The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 08, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 01, 2004
Ashutosh Misra, Plano, TX (US);
Matthew L. Fisher, Allen, TX (US);
Ashutosh Misra, Plano, TX (US);
Matthew L. Fisher, Allen, TX (US);
Air Liquide America, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
This disclosure discusses cleaning of semiconductor wafers after the Chemical-Mechanical Planarization (CMP) of the wafer during the manufacturing of semiconductor devices. Disclosed is an acidic chemistry for the post-CMP cleaning of wafers containing metal, particularly copper, interconnects. Residual slurry particles, particularly copper or other metal particles, are removed from the wafer surface without significantly etching the metal, leaving deposits on the surface, or imparting significant organic (such as carbon) contamination to the wafer while also protecting the metal from oxidation and corrosion. Additionally, at least one strong chelating agent is present to complex metal ions in solution, facilitating the removal of metal from the dielectric and preventing re-deposition onto the wafer. Using acidic chemistry, it is possible to match the pH of the cleaning solution used after CMP to that of the last slurry used on the wafer surface.