Patent ID: 6780772
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: C25F,H01L

Abstract:
A method of planarizing a non-planar conductive surface layer on the workpiece, comprising:applying a metallic conducting material layer having substantially a same conductivity characteristic as the non-planar conductive surface layer onto a top surface of the conductive surface layer of the workpiece using one of a spin-on, spray, doctor blading or other application technique that does not involve electroplating so that a top surface of the conducting material layer is planar, thus forming a planarized multi-layer structure that includes the non-planar conductive surface layer and the metallic conducting material layer; and electropolishing the planarized multi-layer structure to remove in a planar manner at least portions of the non-planar conductive layer and other portions of the metallic conducting material layer, wherein the electropolishing in the planar manner is assisted by using conducting material in the metallic conducting material layer that electropolishes at substantially the same rate as the non-planar conductive surface layer.