Patent ID: 8550880

Claim:
A process for polishing a silicon electrode utilizing a polishing turntable and a dual function electrode platen, wherein: the polishing turntable is configured to rotate about a rotary polishing axis; the dual function electrode platen comprises a platen centroid and is secured to the polishing turntable to bring the platen centroid into approximate alignment with the rotary polishing axis; the dual function electrode platen further comprises a plurality of axially yielding electrode mounts arranged to project from an electrode engaging face of the dual function electrode platen and to complement respective positions of axially yielding mount receptacles formed in a platen engaging face of the silicon electrode; the axially yielding electrode mounts and the axially yielding mount receptacles are configured to permit non-destructive engagement and disengagement of the electrode engaging face of the electrode platen and the platen engaging face of the silicon electrode in a unitary direction parallel to the rotary polishing axis; the dual function electrode platen further comprises platen adapter abutments positioned radially inward of the axially yielding electrode mounts; the platen adapter abutments are configured to bring a platen adapter centroid of a platen adapter into approximate alignment with the rotary polishing axis; and the silicon electrode is polished by engaging the electrode engaging face of the electrode platen and the platen engaging face of the silicon electrode via the electrode mounts and mount receptacles, utilizing the polishing turntable to impart rotary motion to the engaged silicon electrode, and contacting an exposed face of the silicon electrode with a polishing surface as the silicon electrode rotates about the rotary polishing axis.