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Timestamp: 2016-07-23 23:55:03
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Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 09', 'application No. 10611', 'Application No. 1996', 'Application No. 1997', 'Application No. 1997', 'Application No. 09', 'application No. 2001', 'application No. 2001', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2006']

Patent US7867303 - Cerium oxide abrasive and method of polishing substrates - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m.2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter...http://www.google.com/patents/US7867303?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7867303 - Cerium oxide abrasive and method of polishing substratesAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7867303 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/276,161Publication dateJan 11, 2011Filing dateFeb 16, 2006Priority dateSep 30, 1996Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2263241A1, CA2263241C, CN1235698A, CN1245471C, CN1282226C, CN1323124C, CN1524917A, CN1526786A, EP0939431A1, EP0939431A4, EP0939431B1, EP1610367A2, EP1610367A3, EP1610367B1, EP1833084A2, EP1833084A3, EP1833084B1, EP2164095A1, US6221118, US6863700, US7708788, US20020069593, US20050085168, US20060118524, US20060180787, WO1998014987A1Publication number11276161, 276161, US 7867303 B2, US 7867303B2, US-B2-7867303, US7867303 B2, US7867303B2InventorsMasato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno, Yuuto OotukiOriginal AssigneeHitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (58), Non-Patent Citations (34), Classifications (34), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCerium oxide abrasive and method of polishing substrates
US 7867303 B2Abstract
A cerium oxide abrasive slurry having, dispersed in a medium, cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm, a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller, and a specific surface area of from 7 to 45 m.2/g, and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm. The cerium oxide particles have structural parameter Y, representing an isotropic microstrain obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.01 to 0.70, and structural parameter X, representing a primary particle diameter obtained by an X-ray Rietveld method (with RIETAN-94), of from 0.08 to 0.3. The cerium oxide abrasive slurry is made by a method of obtaining particles by firing at a temperature of from 600� C. to 900� C. and then pulverizing, then dispersing the resulting cerium oxide particles in a medium.
1. A cerium oxide abrasive comprising a slurry comprising cerium oxide slurry particles dispersed in a medium, wherein
the cerium oxide slurry particles comprise primary particles having a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm,
wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm and a maximum particle diameter of 3,000 nm or smaller, and the median diameter of the cerium oxide slurry particles is larger than the median diameter of primary particles, and
the median diameter of the cerium oxide slurry particles is as measured using laser diffraction with the cerium oxide slurry particles dispersed in the medium, and
wherein the slurry particles are pulverized particles obtained by pulverizing a fired cerium compound.
2. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1, wherein said primary particles have a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller.
3. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1, wherein said primary particles have a diameter of from 10 nm to 600 nm.
4. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1, wherein said medium is water.
5. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1, wherein said slurry further comprises a dispersant.
6. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 5, wherein said dispersant comprises at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble organic high polymer, a water-soluble anionic surface-active agent, a water-soluble nonionic surface-active agent and a water-soluble amine.
7. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 6, wherein said dispersant is ammonium polyacrylate.
8. A method of polishing substrates, comprising the steps of:
providing a given substrate; and
polishing the substrate with the cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1.
9. A method of polishing substrates according to claim 8, wherein said given substrate is a semiconductor chip on which a silica film has been formed.
10. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles further comprise a pulverization residue, wherein the pulverization residue comprises pulverization residue particles that have a particle diameter of 3000 nm or less.
11. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a zeta potential of −100 mV to −10 mV.
12. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 1, wherein the fired cerium compound includes the primary particles surrounded by grain boundaries.
13. A cerium oxide abrasive comprising a slurry comprising cerium oxide slurry particles dispersed in a medium, wherein
the cerium oxide slurry particles comprise primary particles having a median diameter of from 100 nm to 250 nm,
wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 350 nm and a maximum particle diameter of 3,000 nm or smaller, and the median diameter of the cerium oxide slurry particles is larger than the median diameter of the primary particles, and
14. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13, wherein said primary particles have a maximum particle diameter of 600 nm or smaller.
15. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13, wherein said primary particles have a diameter of from 10 nm to 600 nm.
16. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13, wherein said medium is water.
17. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13, wherein said slurry further comprises a dispersant.
18. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 17, wherein said dispersant comprises at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble organic high polymer, a water-soluble anionic surface-active agent, a water-soluble nonionic surface-active agent and a water-soluble amine.
19. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 18, wherein said dispersant is ammonium polyacrylate.
20. A method of polishing substrates, comprising the steps of:
polishing the substrate with the cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13.
21. A method of polishing substrates according to claim 20, wherein said given substrate is a semiconductor chip on which a silica film has been formed.
22. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles further comprise a pulverization residue, wherein the pulverization residue comprises pulverization residue particles that have a particle diameter of 3000 nm or less.
23. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a zeta potential of −100 mV to −10 mV.
24. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 13, wherein the fired cerium compound includes the primary particles surrounded by grain boundaries.
25. A cerium oxide abrasive comprising a slurry comprising cerium oxide slurry particles dispersed in a medium, wherein
the cerium oxide slurry particles comprise primary particles having a median diameter of from 30 nm to 70 nm,
wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a median diameter of from 250 nm to 600 nm and a maximum particle diameter of 3,000 nm or smaller, and the median diameter of the cerium oxide slurry particles is larger than the median diameter of the primary particles, and
26. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 25, wherein said primary particles have a diameter of from 10 nm to 100 nm.
27. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 25, wherein said medium is water.
28. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 25, wherein said slurry further comprises a dispersant.
29. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 28, wherein said dispersant comprises at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble organic high polymer, a water-soluble anionic surface-active agent, a water-soluble nonionic surface-active agent and a water-soluble amine.
30. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 29, wherein said dispersant is ammonium polyacrylate.
31. A method of polishing substrates, comprising the steps of:
polishing the substrate with the cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 25.
32. A method of polishing substrates according to claim 31, wherein said given substrate is a semiconductor chip on which a silica film has been formed.
33. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 25, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles further comprise a pulverization residue, wherein the pulverization residue comprises pulverization residue particles that have a particle diameter of 3000 nm or less.
34. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 25, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a zeta potential of −100 mV to −10 mV.
35. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 25, wherein the fired cerium compound includes the primary particles surrounded by grain boundaries.
36. A cerium oxide abrasive suitable for polishing an inorganic insulating film layer, comprising:
a slurry comprising cerium oxide slurry particles dispersed in a medium, wherein
the cerium oxide slurry particles comprise a plurality of primary particles having a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm,
wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm and a maximum particle diameter of 3,000 nm or smaller, and the median diameter of the cerium oxide slurry particles is larger than the median diameter of the primary particles, and
wherein the slurry particles are pulverized particles obtained by pulverizing a fired cerium compound and the cerium oxide abrasive is suitable for polishing an inorganic insulating film layer.
37. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 36, wherein the content of alkali metals and halogens of the abrasive is 1 ppm or less.
38. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 37, wherein the cerium oxide abrasive does not contain more than 1 ppm of each of the elements of the group comprising Na, K, Si, Mg, Ca, Zr, Ti, Ni, Cr and Fe; and
the cerium oxide abrasive does not contain more than 10 ppm of Al.
39. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 36, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles further comprise a pulverization residue, wherein the pulverization residue comprises pulverization residue particles that have a particle diameter of 3000 nm or less.
40. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 36, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a zeta potential of −100 mV to −10 mV.
41. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 36, wherein the fired cerium compound includes the primary particles surrounded by grain boundaries.
42. A cerium oxide abrasive suitable for polishing a SiO2 film or a phosphorous or boron doped SiO2 film, comprising:
wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm and a maximum particle diameter of 3,000 nm or smaller, and the median diameter of the cerium oxide slurry particles is larger than the median diameter of the plurality of primary particles, and
wherein the slurry particles are pulverized particles obtained by pulverizing a fired cerium compound and the cerium oxide abrasive is suitable for polishing a SiO2 film or a phosphorous or boron doped SiO2 film.
43. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 42, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles further comprise a pulverization residue, wherein the pulverization residue comprises pulverization residue particles that have a particle diameter of 3000 nm or less.
44. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 42, wherein the cerium oxide slurry particles have a zeta potential of −100 mV to −10 mV.
45. A cerium oxide abrasive according to claim 42, wherein the fired cerium compound includes the primary particles surrounded by grain boundaries.
This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/960,941 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,788), filed Oct. 12, 2004, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/782,241 filed Feb. 13, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,700), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/269,650 filed Aug. 10, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,118), which is a National Phase Application in the United States of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP97/03490, which claims priority on Japanese Patent Applications Nos. JP 08-258766; JP 08-258767; JP 08-258768; JP 08-358770; JP 08-258774; JP 08-258775; JP 08-258776; JP 08-258781; and JP 08-259138 all of which were filed on Sep. 30, 1996, as well as Japanese Patent Applications Nos. JP 09-014371, filed Jan. 28, 1997; JP 09-112396, filed Apr. 30, 1997; and JP 09-207866, filed Aug. 1, 1997. The entire disclosures of the above patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
In the present invention, firing may be employed as a process for producing the cerium oxide particles. In particular, low-temperature firing is preferred, which can make the crystallinity as low as possible in order to produce particles that do not cause polish scratches. Since the cerium compounds have an oxidation temperature of 300� C., they may preferably be fired at a temperature of from 600� C. to 900� C.
The cerium carbonate may preferably be fired at a temperature of from 600� C. to 900� C. for 5 to 300 minutes in an oxidative atmosphere of oxygen gas or the like.
Primary particles constituting the cerium oxide particles dispersed in the slurry of the present invention have a median diameter of from 30 to 250 nm and the slurry particles standing dispersed have a median diameter of from 150 to 600 nm.
After the slurry has been prepared, it may be put in a container of polyethylene or the like and left at 5 to 55� C. for 7 days or more, and more preferably 30 days or more, so that the slurry may cause less scratches.
The inorganic insulating films on which the cerium oxide abrasive of the present invention is used may be formed by a process including low-pressure CVD and plasma-assisted CVD. The formation of SiO2 insulating films by low-pressure CVD makes use of monosilane SiH4 as an Si source and oxygen O2 as an oxygen source. Oxidation reaction of this SiH4—O2 system to obtain the inorganic insulating film may be carried out at a low temperature of about 400� C. or below. When phosphorus (P) is doped in order to make the surface smooth by high-temperature reflowing, it is preferable to use a reaction gas of SiH4—O2—PH3 system. The plasma-assisted CVD has an advantage that any chemical reaction which requires a high temperature under normal heat equilibrium can be carried out at a low temperature. Plasma may be generated by a process including two types of coupling, namely capacitive coupling and inductive coupling. Reaction gas may include gases of SiH4—N2O system making use of SiH4 as an Si source and N2O as an oxygen source and gases of TEOS—O2 system making use of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as an Si source (i.e., TEOS plasma-assisted CVD method). Substrate temperature may preferably be within the range of from 250� C. to 400� C., and reaction pressure from 67 Pa to 400 Pa. Thus, the SiO2 insulating films in the present invention may be doped with an element such as phosphorus or boron.
