The effects of ultra-smooth surface atomic step morphology on CMP performances of sapphire and SiC wafers
Whether sapphire or SiC wafer, clear and regular atomic step morphology could be observed all over the ultra-smooth wafer surface via atomic force microscopy (AFM) using our CMP technology. However, towards sapphire and SiC wafers, the variations of atomic step widths and step directions on the whole of wafer surface are different. The step widths and step directions on the different positions of sapphire wafer are uniform, while that on SiC wafer are distinct. Thus, the effects of atomic step width on CMP removal rate of sapphire and SiC wafers were studied. On the other side, the CMP removal model of super-hard hexagonal crystalline wafer to realize atomically ultra-smooth surface is proposed. The variations of atomic step morphology towards different defects on sapphire and SiC wafers surface are analyzed, and the formation mechanism of the defects is discussed.
XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy and AFM studies on removal mechanisms of Si-face SiC wafer chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)
Abstract Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) removal mechanisms of on-axis Si-face SiC wafer have been investigated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). XPS results indicate that silicon oxide is formed on Si-face surface polished by the slurry including oxidant H2O2, but not that after immersing in H2O2 solution. UV–vis spectroscopy curves prove that •OH hydroxyl radical could be generated only under CMP polishing by the slurry including H2O2 and abrasive, so as to promote oxidation of Si-face to realize the effective removal; meanwhile, alkali KOH during CMP could induce the production of more radicals to improve the removal. On the other side, ultra-smooth polished surface with atomic step structure morphology and extremely low Ra of about 0.06 nm (through AFM) is obtained using the developed slurry with silica nanoparticle abrasive. Through investigating the variations of the atomic step morphology on the surface polished by different slurries, it's reveals that CMP removal mechanism involves a simultaneous process of surface chemical reaction and nanoparticle atomic scale abrasion.
Characterization of Polishing‐Related Surface Damage in (0001) Silicon Carbide Substrates
Because of its wide bandgap and physical stability silicon carbide (SiC) is currently being viewed as a potentially important semiconductor material for high power and high temperature solid-state devices. The nature and extent of surface damage in 6H-SiC substrates prepared by mechanical polishing have been studied using backscattering of ultraviolet light and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. When the basal plane surface is prepared by lapping or polishing with large size diamond abrasives, the surface roughness is about one-fifth the particle size, while the subsurface damage extends to a depth of about half the abrasive size. Under optimum conditions of particle size, vertical load, and relative rotation speed, the extent of subsurface damage can be minimized resulting in a nominally defect-free specular surface exhibiting a uniform strained layer of less than 8 nm.