Abstract: A composition and associated method for chemical mechanical planarization (or other polishing) are described. The composition contains an abrasive, benzenesulfonic acid compound, a per-compound oxidizing agent, and water. The composition affords tunability of removal rates for metal, barrier layer materials, and dielectric layer materials in metal CMP processes. The composition is particularly useful in conjunction with the associated method for metal CMP applications (e.g., step 2 copper CMP processes).

Abstract: A method and associated composition for chemical mechanical planarization of a chalcogenide-containing substrate (e.g., germanium/antimony/tellurium (GST)-containing substrate) are described. The composition and method afford low defect levels as well as low dishing and local erosion levels on the chalcogenide-containing substrate during CMP processing.

Abstract: A method using an associated composition for chemical mechanical planarization of a metal-containing substrate (e.g., a copper substrate) is described. This method affords low dishing and local erosion levels on the metal during CMP processing of the metal-containing substrate.

Abstract: A method and associated composition for chemical mechanical planarization of a chalcogenide-containing substrate (e.g., germanium/antimony/tellurium (GST)-containing substrate) are described. The composition and method afford low defect levels (e.g., scratches incurred during polishing) as well as low dishing and local erosion levels on the chalcogenide-containing substrate during CMP processing.

Abstract: A method of polishing a substrate surface containing silicon nitride and silicon oxide or silicon dioxide, comprising movably contacting the surface with a polishing pad and having a polishing composition disposed between the polishing pad and the surface, said polishing composition comprising 1) hydrous ceria abrasive; 2) polyvinylpyridine, vinyl pyridine copolymers, or both, and 3) water, wherein at 2 psi downpressure the silicon nitride removal rate is at least 500 angstroms per minute and the selectivity of silicon nitride to silicon oxide is at least 30.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing composition contains 1) water, 2) optionally an abrasive material, 3) an oxidizer, preferably a per-type oxidizer, 4) a small amount of soluble metal-ion oxidizer/polishing accelerator, a metal-ion polishing accelerator bound to particles such as to abrasive particles, or both; and 5) at least one of the group selected from a) a small amount of a chelator, b) a small amount of a dihydroxy enolic compound, and c) a small amount of an organic accelerator. Ascorbic acid in an amount less than 800 ppm, preferably between about 100 ppm and 500 ppm, is the preferred dihydroxy enolic compound. The polishing compositions and processes are useful for substantially all metals and metallic compounds found in integrated circuits, but is particularly useful for tungsten.

Abstract: A composition and an associated method for chemical mechanical planarization (or other polishing) are described. The composition includes a surface-modified abrasive modified with at least one stabilizer and at least one catalyst differing from the at least one stabilizer. The composition can further include a medium containing the abrasive and an oxidizing agent (e.g., hydrogen peroxide), wherein the at least one catalyst is adapted to catalyze oxidation of a substrate by the oxidizing agent. Preferably, the abrasive is alumina, titania, zirconia, germania, silica, ceria and/or mixtures thereof, the stabilizer is B, W and/or Al, and the catalyst is Cu, Fe, Mn, Ti, W and/or V. Both the stabilizer and the catalyst are immobilized on the abrasive surface. The method includes applying the composition to a substrate to be polished, such as substrates containing W, Cu and/or dielectrics.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for chemically mechanically polishing a substrate, including a polishing accelerator, which is normally one or more oxidizers, an abrasive material, and chelating particles and/or metal-absorbent clay material. In addition, the invention can also involve methods of forming chelator particles and methods of separating metal-containing ions from polishing and/or etching solutions after polishing and/or etching.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making selected oxidizers or other free radical-producing compounds become more effective chemical etchants and/or oxidizers for CMP activities by promoting the formation of the free radicals in a CMP composition with one or more activators. The activator comprises iron, copper or combinations thereof. The activator coated abrasive is particularly effective as it brings the activator in close proximity to the targeted material on the substrate surface, and thus facilitates or accelerates the removal reaction substantially at the site of the targeted material. The activator reacts with the per-type oxidizer to form at least one oxygen-containing free radical. The invention further provides a method that employs the composition in the polishing of a feature or layer, such as a metal film, on a substrate surface. The invention additionally provides a substrate produced by this method.

Abstract: A low solids-content slurry for polishing (e.g., chemical mechanical planarization) of substrates comprising a dielectric and an associated method using the slurry are described. The slurry and associated method afford high removal rates of dielectric during polishing even though the slurry has low solids-content. The slurry comprises a bicarbonate salt, which acts as a catalyst for increasing removal rates of dielectric films during polishing of these substrates.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing alumina abrasive for use in chemical mechanical polishing are described, wherein the abrasive is in a slurry having gamma alumina formed in a low temperature fuming process, water, an acid sufficient to maintain the pH below about 7, wherein the slurry does not settle appreciably in an 8 to 24 hour period. Advantageously, the alumina is wet-milled without the use of wet-milling salt additives.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions and associated methods for chemical-mechanical polishing of substrate surfaces having at least one feature thereon comprising tungsten and at least one feature thereon comprising a dielectric material. The compositions and associated methods of the invention result in similar removal rates of both the tungsten and the dielectric material. Compositions used in the methods of the present invention typically have a pH from about 1.5 to about 3.5 and comprise periodic acid and colloidal silica.

