Patent ID: 6881129

Claim:
A method for forming a memory device, comprising: forming an array of memory cells; coupling a row access circuit to the array of memory cells; coupling a column access circuit to the array of memory cells; and coupling an address decoder circuit to the row access circuit and to the column access circuit, wherein at least one of the memory cells, the row access circuit, the column access circuit and the address decoder circuit has a titanium nitride layer, the titanium nitride layer planarized by a method comprising: abrading the titanium nitride layer with a planarizing surface of a planarizing medium including a fixed-abrasive planarizing pad and a clean planarizing solution, the planarizing solution having an etchant and a buffer without substantially including an agent to operate as an oxidizing agent, wherein the etchant includes at least one etching agent selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, ascorbic acid and phosphoric acid.