Patent ID: 7192336

Claim:
A method for forming a planarizing pad for planarizing a microelectronic substrate, comprising: selectively exposing a first portion of a first surface of an energy-sensitive planarizing pad material to a selected energy source without exposing a second portion of the first surface facing in generally the same direction as the first portion and adjacent to the first portion, the energy-sensitive planarizing pad material including fixed abrasive elements for abrading the microelectronic substrate; forming a plurality of recesses and contact surfaces at the first surface of the planarizing pad material configured to support a planarizing liquid proximate to the first surface of the planarizing pad material during planarization of the microelectronic substrate by exposing the planarizing pad material to a solvent to remove material from one of the first and second portions of the planarizing pad material at a greater rate than removing material from the other of the first and second portions; selecting a substrate material to transmit a selected radiation from the energy source; attaching the substrate material to a second surface of the planarizing pad material to support the planarizing pad material, the second surface facing opposite from the first surface; and exposing the second surface to the selected radiation to cure the planarizing pad material to a selected depth from the second surface by irradiating the substrate material with the selected radiation and passing the selected radiation through the substrate material to the second surface of the planarizing pad material.