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Polishing liquids for activating and/or conditioning fixed abrasive polishing pads, and associated systems and methods Number:7,153,191 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

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Title: Polishing liquids for activating and/or conditioning fixed abrasive polishing pads, and associated systems and methods

Abstract: Polishing liquids for activating and/or conditioning fixed abrasive polishing pads, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes disposing a polishing liquid on a polishing surface of a microfeature workpiece polishing pad. The polishing pad can include a matrix material and a plurality of abrasive elements fixedly distributed in the matrix material. The polishing liquid can include a plurality of particles that are at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements. In a particular embodiment, the particles can have a polymeric, non-ceramic composition. The method can further include moving at least one of the polishing pad and the plurality of particles relative to the other to remove deposits from the polishing pad. This operation can be performed serially or simultaneously with using the polishing pad to remove material from a microfeature workpiece.

Patent Number: 7,153,191 Issued on 12/26/2006 to Naik

Inventors: Naik; Sujit (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc. (Boise, ID)
Appl. No.: 10/923,573
Filed: August 20, 2004

Current U.S. Class: 451/8 ; 451/287; 451/41; 451/5
Current International Class: B24B 49/00 (20060101); B24B 1/00 (20060101); B24B 5/00 (20060101); B24B 7/19 (20060101); B24B 7/30 (20060101)
Field of Search: 451/8,5,9,285-288,443,11,21,28,56,444

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Other References

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Primary Examiner: Wilson; Lee D.
Assistant Examiner: Grant; Alvin J
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Perkins Coie LLP
Claims


The invention claimed is:

1. A method for using a microfeature workpiece polishing pad, comprising: disposing a polishing liquid on a polishing surface of a microfeature workpiece polishing pad, the polishing pad including a matrix material and a plurality of abrasive elements fixedly distributed in the matrix material, the polishing liquid including a plurality of particles that are at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the plurality of particles relative to the other to remove deposits from the polishing pad.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition, a generally spherical shape, an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns, and a concentration in the polishing liquid of from about 20 ppm to about 5%, and wherein the method further comprises: contacting a microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece simultaneously with removing deposits from the polishing pad.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: contacting a microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a generally rigid member that does not include a microelectronic workpiece in contact with the polishing pad and the polishing liquid, and wherein removing deposits from the polishing pad includes moving at least one of the polishing pad and the generally rigid member relative to the other.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with generally spherical shapes.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average hardness that is less than a hardness of the abrasive elements.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average size at least approximately the same as an average size of the abrasive elements.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the polishing pad includes a plurality of projections and wherein the abrasive elements are housed in the projections, further wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles that are smaller than the projections.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a concentration of particles in the range of from about 20 ppm to about 5%.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein removing deposits from the polishing pad includes removing deposits without engaging an end effector with the polishing pad and without engaging a brush with the polishing pad.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the polishing liquid is a first polishing liquid and wherein the method further comprises: removing the first polishing liquid from the polishing pad; disposing a second polishing liquid on the polishing pad, the second polishing liquid having a composition different than a composition of the first polishing liquid; placing a microfeature workpiece in contact with the polishing pad and the second polishing liquid; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece.

14. A method for removing material from a microfeature workpiece, comprising: disposing a polishing liquid on a polishing surface of a microfeature workpiece polishing pad, the polishing pad including a matrix material and a plurality of abrasive elements fixedly distributed in the matrix material, the polishing liquid including a plurality of particles that are at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements; contacting a microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece while simultaneously removing deposits from the abrasive elements of the polishing pad.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition, a generally spherical shape, an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns, and a concentration in the polishing liquid of from about 20 ppm to about 5%.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with generally spherical shapes.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average hardness that is less than a hardness of the abrasive elements.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average size at least approximately the same as an average size of the abrasive elements.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the polishing pad includes a plurality of projections and wherein the abrasive elements are housed in the projections, further wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles that are smaller than the projections.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a concentration of particles in the range of from about 20 ppm to about 5%.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein removing deposits from the polishing pad includes removing deposits without engaging an end effector with the polishing pad and without engaging a brush with the polishing pad.

