SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL MECHANICAL POLISHING PROCESSING DEVICE AND PROCESSING METHOD
20220088740 · 2022-03-24
Inventors
- Zhigang DONG (Dalian, Liaoning, CN)
- Kang SHI (Dalian, Liaoning, CN)
- Renke KANG (Dailan, Liaoning, CN)
- Liwei OU (Dalian, Liaoning, CN)
- Xianglong ZHU (Dalian, Liaoning, CN)
- Shang GAO (Dalian, Liaoning, CN)
Cpc classification
B24B57/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B24B7/22
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
H01L21/30625
ELECTRICITY
B24B41/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B24B37/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B24B7/228
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B24B37/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B24B7/22
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B24B37/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A semiconductor wafer is adhered and fixed to a polishing head by means of a conductive adhesive, and the wafer is connected to a positive electrode of an external power supply through wires of the inner and outer rings of a conductive slip ring below the wafer. A polishing pad is adhered to the bottom of a counter electrode disc, the counter electrode disc is fixed at the bottom of a polishing disc and is processed with through holes at the position corresponding to the polishing disc, and the counter electrode disc is connected to a negative electrode of the external power supply through the wires of inner and outer rings of a conductive slip ring above the counter electrode disc. Ultraviolet light emitted by an ultraviolet light source can reach the surface of the wafer through the through holes, and a polishing solution can be sprayed through the through holes into a contact area between the wafer and the polishing pad.
Claims
1. A semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device, comparing: a polishing pad having through holes; a polishing disc having through holes, driving the polishing pad to mechanically polish a surface of a wafer; a polishing solution source supplying a polishing solution, the polishing solution dripping on the wafer surface through the through holes of the polishing disc and the polishing pad; an ultraviolet light source supplying ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light irradiating the wafer through the through holes of the polishing disc and the polishing pad; and an external power supply; wherein the wafer is connected to a positive electrode of the external power supply, and the polishing disc is connected to a negative electrode of the external power supply; and the external power supply, the wafer and the polishing disc form a closed circuit.
2. A semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device, comparing: a polishing pad having through holes; a polishing disc having through holes, driving the polishing pad to mechanically polish a surface of a wafer; a counter electrode disc having through holes, arranged between the polishing disc and the polishing pad; a polishing solution source supplying a polishing solution, the polishing solution dripping on the wafer surface through the through holes of the polishing disc and the polishing pad; an ultraviolet light source supplying ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light irradiating the wafer through the through holes of the polishing disc and the polishing pad; and an external power supply; wherein the wafer is connected to a positive electrode of the external power supply, and the counter electrode disc is connected to a negative electrode of the external power supply; and the external power supply, the wafer and the counter electrode disc form a closed circuit.
3. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the polishing solution is a chemical polishing solution which comprises abrasive particles.
4. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the polishing disc and the polishing pad are located above the wafer, and the ultraviolet light source is located above the polishing disc and the polishing pad.
5. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the polishing solution source is a polishing solution spray head which is located above the polishing disc.
6. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the through holes of the polishing disc are arranged radially from a center of the polishing disc to periphery; preferably, the through holes are arranged periodically along the radial direction of the polishing disc; preferably, a center part of the polishing disc is not provided with through hole, and only a position where the peripheral part of the polishing disc contacts with the wafer is provided with the through holes.
7. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein layouts of the through holes of the polishing disc, the counter electrode and the polishing pad are consistent.
8. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply of the external electric field is at least one of a direct-current power supply, a potentiostat, an electrochemical workstation and a dry battery.
9. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein an area of the polishing pad is greater than that of the wafer; a preferred radius of the polishing pad is greater than a diameter of the wafer; a preferred radius of the polishing disc is greater than a diameter of the wafer; and preferably, the through holes of the polishing pad are arranged at a portion in contact with the wafer.
10. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing device according to claim 1, wherein an area ratio of photoelectrochemical action and mechanical action of the device is 1:12 to1:1.
11. A semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing method, mechanically polishing a wafer; mechanically polishing a polishing piece having through holes; during polishing, ultraviolet light irradiating the wafer through the through holes; during polishing, the polishing solution dripping on the surface of the wafer through the through holes, and the polishing solution comprising abrasive particles; and during polishing, the wafer being used as an anode and being modified by photoelectrochemical oxidation under an external electric field.
12. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing method according to claim 11, wherein the polishing piece comprises polishing disc and polishing pad, and the layout of the through holes of the polishing disc is consistent with that of the polishing pad; and the polishing disc is used as a cathode.
13. The semiconductor wafer photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing method according to claim 12, comprising the following steps: S1. fixing the wafer to a polishing head by means of conductive adhesive, after driving, the wafer rotating axially with the polishing head, wherein the polishing head is an electric conductor; adhering the polishing pad to the polishing disc, after driving, the polishing pad contacting the wafer surface and producing a relative motion; S2. applying a positive potential to the wafer and a negative potential to the polishing disc; and S3. during polishing, ultraviolet light irradiating the wafer successively passing through the through holes of the polishing disc and the polishing pad; and the polishing solution impregnating a contact area between the wafer and the polishing pad by the through holes of the polishing disc and the polishing pad.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the polishing piece comprises the polishing disc and the polishing pad, the counter electrode disc having through holes is arranged between the polishing disc and the polishing pad as a cathode; and the layouts of the through holes of the polishing disc, the counter electrode and the polishing pad are consistent.
15. The method according to claim 14, comprising the following steps: S1. fixing the wafer to the polishing head by means of conductive adhesive, after driving, the wafer rotating axially with the polishing head, wherein the polishing head is an electric conductor; adhering the polishing pad to the counter electrode disc, and fixing the counter electrode disc to the polishing disc, after driving, the polishing pad contacting the wafer surface and producing a relative motion, wherein the counter electrode disc has through holes; S2. applying a positive potential to the wafer and a negative potential to the disc-shaped counter electrode disc; and S3. during polishing, ultraviolet light irradiating the wafer successively passing through the through holes of the polishing disc, the counter electrode disc and the polishing pad; and the polishing solution impregnating a contact area between the wafer and the polishing pad by the through holes of the polishing disc, the counter electrode disc and the polishing pad successively.
16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the wafer is connected to the positive electrode of the external power supply and the cathode to the negative electrode of the external power supply; and the external power supply, the wafer and the cathode form a closed circuit.
17. The method according to claim 11, wherein an area ratio of photoelectrochemical action and mechanical action is 1:12 to1:1.
18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the polishing disc and the polishing pad are located above the semiconductor wafer, and the ultraviolet light source is located above polishing disc.
19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the abrasive particle is cerium oxide or silicon oxide; a preferred particle size of the abrasive particle is 6 nm to 100 nm; a preferred concentration of the abrasive particle is 0.05-10 wt %; a supply flow of the polishing solution is 50 mL/min to 100 mL/min; and a rotational speed of the wafer is 100 rpm to 250 rpm, a rotational speed of the polishing disc is 60 to 150 rpm, a polishing pressure is 4 to 6.5 psi, and an intensity of the ultraviolet light is 50 to 175 mW.Math.cm.sup.−2.
20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the semiconductor wafer is a gallium nitride wafer.
Description
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0049]
[0050]
[0051]
[0052] The components of each identification in
[0053] 13. leveling screw, 14. right-angled fixed plate, 15. adapter panel, 16a. L-shaped support plate, 17. flange plate, 18. outer spherical bearing, 2. conductive slip ring, 19. right-angled motor, 20. motor bracket, 21. elastic coupling, 22a. crossed roller bearing, 23. step shaft I, 3. polishing head, 5. polishing pad, 24. step shaft II, 11. conductive slip ring, 4.wafer, 6. counter electrode disc, 7.polishing disc, 1. polishing solution tank, 10. ultraviolet light source, 25. elastic coupling, 26. motor bracket, 27. motor, 28. adapter panel, 29. module panel, 30. spring, 31. guide rail, 32. sliding block; 33. module baseplate, 34a and 34b. vertical support plates, 35. right-angled support plate, 36. baseplate.
[0054]
[0055]
[0056]
[0057]
[0058]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMODIMENTS
[0059] The present disclosure is further described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings.
[0060] (1) The wafer is fixed to the polishing head, after driving, the wafer rotates axially with the polishing head. The wafer is conductive through the adhering of the conductive adhesive and the metal part of the polishing head. The polishing head is connected with the inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring, thereby connected with the outer ring of the conductive slip ring to form a path.
