• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2004

CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) technology for global planarization of multilevel interconnection structure has been widely studied for the next generation devices. Among the consumables for CMP process, especially, slurry and their chemical compositions play a very important role in the removal rates and within-wafer non-uniformity (WIWNU) for global planarization ability of CMP process. However, CMP slurries contain abrasive particles exceeding 1 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size, which can cause micro-scratch on the wafer surface after CMP process. Such a large size particle in these slurries may be caused by particle agglomeration in slurry supply-line. In this work, to investigate the effects of agglomeration on the performance of oxide CMP slurry, we have studied an aging effect of silica slurry as a function of particle size distribution and aging time during one month. We Prepared and compared the self-developed silica slurry by adding of alumina powders. Also, we have investigated the oxide CMP characteristics. As an experimental result, we could be obtained the relatively stable slurry characteristics comparable to aging effect of original silica slurry. Consequently, we can expect the saving of high-cost slurry.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.39-42
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• 2002

Recently, CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) technology has been widely used for global planarization of multi-level interconnection for ULSI applications. However, COO (cost of ownership) and COC (cost of consumables) were relatively increased because of expensive slurry. In this paper, we have studied the possibility of recycle of reused silica slurry in order to reduce the costs of CMP slurry. The post-CMP thickness and within-wafer non-uniformity(WIWNU) were measured as a function of different slurry composition. As a experimental result, the performance of reused slurry with annealed silica abrasive of 2 wt% contents was showed high removal rate and low non-uniformity. Therefore, we propose two-step CMP process as follows In the first-step CMP, we can polish the thick and rough film surface using remaked slurry, and then, in the second-step CMP, we can polish the thin film and fine pattern using original slurry. In summary, we can expect the saving of high costs of slurry.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.759-764
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• 2003

Recently, CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) technology has been widely used for global planarization of multi-level interconnection for ULSI applications. However, COO (cost of ownership) and COC (cost of consumables) were relatively increased because of expensive slurry. In this paper, we have studied the possibility of recycle of roused silica slurry in order to reduce the costs of CMP slurry. The post-CMP thickness and within-wafer non-uniformity (WIWNU) wore measured as a function of different slurry composition. As an experimental result, the performance of reused slurry with annealed silica abrasive of 2 wt％ contents was showed high removal rate and low non-uniformity. Therefore, we propose two-step CMP process as follows , In tile first-step CMP, we can polish the thick and rough film surface using remaked slurry, and then, in the second-step CMP, we can polish the thin film and fine pattern using original slurry. In summary, we can expect the saying of high costs of slurry.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.465-470
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• 2003

The chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process has been widely used for the global planarization of multi-layer structures in semiconductor manufacturing. The CMP process can be optimized by several parameters such as equipment, consumables (pad, backing film and slurry), process variables and post-CMP cleaning. However, the COO(cost of ownership) is very high, because of high consumable cost. Especially, among the consumables, the slurry dominates more than 40 %. In this paper, we have studied the CMP characteristics of diluted silica slurry by adding of raw alumina abrasives and annealed alumina abrasives. As an experimental result, we obtained the comparable slurry characteristics compared with original silica slurry in the view-point of high removal rate and low non-uniformity. Therefore, we can reduce the cost of consumables(COC) of CMP process for ULSI applications.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.226-234
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• 2018

Copper chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) has become a key process in integrated circuit (IC) technology. The results of copper CMP depend not only on the mechanical abrasion, but also on the slurry chemistry. The slurry used for Cu CMP is known to have greater chemical reactivity than mechanical material removal. The Cu CMP slurry is composed of abrasive particles, an oxidizing agent, a complexing agent, and a corrosion inhibitor. Citric acid can be used as the complexing agent in Cu CMP slurries, and is widely used for post-CMP cleaning. Although many studies have investigated the effect of citric acid on Cu CMP, no studies have yet been conducted on the interfacial friction characteristics and step height reduction in CMP patterns. In this study, the effect of citric acid on the friction characteristics and step height reduction in a copper wafer with varying pattern densities during CMP are investigated. The prepared slurry consists of citric acid ($C_6H_8O_7$), hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), and colloidal silica. The friction force is found to depend on the concentration of citric acid in the copper CMP slurry. The step heights of the patterns decrease rapidly with decreasing citric acid concentration in the copper CMP slurry. The step height of the copper pattern decreases more slowly in high-density regions than in low-density regions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.112-112
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• 2008

