Polishing Composition Using Polyether Amine for Sapphire Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current chemical-mechanical polishing compositions lack controlled selectivity for polysilicon relative to silicon oxide and silicon nitride, leading to decreased polishing rates and inefficiencies in semiconductor processing.

Innovation Solution

A chemical-mechanical polishing system utilizing a polishing pad or abrasive with a liquid carrier and specific polyether amines, such as 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine, to adjust polysilicon removal rates while maintaining low removal rates for silicon oxide and silicon nitride, using compounds like tetramethylammonium hydroxide to enhance selectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional polishing compositions (slurries or gels) are used for polishing sapphire substrates, then the polishing process can proceed, but the polishing speed is insufficient and cannot meet industrial production requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing speedVSAvoidpolishing consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polishing slurry by incorporating polyether amine and adjusting the concentration of colloidal silica and hydrogen peroxide. This chemical parameter modification enables significantly higher polishing speeds while maintaining consistent polishing quality, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polishing slurry system combining polyether amine, colloidal silica, and hydrogen peroxide. This composite formulation synergistically enhances both polishing speed and consistency, achieving industrial production requirements by integrating multiple functional components that work together to overcome the limitations of conventional single-component slurries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If conventional polishing compositions are used, then the formulation is simple, but the polishing speed is too slow for industrial production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing speedVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by adding polyether amine to the slurry formulation. This parameter change dramatically increases polishing speed to meet industrial requirements, accepting a moderate increase in composition complexity as a necessary trade-off for achieving productive polishing rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces polyether amine as an intermediary substance that mediates between the abrasive particles and the sapphire substrate. This intermediary component enhances the chemical-mechanical polishing action, enabling high-speed polishing while keeping the overall formulation relatively simple and manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional polishing compositions are used, then the formulation is straightforward, but uniformity of polishing across different batches cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebatch-to-batch uniformityVSAvoidpolishing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for polyether amine concentration (0.1-10 wt%), colloidal silica concentration (10-50 wt%), and hydrogen peroxide concentration (1-20 wt%). These controlled parameter changes ensure both high polishing speed and uniformity across different batches, resolving the contradiction between productivity and composition stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the local chemical environment at the polishing interface by carefully controlling the distribution and concentration of polyether amine and other components. This local quality control ensures consistent polishing performance across different batches while maintaining high productivity, addressing both uniformity and speed requirements

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 system allows for controlled adjustment of polysilicon removal rates while minimizing the removal of silicon oxide and silicon nitride, optimizing semiconductor substrate processing and improving throughput.

Implementation Method 1

chemical-mechanical polishing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical-mechanical polishing:

Data Source

PatentEP2029689B1Polishing composition containing polyether amine
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 CABOT MICROELECTRONICS CORP
  • EP2029689B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2029689B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2029689B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The inventive chemical-mechanical polishing system comprises a polishing component, a liquid carrier, and a polyether amine. The inventive method comprises chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with the aforementioned polishing system.