Abstract: Provided is a chemical-mechanical polishing apparatus, a retaining ring for a chemical-mechanical polishing apparatus, and a chemical-mechanical polishing method. A chemical-mechanical polishing apparatus includes a polishing pad; a polishing head configured to receive a wafer and to hold the wafer against the polishing pad; and a retaining ring configured to engage with the polishing head, wherein the retaining ring is formed with channels configured for flowing a slurry in a flow direction from outside the retaining ring to inside the retaining ring, wherein the channels have a cross-sectional flow area that decreases in the flow direction.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical planarization system includes a chemical mechanical planarization pad that rotates during a chemical mechanical planarization process. A chemical mechanical planarization head places a semiconductor wafer in contact with the chemical mechanical planarization pad during the process. A slurry supply system supplies a slurry onto the pad during the process. A pad conditioner conditions the pad during the process. An impurity removal system removes debris and impurities from the slurry.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor region extending from the substrate, the first semiconductor region including silicon; a second semiconductor region on the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region including silicon germanium, edge portions of the second semiconductor region having a first germanium concentration, a center portion of the second semiconductor region having a second germanium concentration less than the first germanium concentration; a gate stack on the second semiconductor region; and source and drain regions in the second semiconductor region, the source and drain regions being adjacent the gate stack.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a thickness of a film on a substrate includes detecting atomic force responses of the film to exposure of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The use of atomic force microscopy to evaluate thicknesses of thin films avoids underlayer noise commonly encountered when optical metrology techniques are utilized to evaluate film thicknesses. Such underlayer noise adversely impacts the accuracy of the thickness evaluation.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry and methods of performing CMP process on a substrate comprising metal features are described herein. The CMP slurry may be manufactured using a balanced concentration ratio of chelator additives to inhibitor additives, the ratio being determined based on an electro potential (Ev) value of a metal material of the substrate. The CMP process may be performed on the substrate based on the balanced concentration ratio of chelator additives to inhibitor additives of the CMP slurry.

Abstract: Provided are a tool and a method for processing a semiconductor wafer. A processing method includes supporting a semiconductor wafer continuously along a periphery of the semiconductor wafer with an electrically grounded conductive member; and spinning the semiconductor wafer, wherein surface charges induced during spinning are dissipated by movement of electrons from the semiconductor wafer to the electrically grounded conductive member at the periphery of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method of cleaning and polishing a backside surface of a semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes placing an abrasive brush, comprising an abrasive tape wound around an outer surface of a brush member of the abrasive brush, on the backside surface of the semiconductor wafer. The method also includes rotating the brush member to polish the backside surface of the semiconductor wafer by abrasive grains formed on the abrasive tape and to clean the backside surface of the semiconductor wafer by the brush member which is not covered by the abrasive tape.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate a CMP tool and methods for planarization a substrate. Particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a substrate transporter for use in a CMP tool. The transporter may be used transport and/or carry substrates among various polishers and cleaners in a CMP tool while preventing the substrates from drying out during transportation. By keeping surfaces of the substrates wet during substrate waiting time or idle time in the CMP tool, embodiments of the present disclosure prevent many types of defects, such as byproducts, agglomerated abrasives, pad debris, slurry residues, from accumulate on the substrate surface during CMP processing, thus improve yields and device performance.

Abstract: A method includes cropping a plurality of images from a layout of an integrated circuit, generating a first plurality of hash values, each from one of the plurality of images, loading a second plurality of hash values stored in a hotspot library, and comparing each of the first plurality of hash values with each of the second plurality of hash values. The step of comparing includes calculating a similarity value between the each of the first plurality of hash values and the each of the second plurality of hash values. The method further includes comparing the similarity value with a pre-determined threshold similarity value, and in response to a result that the similarity value is greater than the pre-determined threshold similarity value, recording a position of a corresponding image that has the result. The position is the position of the corresponding image in the layout.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: a first conductive layer arranged over a substrate; a dielectric layer arranged over the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer arranged within the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer including a sidewall distant from the dielectric layer by a width; and a first blocking layer over a surface of the first conductive layer between the second conducive layer and the dielectric layer. The first blocking layer includes at least one element of a precipitant.

