Method for polishing semiconductor substrate and apparatus for the same

The method for polishing a semiconductor substrate includes the steps of (a) forming a flowing liquid layer between a semiconductor substrate and a substrate holder to thereby support the semiconductor substrate therebetween by surface tension of the flowing liquid layer, and (b) compressing the semiconductor substrate onto a polishing cloth including process liquid therein. The method ensures that a semiconductor substrate is not damaged at a reverse surface thereof and also that a semiconductor substrate is not contaminated by particles contained in process liquid, because the flowing liquid layer prevents particles of process liquid from entering between the semiconductor substrate and the substrate holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a method for polishing a semiconductor substrate 
and an apparatus for the same, and more particularly to a method for 
chemically and mechanically polishing a semiconductor substrate and an 
apparatus for the same. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In order to fabricate a semiconductor integrated circuit including a 
multi-interconnection layer in which a plurality of interconnection layers 
are arranged in three dimensions, it is necessary to flatten surfaces of 
interlayer insulative layers (silicon oxide layers) disposed between 
multi-interconnection layers. Namely, when a silicon oxide layer is 
deposited by CVD subsequent to the formation of aluminum interconnection 
layers on a first layer or a lowermost layer, the aluminum interconnection 
layers cause irregularities on a surface of the deposited silicon oxide 
layer. When second aluminum interconnection layers are to be patterned on 
the silicon oxide layer having such irregularities in a photolithography 
step and a dry etching step, the irregularities pose such problems that 
focus for exposure of resist patterning is not able to be adjusted and 
that residue of dry etching remains at steps of the irregularities. Thus, 
Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-30052 has suggested that such 
irregularities present on a surface of an interlayer insulative layer are 
removed by polishing to thereby flatten the surface. Specifically, the 
Publication has suggested the method including the steps of supplying 
process liquid to a polishing cloth lying on a rotatable surface table, 
and compressing a silicon substrate onto the polishing cloth to thereby 
remove the irregularities present on an interlayer insulative layer. The 
polishing of a silicon oxide layer is accomplished by both a chemical 
etching function of silicon oxide and a mechanical function caused by 
friction between the irregularities and abrasive particles. Japanese 
Unexamined Patent Public Disclosure No. 4-75338 has suggested the use of 
process liquid comprising ammonia aqueous solution containing, as abrasive 
particles, silica particles having a diameter of approximately 40 nm in 
the range of 10 wt % to 30 wt %. 
In polishing to remove micron order irregularities present on an interlayer 
insulative layer, a structure of a substrate holder in a polishing 
apparatus is quite important for carrying out uniform polishing within a 
substrate. For instance, if irregularities are present on a surface of 
such a substrate holder, uniformity of polishing a substrate would be 
degraded, even if such irregularities are minute. Alternatively, if 
particles exist between a substrate holder and a reverse surface of a 
substrate, such particles cause polishing speed of an interlayer 
insulative layer to locally change, even if such particles are of micron 
order. In addition, a substrate may be damaged at a reverse surface 
thereof by contact with a substrate holder. Thus, how a substrate is held 
exerts a great influence on the flattening of a surface of a thin layer, 
which constitutes a semiconductor, including a polysilicon layer and a 
metal layer as well as an interlayer insulative layer 
There have been the following four conventional methods A to D for holding 
a substrate. 
A. In method A, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, a substrate 1 is fixedly adhered 
to a substrate holder 13 through an adhesive 14 such as hot melt wax. The 
substrate 1 adhered to the substrate holder 13 is compressed onto a 
polishing cloth 9 lying on a surface table 10, and then a rotation shaft 8 
rotates the substrate holder 13 and hence the substrate 1 on the polishing 
cloth 9. Thus, a surface of the substrate 1 is polished to thereby remove 
irregularities present on the surface of the substrate 1. For instance, 
such a method A has been suggested in Japanese Unexamined Patent Public 
Disclosure No. 5-154760 laid open on Jun. 22, 1993, and Japanese 
Unexamined Patent Public Disclosure No. 6-224165, laid open on Aug. 12, 
1994, which is based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/961565 filed 
on Oct. 15, 1992 and assigned to Applied Materials Incorporated. 
