Abstract: A gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuit device is provided. The GaAs circuit device has a GaAs substrate with a copper contact layer for making electrical ground contact with a pad of a target device. Although copper is known to detrimentally affect GaAs devices, the copper contact layer is isolated from the GaAs substrate using a barrier layer. The barrier layer may be, for example, a layer of nickel vanadium (NiV). This nickel vanadium (NiV) barrier protects the gallium arsenide substrate from the diffusion effects of the copper contact layer. An organic solder preservative may coat the exposed copper to reduce oxidation effects. In some cases, a gold or copper seed layer may be deposited on the GaAs substrate prior to depositing the copper contact layer.

Abstract: A gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuit device is provided. The GaAs circuit device has a GaAs substrate with a copper contact layer for making electrical ground contact with a pad of a target device. Although copper is known to detrimentally affect GaAS devices, the copper contact layer is isolated from the GaAs substrate using a barrier layer. The barrier layer may be, for example, a layer of nickel vanadium (NiV). This nickel vanadium (NiV) barrier protects the gallium arsenide substrate from the diffusion effects of the copper contact layer. An organic solder preservative may coat the exposed copper to reduce oxidation effects. In some cases, a gold or copper seed layer may be deposited on the GaAs substrate prior to depositing the copper contact layer.

Abstract: A gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuit device is provided. The GaAs circuit device has a GaAs substrate with a copper contact layer for making electrical ground contact with a pad of a target device. Although copper is known to detrimentally affect GaAS devices, the copper contact layer is isolated from the GaAs substrate using a barrier layer. The barrier layer may be, for example, a layer of nickel vanadium (NiV). This nickel vanadium (NiV) barrier protects the gallium arsenide substrate from the diffusion effects of the copper contact layer. An organic solder preservative may coat the exposed copper to reduce oxidation effects. In some cases, a gold or copper seed layer may be deposited on the GaAs substrate prior to depositing the copper contact layer.

Abstract: According to the invention, an aqueous polishing composition comprises, abrasive particles and water of basic pH to remove a barrier layer by CMP using a polishing pad, the aqueous polishing composition further comprising, solely polar molecules each having multiple, polar bonding sites forming respective hydrogen bonds with silanol bonding groups on a hydrated silica dielectric layer of a semiconductor substrate, which form an hydrophilic protective film of the polar molecules that minimizes erosion.

Abstract: An aqueous polishing composition for chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor devices of silica and circuits of aluminum, titanium or titanium nitride; wherein said aqueous composition includes, an oxidizing agent, an inhibitor of a polyalkyleneimine, and a pH buffer, and a method for polishing a semiconductor device by applying the polishing composition at an interface between a polishing pad and the semiconductor device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for break-in and conditioning polishing pads containing a fixed abrasive matrix. The polishing pads are useful for chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). The present invention also relates to a method of determining the wear rate of a fixed abrasive polishing pad.

Abstract: According to the invention, an aqueous polishing composition comprises, abrasive particles and water of basic pH to remove a barrier layer by CMP using a polishing pad, the aqueous polishing composition farther comprising, solely polar molecules each having multiple, polar bonding sites forming respective hydrogen bonds with silanol bonding groups on a hydrated silicon dielectric layer of a semiconductor substrate, which form an hydrophilic protective film of the polar molecules that minimizes erosion.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing method is provided for polishing substrates with one or more barrier layers on an underlying dielectric layer utilizing a polishing composition with a high selectivity for removal of the barrier layer material (for e.g. tantalum) resulting in a substrate with a planar dielectric layer with minimal scratching and erosion.

Abstract: A slurry for use in chemical-mechanical polishing of a metal layer comprising particles dispersed in an aqueous medium. The slurry particles will tend to agglomerate when the slurry is at rest and will de-agglomerate with simple stirring. Such metastable slurry systems have been found to be particularly advantageous for metal polishing, particularly the polishing of metal layers during the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for break-in and conditioning polishing pads containing a fixed abrasive matrix. The polishing pads are useful for chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). The present invention also relates to a method of determining the wear rate of a fixed abrasive polishing pad.

Abstract: An aqueous polishing composition for chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor devices of silica and circuits of aluminum, titanium or titanium nitride; wherein said aqueous composition includes, an oxidizing agent, an inhibitor of a polyalkyleneimine, and a pH buffer, and a method for polishing a semiconductor device by applying the polishing composition at an interface between a polishing pad and the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Compounds containing both a sulfur and a nitrogen in a five-membered ring structure are used as biocides in polishing solutions and slurries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for break-in and conditioning polishing pads containing a fixed abrasive matrix. The polishing pads are useful for chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP).