• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-4
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of slurry including phosphoric acid for chemical-mechanical planarization of copper and tantalum nitride. In general, the slurry for copper CMP consists of alumina or colloidal silica as an abrasive, organic acid as a complexing agent, an oxidizing agent, a film forming agent, a pH control agent and additives. Hydrogen peroxide (H$_2$O$_2$) is the material that is used as an oxidizing agent in copper CMP. But, the hydrogen peroxide needs some stabilizers to prevent decomposition. We evaluated phosphoric acid (H$_3$PO$_4$) as a stabilizer of the hydrogen peroxide as well as an accelerator of the tantalum nitride CMP process. We also estimated dispersion stability and zeta potential of the abrasive with the contents of phosphoric acid. An acceleration of the tantalum nitride CMP was verified through the electrochemical test. This approach may be useful for the development of the 2$\^$nd/ step copper CMP slurry and hydrogen peroxide stability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.1300-1303
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• 2004

Copper는 낮은 저항률과 높은 Electromigration 저항 때문에 반도체 소자에 배선 재료로 사용된다. CMP 공정을 이용 하여 Cu wafer의 여러 가지 특성을 파악하기에는 wafer의 소모량이 많고 고가가의 비용이 예상 되므로, 본 논문에서는 비용절감을 위하여 wafer를 Disc로 대체 하고자 실험을 진행 하였고 Cu wafer와 Disc의 비료 방법은 우선 PM-5 (Genitech. co) 장비를 이용하여 removal rate의 차이점을 알 아 보았으며, 서로의 etch rate을 reomval rate과 비교하였다. EG&G 273A를 통하여 Cu wafer와 disc의 corrosion potential과 $R_p$ (Polarization resistance)값을 서로 비교 하였다. 이 논문에서는 이러한 것들을 서로 비교 하여, Cu wafer와 disc에서의 상관관계를 알고자 하였으며, 만약에 Cu wafer와 disc의 특성이 비슷하다면, Cu wafer 대신에 disc를 이용 하여 실험하여도 되는지에 관하여 조사 하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.528-528
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• 2007

Cu CMP widely has been using for the formation of multilevel metal interconnects by the Cu damascene process. And lower dielectric constant materials are required for the below 45nm technology node. As the dielectric constant of dielectric materials are smaller, the strength of dielectric materials become weaker. Therefore these materials are easily damaged by high down pressure during conventional CMP. Also, technical problems such as surface scratches, delamination, dishing and erosion are also occurred. In order to overcome these problems in CMP, the ECMP (electro-chemical mechanical planarization) has been introduced. In this process, abrasive free electrolyte, soft pad and low down force were used. The electrolyte is one of important factor to solve these problems. Also, additives are required to improve the removal rate, uniformity, surface roughness, defects, and so on. In this study, KOH and $NaNO_3$ based electrolytes were used for Cu ECMP and the electrochemical behavior was evaluated by the potentiostat. Also, the Cu surface was observed by SEM as a function of applied voltage and chemical concentration.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2012

Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) is a polishing process used in the microelectronic fabrication industries to achieve a globally planar wafer surface for the manufacturing of integrated circuits. Pad conditioning plays an important role in the CMP process to maintain a material removal rate (MRR) and its uniformity. For metal CMP process, highly acidic slurry containing strong oxidizer is being used. It would affect the conditioner surface which normally made of metal such as Nickel and its alloy. If conditioner surface is corroded, diamonds on the conditioner surface would be fallen out from the surface. Because of this phenomenon, not only life time of conditioners is decreased, but also more scratches are generated. To protect the conditioners from corrosion, thin organic film deposition on the metal surface is suggested without requiring current conditioner manufacturing process. To prepare the anti-corrosion film on metal conditioner surface, vapor SAM (self-assembled monolayer) and FC (Fluorocarbon) -CVD (SRN-504, Sorona, Korea) films were prepared on both nickel and nickel alloy surfaces. Vapor SAM method was used for SAM deposition using both Dodecanethiol (DT) and Perfluoroctyltrichloro silane (FOTS). FC films were prepared in different thickness of 10 nm, 50 nm and 100 nm on conditioner surfaces. Electrochemical analysis such as potentiodynamic polarization and impedance, and contact angle measurements were carried out to evaluate the coating characteristics. Impedance data was analyzed by an electrical equivalent circuit model. The observed contact angle is higher than 90o after thin film deposition, which confirms that the coatings deposited on the surfaces are densely packed. The results of potentiodynamic polarization and the impedance show that modified surfaces have better performance than bare metal surfaces which could be applied to increase the life time and reliability of conditioner during W CMP.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.33.2-33.2
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• 2011