B. In method B, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the substrate 1 is sucked to the 
substrate holder 13 by a vacuum pump 17 through a hole 3 formed in the 
substrate holder 13. Thus, the substrate 1 is polished on the polishing 
cloth 9 with the substrate 1 being vacuum-sucked to the substrate holder 
13. For instance, such a method B has been suggested in Japanese 
Unexamined Patent Public Disclosure No. 5-277908, laid open on Oct. 26, 
1993, which is based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/826,394 filed 
on Jan. 27, 1992 and assigned to Micron Technology Incorporated, and also 
in the above mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Public Disclosure No. 
6-224165. 
C. In method C, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, a pad 15 which contains water is 
attached to the substrate holder 13 at its bottom surface, and a guide 
ring 4' is fixedly secured to the substrate holder 13 at its periphery. 
The substrate 1 is compressed onto the polishing cloth 9 to thereby remove 
irregularities with being held in position by surface tension of water 
contained in the pad 15. 
D. In method D, as illustrated in FIG. 1D, the substrate holder 13 is 
provided with the pad 15 and the guide ring 3. While the substrate 1 is 
held in position by surface tension of water contained in the pad 15, a 
pump 18 applies pressurized air 16 (backing pressure) to the substrate 1 
though the hole 3 of the substrate holder 13 to thereby prevent 
deformation of the pad 15. The substrate 1 is compressed onto the 
polishing cloth 9 to thereby remove irregularities thereof in the same way 
as the above mentioned methods A to C. 
However, the above-mentioned conventional methods have problems as follows. 
First, the method A, in which the substrate 1 is fixed to the substrate 
holder 13 by the adhesive 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1A, additionally 
requires the steps of applying the adhesive 14 to a reverse surface of a 
substrate to be polished, and cleansing and removing the adhesive 14 from 
the substrate 1. Thus, the method A is not suitable to a semiconductor 
fabrication process which requires mass-productivity, for instance, in a 
step for flattening an interlayer insulative layer. 
In the method B illustrated in FIG. 1B, abrasive particles may be attracted 
to the reverse surface of the substrate 1 and enter between the reverse 
surface of the substrate 1 and the substrate holder 13 while the substrate 
is being polished, and such abrasive particles deteriorate the flatness of 
a polished surface of the substrate 1. In addition, since the substrate 1 
makes direct contact with the substrate holder head 13, the substrate 1 
may be damaged at its reverse surface. 
In the method C, in which the pad 15 and the guide ring 4' is secured to 
the substrate holder 13 as illustrated in FIG. 1C, the pad 15 may be 
deformed in long use with the result that the flatness of a polished 
substrate is degraded and hence uniformity of polishing is also degraded. 
Further, while polishing, the substrate 1 may exert a stress on the guide 
ring 4'. In general, the adhesive 14 does not have water-resistance, and 
hence the guide ring 4' tends to peel off from the substrate holder 13. If 
alkaline slurry is to be used as process liquid, the guide ring 4' is more 
likely to peel off. 
In the method D, in which the substrate holder 13 and the pad 15 are formed 
with the through hole 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1D, through which the 
substrate 1 is vacuum-chucked while the substrate 1 is being transferred, 
and through which the air 16 is applied to the pad 15 to prevent 
deformation of the pad 15 while the substrate 1 is being polished, it is 
relatively easy to automate securing the substrate 1 to the substrate 
holder 13 and releasing the substrate 1 from the substrate holder 13. 
However, since the reverse surface of the substrate 1 is kept in contact 
with the air 16 while the substrate 1 is being polished, the reverse 
surface of the substrate 1 tends to become dry, and hence slurry of 
process liquid reaching the reverse surface of the substrate 1 is prone to 
become dry and stick to the reverse surface of the substrate 1. In 
addition, even if the deformation of the pad 15 is prevented by the air 16 
while polishing, the pad 15 is worn out in long use. Thus, it is 
impossible to avoid local deformation of the pad 15. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing problems of the prior methods, it is an object of 
the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for polishing a 
semiconductor substrate, not having the foregoing problems. More 
specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide both a 
method and an apparatus in which the pad is not used. 
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for polishing a 
semiconductor substrate, including the steps of (a) forming a flowing 
liquid layer between a semiconductor substrate and a substrate holder to 
thereby support the semiconductor substrate therebetween by surface 
tension of the flowing liquid layer, and (b) compressing the semiconductor 
substrate onto a polishing cloth including process liquid therein. 
