Abstract: The inventive method comprises chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with a polishing composition comprising a liquid carrier and sol-gel colloidal silica abrasive particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition consisting essentially of silica, an oxidizing agent, a quaternary ammonium compound, and water. The invention further provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with the aforementioned polishing composition. The polishing composition provides for enhanced polishing rates when used to polish dielectric films.

Abstract: The invention provides chemical-mechanical polishing systems, and methods of polishing a substrate using the polishing systems, comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) a liquid carrier, and (c) a positively charged polyelectrolyte with a molecular weight of about 15,000 or more, wherein the abrasive comprises particles that are electrostatically associated with the positively charged polyelectrolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate containing a low-k dielectric layer comprising (i) contacting the substrate with a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising (a) an abrasive, a polishing pad, or a combination thereof, (b) an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant, and (c) a liquid carrier, and (ii) abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of polishing a substrate comprising (i) contacting a substrate comprising at least one metal layer comprising copper with a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) system and (ii) abrading at least a portion of the metal layer comprising copper to polish the substrate. The CMP system comprises (a) an abrasive, (b) an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant, (c) a means for oxidizing the metal layer, (d) an organic acid, (e) a corrosion inhibitor, and (f) a liquid carrier. The invention further provides a two-step method of polishing a substrate comprising a first metal layer and a second, different metal layer. The first metal layer is polishing with a first CMP system comprising an abrasive and a liquid carrier, and the second metal layer is polished with a second CMP system comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant, and (c) a liquid carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate comprising a metal layer comprising copper. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising a liquid carrier, a polishing pad, an abrasive, and a negatively-charged polymer or copolymer, (ii) contacting the substrate with the poloshing system, and (iii) abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the metal layer of the substrate. The negatively-charged polymer or copolymer comprises one or more monomers selected from sulfonic acids, sulfonates, sulfates, phosphonic acids, phosphonates, and phosphates, has a molecular weight of about 20,000 g/mol or more, and coats at least a portion of the abrasive such that the abrasive has a zeta potential value that is lowered upon interaction of the negatively-charged polymer or copolymer with the abrasive.

Abstract: The invention provides chemical-mechanical polishing systems, and methods of polishing a substrate using the polishing systems, comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) a liquid carrier, and (c) a positively charged polyelectrolyte with a molecular weight of about 15,000 or more, wherein the abrasive comprises particles that are electrostatically associated with the positively charged polyelectrolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing systems, and methods of polishing a substrate using the polishing systems, comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) a liquid carrier, and (c) a positively charged polyelectrolyte with a molecular weight of about 15,000 or more, wherein the abrasive comprises particles that are electrostatically associated with the positively charged electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing system that comprises a liquid carrier, an alkali metal ion, hydroxide ions, and a polishing pad and/or an abrasive. The abrasive can be dispersed in the liquid carrier of the polishing system or bound to the polishing pad. The alkali metal ion can be any univalent group I metal ion and is present in the polishing system at a concentration of about 0.05 M or more. Hydroxide ions are present in a sufficient amount to provide the system with a pH of about 9 or more. The liquid carrier of the polishing system can be any suitable polar solvent, such as water. The invention further provides a polishing method that involves polishing a portion of a substrate with the polishing system beginning about 6 hours or less after the polishing system is prepared.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of polishing a substrate comprising (i) contacting a substrate comprising at least one metal layer comprising copper with a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) system and (ii) abrading at least a portion of the metal layer comprising copper to polish the substrate. The CMP system comprises (a) an abrasive, (b) an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant, (c) a means for oxidizing the metal layer, (d) an organic acid, (e) a corrosion inhibitor, and (f) a liquid carrier. The invention further provides a two-step method of polishing a substrate comprising a first metal layer and a second, different metal layer. The first metal layer is polishing with a first CMP system comprising an abrasive and a liquid carrier, and the second metal layer is polished with a second CMP system comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant, and (c) a liquid carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate containing a low-k dielectric layer comprising (i) contacting the substrate with a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising (a) an abrasive, a polishing pad, or a combination thereof, (b) an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant, and (c) a liquid carrier, and (ii) abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing system comprising (a) a liquid carrier, (b) an alkali metal ion, (c) a compound comprising an amine group and at least one polar moiety, wherein the polar moiety contains at least one oxygen atom, and (d) a polishing pad and/or an abrasive, wherein the total ion concentration of the system is above the critical coagulation concentration. The invention also provides a method of planarizing or polishing a composite substrate comprising contacting the substrate with a the aforementioned polishing system or a polishing system comprising (a) a liquid carrier, (b) an alkali metal ion, (c) a compound comprising an amine group and at least one polar moiety, wherein the polar moiety contains at least one oxygen atom, and (d) a polishing pad and/or an abrasive, and polishing at least a portion of the substrate therewith in about 6 hours or less after the polishing system is prepared.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate comprising a metal layer comprising copper. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising a liquid carrier, a polishing pad, an abrasive, and a negatively-charged polymer or copolymer, (ii) contacting the substrate with the poloshing system and (iii) abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the metal layer of the substrate. The negatively-charged polymer or copolymer comprises one or more monomers selected from sulfonic acids, sulfonates, sulfates, phosphonic acids, phosphonates, and phosphates, has a molecular weight of about 20,000 g/mol or more, and coats at least a portion of the abrasive such that the abrasive has a zeta potential value that is lowered upon interaction of the negatively-charged polymer or copolymer with the abrasive.