최근 Ruthenium (Ru) 은 높은 화학적 안정성, 누설전류에 대한 높은 저항성, 저유전체와의 높은 안정성 등과 같은 특성으로 인해 금속층-유전막-금속층 캐패시터의 하부전극으로 각광받고 있다. 또한 Cu와의 우수한 Adhesion 특성으로 인해 Cu 배선에서의 Cu 확산 방지막으로도 주목받고 있다. 그러나 이렇게 형성된 Ru 하부전극의 각 캐패시터간의 분리와 평탄화를 위해서는 CMP 공정이 도입이 필요하다. 이러한 CMP 공정에 공급되는 Slurry 에는 부식액, pH 적정제, 연마입자 등이 첨가되는데 이때 연마입자가 응집하여 Slurry의 분산 안전성 저하에 영향을 줄수 있다. 이로 인해 응집된 Slurry는 Scratch와 Delamination 과 같은 표면 결함을 유발할 수 있으며, Slurry의 저장 안정성을 저하시켜 Slurry의 물리적 화학적 특성을 변화시킬 수 있다. 그리하여 본 연구에서는 Ru CMP Slurry에서의 Surfactant와 같은 분산 안정제에 따른 Surface tension, Zeta potential, Particle size, Sedimentation의 분석을 통해 Slurry 안정성에 대한 영향을 살펴보았다. 그 결과 pH9 조건의 31ppm Dispersant 농도에서 50%이상의 Sedimentation 상승효과를 얻을 수 있었다. 또한 선택된 Surfactant가 첨가된 Ru CMP Slurry를 제조하여 Ru wafer의 Static etch rate, Passivation film thickness 와 Wettability를 비교해 보았다. 그리고 CMP 공정을 실시하여 Ru의 Removal rate와 TEOS에대한 Selectivity를 측정해 보았다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.567-568
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• 2006

To investigate the recycle possibility of slurry for the oxide-chemical mechanical polishing (oxide-CMP) application, three kinds of retreated methods were introduced as follows: First, the effects on the addition of silica abrasives and the diluted silica slurry (DSS) on CMP performances were investigated. Second, the characteristics of mixed abrasive slurry (MAS) using non-annealed and annealed alumina ($Al_2O_3$) powder as an abrasive added within DSS were evaluated to achieve the improvement of removal rates (RRs) and within-wafer non-uniformity (WIWNU%). Third, the oxide-CMP wastewater was examined in order to evaluate the possible ways of reusing it. And then, we have discussed the CMP characteristics of silica slurry retreated by mixing of original slurry and used slurry (MOS).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.557-561
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• 2001

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process has been widely used to planarize dielectric layers, which can be applied to the integraded circuits for sub-micron technology. Despite the increased use of CMP process, it is difficult to accomplish the global planarization of in the defect-free inter-level dielectrics (ILD). Especially, defects such as micro-scratch lead to severe circuit failure which affect yield. CMP slurries can contain particles exceeding 1㎛ in size, which could cause micro-scratch on the wafer surface. The large particles in these slurries may be caused by particles agglomeration in slurry supply line. To reduce these defects, slurry filtration method has been recommended in oxide CMP. In this work, we have studied the effects of filtration and the defect trend as a function of polished wafer count using various filters in inter-metal dielectrics(IMD)-CMP process. The filter installation in CMP polisher could reduce defects after IMD-CMP process. As a result of micro-scratch formation, it is shown that slurry filter plays an important role in determining consumable pad lifetime. The filter lifetime is dominated by the defects. We have concluded that slurry filter lifetime is fixed by the degree of generating defects.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.308-311
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference of the wafer nanotopography impact on the oxide-film thickness variation between the STI CMP using ceria slurry and STI CMP using fumed silica slurry. The nanotopography impact on the oxide-film thickness variation after STI CMP using ceria slurry is 2.8 times higher than that after STI CMP using fumed silica slurry. It is attributed that the STI CMP using ceria slurry follows non-Prestonian polishing behavior while that using fumed silica slurry follows Prestonian polishing behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2005

To investigate the effects of slurry temperature on the chemical mechanical polishing(CMP) performance of oxide film with silica and ceria slurries, we have studied slurry properties as a function of different slurry temperature. Also, the effects of each input parameter of slurry on the oxide CMP characteristics were investigated. The pH showed a slight tendency of decrease, the conductivity in slurries showed an increased tendency, the mean particle size in slurry decreased, and the zeta potential of slurry decreased with temperature. The removal rates significantly increased and maintained at the specific levels over 4$0^{\circ}C$. The better surface morphology of oxide films could be obtained at 40 $^{\circ}C$ of silica slurry and at 90 $^{\circ}C$ of ceria slurry. It is found that the CMP performance of oxide film could be significantly improved or controlled by change of slurry temperature.