In a preferred embodiment, the flowing liquid layer is formed by providing 
pure water containing no solid between the semiconductor substrate and the 
substrate holder. 
In another preferred embodiment, the flowing liquid layer is formed by 
providing an aqueous solution of an electrolyte containing no solid 
between the semiconductor substrate and the substrate holder. 
In still another preferred embodiment, the flowing liquid layer is formed 
by providing an organic solvent containing no solid between the 
semiconductor substrate and the substrate holder. 
In yet another preferred embodiment, the method further includes the step 
of (c) rotating the substrate holder and hence the semiconductor substrate 
on the polishing cloth, the step (c) being carried out subsequently to the 
step (b). 
In still yet another preferred embodiment, the step (a) includes the step 
of forming a plurality of liquid flows, each of which originates from a 
point spaced away from an edge of the semiconductor substrate. 
The invention further provides a method for polishing a semiconductor 
substrate, including the steps of (a) vacuum-chucking a semiconductor 
substrate at a reverse surface thereof to a substrate holder, (b) 
providing process liquid into a polishing cloth lying on a surface table 
disposed in facing relation to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, 
(c) compressing the semiconductor substrate onto the polishing cloth, (d) 
stopping vacuum-chucking of the semiconductor substrate almost 
simultaneously with the step (c), and (e) providing liquid to thereby form 
a flowing liquid between the semiconductor substrate and the substrate 
holder, almost simultaneously with the step (d), thereby supporting the 
semiconductor substrate between the substrate holder and the semiconductor 
substrate by surface tension of the flowing liquid layer. 
In another aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for polishing a 
semiconductor substrate, including (a) a substrate holder for holding a 
semiconductor substrate therewith, the substrate holder being formed with 
at least one through holes reaching a surface thereof, the semiconductor 
substrate functioning to hold the surface of the substrate holder, (b) a 
surface table disposed in facing relation to the substrate holder, (c) a 
polishing cloth lying on the surface table, and (d) a device for 
selectively providing vacuum or liquid onto the surface of the substrate 
holder through the through holes. 
In a preferred embodiment, the device is a three-way valve. 
In another preferred embodiment, the device is designed to provide vacuum 
onto the surface of the substrate holder while the semiconductor substrate 
is being transferred, and provide liquid while the semiconductor substrate 
is being polished. 
In still another preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a 
motor for rotating the semiconductor holder and hence the semiconductor 
substrate. 
In yet another preferred embodiment, the liquid is selected from pure water 
containing no solid, an aqueous solution of electrolyte containing no 
solid, such as ammonia salts, and an organic solvent containing no solid, 
such as glycerine. The liquid may be selected from a weak acidic aqueous 
solution such as acetate, dilute nitric acid, dilute hydrochloric acid and 
dilute sulfuric acid, and a weak alkaline aqueous solution such as dilute 
aqueous ammonia and aqueous solution of amine. 
In still yet another preferred embodiment, the substrate holder is formed 
with a plurality of through holes, each of which reaches the surface of 
the substrate holder at a point spaced away from an edge of the 
semiconductor substrate. 
In, further preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a guide 
ring having an inner diameter slightly greater than an outer diameter of 
the semiconductor substrate, the guide ring being bonded to the substrate 
holder and surrounding the semiconductor substrate. It is preferable for 
the guide ring to be composed of rigid polymer such as acrylics, 
polystyrene, Teflon and vinyl chloride. 
In a still further preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a 
film composed of resilient material, the film being interposed between the 
substrate holder and the guide ring. The resilient material is preferably 
selected from silicon rubber, natural rubber and synthetic rubber. 
In yet a further preferred embodiment, the guide ring is formed at a bottom 
surface thereof with at least one radially extending groove. 
In still yet further preferred embodiment, the surface of the substrate 
holder is composed of inorganic material. The inorganic material includes 
single crystal silicon, sapphire, diamond, quartz, glass, sintered 
aluminum oxide, and sintered silicon nitride. 
The advantages obtained by the aforementioned present invention will be 
described hereinbelow. 
