Described is a use of a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) composition for polishing a substrate or layer containing one or more lll-V materials, wherein the chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) composition comprises the following components: (A) surface modified silica particles having a negative zeta potential of −15 mV or below at a pH in the range of from 2 to 6 (B) one or more constituents selected from the group consisting of (i) substituted and unsubstituted triazoles not having an aromatic ring annealed to the triazol ring, (ii) benzimidazole, (iii) chelating agents selected from the group consisting of amino acids with two or more carboxyl groups, aliphatic carboxylic acids, and the respective salts thereof, and (iv) homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid, and the respective salts thereof, (C) water (D) optionally one or more further constituents, wherein the pH of the composition is in the range of from 2 to 6.