As the given substrate, substrates may be used which are obtained by forming SiO2 insulating films on semiconductor substrates, i.e., semiconductor substrates such as a semiconductor substrate at the stage where circuit elements and wiring patterns have been formed thereon or a substrate at the stage where circuit elements have been formed thereon. The SiO2 insulating film formed on such a semiconductor substrate is polished with the cerium oxide abrasive described above, whereby any unevenness on the SiO2 insulating film surface can be removed to provide a smooth surface over the whole area of the semiconductor substrate. Here, as a polishing apparatus, commonly available polishing apparatus may be used, having i) a holder for holding a semiconductor substrate and ii) a platen (provided with a motor whose number of revolution is variable) on which a polishing cloth (a pad) is stuck. As the polishing cloth, commonly available nonwoven fabric, foamed polyurethane or porous fluorine resin may be used, and there are no particular limitations. The polishing cloth may also preferably be processed to provide grooves where the slurry may gather. There are no particular limitations on polishing conditions, and preferably the platen may be rotated at a small number of revolution of 100 rpm or below so that the semiconductor substrate may not run out. Pressure applied to the semiconductor substrate may preferably be 1 kg/cm2 or below so that the substrate does not get scratched as a result of polishing. In the course of polishing, the slurry is fed continuously to the polishing cloth by means of a pump or the like. There are no particular limitations on the feed rate of this slurry. It is preferable for the surface of the polishing cloth to always be covered with the slurry.
Semiconductor substrates on which the polishing has been completed may preferably be well rinsed in running water and thereafter water drops adhering to the surfaces of semiconductor substrates are brushed off by means of a spin dryer or the like, followed by drying. On the SiO2 insulating film having been thus smoothed, second-layer aluminum wiring is formed. An SiO2 insulating film is again formed between the wiring and on the wiring, followed by polishing with the cerium oxide abrasive described above, whereby any unevenness on the insulating film surface is removed to provide a smooth surface over the whole area of the semiconductor substrate. This process may be repeated a given number of times so that a semiconductor having the desired number of layers can be produced.
Production 1 of Cerium Oxide Particles
2 kg of cerium carbonate hydrate was placed in a container made of platinum, followed by firing at 800� C. for 2 hours in air to obtain about 1 kg of a yellowish white powder. Phase identification of this powder was made by X-ray diffraction to confirm that it was cerium oxide. The fired powder had particle diameters of 30 to 100 μm. The particle surfaces of the fired powder were observed on a scanning electron microscope, where grain boundaries of cerium oxide were seen. Diameters of cerium oxide primary particles surrounded by the grain boundaries were measured to find that the median diameter and maximum diameter in their particle size distribution were 190 nm and 500 nm, respectively. Precision measurement by X-ray diffraction was made on the fired powder, and the results obtained were analyzed by the Rietvelt method (RIETAN-94) to find that the value of structural parameter X which represents primary-particle diameter was 0.080 and the value of structural parameter Y which represents an isotropic microstrain was 0.223. Using a jet mill, 1 kg of the cerium oxide powder was dry-process pulverized. The pulverized particles obtained were observed on a scanning electron microscope to find that large pulverization residue particles of from 1 μm to 3 μm diameter and pulverization residue particles of from 0.5 μm to 1 μm diameter were present in a mixed state in addition to small particles having the same size as primary-particle diameter. The pulverization residue particles were not agglomerates of primary particles. Precision measurement by X-ray diffraction was made on the pulverized particles, and the results obtained were analyzed by the Rietvelt method (RIETAN-94) to find that the value of structural parameter X which represents primary-particle diameter was 0.085 and the value of structural parameter Y which represents an isotropic microstrain was 0.264. As the result, there was almost no variation in primary-particle diameter caused by pulverization and also strains were introduced into particles as a result of pulverization. Measurement of specific surface area by the BET method also revealed that it was 10 m2/g.