In the method in accordance with the invention, since an adhesive is not 
used for attaching a semiconductor substrate to a substrate holder, there 
are no required steps of applying an adhesive to a reverse surface of a 
substrate to be polished, and washing to remove an adhesive from a 
substrate. In addition, since the method in accordance With the invention 
does not use a pad to be attached to a reverse surface of a substrate, 
there is no degradation of the flatness of a semiconductor substrate due 
to deformation of a pad. Furthermore, since the method in accordance with 
the invention forms a flowing liquid layer along a reverse surface of a 
substrate, slurry never becomes dry and thus never sticks to a reverse 
surface of a substrate. Thus, polishing uniformity is not deteriorated. 
In addition, since the guide ring is indirectly bonded to the substrate 
holder, the guide ring does not peel off the substrate holder even if a 
substrate exerts a stress on the guide ring. Between the guide ring and 
the substrate holder is disposed a film composed of resilient material, 
and hence the guide ring is slightly movable. Thus, even if a momentarily 
exerts a great stress on the guide ring, the film lightens the stress and 
hence the guide ring is never broken. 
In the method in accordance with the invention, a semiconductor substrate 
is polished with a flowing liquid layer being present between the 
substrate holder and a reverse surface of the semiconductor substrate. 
Hence, the substrate can easily rotate within the guide ring, resulting in 
that uniformity of polishing a semiconductor substrate is enhanced. 
The above and other objects and advantageous features of the present 
invention will be made apparent from the following description made with 
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters 
designate the same or similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention will be 
explained hereinbelow with reference to the attached drawings. 
FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate an embodiment in accordance with the invention 
for polishing interlayer insulative layers (not illustrated) such as 
SiO.sub.2 and layers deposited on a single crystal silicon substrate 1 on 
which elements such as transistors are mounted. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2A, a substrate holder 2 composed of quartz is 
formed with a through hole 3 at its central axis dividing into a plurality 
of holes 3a in the substrate holder 2. Each of the divisional holes 3a 
reaches a surface 2a of the substrate holder 2 at a point spaced away from 
an edge of the substrate 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there are formed 
four divisional holes 3a arranged in a circle about the through hole 3, 
and the four divisional holes 3a are circumferentially, evenly spaced away 
from one another. The through hole 3 is in communication with a vacuum 
pump 17 via a three-way valve 19. The through hole 3 is also in 
communication with a reservoir 20 via the three-way valve 19. The 
reservoir 20 contains pure water having no solids therein. Thus, by 
switching a passage of the three-way valve 19, the through hole 3 is in 
communication with either the vacuum pump 17 or the pure water reservoir 
20. Prior to polishing of the substrate 1, the through hole 3 is arranged 
to be in communication with the vacuum pump 17, and hence the substrate 1 
is vacuum-chucked to the substrate holder 2 at its surface 2a, as 
illustrated in FIG. 2. 
A guide ring 4 composed of plastics is fixedly secured to the substrate 
holer 2 at its periphery by means of screws 5 (only one of them is 
illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C). The guide ring 4 has an inner diameter 
slightly greater than an outer diameter of the substrate 1, and hence the 
substrate 1 is surrounded at its circumference by the guide ring 4. 
Between the guide ring 4 and the substrate holder 2 is interposed a 
ring-shaped silicon rubber 6 having a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 
5 mm. Thus, the guide ring 4 is slightly movable vertically relative to 
the substrate holder 2. Natural rubber or synthetic rubber may be 
substituted for the silicon rubber 6. 
A disc plate 7 composed of stainless steel and having the same outer 
diameter as that of the substrate holder 2 is fixedly secured to the 
substrate holder 2 by means of screws 5a. 
The screws 5 for fixedly securing the guide ring 4 to the substrate holder 
2 are embedded in the substrate holder 2, and thus there exists a space 21 
above a head of each of the screws 5 and below the stainless steel disc 
plate 7. Hence, even if the guide ring 4 vertically, slightly moves 
because of the silicon rubber film 6, the head of the screw 5 does not hit 
the stainless steel disc plate 7. Though only one screw 5 is illustrated 
in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a total of four screws 5 are used to secure the guide 
ring 4 to the substrate holder 2. However, the number of the screws 5 is 
not limited. 