24. A method for removing material from a microfeature workpiece, comprising: disposing a polishing liquid on a polishing surface of a microfeature workpiece polishing pad, the polishing pad including a matrix material and a plurality of abrasive elements fixedly distributed in the matrix material; contacting a microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad; moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece; and removing deposits from the polishing pad by moving at least one of the polishing pad and the polishing liquid relative to the other without changing a composition of the polishing liquid.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles that are at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition, a generally spherical shape, an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns, and a concentration in the polishing liquid of from about 20 ppm to about 5%.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with generally spherical shapes.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average hardness that is less than a hardness of the abrasive elements.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average size at least approximately the same as an average size of the abrasive elements.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the polishing pad includes a plurality of projections and wherein the abrasive elements are housed in the projections, further wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles that are smaller than the projections.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a concentration of particles in the range of from about 20 ppm to about 5%.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein removing deposits from the polishing pad includes removing deposits without engaging an end effector with the polishing pad and without engaging a brush with the polishing pad.

35. A method for removing material from a microfeature workpiece, comprising: contacting a microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a matrix material and a plurality of fixed abrasive elements fixedly distributed in the matrix material; disposing a polishing liquid at least proximate to an interface between the microfeature workpiece and the polishing pad, the polishing liquid including a plurality of particles suspended therein, the particles having a polymeric, non-ceramic composition; moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the plurality of particles relative to the other to remove deposits from the polishing pad.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition, a generally spherical shape, an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns, and a concentration in the polishing liquid of from about 20 ppm to about 5%.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the polishing liquid is a first of at least two polishing liquids, and wherein the first polishing liquid has particles with a first hardness and a second polishing liquid has particles with a second hardness different than the first hardness, and wherein the method further comprises selecting the first polishing liquid rather than the second polishing liquid based at least in part on the first hardness.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the polishing liquid is a first of at least two polishing liquids, and wherein the first polishing liquid has particles with a first size and a second polishing liquid has particles with a second size different than the first size, and wherein the method further comprises selecting the first planarizing liquid rather than the second polishing liquid based at least in part on the first size.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the polishing liquid is a first of at least two polishing liquids, and wherein the first polishing liquid has first concentration of particles and a second polishing liquid has a second concentration of particles with a second concentration different than the first concentration, and wherein the method further comprises selecting the first polishing liquid rather than the second polishing based at least in part on the first concentration.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein removing material from the microfeature workpiece and removing deposits from the polishing pad are performed simultaneously while the microfeature workpiece is in contact with the polishing pad.

41. The method of claim 35, further comprising: removing the microfeature workpiece from contact with the polishing pad; and placing a generally rigid member that does not include a microelectronic workpiece in contact with the polishing pad and the polishing liquid, and wherein removing deposits from the polishing pad includes moving at least one of the polishing pad and the generally rigid member relative to the other.

42. A method for using a microfeature workpiece polishing pad, comprising: disposing a polishing liquid on a polishing surface of a microfeature workpiece polishing pad, the polishing pad including a matrix material and a plurality of abrasive elements fixedly distributed in the matrix material; and removing deposits from the polishing pad by moving at least one of the polishing pad and the plurality of particles relative to the other without contacting the polishing pad with an end effector and without contacting the polishing pad with a brush.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles that are at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition, a generally spherical shape, an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns, and a concentration in the polishing liquid of from about 20 ppm to about 5%, and wherein the method further comprises: contacting a microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece simultaneously with removing deposits from the polishing pad.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having particles with a polymeric, non-ceramic composition.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising: contacting a microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad; and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising placing a generally rigid member that does not include a microelectronic workpiece in contact with the polishing pad and the polishing liquid, and wherein removing deposits from the polishing pad includes moving at least one of the polishing pad and the generally rigid member relative to the other.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles with an average size at least approximately the same as an average size of the abrasive elements.

49. The method of claim 42 wherein the polishing pad includes a plurality of projections and wherein the abrasive elements are housed in the projections, further wherein disposing a polishing liquid includes disposing a polishing liquid having a plurality of particles that are smaller than the projections.
Description


TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to polishing liquids for activating and/or conditioning fixed abrasive polishing pads, and associated systems and methods.

BACKGROUND

Mechanical and chemical-mechanical planarization and polishing processes (collectively "CMP") remove material from the surfaces of microfeature workpieces in the production of microelectronic devices and other products. FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a rotary CMP machine 10 having a platen 22, a polishing pad 20 on the platen 22, and a carrier 30 adjacent to the polishing pad 20. The CMP machine 10 may also have an under-pad 23 between an upper surface 21 of the platen 22 and a lower surface of the polishing pad 20. A platen drive assembly 24 rotates the platen 22 (as indicated by arrow A) and/or reciprocates the platen 22 back and forth (as indicated by arrow B). Because the polishing pad 20 is attached to the under-pad 23, the polishing pad 20 moves with the platen 22 during planarization.