2 kg of cerium carbonate hydrate was placed in a container made of platinum, followed by firing at 750� C. for 2 hours in air to obtain about 1 kg of a yellowish white powder. Phase identification of this powder was made by X-ray diffraction to confirm that it was cerium oxide. The fired powder had particle diameters of 30 to 100 μm. The particle surfaces of the fired powder were observed on a scanning electron microscope, where grain boundaries of cerium oxide were seen. Diameters of cerium oxide primary particles surrounded by the grain boundaries were measured to find that the median diameter and maximum diameter in their particle size distribution were 141 nm and 400 nm, respectively. Precision measurement by X-ray diffraction was made on the fired powder, and the results obtained were analyzed by the Rietvelt method (RIETAN-94) to find that the value of structural parameter X which represents primary-particle diameter was 0.101 and the value of structural parameter Y which represents an isotropic microstrain was 0.223. Using a jet mill, 1 kg of the cerium oxide powder was dry-process pulverized. The pulverized particles obtained were observed on a scanning electron microscope to find that large pulverization residue particles of from 1 μm to 3 μm diameter and pulverization residue particles of from 0.5 μm to 1 μm diameter were present in a mixed state in addition to small particles having the same size as primary-particle diameter. The pulverization residue particles were not agglomerates of primary particles. Precision measurement by X-ray diffraction was made on the pulverized particles, and the results obtained were analyzed by the Rietvelt method (RIETAN-94) to find that the value of structural parameter X which represents primary-particle diameter was 0.104 and the value of structural parameter Y which represents an isotropic microstrain was 0.315. As the result, there was almost no variation in primary-particle diameter caused by pulverization and also strains were introduced into particles as a result of pulverization. Measurement of specific surface area by the BET method also revealed that it was 16 m2/g.
The platen was rotated at 30 rpm for 2 minutes to polish the insulating film while dropwise adding the above cerium oxide slurry (solid content: 3% by weight) onto the platen at a rate of 50 ml/minute. After the polishing was completed, the wafer was detached from the holder and then well rinsed in running water, followed by further cleaning for 20 minutes by an ultrasonic cleaner. After the cleaning was completed, the wafer was set on a spin dryer to remove drops of water, followed by drying for 10 minutes by a 120� C. dryer.
Production of Cerium Oxide Particles
2 kg of cerium carbonate hydrate was placed in a container made of platinum, followed by firing at 700� C. for 2 hours in air to obtain about 1 kg of a yellowish white powder. Phase identification of this powder was made by X-ray diffraction to confirm that it was cerium oxide. The fired powder had particle diameters of 30 to 100 μm. The particle surfaces of the fired powder were observed on a scanning electron microscope, where grain boundaries of cerium oxide were seen. Diameters of cerium oxide primary particles surrounded by the grain boundaries were measured to find that the median diameter and maximum diameter in their particle size distribution were 50 nm and 100 nm, respectively. Precision measurement by X-ray diffraction was made on the fired powder, and the results obtained were analyzed by the Rietvelt method (RIETAN-94) to find that the value of structural parameter X which represents primary-particle diameter was 0.300 and the value of structural parameter Y which represents an isotropic microstrain was 0.350.
The platen was rotated at 30 rpm for 2 minutes to polish the insulating film while dropwise adding the above cerium oxide slurry (solid content: 3% by weight) onto the platen at a rate of 35 ml/minute. After the polishing was completed, the wafer was detached from the holder and then well rinsed in running water, followed by further cleaning for 20 minutes using an ultrasonic cleaner. After the cleaning was completed, the wafer was set on a spin dryer to remove drops of water, followed by drying for 10 minutes using a 120� C. dryer. Changes in layer thickness before and after the polishing were measured with a light-interference type layer thickness measuring device. As the result, it was found that as a result of this polishing the insulating film was abraded by 740 nm (polishing rate: 370 nm/minute) and the wafer was in a uniform thickness over its whole area. The surface of the insulating film was also observed using an optical microscope, where no evident scratches were seen.
2 kg of cerium carbonate hydrate was placed in a container made of platinum, followed by firing at 800� C. for 2 hours in air to obtain about 1 kg of a yellowish white powder. Phase identification of this powder was made by X-ray diffraction to confirm that it was cerium oxide. The fired powder had particle diameters of 30 to 100 μm. The particle surfaces of the fired powder were observed on a scanning electron microscope, where grain boundaries of cerium oxide were seen. Diameters of cerium oxide primary particles surrounded by the grain boundaries were measured to find that the median diameter and maximum diameter in their particle size distribution were 190 nm and 500 nm, respectively. Precision measurement by X-ray diffraction was made on the fired powder, and the results obtained were analyzed by the Rietvelt method (RIETAN-94) to find that the value of structural parameter X which represents primary-particle diameter was 0.080 and the value of structural parameter Y which represents an isotropic microstrain was 0.223.
