Patent ID: 6379223
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B23H,B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A method of planarizing a surface of a workpiece by electrochemical-mechanical planarization (EMP), comprising:(a) providing a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus with at least one workpiece having at least one surface to be planarized by EMP; (b) supplying said CMP apparatus with an electrolytically conductive fluid free of chemical oxidizing agent(s); and (c) planarizing the at least one workpiece surface by EMP utilizing said CMP apparatus, said planarizing by EMP including applying a time-varying electrochemical potential to the at least one workpiece surface; wherein step (c) comprises performing said EMP by controllably applying a time varying anodic potential to said at least one workpiece surface, wherein the time varying anodic potential comprises applying a first, higher anodic potential to said workpiece surface during an initial stage of said EMP and applying a second, lower anodic potential to said workpiece surface during a later stage of said EMP.