Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 March 2011
This work investigates the retention and transport of chemical species and abrasive particles during chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) of copper (Cu). “Slurry step-flow” experiments, in which the concentrations of the chemicals and abrasives in the slurry are altered in steps during polishing were conducted with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)/glycine based slurries. Two different pads, Suba-500 and IC 1400 (with k grooves), were compared in terms of their slurry retention and transport characteristics. With these experiments, it has been shown that both the abrasives and chemicals are constantly replaced during a typical CMP process. Better polishing performance of the IC 1400 over Suba 500 is a result of improved transport of the chemicals and the abrasives between the wafer/pad interface.