The carrier 30 has a carrier head 31 with a lower surface 33 to which a microfeature workpiece 12 may be attached, or the workpiece 12 may be attached to a resilient pad 32 under the lower surface 33. The carrier head 31 may be a weighted, free-floating wafer carrier, or a carrier actuator assembly 34 may be attached to the carrier head 31 to impart rotational motion to the microfeature workpiece 12 (as indicated by arrow C) and/or reciprocate the workpiece 12 back and forth (as indicated by arrow D).

The polishing pad 20 and a polishing solution 50 define a polishing medium 51 that mechanically and/or chemically-mechanically removes material from the surface of the microfeature workpiece 12. The polishing solution 50 may be a conventional CMP slurry with abrasive particles and chemicals that etch and/or oxidize the surface of the microfeature workpiece 12, or the polishing solution 50 may be a "clean" nonabrasive planarizing solution without abrasive particles. In most CMP applications, abrasive slurries with abrasive particles are used on nonabrasive polishing pads, and clean nonabrasive solutions without abrasive particles are used on fixed-abrasive polishing pads. Abrasive slurries can include suspensions of fumed or colloidal abrasive ceramics such as silica, ceria or alumina, or suspensions of particles that are formed from a composite of colloidal silica and a polymer. Such slurries are available from JSR Micro of Sunnyvale, Calif.

To planarize the microfeature workpiece 12 with the CMP machine 10, the carrier head 31 presses the workpiece 12 face-down against the polishing pad 20. More specifically, the carrier head 31 generally presses the microfeature workpiece 12 against the polishing solution 50 on a polishing surface 25 of the polishing pad 20, and the platen 22 and/or the carrier head 31 move to rub the workpiece 12 against the polishing surface 25. As the microfeature workpiece 12 rubs against the polishing surface 25, the polishing medium 51 removes material from the face of the workpiece 12.

The CMP process must consistently and accurately produce a uniformly planar surface on the microfeature workpiece 12 to enable precise fabrication of circuits and photo-patterns. One problem with existing CMP methods is that the polishing surface 25 of the polishing pad 20 can wear unevenly or become glazed with accumulations of polishing solution 50 and/or material removed from the microfeature workpiece 12 and/or the polishing pad 20. To restore the planarizing/polishing characteristics of the polishing pad 20, the pad 20 is typically conditioned by removing the accumulations of waste matter with a conditioner 40. Such conditioners and conditioner assemblies are available on most CMP polishing tools, such as those manufactured by Applied Materials of Santa Clara, Calif. under the trade name Mirra.

The existing conditioner 40 typically includes an abrasive end effector 41 having a head 45 generally embedded with diamond abrasives. The head 45 is attached to a shaft 42 which connects to a shaft housing 49. The shaft housing 49 is supported relative to the polishing pad 20 by an arm 43 and a support housing 44. A motor 46 within the support housing 44 rotates the shaft housing 49, the shaft 42 and the head 45 (as indicated by arrow E) via a pair of pulleys 47a, 47b and a connecting belt 48. The conditioner 40 can also include a separate actuator (not shown in FIG. 1A) that sweeps the arm 43 and the end effector 41 back and forth (as indicated by arrow F). A bladder 39 rotates with the shaft 42 and applies a normal force to the head 45 (as indicated by arrow G) to press the head 45 against the polishing pad 20. The end effector 41 accordingly removes a thin layer of the polishing pad material in addition to the waste matter to form a new, clean polishing surface 25 on the polishing pad 20.

One drawback with the foregoing arrangement described above with reference to FIG. 1A is that the end effector 41 may not be suitable for conditioning a fixed abrasive polishing pad. For example, the end effector 41 can tear the material forming the polishing pad 20, reducing the uniformity of the polishing surface 25, and therefore reducing the uniformity with which the polishing pad 20 removes material from subsequent workpieces. Conventional slurries, which include a suspension of ceramic particles, tend to have the same effect on a fixed abrasive polishing pad.