The silicon rubber 6 ensures that the guide ring 4 is not broken even if 
the substrate 1 exerts instantaneous stress on the guide ring 4 while the 
substrate 1 is being polished. 
The stainless steel disc plate 7 to which the substrate holder 2 is fixedly 
secured has a rotation shaft 8 which is in mechanical communication with a 
motor 22. The motor 22 rotates the rotation shaft 8, the stainless steel 
disc plate 7, the substrate holer 2, and hence the substrate 1. To the 
rotation shaft 8 is secured a joint (not illustrated) for keeping the 
surface 2a of the substrate holder 2 in parallel with a top surface of the 
surface table 10. 
When the substrate 1 is to be polished, the substrate holder 2 is rotated 
through the stainless steel disc plate 7 to which the rotation shaft 8 is 
secured, and then the substrate 1 is compressed onto the surface table 10 
on which the polishing cloth 9 is lying. The substrate holder 2 rotates at 
the same r.p.m. as that of the surface table 10, within the range of 10 to 
50 r.p.m. The substrate 1 is compressed onto the surface table 10 with a 
pressure in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2. 
At the same time when the substrate holder 2 is lowered and the substrate 1 
comes to contact with the polishing cloth 9 composed of polyurethane, the 
three-way valve 19 shuts off a passage 23a for communicating the through 
hole 3 of the substrate holder 2 to the vacuum pump 17, and opens a 
passage 23b for communicating the through hole 3 to the pure water 
reservoir 20. Thus, pure water is supplied to the through hole 3 of the 
substrate holer 2, thereby there is formed a flowing liquid layer 12 
between the substrate 1 and the surface 2a of the substrate holder 2, as 
illustrated in FIG. 2B. The thus formed flowing liquid layer 12 flows from 
an outlet of the divisional hole 3a towards a center of the substrate 1 
and also towards the edge of the substrate 1, thereby between the 
substrate holder 2 and the substrate 1 is filled with the flowing liquid 
layer 12. The substrate 1 is held relative to the substrate holder 2 by 
surface tension of the flowing liquid layer 12 with a small gap being 
present between the substrate 1 and the substrate holder 2, in which gap 
the liquid layer 12 is flowing. 
Before polishing, process liquid is introduced into the polishing cloth 9. 
The process liquid composed of slurry containing silica particles 
scattered therein in the range of 10 wt % to 30 wt %. The polishing of the 
substrate 1 is accomplished by chemical and mechanical reaction between 
the silica particles and an interlayer insulative layer of the substrate 
1. If excessive pure water for forming the flowing liquid layer 12 is 
supplied, the process liquid is diluted with the result that a polishing 
speed is decreased. When a 6-inches substrate is to be polished, an 
appropriate volume of pure water is in the range of 2 to 20 ml/min. The 
volume of pure water to be supplied is dependent on a size of a substrate, 
an inner diameter and the number of the through holes 3, etc. 
A divisional hole 3a may be formed at a center of the substrate holder 2, 
namely a divisional hole 3a may be formed so that the divisional hole 3a 
is in straight connection with the through hole 3. However, such a central 
divisional hole 3a slightly reduces the uniform distribution of the 
flowing liquid layer 12 over the substrate 1. Accordingly, it is 
preferable to arrange the divisional holes 3a at any position other than a 
center position of the substrate 1. The through holes 3 and divisional 
holes 3a may have any cross-sectional shape such as a circle, a rectangle, 
a triangle and an oval. 
The through hole 3 has a cross-sectional area equal to a total 
cross-sectional area of the divisional holes 3a. However, it is preferable 
for the through hole 3 to have a greater cross-sectional area than the 
total cross-sectional area of the divisional holes 3a in order to provide 
pure water to each of the divisional holes 3a with less resistance. 
There occurs no friction between the substrate 1 and the substrate holder 2 
due to the presence of the flowing liquid layer 12, and hence the 
substrate 1 is able to rotate within the guide ring 4. When the substrate 
holder 2 has the same r.p.m. as that of the surface table 10, the 
substrate 1 makes a planetary rotation within the guide ring 4. In 
addition, the flowing liquid layer 12 ensures that the substrate holder 2 
exerts uniform pressure on the substrate 1 to thereby enhance polishing 
uniformity. 