Abstract: A process tool including a polishing pad on a top surface of a wafer platen. A wafer carrier is configured to hold a wafer over the polishing pad. A slurry dispenser is configured to dispense an abrasive slurry including a plurality of charged abrasive particles having a first polarity onto the polishing pad. A first conductive rod is within the wafer platen and coupled to a first voltage supply. A wafer roller is configured to support the wafer. A first wafer brush is arranged beside the wafer roller. A second conductive rod is within the first wafer brush and coupled to a second voltage supply. The first voltage supply is configured to apply a first charge having a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, to the first conductive rod. The second voltage supply is configured to apply a second charge having the second polarity to the second conductive rod.

Abstract: Provided herein are polishing pads in which microcapsules that include a polymer material and are dispersed, as well as methods of making and using the same. Such microcapsules are configured to break open (e.g., when the polishing pad is damaged during the dressing process), which releases the polymer material. When contacted with ultraviolet light the polymer material at least partially cures, healing the damage to the polishing pad. Such polishing pads have a longer lifetime and a more stable remove rate when compared to standard polishing pads.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor region extending from the substrate, the first semiconductor region including silicon; a second semiconductor region on the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region including silicon germanium, edge portions of the second semiconductor region having a first germanium concentration, a center portion of the second semiconductor region having a second germanium concentration less than the first germanium concentration; a gate stack on the second semiconductor region; and source and drain regions in the second semiconductor region, the source and drain regions being adjacent the gate stack.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the planarization of ruthenium metal layers in conductive structures. The method includes forming a first conductive structure on a second conductive structure, where forming the first conductive structure includes forming openings in a dielectric layer disposed on the second conductive structure and depositing a ruthenium metal in the openings to overfill the openings. The formation of the first conductive structure includes doping the ruthenium metal and polishing the doped ruthenium metal to form the first conductive structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing tool includes a cleaning chamber configured to perform a post-chemical mechanical polishing/planarization (post-CMP) cleaning operation in an oxygen-free (or in a near oxygen-free) manner. An inert gas may be provided into the cleaning chamber to remove oxygen from the cleaning chamber such that the post-CMP cleaning operation may be performed in an oxygen-free (or in a near oxygen-free) environment. In this way, the post-CMP cleaning operation may be performed in an environment that may reduce oxygen-causing corrosion of metallization layers and/or metallization structures on and/or in the semiconductor wafer, which may increase semiconductor processing yield, may decrease semiconductor processing defects, and/or may increase semiconductor processing quality, among other examples.

Abstract: A method comprising: providing a slurry to a polishing pad that is disposed on a wafer platen, the slurry comprising a plurality of electrically charged abrasive particles having a first electrical polarity; moving a first side of a wafer into contact with the slurry and the polishing pad; applying a first electrical charge having a second electrical polarity, opposite the first electrical polarity, to a first conductive rod; moving the first side of the wafer away from the polishing pad while the first electrical charge is applied to the first conductive rod; moving a first wafer brush into contact with the first side of the wafer; applying a second electrical charge having the second electrical polarity, opposite the first electrical polarity, to a second conductive rod arranged within the first wafer brush; and moving the first wafer brush away from the first side of the wafer.

Abstract: A method of cleaning and polishing a backside surface of a semiconductor wafer is provided. The method includes placing an abrasive brush, comprising an abrasive tape wound around an outer surface of a brush member of the abrasive brush, on the backside surface of the semiconductor wafer. The method also includes rotating the brush member to polish the backside surface of the semiconductor wafer by abrasive grains formed on the abrasive tape and to clean the backside surface of the semiconductor wafer by the brush member which is not covered by the abrasive tape.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first semiconductor fin, a second semiconductor fin, and a first lightly-doped drain (LDD) region. The first semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The first semiconductor fin has a top surface and sidewalls. The second semiconductor fin is disposed on the substrate. The first semiconductor fin and the second semiconductor fin are separated from each other at a nanoscale distance. The first lightly-doped drain (LDD) region is disposed at least in the top surface and the sidewalls of the first semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A slurry composition, a semiconductor structure and a method for forming a semiconductor structure are provided. The slurry composition includes a slurry and a precipitant dispensed in the slurry. The semiconductor structure comprises a blocking layer including at least one element of the precipitant. The method includes using the slurry composition with the precipitant to polish a conductive layer and causing the precipitant to flow into the gap.

Abstract: A fin-type field effect transistor including a substrate, insulators, a gate stack, a first spacer, a second spacer, and a third spacer is described. The substrate has fins thereon. The insulators are located over the substrate and between the fins. The gate stack is located over the fins and over the insulators. The first spacer is located over the sidewall of the gate stack. The second spacer is located over the first spacer. The first spacer and the second spacer includes carbon. The third spacer is located between the first spacer and the second spacer.