CMP Polishing Composition for Balanced Multi-Material Removal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chemical mechanical polishing compositions face challenges in achieving high polishing speed while reducing steps and dishing when polishing objects with multiple materials, particularly germanium-containing substrates.

Innovation Solution

A polishing composition comprising abrasive grains, a water-soluble polymer without alcoholic hydroxyl groups, a polyvalent carboxylic acid (salt), and an oxidizing agent, with a pH of less than 6, which balances the polishing speed and ratio of speeds between different materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional chemical mechanical polishing composition is used, then polishing speed can be improved, but steps and dishing occur when polishing multi-material substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing speedVSAvoidsurface flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the polishing composition by specifying a pH range of 2.0-5.0 and using particular oxidizing agents (potassium permanganate, sodium peroxide, hydrogen peroxide) in controlled concentrations. These parameter changes optimize the chemical reaction rate to achieve high polishing speed while maintaining surface flatness by preventing excessive material removal from specific regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite polishing composition containing multiple components: abrasive grains (silica, alumina, or ceria), oxidizing agents, surfactants, and specific polymers (polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, or carboxymethyl cellulose). This composite formulation works synergistically to achieve both high polishing speed and surface flatness control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If polishing speed of specific material is increased, then productivity improves, but ratio of polishing speeds between different materials becomes unbalanced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing speed of specific materialVSAvoidpolishing speed ratio between materials
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the pH parameter to a specific range of 2.0-5.0 and controls the concentration of oxidizing agents to balance the polishing speeds of different materials. This parameter optimization ensures that germanium-containing substrates are polished at high speed while other materials are removed at appropriate rates, maintaining the desired speed ratio

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional polishing composition is used, then general polishing can be performed, but difficulty in reducing steps and dishing simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing capabilityVSAvoidstep and dishing reduction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces oxidizing agents as intermediary substances that chemically react with the substrate materials before mechanical removal. This chemical pre-treatment softens and oxidizes the material surface, making it more susceptible to uniform mechanical polishing by the abrasive grains, thereby reducing steps and dishing while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical environment parameters by controlling pH (2.0-5.0) and using specific oxidizing agents to create optimal conditions for uniform material removal. This parameter optimization enables simultaneous reduction of steps and dishing while maintaining general polishing capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition achieves a moderate and balanced polishing speed for specific materials, reducing steps and dishing, and optimizing the polishing efficiency for germanium-containing substrates.

Implementation Method 1

a polishing composition comprising abrasive grains, a water-soluble polymer having no alcoholic hydroxyl group in a side chain, a polyvalent carboxylic acid (salt), and an oxidizing agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is a technique for planarizing the surface of an object to be polished (workpiece), such as semiconductor substrates, using a polishing composition containing, for example, abrasive grains

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 3

a water-soluble polymer having no alcoholic hydroxyl group in a side chain

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS12590225B2Polishing composition, polishing method, and method for producing polished substrate
Publication Date: 2026.03.31 FUJIMI INCORPORATED

AI summary

According to the present invention, a moderately high polishing speed for a specific material and appropriate ratio of polishing speeds between two or more different materials are achieved in polishing using a polishing composition. The present invention relates to a polishing composition comprising abrasive grains, a water-soluble polymer having no alcoholic hydroxyl group in a side chain, a polyvalent carboxylic acid (salt), and an oxidizing agent, and having a pH of less than 6.