There always exists a water layer flowing between the substrate holder 2 
and the substrate 1. Thus, even if there exists particles between the 
substrate 1 and the surface 2a of the substrate holder 2, such particles 
are discharged outside of the substrate 1 by the flow. In particular, 
since the flowing liquid layer is formed by supplying pure water through 
the divisional holes 3a reaching the surface 2a of the substrate holder 2 
at a point spaced away from the edge of the substrate 1, and thus always 
forwards toward the edge of the substrate 1, slurry is not allowed to 
enter into a space between the substrate holder 2 and the substrate 1. 
Accordingly, no particles become dry and stick to a reverse surface of the 
substrate 1, and such particles do not degrade polishing uniformity. Thus, 
it is quite important to form the flowing liquid layer 12 between the 
substrate 1 and the substrate holder 2 by providing pure water through the 
through hole 3 of the substrate holder 2 while the substrate 1 is being 
polished. The flowing liquid layer 12 enhances the polishing uniformity of 
the substrate 1. In addition, since the liquid layer 12 flows towards the 
edge of the substrate 1, the process liquid does not reach the reverse 
surface of the substrate 1. 
When the polishing after a certain period of time, has been completed, a 
load acting on the substrate holder 2 begins to be decreased. At the same 
time, the three-way valve 19 shuts off the passage 23b and open the 
passage 23a. Thus, pure water is no longer supplied to the through hole 3 
of the substrate holder 2 from the pure water reservoir 20, and the 
substrate 1 is vacuum-chucked again through the through hole 3 and 
divisional holes 3a by the vacuum pump 17, as illustrated in FIG. 2C. 
Then, the substrate holer 2 is raised away from the polishing cloth 9 with 
the substrate 1 being vacuum-chucked thereto. Then, a polished surface of 
the substrate 1 is scrubbed with a sponge or a non-dust cloth to remove 
slurry therefrom. Finally, the three-way valve 19 shuts off the passage 
23a to stop the supply of vacuum to the through hole 3. Thus, the 
substrate 1 becomes disjoined from the substrate holder 2. Pressurized air 
may be supplied through the through hole 3 and divisional holes 3a to 
expedite separation of the substrate 1 from the substrate holder 2. Then, 
the substrate 1 is fed to a transfer system (not illustrated). 
The liquid flowing through the divisional holes 3a ensures that the inside 
of the divisional holes 3a never becomes dry. Thus, there is expected an 
advantage that contaminants such as particles of abrasive powder do not 
adhere to an inner wall of the divisional holes 3a. 
Though the substrate holder 2 is composed of quartz in the embodiment, the 
substrate holder 2 may be-composed of other inorganic material such as 
sapphire, sintered alumina, silicon nitride and single crystal silicon. 
The substrate holder 2 can be composed of metal such as stainless steel, 
but it is not recommended because there is a concern that the substrate 1 
may be contaminated with metal. The guide ring 4 is preferably composed of 
rigid polymer such as acrylics, polystyrene, Teflon and vinyl chloride. 
The guide ring 4 can be composed of ceramic such as sintered alumina, 
molten quartz, sapphire or single crystal silicon, but it is not 
recommended because the guide ring 4 may possibly be broken at its outer 
edge by contact with the substrate during the polishing of the substrate 
1. The guide ring 4 can be composed of metal such as stainless steel, but 
it is not recommended because there is a concern that the substrate 1 and 
the polishing cloth 9 is contaminated with metal. Metal is not suitable 
for a material for the guide ring 4, in particular in the polishing of an 
interlayer insulative layer of the substrate on which a device is 
fabricated, because such polishing needs to be carried out with high 
accuracy. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the guide ring 4 may be formed at a top surface 
4a thereof with grooves 24 having a depth of approximately 1 mm for 
discharging the flowing liquid layer 12. The grooves 24 extend radially 
from a central axis of the guide ring 4. Though the illustrated guide ring 
4 has four grooves 24, the number of the grooves 24 is not limited to 
four. Instead, the desired number of the grooves 24 may be formed. In 
addition, the illustrated grooves 24 are evenly spaced away from one 
another, but the grooves 24 may be randomly formed. 
