IP Library Granted Patent US 7,279,425
Granted Patent B2
US 7,279,425 · App. 11/581,375 · Granted Oct 9, 2007

Polishing method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,279,425
App. No.
11/581,375
Granted
Oct 9, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A polishing technique wherein scratches, peeling, dishing and erosion are suppressed, a complex cleaning process and slurry supply/processing equipment are not required, and the cost of consumable items such as slurries and polishing pads is reduced. A metal film formed on an insulating film comprising a groove is polished with a polishing solution containing an oxidizer and a substance which renders oxides water-soluble, but not containing a polishing abrasive.

Claims (44)

1. A polishing method comprising:

chemically mechanically polishing a metal film using a polishing solution which additionally has included therein less than 1 wt % of a polishing abrasive, said solution having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said metal film, said solution including a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is mechanically rubbed out from a surface of the metal film and a metal oxide is made soluble to the solution having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said metal film.

2. A polishing method according to claim 1 , wherein said polishing solution has included therein less than 0.5 wt % of said polishing abrasive.

3. A polishing method according to claim 1 , wherein said polishing solution is substantially free of said polishing abrasive.

4. A polishing method according to claim 1 , wherein said surfactant is polyammoniumacrylate.

5. A polishing method according to claim 1 , wherein said metal film is one selected from the group consisting of a copper film, a copper alloy film, and a copper compound film having copper as its principal component.

6. A polishing method for removing at least part of a metal film on an insulating film, comprising:

chemically mechanically polishing the metal film using a polishing solution which additionally has included therein less than 1 wt % of a polishing abrasive, and includes an oxidizer, a substance which renders a metal oxide water-soluble, and a surfactant, said solution having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said metal film, wherein the surfactant is mechanically rubbed out from a surface of the metal film and a metal oxide is made soluble to the substance for polishing the metal film.

7. A polishing method according to claim 6 , wherein said polishing solution has included therein less than 0.5 wt % of said polishing abrasive.

8. A polishing method according to claim 6 , wherein said polishing solution is substantially free of said polishing abrasive.

9. A polishing method according to claim 6 , wherein said surfactant is polyammoniumacrylate.

10. A polishing method according to claim 6 , wherein said metal film is one selected from the group consisting of a copper film, a copper alloy film, and a copper compound film having copper as its principal component.

11. A polishing method according to claim 6 , wherein said metal film is one selected from the group consisting of a tungsten film, a tungsten alloy film, and a tungsten compound film having tungsten as its principal component.

12. A polishing method for removing at least part of a metal film on an insulating film, comprising:

chemically mechanically polishing the metal film using a polishing solution which additionally has included therein less than 1 wt % of a polishing abrasive, and includes an oxidizer and malic acid, said solution, having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said metal film, wherein the metal oxide is made soluble to the malic acid for polishing the metal film.

13. A polishing method according to claim 12 , wherein said polishing solution has included therein less than 0.5 wt % of said polishing abrasive.

14. A polishing method according to claim 12 , wherein said polishing solution is substantially free of said polishing abrasive.

15. A polishing method for removing at least part of a metal film on an insulating film, comprising:

chemically mechanically polishing the metal film using a polishing solution which additionally has included therein less than 1 wt % of a polishing abrasive and includes an oxidizer, malic acid, and a surfactant, said solution having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said metal film, wherein the surfactant is mechanically rubbed out from a surface of the metal film and a metal oxide is made soluble to the malic acid for polishing the metal film.

16. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

providing a substrate which includes a semiconductor;

forming an insulating film on said substrate, said insulating film having an opening;

forming a metal film inside said opening and overlying said insulating film; and

polishing said metal film by chemical mechanical polishing using a polishing solution which additionally has included therein less than 1 wt % of a polishing abrasive, said solution having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said metal film, said polishing solution including an oxidizer, a substance which renders a metal oxide water-soluble and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is mechanically rubbed out from a surface of the metal film, and a metal oxide is made soluble to the substance for polishing the metal film.

17. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein said polishing solution has included therein less than 0.5 wt % of said polishing abrasive.

18. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein said polishing solution is substantially free of said polishing abrasive.

19. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein said surfactant is polyammoniumacrylate.

20. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein said metal film is one selected from the group consisting of a copper film, a copper alloy film, and a copper compound film having copper as its principal component.

21. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 16 , wherein said metal film is one selected from the group consisting of a tungsten film, a tungsten alloy film, and a tungsten compound film having tungsten as its principal component.

22. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 16 , further comprising:

cleaning said substrate after the step of polishing said metal film, to provide a cleaned substrate, and drying said cleaned substrate.

23. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

providing a substrate which includes a semiconductor;

forming an insulating film on said substrate, said insulating film having an opening;

forming a metal film inside said opening and overlying said insulating film; and

polishing said metal film by chemical mechanical polishing using a polishing solution which additionally has included therein less than 1 wt % of a polishing abrasive, and includes malic acid, and a surfactant, said solution having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said metal film, wherein the surfactant is mechanically rubbed out from a surface of said metal film and a metal oxide is made soluble to the malic acid for polishing the metal film.

24. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 23 , wherein said polishing solution includes an oxidizer.

25. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 23 , wherein said polishing solution has included therein less than 0.5 wt % of said polishing abrasive.

26. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 23 , wherein said polishing solution is substantially free of said polishing abrasive.

27. A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices, comprising:

preparing a substrate having an impurity-doped layer;

forming an insulating film having an opening exposing said impurity-doped layer;

forming a layered film comprising a metal film having titanium nitride and copper as its principal components on the substrate on which said insulating film is formed;

mechanically rubbing a substance which suppresses etching or oxidation on said layered film surface by using a polishing solution comprising less than 0.01 wt % of an alumina polishing abrasive, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid or malic acid and a substance which suppresses etching or oxidation, said solution having a pH and oxidation-reduction potential in the domain of corrosion of said layered film.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 30, 2010
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025204/0512 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2009
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
Reel/Frame 022320/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2007
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
Reel/Frame 020098/0527 →