One approach to addressing the foregoing drawback is to brush the polishing pad 20, either after the conditioning process or instead of the conditioning process. FIG. 1B illustrates a brush 38 having bristles 37 that pass over the polishing surface 25 of the polishing pad 20. Accordingly, the bristles 37 clean the exposed surfaces of fixed abrasive elements 26 embedded in projections 19 of the polishing pad 20. One drawback with this arrangement is that it has only a limited beneficial effect on the polishing rate of the polishing pad 20. One possible explanation for this result is that the bristles 37 are relatively large in comparison to the abrasive elements 26 and the contact between the bristles 37 and the abrasive elements 26 is not uniform. Another possible explanation is that the bristles 37 can extend into the gaps 18 between adjacent projections 19 in which the abrasive elements 26 are housed. Accordingly, the bristles 37 can loosen deposits and/or pad material in these regions, which can cause scratching or other defects in workpieces that are subsequently processed with the polishing pad 20.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a partially schematic, side elevation view of a CMP system having a polishing pad and conditioner arranged in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 1B is an enlarged, partially schematic illustration of a portion of a polishing pad and a brush used to clean the polishing pad in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic, side elevation view of a portion of a polishing pad and polishing liquid configured to condition and/or activate the polishing pad in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic illustration of a system that includes a polishing pad and polishing liquid configured to condition and/or activate the polishing pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for removing deposits from a polishing pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed generally toward polishing liquids for conditioning and/or activating fixed abrasive polishing pads, and associated systems and methods. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes disposing a polishing liquid on a polishing surface of a microfeature workpiece polishing pad. The polishing pad can include a matrix Material and a plurality of abrasive elements fixedly distributed in the matrix material. The polishing liquid can include particles that are at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements. The method can further include moving at least one of the polishing pad and the plurality of particles relative to the other to remove deposits from the polishing pad.

In particular aspects of the invention, the method can further include contacting a microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad and moving at least one of the polishing pad and the microfeature workpiece relative to the other to remove material from the microfeature workpiece. The material can be removed from the microfeature workpiece simultaneously with, or serially with, removing deposits from the polishing pad. In yet another aspect of the invention, the method can include placing a generally rigid member (that does not include a microelectronic workpiece) in contact with the polishing pad and the polishing liquid, and then moving at least one of the polishing pad and the generally rigid member relative to the other to remove deposits from the polishing pad.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a polishing medium for removing material from a microfeature workpiece. The polishing medium can include a polishing pad that in turn includes a matrix material and a plurality of abrasive elements fixedly dispersed in the matrix material. The polishing medium can further include a polishing liquid adjacent to the polishing pad. The polishing liquid can include deionized water and a plurality of particles in the deionized water, with the particles being at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements. In further particular aspects of the invention, the plurality of particles can include particles having a polymeric, non-ceramic composition (e.g., including but not limited to polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyester, polyurethane and composites thereof). The particles can have an average diameter in the range of from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns, a concentration in the polishing liquid of from about 20 ppm to about 5%, and a hardness less. than a hardness of the abrasive elements.

As used herein, the terms "microfeature workpiece" and "workpiece" refer to substrates on and/or in which microelectronic devices are integrally formed. Microfeature polishing pads include pads configured to remove material from microfeature workpieces during the formation of microdevices. Typical microdevices include microelectronic circuits or components, thin-film recording heads, data storage elements, microfluidic devices, and other products. Micromachines and micromechanical devices are included within this definition because they are manufactured using much of the same technology that is used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The substrates can be semiconductive pieces (e.g., doped silicon wafers or gallium arsenide wafers), nonconductive pieces (e.g., various ceramic substrates) or conductive pieces. In some cases, the workpieces are generally round, and in other cases the workpieces have other shapes, including rectilinear shapes. Several embodiments of polishing liquids and associated systems and methods are described below. A person skilled in the relevant art will understand, however, that the invention may have additional embodiments, and that the invention may be practiced without several of the details of the embodiments described below with reference to FIGS. 2 4.

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic, cross-sectional view of a portion of a system 210 configured to remove material from a microfeature workpiece 212 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The system 210 can include a polishing medium 251 positioned adjacent to the microfeature workpiece 212, so that relative movement between the microfeature workpiece 212 and the polishing medium 251 removes material from a face 213 of the microfeature workpiece 212. This movement (or relative movement between constituents of the polishing medium 251) can also activate and/or condition the polishing medium 251. Activating and/or conditioning the polishing medium 251 can in turn increase the speed, efficiency, and uniformity with which the polishing medium 251 removes material from the microfeature workpiece 212, and can provide stable performance as described in greater detail below. The arrangement can also reduce polish-related defects on the microfeature workpiece surface.

