Patent ID: 7497938
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: B23H,C25F

Abstract:
1. A method of determining at least one electrochemical characteristic of a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising (a) a reactive substrate and (b) an aqueous solution, the method comprising: (i) providing an electrochemical cell comprising: (ii) changing the first potential to a second potential, wherein the second potential is different than the first potential, such that a current is generated between the reactive substrate and the electrode, (iii) collecting data wherein the data comprise an electrochemical cell current, (iv) determining the at least one electrochemical characteristic of the chemical-mechanical polishing system by analysis of the data, and (v) determining at least one polishing characteristic of the chemical-mechanical polishing system using the at least one electrochemical characteristic of the chemical-mechanical polishing system, wherein the at least one electrochemical characteristic of the chemical-mechanical polishing system is selected from the group consisting of stable current, total magnitude of current reduction, maximum current, and time constant of current reduction.