About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
ASMC 2013
Conference paper
Hybrid clean approach for post-copper CMP defect reduction
Abstract
A 'hybrid' post-Cu CMP cleaning process that combines acidic and basic cleans in sequence is developed and implemented. The new process demonstrates the advantages of both acidic and basic cleans and achieves a more than 60% reduction in CMP defects, such as polish residues, foreign materials, slurry abrasives, scratches, and hollow metal, relative to an all-basic brush clean process. It also eliminates the circular ring defects that occur intermittently during roller brush clean. TXRF scans confirm the reduction of AlOx defects when using the hybrid clean process. XPS spectra show similar Cu surface oxidation states between the basic and hybrid clean processes. Both short and open yields can be improved by using the new clean process. The underlying mechanism of the huge defect reduction benefits is discussed. © 2013 IEEE.