[0061] (2) The polishing pad is adhered to the counter electrode disc, and the counter electrode is fixed on the polishing disc. After driving, the polishing pad is in contact with the wafer surface and produces a relative motion. The counter electrode disc can be connected with the inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring, thereby connected with the outer ring wire to form a path.
[0062] (3) The counter electrode disc and the polishing disc are processed with through holes, and the polishing pad (preferably pasted at the bottom of the counter electrode disc) is also processed with through holes correspondingly. During polishing, ultraviolet light is located above the polishing disc, and ultraviolet light can directly irradiate on the surface of the wafer through the through holes of the polishing disc, the counter electrode disc and the polishing pad. The polishing solution impregnates the wafer surface through the through holes of the polishing disc, the counter electrode disc and the polishing pad.
[0063] (4) The external applied negative potential can successively pass through the outer ring lead of the conductive slip ring above the counter electrode disc to the inner ring lead, thereby connected to the counter electrode disc. The external applied positive potential can successively pass through the outer ring lead of the conductive slip ring below the wafer to the inner ring lead, thereby connected to the wafer. The negative and positive potential applied to the counter electrode disc and the wafer respectively can form a potential difference between them in the processing.
[0064] A preferred semiconductor wafer is a gallium nitride wafer.
[0065] The photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing method in the present disclosure refers to a processing method, which is based on the existing chemical mechanical polishing, ultraviolet light can directly irradiate the polished semiconductor workpiece through the through holes of the polishing disc, and the external applied electric field can be applied to the semiconductor workpiece and the counter electrode disc in the polishing process, the semiconductor workpiece is modified by photoelectrochemical oxidation under ultraviolet irradiation and the action of the external applied electric field, and the modified layer is followed to be mechanically removed by the polishing pad.
[0066] The photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing device includes:
[0067] a polishing head used to fix the wafer, and the wafer can be connect to the external circuit by the conductive adhesive between the polishing head and the wafer;
[0068] a polishing pad adhered to the counter electrode disc by the adhesive layer on the back of itself;
[0069] a counter electrode disc fixed to the polishing disc by the screws and processed with the same through holes as the polishing disc;
[0070] a polishing disc connected with the counter electrode disc and having through holes, pressurizing the wafer in the polishing process;
[0071] a polishing solution spray head located above the polishing disc and used for spraying the polishing solution; and the supplied polishing solution can enter the polishing area through the through holes;
[0072] a first driving and transmission part connected with the polishing disc and used to drive the polishing disc to rotate around a fixed axis;
[0073] a second driving and transmission part connected with the polishing head and used to drive the polishing head thereby drive the wafer to rotate with a fixed axis; and
[0074] a support part used to support and fix the first drive and transmission part, the second drive and transmission part, the polishing head, the polishing disc and the polishing solution spray head.
[0075] The external applied negative potential successively passes through the outer ring lead to the inner ring lead of the conductive slip ring above the counter electrode disc, and then is connects to the counter electrode disc. The external applied positive potential can successively pass through the outer ring lead to the inner ring lead of the conductive slip ring below the wafer, and then connect to the wafer.
[0076] The polishing pad is arranged on one side of the counter electrode disc in contact with the wafer surface, and the polishing pad is provided with through holes. The preferred polishing pad is pasted on the bottom of the counter electrode disc, and the through holes are processed on the counter electrode disc and the polishing disc correspondingly.
[0077] The polishing disc, the counter electrode disc, and the polishing pad pasted at the bottom are processed with through holes. During the processing of the wafer, the ultraviolet light above the polishing pad in the polishing process can reach the wafer surface through the through holes, and perform light spot chemical oxidation on the wafer with the assistance of the external applied electric filed, so as to make the workpiece irradiated by the ultraviolet light to modify.
[0078] Preferably, the polishing disc is connected with the driving motor successively through the connecting shaft and the elastic coupling, and the driving motor can drive the polishing shaft to rotate around a fixed shaft.
[0079] The device also includes a polishing solution collecting tank in which the polishing head and the polishing disc are arranged.
[0080] In the polishing process, the polishing pressure can be loaded by the polishing disc.
[0081] When the polishing pad and the wafer rotate respectively, they can produce a relative speed.
[0082] The device also includes a linear module, which includes a module panel, a guide rail, a guide rail sliding block and a module baseplate. The guide rail is fixed on the module baseplate, and the sliding block is fixed with the module panel and can slide straight on the guide rail. The dead-weight of the motor, the adapter panel and the linear module can be used as the source of the processing pressure of the photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing.
