The present disclosure relates to a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system, and an associated method to perform a CMP process. In some embodiments, the CMP system has a rotatable wafer carrier configured to hold a wafer face down to be processed. The CMP system also has a polishing layer attached to a polishing platen and having a front surface configured to interact with the wafer to be processed, and a CMP dispenser configured to dispense a slurry between an interface of the polishing layer and the wafer. The slurry contains charged abrasive particles therein. The CMP system also has a film electrode attached to a back surface of the polishing layer opposite to the front surface. The film electrode is configured to affect movements of the charged abrasive particles through applying an electrical field during the operation of the CMP system.

The invention discloses an electrochemical mechanical polishing/planarization equipment for processing a polishing surface of a conductive wafer substrate, which includes a power supply; a polishing table with conductivity; a polishing pad including an insulating active layer and having holes where a conductive chemical liquid is accommodated; a polishing head having conductivity and being attached to the back of the polishing surface. The power supply, the polishing table, the chemical liquid, the conductive wafer substrate, and the polishing head in sequence form a conductive loop, and an electrochemical reaction layer is formed on the polishing surface of the conductive wafer substrate. The polishing head drives the wafer substrate to move relative to the polishing pad, and to implement a mechanical polishing or a chemical mechanical polishing of the electrochemical reaction layer.

Shortcomings associated with insufficient control of a conventional CMP-process are obviated by providing an CMP-apparatus configured to complement a constant force (to which a workpiece that is being polished is conventionally exposed) with a time-alternating force and/or means for measuring an electrical characteristic of the CMP-process. The time-alternating force is applied with the use of a system component that is electrically isolated from the workpiece and that is disposed in the carrier-chick in which the workpiece is affixed for CMP-process, while the electrical characteristic is measured with the use of a judiciously-configured reservoir in which the used fluid is collected. The use of such CMP-apparatus.

A planarization apparatus is provided. The planarization apparatus includes a platen, and a grinding wheel. The platen is configured to support a wafer. The grinding wheel is over the platen and configured to grind the wafer. The grinding wheel includes a base ring, and a plurality of grinding teeth mounted on the base ring. The plurality of grinding teeth includes a plurality of grinding abrasives, and the plurality of grinding abrasives is ball type.

A polishing platform of a polishing apparatus includes a platen, a polishing pad, and an electric field element disposed between the platen and the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus further includes a controller configured to apply voltages to the electric field element. A first voltage is applied to the electric field element to attract charged particles of a polishing slurry toward the polishing pad. The attracted particles reduce overall topographic variation of a polishing surface presented to a workpiece for polishing. A second voltage is applied to the electric field element to attract additional charged particles of the polishing slurry toward the polishing pad. The additional attracted particles further reduce overall topographic variation of the polishing surface presented to the workpiece. A third voltage is applied to the electric field element to repel charged particles of the polishing slurry away from the polishing pad for improved cleaning thereof.

An apparatus and a method for plating and/or polishing wafer includes a wafer chuck, an auxiliary nozzle apparatus and a main nozzle apparatus. The wafer chuck holds and positions the wafer, moves horizontally, and rotates. The auxiliary nozzle apparatus supplies uncharged or charged electrolyte to cover the outer edge of the wafer and the wafer chuck, and the main nozzle apparatus supplies charged electrolyte to the surface of the wafer, to improve the plating and/or polishing uniformity of the outer edge of the wafer, reduce the entire electric resistance of the apparatus, and improve the plating and/or polishing rate.

The present disclosure relates to a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system, and an associated method to perform a CMP process. In some embodiments, the CMP system has a rotatable wafer carrier configured to hold a wafer face down to be processed. The CMP system also has a polishing layer attached to a polishing platen and having a front surface configured to interact with the wafer to be processed, and a CMP dispenser configured to dispense a slurry between an interface of the polishing layer and the wafer. The slurry contains charged abrasive particles therein. The CMP system also has a film electrode attached to a back surface of the polishing layer opposite to the front surface. The film electrode is configured to affect movements of the charged abrasive particles through applying an electrical field during the operation of the CMP system.

Shortcomings associated with insufficient control of a conventional CMP-process are obviated by providing an CMP-apparatus configured to complement a constant force (to which a workpiece that is being polished is conventionally exposed) with a time-alternating force and/or means for measuring an electrical characteristic of the CMP-process. The time-alternating force is applied with the use of a system component that is electrically isolated from the workpiece and that is disposed in the carrier-chick in which the workpiece is affixed for CMP-process, while the electrical characteristic is measured with the use of a judiciously-configured reservoir in which the used fluid is collected. The use of such CMP-apparatus.

Provided is a substrate processing apparatus for making a catalyst and a substrate close to each other or be in contact with each other in the presence of processing liquid to etch a processing target area of the substrate, the substrate processing apparatus including a substrate holder for holding a substrate, and a catalyst holder for holding a catalyst, wherein the catalyst holder comprises a base plate having high rigidity, a piezoelectric element arranged to be adjacent to the base plate, a catalyst holding base having high rigidity arranged to be adjacent to the piezoelectric element, and a catalyst held by the catalyst holding base, and wherein the substrate processing apparatus further comprises a control device for controlling a driving voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element.

Exemplary substrate electrochemical planarization apparatuses may include a chuck body defining a substrate support surface. The apparatuses may include a retaining wall extending from the chuck body. The apparatuses may include an electrolyte delivery port disposed radially inward of the retaining wall. The apparatuses may include a spindle that is positionable over the chuck body. The apparatuses may include an end effector coupled with a lower end of the spindle. The end effector may be conductive. The apparatuses may include an electric contact extending from the chuck body or retaining wall. The apparatuses may include a current source. The current source may be configured to provide an electric current to an electrolyte within an open interior defined by the retaining wall.