Patent ID: 7288021

Claim:
A method for polishing a substrate comprising a metal in an oxidized form, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate comprising a metal in an oxidized form, wherein the metal is a noble metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, gold, and combinations thereof, (b) contacting a portion of the substrate with a chemical-mechanical polishing system comprising: (i) a polishing component selected from the group consisting of an abrasive, a polishing pad, and a combination thereof, (ii) about 0.1 to about 1 wt. % of a reducing agent based on the weight of the liquid carrier and any components dissolved or suspended therein, wherein the reducing agent is ascorbic acid, and (iii) a liquid carrier, and (c) abrading at least a portion of the metal in an oxidized form to polish the substrate.