[0083] A spring is arranged between the module panel and the module baseplate. The processing pressure in the polishing process can be adjusted quantitatively by changing the spring with different stiffness coefficient. When the dead-weight of the whole part does not meet the polishing pressure, additional weight can be added to realize the loading of larger polishing pressure.
[0084] The position and size of the through holes on the polishing disc, the counter electrode disc and the polishing pad can be optimized. By changing the size and position of the through holes, the time ratio, of the irradiated part by ultraviolet light to the mechanical polishing part, of the wafer during processing can be adjusted. As shown in
[0085] In the process of photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing, the wafer and the polishing pad are respectively driven by their driving motor and move relative to each other. The dead-weight of the polishing pad and its driving device provide the processing pressure, ultraviolet light can irradiate the wafer surface through the through holes, and the external applied electric potential can be applied to the wafer and the counter electrode respectively. In the photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing, the photoelectric chemical oxidation modification and mechanical polishing are continuously and alternately carried out to polish the wafer.
[0086] Referring to
[0087] 1. polishing solution tank, 2. conductive slip ring, 3. polishing head, 4. wafer, 5. polishing pad, 6. counter electrode disc, 7. polishing disc, 8. through hole, 9. polishing solution spray head, 10. ultraviolet lamp, 11. conductive slip ring, 12. external power supply. The wafer 4 is adhered and fixed on the polishing head 3 through the conductive adhesive, the inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring 2 can be connected with the wafer 4, and connected to the outer ring wire of the conductive slip ring 2, thereby connected to the positive electrode of the external power supply 12. The inner ring of the conductive slip ring 2 is fastened to the shaft of the polishing head and can rotate with it together. The polishing head 3 can be driven by the motor to rotate together with the wafer. The polishing pad 5 is pasted on the bottom of the counter electrode disc 6 through its adhesive layer on the back, and the counter electrode disc 6 is fixed to the polishing disc 7 through the screws. The counter electrode disc 6 is connected with the inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring 11, thereby connected with the outer ring wire of the conductive slip ring 11, and the outer ring wire of the conductive slip ring 11 is connected to the negative electrode of the external power supply 12. The inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring 11 is fastened on the step shaft of the polishing disc and rotates together with it together. The polishing pad 5, the counter electrode disc 6 and the polishing disc 7 are all processed with through holes. Ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet light source 10 can irradiate the surface of the wafer 4 through the through holes 8, and the polishing solution sprayed by the polishing solution spray head 9 also can enter the contact area between the wafer 4 and the polishing pad 5 through the through holes 8. The wafer 4 is connected with the positive electrode of the external power supply 12, and the counter electrode disc 6 is connected with the negative electrode of the external power supply 12. Conductive medium such as sulfuric acid and potassium sulfate, are added in the polishing solution as support electrolytes. The wafer 4 and the counter electrode disc 6 can be conducted by the polishing solution, and the wafer 4 and the counter electrode disc 6 can be supplied with potential difference by the external power supply 12 during the processing.
[0088] The process of the photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing processing method is as follows: The wafer 4 is adhered and fixed on the polishing head 8 by the conductive adhesive, and driven by the motor to rotate together with the polishing head 8. The wafer 4 is connected with the positive electrode of the external power supply 12 successively through the conductive adhesive, the polishing head 3, the inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring 2 and the outer ring wire of the conductive slip ring 2. Ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet light source 10 can irradiate the surface of the wafer 4 through the through holes on the polishing pad 5, the counter electrode disc 6 and the polishing disc 7. The counter electrode disc 6 is connected with the negative electrode of the external power supply 12 successively through the inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring 11 and the outer ring wire of the conductive slip ring 11. The polishing solution sprayed by the polishing solution spray head 9 enters the contract area between the wafer 4 and the polishing pad 5. Conductive medium in the polishing solution, such as sulfuric acid and potassium sulfate, can be used as support electrolytes to fill between the wafer 4 and the counter electrode disc 6 to conduct the counter electrode disc 6 and the wafer 4. The potential difference between the wafer 4 and the counter electrode disc 6 is provided by the external power supply 12. Ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet light source 10 irradiates the surface of the wafer 4, and the ultraviolet irradiation combined with the external applied electric field can produce photochemical oxidation modification on the wafer 4. The polishing pad 5 is pasted at the bottom of the counter electrode disc 6, and the counter electrode disc 6 is connected to the bottom of the polishing disc 7 through the screws; the polishing disc is driven by a motor to rotate, so that the rotation of the polishing pad 5 and the rotation of the wafer 4 produce a relative motion. The polishing pressure F can be loaded to the contact area between the wafer 4 and the polishing pad 7 by the polishing disc 7. After loading pressure, the relative motion of the wafer 4 and the polishing pad 5 can perform mechanical polishing on the wafer 4 to remove the oxide modified layer formed by photoelectrochemical action on the wafer 4. After the oxide modified layer is mechanically removed, a new exposed surface is photoelectrochemically modified again, and the cycle is repeated. Alternate operation of the photoelectrochemical action and mechanical polishing action can perform photochemical and mechanical polishing on wafer 4.
