Abstract:
A process of electrodepositing a substantially flat conductive layer on a workpiece surface is provided. In the process, various transition current densities are determined experimentally by evaluating the effects of the plating current density on gap fill profile in the smallest cavities with the largest tendency to over-plate on the substrate. After determining the transition currents on experimental wafers or dies, an electrochemical plating process is performed to apply selected transition current densities as process current densities to form a substantially flat profile over the smallest cavities.
Abstract:
The present invention provides at least one nozzle that sprays a rotating workpiece with an etchant at an edge thereof. The at least one nozzle is located in an upper chamber of a vertically configured processing subsystem that also includes mechanisms for plating, cleaning and drying in upper and lower chambers
Abstract:
The present invention provides an apparatus for wet processing of a conductive layer using a degassed process solution such as a degassed electrochemical deposition solution, a degassed electrochemical polishing solution, a degassed deposition solution, and a degassed cleaning solution. The technique includes degassing the process solution before delivering the degassed process solution to a processing unit or degassing the process solution in situ, within the processing unit.
Abstract:
The process of the present invention forms copper interconnects in a semiconductor wafer surface. During the process, initially, narrow and large features are provided in the top surface of the wafer, and then a primary copper layer is deposited by employing an electrochemical deposition process. The primary copper layer completely fills the features and forms a planar surface over the narrow feature and a non-planar surface over the large feature. By employing an electrochemical mechanical deposition process, a secondary copper layer is deposited onto the primary copper layer to form a planar copper layer over the narrow and large features. After this process step, the thickness of the planar copper layer is reduced using an electropolishing process.
Abstract:
An apparatus for processing a material on a surface of a wafer having a diameter includes a cavity defined by a peripheral wall terminating at a peripheral edge and having at least one lateral dimension smaller than the wafer diameter and at least one lateral dimension larger than the wafer diameter and configured to hold a process solution proximate to the peripheral edge such that the process solution will always contact a first wafer surface region, a head configured to hold the wafer above the cavity peripheral edge so that the surface of the wafer faces the cavity, and an electrical contact member positioned outside the cavity peripheral wall and configured to contact a second wafer surface region where the lateral dimension of the cavity is smaller than the wafer diameter and to maintain electrical contact with the wafer when the wafer is moved relative to the contact member. Advantages of the invention include substantially full surface treatment of the wafer.
Abstract:
Systems and methods to remove or lessen the size of metal particles that have formed on, and to limit the rate at which metal particles form or grow on, workpiece surface influencing devices used during electrodeposition are presented. According to an exemplary method, the workpiece surface influencing device is occasionally placed in contact with a conditioning substrate coated with an inert material, and the bias applied to the electrodeposition system is reversed. According to another exemplary method, the workpiece surface influencing device is conditioned using mechanical contact members, such as brushes, and conditioning of the workpiece surface influencing device occurs, for example, through physical brushing of the workpiece surface influencing device with the brushes. According to a further exemplary method, the workpiece surface influencing device is rotated in different direction during electrodeposition.
Abstract:
Systems and methods to operate upon a nonplanar top surface of a conductive surface layer of a workpiece, so as to, for example, preserve the structural integrity of a dielectric film layer disposed below the conductive surface layer, are presented. According to an exemplary method, a layer of conducting material such as a conducting paste is applied over the nonplanar top surface of the conductive surface layer to obtain a planar top surface. At least a portion of the conducting material layer and at least a portion of the conductive surface layer are removed in a planar manner to at least partially planarize the nonplanar top surface. The conducting material layer may be annealed so that the conducting material layer diffuses with the conductive surface layer prior to removal of at least the portions of conducting material layer and the conductive surface layer.
Abstract:
An apparatus capable of assisting in controlling an electrolyte flow and distribution of an electric field, a magnetic field, or an electromagnetic field in order to process a substrate is provided with improved fluid distribution. A support member having a top surface and a bottom surface contains at least one support member electrolyte channel. Each support member electrolyte channel forms a passage between the top surface and the bottom surface and allows the electrolyte to flow therethrough. A pad is attachable to the support member and contains at least one set of pad electrolyte channels also allowing for electrolyte flow therethrough to the substrate. Each support member electrolyte channel is connected to one set of pad electrolyte channels by fluid distribution structure. A method of assisting in control of the electrolyte flow and distribution of the electric field, the magnetic field, or the electromagnetic field, utilizing the apparatus, is also provided.
Abstract:
A method is provided for manufacturing removable contact structures on the surface of a substrate to conduct electricity from a contact member to the surface during electroprocessing. The method comprises forming a conductive layer on the surface. A predetermined region of the conductive layer is selectively coated by a contact layer so that the contact member touches the contact layer as the electroprocessing is performed on the conductive layer.
Abstract:
Substantially uniform deposition of conductive material on a surface of a substrate, which substrate includes a semiconductor wafer, from an electrolyte containing the conductive material can be provided by way of a particular device which includes first and second conductive elements. The first conductive element can have multiple electrical contacts, of identical or different configurations, or may be in the form of a conductive pad, and can contact or otherwise electrically interconnect with the substrate surface over substantially all of the substrate surface. Upon application of a potential between the first and second conductive elements while the electrolyte makes physical contact with the substrate surface and the second conductive element, the conductive material is deposited on the substrate surface. It is possible to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied between the anode and the cathode so that electro-etching of deposited conductive material can be performed.