Abstract: A composition for chemical mechanical polishing includes a slurry. A sufficient amount of a selectively oxidizing and reducing compound is provided in the composition to produce a differential removal of a metal and a dielectric material. A pH adjusting compound adjusts the pH of the composition to provide a pH that makes the selectively oxidizing and reducing compound provide the differential removal of the metal and the dielectric material. A composition for chemical mechanical polishing is improved by including an effective amount for chemical mechanical polishing of a hydroxylamine compound, ammonium persulfate, a compound which is an indirect source of hydrogen peroxide, a peracetic acid or periodic acid. A method for chemical mechanical polishing comprises applying a slurry to a metal and dielectric material surface to produce mechanical removal of the metal and the dielectric material.

Abstract: The invention relates to chemical mechanical polishing of substrates using an abrasive and a fluid composition, wherein certain organosulfonic acid compounds are used as oxidizers, and particularly relates to a method of polishing substrates comprising copper, tungsten, titanium, and/or polysilicon using a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising organosulfonic acids having an electrochemical oxidation potential greater than 0.2V as an oxidizer.

Abstract: A composition and associated method for chemical mechanical planarization (or other polishing) are described which afford high tantalum to copper selectivity in copper CMP and which are tunable (in relation to polishing performance). The composition comprises an abrasive and an N-acyl-N-hydrocarbonoxyalkyl aspartic acid compound and/or a tolyltriazole derivative.

Abstract: A composition and an associated method for chemical mechanical planarization (or other polishing) are described. The composition includes a surface-modified abrasive modified with at least one stabilizer and at least one catalyst differing from the at least one stabilizer. The composition can further include a medium containing the abrasive and an oxidizing agent (e.g., hydrogen peroxide), wherein the at least one catalyst is adapted to catalyze oxidation of a substrate by the oxidizing agent. Preferably, the abrasive is alumina, titania, zirconia, germania, silica, ceria and/or mixtures thereof, the stabilizer includes B, W and/or Al, and the catalyst is Cu, Fe, Mn, Ti, W and/or V. Both the stabilizer and the catalyst are immobilized on the abrasive surface. The method includes applying the composition to a substrate to be polished, such as substrates containing W, Cu and/or dielectrics.

Abstract: A composition and associated method for chemical mechanical planarization (or other polishing) are described. The composition comprises an organometallic-modified colloidal abrasive and a nitrogen-containing polymer compound (e.g., a polyalkyleneimine, such as polyamidopolyethyleneimine). The composition possesses both high stability towards gelling and/or solids formation and high selectivity for metal removal in metal CMP. The composition may further comprise an oxidizing agent in which case the composition is particularly useful in conjunction with the associated method for metal CMP applications (e.g., copper CMP).

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for chemical-mechanical polishing which comprises at least one abrasive particle having a surface at least partially coated by a catalyst. The catalyst comprises a metal other than a metal of Group 4(b), Group 5(b) or Group 6(b). The composition further comprises at least one oxidizing agent. The composition is believed to be effective by virtue of the interaction between the catalyst coated on the surface of the abrasive particles and the oxidizing agent, at the catalyst surface. The invention further provides a method that employs the composition in the polishing of a feature or layer, such as a metal film, on a substrate surface. The invention additionally provides a substrate produced this method.

Abstract: A low defectivity colloidal silica-based product slurry for use in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) and an associated production method are described. The product slurry is produced using centrifugation of and optionally with addition of a surfactant to a starting colloidal silica (which can be a commercially available colloidal silica). The product slurry has substantially lower levels of soluble polymeric silicates than does the starting colloidal silica and affords lower defectivity levels when used in a slurry for CMP processing than does the starting colloidal silica.

Abstract: A composition and associated methods for chemical mechanical planarization (or other polishing) are described. The composition may comprise an abrasive and a dispersed hybrid organic/inorganic particle. The composition may further comprise an alkyne compound. Two different methods for chemical mechanical planarization are disclosed. In one method (Method A), the CMP slurry composition employed in the method comprises comprise an abrasive and a dispersed hybrid organic/inorganic particle. In another method (Method B), the CMP slurry composition employed in the method comprises comprise an abrasive and an alkyne compound. The composition may further comprise an oxidizing agent in which case the composition is particularly useful in conjunction with the associated methods (A and B) for metal CMP applications (e.g., tungsten CMP).