• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2001년도 추계학술대회 논문집 Vol.14 No.1
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• pp.185-188
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• 2001

Chemical mechanical polishing(CMP) process is widely used for global planarization of inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer and inter-layer dielectric (ILD) for deep sub-micron technology. However, as the IMD and ILD layer gets thinner, defects such as micro-scratch lead to severe circuit failure, which affect yield. In this paper, for the improvement of CMP process, deionized water (DIW) pressure, purified $N_2 \; (PN_2)$ gas, slurry filter and high spray bar were installed. Our experimental results show that DIW pressure and $PN_2$ gas factors were not related with removal rate, but edge hot-spot of patterned wafer had a serious relation. Also, the filter installation in CMP polisher could reduce defects after CMP process, it is shown that slurry filter plays an important role in determining consumable pad lifetime. The filter lifetime is dominated by the defects. However, the slurry filter is impossible to prevent defect-causing particles perfectly. Thus, we suggest that it is necessary to install the high spray bar of de-ionized water (DIW) with high pressure, to overcome the weak-point of slurry filter. Finally, we could expect the improvements of throughput, yield and stability in the ULSI fabrication process.

• 대한전기학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한전기학회 1999년도 하계학술대회 논문집 D
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• pp.1891-1894
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• 1999

We can classify the scratches after CMP process into micro-scratch and macro-scratches according to the scratch size, scratch intensity and defect map, etc. The micro-scratches on wafer after CMP process are discussed in this paper. From many causes, major factor that influences the formation of micro-scratch is known as particle size distribution of slurry.(1) It is indefinite what size or type of particle can cause micro-scratch on wafer surface, but there is possibility caused by large particle over 1um. The best way for controlling these large particle to inflow is to use the slurry filter on POU(Point of user). But the slurry filter(especially, depth-type filter) has sometimes the problem which makes more sever micro-scratches on wafer surface after CMP. We studied that depth-type slurry filter has what kind of week-points and the number of scratch could be reduced by lowering slurry flow rate and by using high spray bar which sprays DIW on polishing pad with high pressure.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2008년도 하계학술대회 논문집 Vol.9
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• pp.119-120
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• 2008

ILD CMP process has been well accepted for the planarization of the dielectric oxide film and becomes a critical process in ULSI manufacturing due to the rapid shrinkage of the design rule for the device. In total manufacturing process steps for a device, the proportion of ILD CMP process has been gradually increased. Ever since ILD CMP has been introduced, the scratches have been a major defects on polished surfaces which cause the electrical shorts between vias or metal lines [1,2]. It was reported that micro-scratches are caused by large, irregularly shaped particles during CMP process. Therefore, most of the CMP users have used < 5 m POU filter to remove and reduce the scratch source from the slurry. However, the scratch has always been the biggest concern in ILD polishing whatever preventive actions are taken. Silica and ceria slurries are widely used for ILD CMP process. There are not much differences in generated scratches and their formation mechanism. In this study, the scratches were investigated as a function of polishing conditions with possible explanation on formation mechanism in ILD CMP.