Methods for fabricating a chemical-mechanical polishing composition include growing colloidal silica abrasive particles in a liquid including an aminosilane compound such that the aminosilane compound becomes incorporated in the abrasive particles. A dispersion including such colloidal silica abrasive particles may be further processed to obtain a chemical-mechanical polishing composition including colloidal silica particles having the aminosilane compound incorporated therein.

Methods for fabricating a chemical-mechanical polishing composition include growing colloidal silica abrasive particles in a liquid including an aminosilane compound such that the aminosilane compound becomes incorporated in the abrasive particles. A dispersion including such colloidal silica abrasive particles may be further processed to obtain a chemical-mechanical polishing composition including colloidal silica particles having the aminosilane compound incorporated therein.

The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising: (a) colloidal silica particles that are surface modified with metal ions selected from Mg, Ca, Al, B, Be, and combinations thereof, and wherein the colloidal silica particles have a surface hydroxyl group density of from about 1.5 hydroxyls per nm.sup.2 to about 8 hydroxyls per nm.sup.2 of a surface area of the particles, (b) an anionic surfactant, (c) a buffering agent, and (d) water, wherein the polishing composition has a pH of about 2 to about 7, and wherein the polishing composition is substantially free of an oxidizing agent that oxidizes a metal. The invention further provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with the inventive chemical-mechanical polishing composition. Typically, the substrate contains silicon nitride, silicon oxide, and/or polysilicon.

The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising: (a) colloidal silica particles that are surface modified with metal ions selected from Mg, Ca, Al, B, Be, and combinations thereof, and wherein the colloidal silica particles have a surface hydroxyl group density of from about 1.5 hydroxyls per nm.sup.2 to about 8 hydroxyls per nm.sup.2 of a surface area of the particles, (b) an anionic surfactant, (c) a buffering agent, and (d) water, wherein the polishing composition has a pH of about 2 to about 7, and wherein the polishing composition is substantially free of an oxidizing agent that oxidizes a metal. The invention further provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with the inventive chemical-mechanical polishing composition. Typically, the substrate contains silicon nitride, silicon oxide, and/or polysilicon.

The present invention provides aqueous chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) polishing compositions have excellent heat aging and shelf stability in the form of concentrates comprising a mixture of a compound containing two quaternary ammonium groups, such as hexabutyl C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkanediammonium dihydroxides or salts thereof, preferably N,N,N,N′,N′,N′-hexabutyl-1,4-butanediammonium dihydroxide (HBBAH), and aminosilane group containing silica particles in the amount of from 1 to 30 wt. % or, preferably, from 15 to 22 wt. %, as solids based on the total weight of the composition, the composition having a pH ranging from 3 to 5 or, preferably, from 3.5 to 4.5 wherein the composition is stable against visible precipitation or sedimentation at a 15 wt. % solids content after heat aging at a temperature of 45° C. for at least 6 days.

The present invention provides aqueous chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) polishing compositions have excellent heat aging and shelf stability in the form of concentrates comprising a mixture of a compound containing two quaternary ammonium groups, such as hexabutyl C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkanediammonium dihydroxides or salts thereof, preferably N,N,N,N′,N′,N′-hexabutyl-1,4-butanediammonium dihydroxide (HBBAH), and aminosilane group containing silica particles in the amount of from 1 to 30 wt. % or, preferably, from 15 to 22 wt. %, as solids based on the total weight of the composition, the composition having a pH ranging from 3 to 5 or, preferably, from 3.5 to 4.5 wherein the composition is stable against visible precipitation or sedimentation at a 15 wt. % solids content after heat aging at a temperature of 45° C. for at least 6 days.

A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry, a method for CMP, and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure are provided. The CMP slurry includes a pH-adjustor for providing an alkaline environment in the CMP slurry and a silicon inhibitor for lowering a removal rate of silicon. The CMP slurry is used in a planarization operation to remove portions of a semiconductor region and portions of a silicon region. The semiconductor region comprises at least one semiconductor material different from silicon. The semiconductor region is formed in a recess adjacent to the silicon region. The particle defect condition may be improved by applying the alkaline CMP slurry, and the silicon inhibitor may be used to modify the removal rate selectivity between the semiconductor region and the silicon region in the planarization operation.

A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurry, a method for CMP, and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure are provided. The CMP slurry includes a pH-adjustor for providing an alkaline environment in the CMP slurry and a silicon inhibitor for lowering a removal rate of silicon. The CMP slurry is used in a planarization operation to remove portions of a semiconductor region and portions of a silicon region. The semiconductor region comprises at least one semiconductor material different from silicon. The semiconductor region is formed in a recess adjacent to the silicon region. The particle defect condition may be improved by applying the alkaline CMP slurry, and the silicon inhibitor may be used to modify the removal rate selectivity between the semiconductor region and the silicon region in the planarization operation.

An etching composition for silicon nitride layers and a method of etching a silicon nitride layer using the composition, the etching composition including an inorganic acid or a salt thereof; a solvent; an acid-modified silica or an acid-modified silicic acid; and a cyclic compound containing four or more nitrogen atoms.

An etching composition for silicon nitride layers and a method of etching a silicon nitride layer using the composition, the etching composition including an inorganic acid or a salt thereof; a solvent; an acid-modified silica or an acid-modified silicic acid; and a cyclic compound containing four or more nitrogen atoms.