CMP Polishing Composition for Oxide-Nitride Selectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) techniques struggle to achieve a high selection ratio of polishing removal rates for silicon oxide or silicon nitride compared to polysilicon and fail to adequately reduce organic residues on polished surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A polishing composition comprising colloidal silica, an inorganic salt without halogens, and a water-soluble polymer, where the product of the anion's valence number and concentration is 57 or more, enhancing the selection ratio and reducing organic residues by improving surface hydrophilicity and electrostatic repulsion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional CMP techniques are used to polish composite materials containing polysilicon and silicon oxide or silicon nitride, then polishing can be performed, but the selection ratio of polishing removal rates is substantially equal and residues remain insufficiently reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection ratio of polishing removal ratesVSAvoidresidues on polished surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polishing composition by using colloidal silica with specific particle size distribution (0.01-10 μm), controlling pH (2-6), and adjusting the concentration ratio of silica particles to organic acid (1:0.1-10). These parameter changes create optimal conditions for selective removal of silicon oxide/nitride while minimizing polysilicon removal and residue formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite polishing composition containing multiple components: colloidal silica particles, organic acid (immobilized on silica surface), wetting agent, and polishing removal rate inhibitor. This composite formulation works synergistically to achieve high selection ratio and reduced residues, where each component contributes specific functions for selective chemical-mechanical polishing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If polishing composition with equal removal rates for different materials is used, then general polishing can be achieved, but the selection ratio between silicon oxide/nitride and polysilicon cannot be improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing removal rate of silicon oxide or silicon nitrideVSAvoidselectivity of material removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating chemically active sites specifically on the silica particle surfaces through immobilization of organic acid. This localized chemical activity enhances the polishing removal rate of silicon oxide and silicon nitride selectively at the contact points between polishing composition and workpiece, while maintaining controlled removal of polysilicon through the inhibitor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 higher selection ratio of polishing removal rates for silicon oxide or silicon nitride to polysilicon and significantly reduces organic residues on the polished surface, improving the CMP process efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a phenomenon that a reduction in residues on an object to be polished after polishing (polished object to be polished) is insufficient is also observed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic repulsion: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

improving surface hydrophilicity and electrostatic repulsion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilicity enhancement: Hydrophile

Implementation Method 3

A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method is one of them

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 4

a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS20240254366A1Polishing composition, polishing method, and method of manufacturing semiconductor substrate
Publication Date: 2024.08.01 FUJIMI INCORPORATED

AI summary

The present invention provides a method capable of increasing a ratio (selection ratio) of a polishing removal rate of silicon oxide or silicon nitride to a polishing removal rate of polysilicon and further reducing residues (preferably organic residues) on a surface of a polished object to be polished. The present invention is a polishing composition containing colloidal silica, an inorganic salt containing no halogen, and a water-soluble polymer, in which a product of a valence number (unit: valency) of an anion of the inorganic salt and a concentration (unit: mM) of the anion in the polishing composition is 57 or more.