Patent ID: 7153777

Claim:
A method for removing material from a microfeature workpiece, comprising: contacting a microfeature workpiece with a polishing surface of a polishing medium; placing the microfeature workpiece in electrical communication with a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being spaced apart from the microfeature workpiece; disposing a polishing liquid between the polishing surface and the microfeature workpiece; moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the polishing surface relative to the other; passing electrical current through the electrodes and the microfeature workpiece to remove material from the microfeature workpiece while the microfeature workpiece contacts the polishing surface; passing at least a portion of the polishing liquid through at least one recess in the polishing surface so that a gap in the polishing liquid is formed and located at least partially in the recess and between the microfeature workpiece and a surface of the recess facing toward the microfeature workpiece; and controlling formation of the gap in the polishing liquid to achieve a desired electropolishing rate.