CMP (Chemical-Mechanical Planarization) 공정이란 화학적 반응과 기계적 힘을 동시에 이용하여 표면을 평탄화하는 공정으로, 반도체 산업에서 회로의 고집적화와 다층구조를 형성하기 위해 CMP 공정이 도입되었으며 반도체 패턴의 미세화와 다층화에 따라 CMP 공정의 중요성은 더욱 강조되고 있다. CMP 공정은 압력, 속도 등의 공정조건과, 화학적 반응을 유도하는 슬러리, 기계적 힘을 위한 패드 등에 의해 복합적으로 영향을 받는다. CMP 공정에서, 폴리우레탄 패드는 많은 기공들을 포함한 그루브(groove)를 형성하고 있어 웨이퍼와 직접적으로 접촉을 하며 공정 중 유입된 슬러리가 효과적으로 연마를 할 수 있도록 도와주는 역할을 한다. 하지만, 공정이 진행 될수록 그루브는 손상이 되어 제 역할을 하지 못하게 된다. 패드 컨디셔닝이란 컨디셔너가 CMP 공정 중에 지속적으로 패드 표면을 연마하여 패드의 손상된 부분을 제거하고 새로운 표면을 노출시켜 패드의 상태를 일정하게 유지시키는 것을 말한다. 한편, 금속박막의 CMP 공정에 사용되는 슬러리는 금속박막과 산화반응을 하기 위하여 산화제를 포함하는데, 산화제는 금속 컨디셔너 표면을 산화시켜 부식을 야기한다. 컨디셔너의 표면부식은 반도체 수율에 직접적인 영향을 줄 수 있는 scratch 등을 발생시킬 뿐만 아니라, 컨디셔너의 수명도 저하시키게 되므로 이를 방지하기 위한 노력이 매우 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 컨디셔너 표면에 연마 잔여물 흡착을 억제하고, 슬러리와 컨디셔너 표면 간에 일어나는 표면부식을 방지하기 위하여 소수성 자기조립 단분자막(SAM: Self-assembled monolayer)을 증착하여 특성을 평가하였다. SAM은 2가지 전구체(FOTS, Dodecanethiol를 사용하여 Vapor SAM 방법으로 증착하였고, 접촉각 측정을 통하여 단분자막의 증착 여부를 평가하였다. 또한 표면부식 특성은 Potentiodynamic polarization와 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) 등의 전기화학 분석법을 사용하여 평가되었다. SAM 표면은 정접촉각 측정기(Phoenix 300, SEO)를 사용하여 $90^{\circ}$ 이상의 소수성 접촉각으로써 증착여부를 확인하였다. 또한, 표면에너지 감소로 인하여 슬러리 내의 연마입자 및 연마잔여물 흡착이 감소하는 것을 확인 하였다. Potentiodynamic polarization과 EIS의 결과 분석으로부터 SAM이 증착된 표면의 부식전위와 부식전류밀도가 감소하며, 임피던스 값이 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구에서는 컨디셔너 표면에 SAM을 증착 하였고, CMP 공정 중 발생하는 오염물의 흡착을 감소시킴으로써 CMP 연마 효율을 증가하는 동시에 컨디셔너 금속표면의 부식을 방지함으로써 내구성이 증가될 수 있음을 확인 하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.117-117
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• 2008

In MIM capacitor, poly-Si bottom electrode is replaced with metal bottom electrode. Noble metals can be used as bottom electrodes of capacitors because they have high work function and remain conductive in highly oxidizing conditions. In addition, they are chemically very stable. Among novel metals, Ru (ruthenium) has been suggested as an alternative bottom electrode due to its excellent electrical performance, including a low leakage of current and compatibility to high dielectric constant materials. Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process has been suggested to planarize and isolate the bottom electrode. Even though there is a great need for development of Ru CMP slurry, few studies have been carried out due to noble properties of Ru against chemicals. In the organic chemistry literature, periodate ion ($IO_4^-$) is a well-known oxidant. It has been reported that sodium periodate ($NaIO_4$) can form $RuO_4$ from hydrated ruthenic oxide ($RuO_2{\cdot}nH_2O$). $NaIO_4$ exist as various species in an aqueous solution as a function of pH. Also, the removal mechanism of Ru depends on solution of pH. In this research, the static etch rate, passivation film thickness and wettability were measured as a function of slurry pH. The electrochemical analysis was investigated as a function of pH. To evaluate the effect of pH on polishing behavior, removal rate was investigated as a function of pH by using patterned and unpatterned wafers.