After the polishing was completed, the wafer was detached from the holder and then well rinsed in running water, followed by further cleaning for 20 minutes using an ultrasonic cleaner. After the cleaning was completed, the wafer was set on a spin dryer to remove drops of water, followed by drying for 10 minutes using a 120� C. dryer. Changes in layer thickness before and after the polishing were measured with a light-interference type layer thickness measuring device. As a result, it was found that as a result of this polishing the insulating film was abraded by 560 nm (polishing rate: 280 nm/minute) and the wafer was in a uniform thickness over its whole area. The surface of the insulating film was also observed using an optical microscope, where no evident scratches were seen.
To examine dispersibility of the slurry and charges of the slurry particles, the zeta potential of the slurry was measured. The cerium oxide slurry was put in a measuring cell provided with platinum electrodes on both sides, and a voltage of 10 V was applied to both electrodes. Slurry particles having come to have charges upon application of the voltage move toward the electrode side having a polarity reverse to that of the charges. The zeta potential of particles can be determined by determining their mobility. As a result of the measurement of zeta potential, it was confirmed that the particles were charged negatively, and showed a large absolute value of −65 mV, having a good dispersibility.
After the polishing was completed, the wafer was detached from the holder and then well rinsed in running water, followed by further cleaning for 20 minutes using an ultrasonic cleaner. After the cleaning was completed, the wafer was set on a spin dryer to remove drops of water, followed by drying for 10 minutes using a 120� C. dryer. Changes in layer thickness before and after the polishing were measured with a light-interference type layer thickness measuring device. As the result, it was found that as a result of this polishing the insulating film was abraded by 400 nm (polishing rate: 200 nm/minute) and the wafer was in a uniform thickness over its whole area. The surface of the insulating film was also observed using an optical microscope, where no evident scratches were seen.
A silicon wafer on which an SiO2 insulating film produced by TEOS plasma-assisted CVD was formed in the same manner as in Examples, was polished using a silica slurry. This silica slurry is one having a pH of 10.3 and containing 12.5% by weight of SiO2 particles. The polishing was carried out under the same conditions as in Examples. As a result, scratches caused by polishing were not seen, and the insulating film layer was polished uniformly, but was abraded only by 150 nm as a result of polishing for 2 minutes (polishing rate: 75 nm/minute).
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No. 10/960,941 dated Jun. 5, 2006.31Office Action issued May 12, 2009 in the corresponding Japanese Application No. 2006-246039 with English translation attached.32Office Action issued May 12, 2009 in the corresponding Japanese Application No. 2006-246046.33Office Action issued May 19, 2009 in the corresponding Japanese Application No. 2006-335090 with English translation attached.34Trial Decision issued on Mar. 31, 2009 in the counterpart Japanese application with English translation.Classifications U.S. Classification51/309, 423/593.1, 423/592.1, 51/307, 51/298, 106/3, 451/41International ClassificationB24D3/02, C09K3/14, B24B7/19, C09G1/02, B24B1/00, C09C1/68, H01L21/321, H01L21/304, B24B37/00, H01L21/3105Cooperative ClassificationC01F17/0043, H01L21/31053, C09G1/02, C09K3/1463, C01P2006/12, H01L21/02065, C09K3/1409, C01P2004/61, C01P2004/62, H01L21/02024European ClassificationC01F17/00F, C09K3/14D2, C09K3/14B, H01L21/3105B2, C09G1/02, H01L21/02F4B4, H01L21/02D2M2PLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJun 11, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services