductive layer and causing the precipitant to flow into the gap.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein relate to dispensing a slurry onto a polishing pad for a chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) process. These implementations also involve rotating the polishing pad while the slurry is dispensed onto the polishing pad. Rotation of the polishing pad results in a traversal of the slurry radially outward toward a polishing pad outer edge of the polishing pad. The polishing pad includes a plurality of groove segments and a geometric patterns formed by the plurality of the groove segments impede the flow of the slurry to the polishing pad outer edge.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wet chemical heating system, including a first conduit for transporting wet chemical, a dispensing head connected to the first conduit, and a radiative heating element configured to heat the wet chemical in the first conduit and positioned at an upper stream of the dispensing head.

Abstract: Methods of forming a slurry and methods of performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process utilized in manufacturing semiconductor devices, as described herein, may be performed on semiconductor devices including integrated contact structures with ruthenium (Ru) plug contacts down to a semiconductor substrate. The slurry may be formed by mixing a first abrasive, a second abrasive, and a reactant with a solvent. The first abrasive may include a first particulate including titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles and the second abrasive may include a second particulate that is different from the first particulate. The slurry may be used in a CMP process for removing ruthenium (Ru) materials and dielectric materials from a surface of a workpiece resulting in better WiD loading and planarization of the surface for a flat profile.