Methods for polishing dielectric layers using an auto-stop slurry in forming semiconductor devices, such as three-dimensional (3D) memory devices, are provided. The methods include forming a stack structure in a staircase region and a core array region, the stack structure including a staircase structure in the staircase region; forming a dielectric layer over the staircase region and a peripheral region outside the stack structure; and polishing the dielectric layer using an auto-stop slurry containing a ceria-based abrasive.

A composition is provided that comprises a calcium carbonate slurry. The calcium carbonate slurry comprises a plurality of calcium carbonate particles suspended in a solution, where the solution comprises a dispersant and an anionic surfactant. The concentration of the calcium carbonate particles in the calcium carbonate slurry is equal to or less than about 2.0 wt. %.

The present disclosure provides a new corrosion control chemistry for use in ruthenium (Ru) chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) processes. More specifically, the present disclosure provides an improved CMP slurry chemistry and CMP process for planarizing a ruthenium surface. In the CMP process disclosed herein, a ruthenium surface (e.g., a post-etch ruthenium surface) is exposed to a CMP slurry containing a halogenation reagent, which reacts with the ruthenium surface to create a halogenated ruthenium surface, and a ligand for ligand-assisted reactive dissolution of the halogenated ruthenium surface. Relative amounts of the halogenation agent and the ligand can be controlled in the CMP slurry, so as to provide a diffusion-limited etch process that improves pos-etch surface morphology, while providing high material removal rates.

The present invention relates to a polishing agent including: a water-soluble polymer including a copolymer of a monomer (A) which includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, a derivative thereof, and salts of the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and the derivative thereof and a monomer (B) other than the monomer (A), comprising an ethylenic double bond and no acidic group; a cerium oxide particle; and water, in which the polishing agent has a pH of 4 to 9.

A slurry containing abrasive grains and a liquid medium, in which the abrasive grains include first particles and second particles in contact with the first particles, a particle size of the second particles is smaller than a particle size of the first particles, the first particles contain cerium oxide, the second particles contain a cerium compound, and in a case where a content of the abrasive grains is 0.1% by mass, an absorbance for light having a wavelength of 380 nm in a liquid phase obtained when the slurry is subjected to centrifugal separation for 5 minutes at a centrifugal acceleration of 5.8×10.sup.4 G exceeds 0.

Smoothness of glass is improved. A polishing slurry (A) contains amorphous carbon and water, and a total amount of the amorphous carbon and the water is equal to or more than 90% of the whole polishing slurry in terms of mass ratio.

A slurry containing abrasive grains and a liquid medium, in which the abrasive grains include first particles and second particles in contact with the first particles, a particle size of the second particles is smaller than a particle size of the first particles, the first particles contain cerium oxide, the second particles contain a cerium compound, and in a case where a content of the abrasive grains is 0.1% by mass, a BET specific surface area of a solid phase obtained when the slurry is subjected to centrifugal separation for 60 minutes at a centrifugal acceleration of 1.1×10.sup.4 G is 40 m.sup.2/g or more.

A slurry containing abrasive grains and a liquid medium, in which the abrasive grains include first particles and second particles in contact with the first particles, the first particles contain cerium oxide, the second particles contain a cerium compound, and an Rsp value calculated by Formula (1) below is 1.60 or more:
Rsp=(Tb/Tav)−1  (1)
[in the formula, Tav represents a relaxation time (unit: ms) obtained by pulsed NMR measurement of the slurry in a case where a content of the abrasive grains is 2.0% by mass, and Tb represents a relaxation time (unit: ms) obtained by pulsed NMR measurement of a supernatant solution obtained when the slurry is subjected to centrifugal separation for 50 minutes at a centrifugal acceleration of 2.36×10.sup.5 G in a case where the content of the abrasive grains is 2.0% by mass.]

Methods for polishing dielectric layers using an auto-stop slurry in forming semiconductor devices, such as three-dimensional (3D) memory devices, are provided. For example, a stack structure is formed in a staircase region and a core array region. The stack structure includes a plurality of interleaved first material layers and second material layers. Edges of the interleaved first material layers and second material layers define a staircase structure on a side of the stack structure in the staircase region. A dielectric layer is formed over the staircase region and a peripheral region outside the stack structure. The dielectric layer includes a protrusion from the stack structure. The dielectric layer is polished using an auto-stop slurry to remove the protrusion of the dielectric layer.

A composition is provided that comprises a calcium carbonate slurry. The calcium carbonate slurry comprises a plurality of calcium carbonate particles suspended in a solution, where the solution comprises a dispersant and an anionic surfactant. The concentration of the calcium carbonate particles in the calcium carbonate slurry is equal to or less than about 2.0 wt. %.