The polishing medium 251 can include a polishing pad 220 and a polishing liquid 250. The polishing pad 220 can include a plurality of abrasive elements 226 distributed in a matrix material 227. In a particular embodiment, the matrix material 227 can include pillars or other projections 219 in which the abrasive elements 226 are housed. The abrasive elements 226 can include ceria, silica, alumina and/or other relatively hard constituents, and can have a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, the abrasive elements 226 can be regular or irregular in shape, and can have a size (e.g., mean diameter) in the range of from about 20 nanometers to several hundred microns. The matrix material 227 in which the abrasive elements 226 are positioned can include a polymeric resin material that carries the abrasive elements 226 in contact with the microfeature workpiece 212. The matrix material 227 wears away during use so that new abrasive elements 226 are continually exposed. Suitable fixed-abrasive polishing pads are available from 3M of St. Paul, Minn.

The polishing liquid 250 can include a plurality of particles 252 suspended in a liquid medium, e.g., deionized water. The particles 252 are configured and distributed so that they can remove deposits from exposed surfaces 228 of the abrasive elements 226, without creating at least some of the drawbacks described above with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. For example, the particles 252 can be formed from a material that is at least approximately chemically inert with respect to the abrasive elements 226. Accordingly, the particles 252 can polish, condition and/or activate the abrasive elements 226 via a mechanical rather than a chemical action. The particles 252 can be formed from a polymer and can be formed without ceramic constituents. Accordingly, the particles 252 can have at least some resilient flexibility. As a result, the particles 252 can be less likely to tear up or otherwise damage the matrix material 227 of the polishing pad 220. In particular embodiments, the particles 252 can include polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyester, polyurethane, polystyrene, and/or polyvinyl alcohol. In other embodiments, the particles 252 can include other polymers. The particular polymer selected for the particles 252 can be chosen on the basis of hardness, among other factors. For example, the particles 252 can have a hardness that is less than the hardness of the abrasive elements 226.

The particles 252 can also be selected to have a particular concentration in the polishing liquid 250. For example, the particles 252 can have a concentration in the range of from about 20 ppm to about 5%. In general, higher concentrations result in increased rates at which deposits are removed from the abrasive elements 226, though it is expected that at some elevated concentrations, this effect will level off or even drop off.

Another feature of the particles 252 is that they can have a relatively small size, e.g., on the same order as the size of the abrasive elements 226. For example, in particular embodiments, the particles 252 can be generally spherical in shape and can have a size (e.g., diameter) that ranges from about 20 nanometers to about five hundred microns. In a further particular embodiment, the particles 252 can have a size of about 200 nanometers (e.g., the particles 252 can include nanoparticles). As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art, a polishing liquid 250 having particles 252 selected for a particular size will likely have particles with a range of sizes such that an average of the range corresponds to the selected particle size. In any of these embodiments, the size of the particles 252 relative to the size of the abrasive elements 226 can allow the particles 252 to perform a mechanical "micro-cleaning" function. Accordingly, the particles 252 can scrub the exposed surfaces 228 of the abrasive elements 226. The maximum size of the particles 252 can be selected to correspond to the size at which the particles cease to effectively remove deposits from the abrasive elements 226, and/or the size at which the particles 252 cause damage to the microfeature workpiece 212.

Because the particles 252 are relatively small, they can easily fit in the gaps or interstices 218 between neighboring projections 219 of the polishing pad 220. An advantage of this arrangement is that the particles 252 in the interstices 218 are unlikely to create direct forces on the matrix material 227 in these regions because the particles 252 remain suspended in the polishing liquid 250. Accordingly, the particles 252 are not compressed by the workpiece 212 into direct contact with the matrix material 227 in the interstices 218. As a result, the particles 252 can be less likely to remove the matrix material 227 in the interstices 218. The particles 252 can also be less likely to loosen deposits of microfeature workpiece material located in the interstices 218. This arrangement can not only eliminate the need for brushing the polishing pad 220 (a process described above with reference to FIG. 1B), but can also produce a cleaner, more uniform polishing surface 225 than can be produced by brushing the polishing pad 220.

The polishing liquid 250 can include constituents in addition to the particles 252 and deionized water. For example, the polishing liquid 250 can include additives provi


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