Abstract: An apparatus for planarizing a semiconductor wafer having a polishing endpoint layer that includes a catalyst material is disclosed. The apparatus is operable to detect the endpoint based upon the chemical slurry whether a catalytic reaction has occurred due to the polishing platen removing a portion of the catalyst material from the wafer.

Abstract: A method of planarizing a semiconductor wafer having a polishing endpoint layer that includes a sulfur-containing reporting specie includes the step of polishing a first side of the wafer in order to remove material from the wafer. The method also includes the step of detecting presence of the sulfur-containing reporting specie in the material removed from the wafer. The method further includes the step of terminating the polishing step in response to detecting presence of the sulfur-containing reporting specie. A shallow trench isolation process for fabricating a semiconductor wafer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of planarizing a semiconductor wafer having a polishing endpoint layer that includes a catalyst material is discloes. One step of the method includes polishing a first side of the wafer in order to remove material from the wafer. Another step of the method includes determining that a catalytic reaction has occurred due to the polishing step removing the catalyst material of the polishing endpoint layer. The method also includes the step of terminating the polishing step in response to determining that the catalytic reaction has occurred. A polishing system is also disclosed which detects a polishing endpoint based upon a catalytic reaction triggered by a catalyst material of a polishing endpoint layer of a semiconductor device.