Though a guide ring thinner than the substrate 1 may be directly secured to 
the substrate 1 holder by means of an adhesive such as epoxy, there is a 
concern that the substrate 1 may be broken when a great stress occurs in a 
moment between the guide ring and the substrate 1. Since the method in 
accordance with the invention forms the flowing liquid layer 12 between 
the substrate holder 2 and the substrate 1 while the substrate 1 is being 
polished, to thereby enable the substrate 1 to easily move or rotate like 
a planet, a frequency of the substrate 1 to come to contact with the guide 
ring 4 is greater than the conventional methods in which a substrate is 
vacuum-chucked (see FIG. 1B) or a substrate is attached to the substrate 
holder via a pad (see FIG. 1C). Accordingly, the use of an adhesive for 
securing the guide ring to the substrate holder is not recommended. 
In the described embodiment, the flowing liquid layer 12 is composed of 
pure water. However, it should be noted that any liquid may be used only 
if the liquid contains no solid particles. For instance, an aqueous 
solution of an electrolyte such as ammonia salts may be used, as having 
been suggested by the inventors in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-17089 
filed on Feb. 14, 1994, not yet laid open for public disclosure. Such an 
aqueous solution of an electrolyte has a function of agglomerating silica 
slurry to large particles, to thereby facilitate polishing of a substrate. 
Another liquid for forming the flowing liquid layer 12 which may be used is 
a weak acidic aqueous solution such as aqueous solution of acetate, dilute 
nitric acid, dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute sulfuric acid, or a weak 
alkaline aqueous solution such as dilute aqueous ammonia and aqueous 
solution of amine, and water with oxidizer such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2. 
Organic solvent such as glycerine may be used. 
Though an interlayer insulative layer or an oxide layer is polished in the 
above mentioned embodiment, material to be polished is not to be limited 
to that. For instance, material to be polished includes PSG, BPSG, 
polysilicon, single crystal silicon layer deposited by epitaxy, and metal 
such as Al, Mo and W. The method and apparatus in accordance with the 
invention can be applied to a surface composed of a mixture of an 
insulative layer and metal or a mixture of an insulative layer and 
silicon. The method and apparatus is also effective for polishing a 
silicon substrate. 
As having been described, in the apparatus for polishing a semiconductor 
substrate in accordance with the invention, liquid is provided between the 
substrate holder and a reverse surface of the substrate to thereby form a 
flowing liquid layer. The flowing liquid layer ensures that the substrate 
can be easily rotated while the substrate is being polished to thereby 
enhance uniformity of polishing the substrate. In addition, the flowing 
liquid layer protects a reverse surface of the substrate from being 
damaged, and further prevents slurry of process liquid from reaching a 
reverse surface of the substrate to thereby prevent contamination of a 
reverse surface of the substrate due to particles of slurry. 
The guide ring secured to the substrate holder at its periphery is able to 
slightly move a resilient material such as silicon rubber interposed 
between the guide ring and the substrate holder. Thus, even if the 
substrate comes in contact with the guide ring, and thus the guide ring 
exerts a great momentary stress on the substrate while the substrate is 
being polished, the substrate is not broken. It should be noted that the 
guide ring may be secured directly to the substrate holder without using a 
resilient material. 
The through hole and divisional holes of the substrate holder is used to 
pass either pure water or vacuum therethrough. When the polishing is not 
carried out, the substrate is vacuum-chucked through the through hole and 
divisional holes of the substrate holder to thereby make it easy to 
transfer the substrate and also to automate a sequence of polishing steps 
consisting of transferring the substrate to the substrate holder, 
polishing the substrate, and transferring the substrate away from the 
substrate holder. As a result, a period of time necessary for carrying out 
a step for polishing a substrate can be shortened, and hence fabrication 
cost is lowered. 
In addition, since the substrate holder is composed of inorganic material 
such as quartz, contamination of the substrate due to metal is prevented. 
Furthermore, since the flowing liquid layer is formed over a reverse 
surface of the substrate to thereby prevent slurry of process liquid from 
reaching a reverse surface of the substrate, it is possible to prevent 
contamination of a reverse surface of the substrate due to particles of 
process liquid. Accordingly, a step for washing the polished substrate can 
be readily carried out with the result that the cost for washing a 
polished substrate can be decreased. 
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain 
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter 
encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those 
specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject 
matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and 
equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the 
following claims.