Abstract: The invention provides a polishing system comprising (a) a liquid carrier, (b) an alkali metal ion, (c) a compound comprising an amine group and at least one polar moiety, wherein the polar moiety contains at least one oxygen atom, and (d) a polishing pad and/or an abrasive, wherein the total ion concentration of the system is above the critical coagulation concentration. The invention also provides a method of planarizing or polishing a composite substrate comprising contacting the substrate with a the aforementioned polishing system or a polishing system comprising (a) a liquid carrier, (b) an alkali metal ion, (c) a compound comprising an amine group and at least one polar moiety, wherein the polar moiety contains at least one oxygen atom, and (d) a polishing pad and/or an abrasive, and polishing at least a portion of the substrate therewith in about 6 hours or less after the polishing system is prepared.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, for monitoring a chemical-mechanical polishing process, comprising receiving a real-time data signal from a chemical-mechanical polishing process, wherein the real-time data signal pertains to a frictional force, torque, or motor current, converting the data signal into a power spectrum of signals with different frequencies whose sum equals that of the original data signal, identifying and monitoring the signal components of the power spectrum corresponding to an aspect of the chemical-mechanical polishing process, detecting a change in the amplitude or frequency of the signal component, and altering the chemical-mechanical polishing process in response to the detected change. The invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of polishing and/or cleaning a substrate using a multi-component polishing and/or cleaning composition, wherein the components of the polishing and/or cleaning composition are mixed at the point-of-use or immediately before delivery to the point-of-use. The present invention also provides a method of polishing and/or cleaning more than one substrate simultaneously using a single apparatus, wherein a different polishing or cleaning composition is delivered to each substrate.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for detecting and monitoring changes in frequency in a process stream. At least one probe is placed in the process stream that is capable of detecting a change in frequency due to a build-up of mass on the probe from scale, corrosion, biofilm or the like in the process stream. A processor receives the signal produced by the probe to produce an output signal indicative of the change in frequency which is proportional to mass detected by the probe. A feeder is capable of feeding a product into the process stream as a result of the detected change in frequency of the probe to combat the mass build-up from scale, corrosion, biofilm or the like in the process stream. The system and method are further capable of measuring anti-scalant, corrosion inhibitor, biocide efficacy and controlling product feed into the process stream based on the determined efficacy.