Abstract: A composition is provided in the present invention for polishing a composite semiconductor structure containing a metal layer (such as tungsten, aluminum, or copper), a barrier layer (such as tantalum, tantalum nitride, titanium, or titanium nitride), and an insulating layer (such as SiO2). The composition comprises an aqueous medium, an oxidant, an organic polymer that attenuates removal of the oxide film. The composition may optionally comprise a complexing agent and/or a dispersant.

Abstract: A composition is provided which is useful for the polishing of a semiconductor wafer substrate comprising an organic polymer having a backbone comprised of at least 16 carbon atoms, the polymer having a plurality of moieties with affinity to surface groups on the semiconductor wafer surface. Another composition is provided which is useful for the polishing of a semiconductor wafer substrate comprising a surfactant having a carbon chain backbone comprised of at least 16 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of polishing a semiconductor substrate by adjusting the polishing composition with a BTA concentration that raises the metal removal rate when polishing at a relatively high polishing pressure, and that minimizes the metal removal rate when polishing metal in trough at a lower polishing pressure; and adjusting the polishing pressure on metal in each trough to a level that removes metal from trough at a minimized removal rate, while simultaneously polishing the excess metal with a higher polishing pressure.

Abstract: A method for polishing a surface of metal on a semiconductor substrate by using a polishing pad and hydrogen peroxide, and removing particles of metal from the semiconductor substrate by polishing, and dissolving the particles in the quantity of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A method of polishing a wafer in a carrier by a polishing pad, controlling a ratio of platen speed to carrier speed (PS to CS) within a specific range, or controlling a first polishing step with a PS to CS ratio in the range of about 150:1 to about 1:150 followed by a second polishing step with a platen speed of about 0 to 20 rpm while maintaining the carrier speed used in the first polishing step, which maximizes clearing of residual material removed from a patterned wafer surface by polishing.

Abstract: An improved pad and process for polishing metal damascene structures on a semiconductor wafer. The process includes the steps of pressing the wafer against the surface of a polymer sheet in combination with an aqueous-based liquid that optionally contains sub-micron particles and providing a means for relative motion of wafer and polishing pad under pressure so that the moving pressurized contact results in planar removal of the surface of said wafer, wherein the polishing pad has a low elastic recovery when said load is removed, so that the mechanical response of the sheet is largely anelastic. The improved pad is characterized by a high energy dissipation coupled with a high pad stiffness. The pad exhibits a stable morphology that can be reproduced easily and consistently. The pad surface resists glazing, thereby requiring less frequent and less aggressive conditioning.

Abstract: A dry solids composition is provided which may be reconstituted into a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising no abrasive particles.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a polishing composition used for the chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor wafers having a copper metal circuit. The composition has a pH of under 5.0 and comprises the following: (a) a water soluble carboxylic acid polymer comprising polymerized unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers having a number average molecular weight of about 20,000 to 1,500,000 or blends of high and low number average molecular weight polymers of polymerized unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers; (b) 1 to 15% by weight of an oxidizing agent, (c) up to 3.0% by weight of abrasive particles, (d) 50-5,000 ppm (parts per million) of an inhibitor, (e) up to 3.0% by weight of a complexing agent, such as, malic acid, and (f) 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of organic polymer particles, wherein the polymer of the organic polymer particles has a number average molecular weight of at least 500,000 determined by GPC (gel permeation chromatography) and a Tg (glass transition temperature) of at least 25° C.

Abstract: A polishing pad assembly is provided that is useful for the chemical mechanical polishing of glass and electrical devices such as semiconductor wafers that comprises a polish pad and a semi-rigid base material firmly adhered to the polishing pad for positioning on a polishing platen of a polishing machine; wherein the semi-rigid base material has a modulus of rigidity of 0.01-50 GPa (GigaPascals) determined according to ASTM D 790, a thickness of 0.25-15.0 mm, and a grooved surface having a pitch of 5-100 mm and the grooves have a width of 0.025-2.5 mm and a depth of 0.1-2.5 mm.

Abstract: A polishing compound containing cocoon-shaped silica particles and crystal silica particles, and water-soluble polymers including; at least one type selected from the groups including ammonium nitrate and ammonium acetate, and at least one type selected from methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and the group including carboxymethylcellulose.

Abstract: Method for polishing the surface of a semiconductor wafer is provided in which the polishing pad has on its surface a multiplicity of abrasive particles which contact the wafer surface in combination with a reactive liquid solution essentially free of abrasive particles wherein the ionic strength of the solution is changed to effect a change in polishing.

Abstract: A polishing composition for polishing a semiconductor wafer includes a source of chloride ions in solution, which reduces surface roughness of copper interconnects that are recessed in the wafer. High points on the copper interconnects are polished during a polishing operation, while the chloride ions migrate to electric fields concentrated at the high points. The chloride ions at the high points deter replating of copper ions from solution onto the high points. Instead the copper ions replate elsewhere on the interconnects, which reduces the surface roughness of the interconnects.

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: An apparatus and method for polishing the surface of a semiconductor wafer is provided in which the polishing pad has on its surface a multiplicity of nanoasperities which are particles having an imputed radius (of curvature) of about 0.5 to about 0.1 microns and sufficient resiliency to permanently deform by less than 10% which contact the wafer surface in combination with a reactive liquid solution which may be recirculated, analyzed, adjusted, and from which soluble reaction products may be removed.

Abstract: A transparent portion of a polishing pad in the solid phase has an index of refraction nearly matched to the index of refraction of a fluid polishing composition for chemical mechanical polishing, which minimizes scattering of an optical beam at an interface of the transparent portion and the polishing composition.

Abstract: This invention describes improved polishing pads useful in the manufacture ofsemiconductor devices or the like. The pads of the present invention may have an advantageous hydrophilic polishing material and are sufficiently thin to generally improve predictability and polishing performance.

Abstract: A method of making a polishing pad composition comprising a high modulus phase component and a low modulus phase component, and a method of polishing a semiconductor substrate by creating nanoasperities at a polishing interface between the polishing layer and the wafer during polishing by providing the high modulus phase component at the polishing interface, either as protrusions from the polishing layer, or by being released from the polishing layer into the polishing interface.

Abstract: A method for CMP polishing with a first step slurry composition selective to a metal in a metal layer to remove the metal at a high removal rate during polishing, and a second step slurry composition selective to a barrier film and least selective to either of an underlying dielectric layer or a metal interconnection structure in the dielectric layer, to remove the barrier film at a high removal rate during polishing, and level a surface of the dielectric layer to the surface of the interconnection structure.

Abstract: A carrier head assembly of a substrate polishing apparatus and a substrate supporting carrier pad is disclosed. A down force is uniformly distributed over the backside of the substrate by the carrier pad adapted to be internally pressurized by the down force.

Abstract: A method of making a slurry, by mixing a quantity of water with dissolvable constituents of an aqueous slurry used for polishing, with the dissolvable constituents being apportioned according to their desired per cent concentrations thereof in the aqueous slurry, and drying the mixture to obtain a reconstitutable slurry having solids of the dissolvable constituents.