[0089] The processing device studied and designed to realize the processing method is described in detail with embodiments:
[0090] Referring to
[0091] The technical effect of the present disclosure is illustrated below by an embodiment realizing the processing method by using a processing device of the present disclosure.
[0092] The GaN wafer used in this embodiment is a GaN self-supporting wafer grown by means of HVPE method, having a diameter of 1 inch (25.4 mm) and a wafer thickness of approximately 350 μm. After diamond grinding, the surface morphology of the initial wafer is measured by atomic force microscope, and the initial morphology of the wafer is shown in
[0093] The wafer removal rate is converted by means of weighing the quality before and after processing by the precision balance and calculating the quality difference before and after processing. Before weighing, acetone, alcohol, hydrofluoric acid and deionized water are successively used to clean the GaN wafer to remove the error of the wafer mass weighing caused by the dust and other adhesive materials attached on the wafer surface.
[0094] (1) The GaN wafer is adhered to the wafer fixture by the conductive adhesive, and is conducted with the fixture by the inner ring wire of the conductive slip ring. The wafer fixture is installed on the step shaft, the inner ring of the conductive slip ring is fastened on the step shaft, and the polishing pad is SUBA 800.
[0095] (2) The ultraviolet light source is located right above the polishing disc. When the light source is turned on, the ultraviolet light can irradiate the surface of the wafer.
[0096] (3) The negative electrode of the external power supply is conducted to the counter electrode disc, and the positive electrode of the external power supply is conducted to the workpiece.
[0097] (4) The polishing solution spray head feeds the polishing solution into the contact area between the wafer and the polishing pad through the through holes. The supply flow of the polishing solution is 80 mL/min, the mass concentration of SiO.sub.2 abrasive particle is 10 wt. %, and the particle size of SiO.sub.2 abrasive particle is 25 nm. The composition of the polishing solution is shown in Table 1.
[0098] (5) The rotational speed of the GaN wafer is 250 rpm; the rotational speed of the polishing disc is 150 rpm; the polishing pressure is 6.5 psi; the intensity of the ultraviolet light is 175 mW.Math.cm.sup.−2; and the polishing time is 1 hour.
[0099] (6) The conductive adhesive is heated to melt and the wafer is removed. Acetone, alcohol, 2 wt. % hydrofluoric acid and deionized water are successively used to clean the wafer, and then nitrogen is used to dry the wafer. The mass of the wafer is weighed and the surface roughness after polishing is measured.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Embodiment conditions and photoelectrochemical mechanical polishing effects UV Photoelectrochemical: Voltage K.sub.2SO.sub.4 pH intensity Mechanical polishing Removal rate E/V (mol) (H.sub.2SO.sub.4) mW .Math. cm.sup.−2 (area ratio) (nm/h) Embodiment 1 2.5 0.1 2 175 1:1.1 1200 Embodiment 2 2.5 0 1 175 1:1.1 1550 Embodiment 3 1.8 0.1 2 175 1:1.1 1100 Embodiment 4 1.8 0 1 175 1:1.1 1520 Embodiment 5 1.8 0.1 2 175 1:4 319.5 Embodiment 6 0 0.1 2 175 1:1.1 32 Embodiment 7 0 0 1 175 1:1.1 44
[0100] In Table 1, different removal rates correspond to the photochemical mechanical polishing process of the wafers with different processing conditions. The processed wafers in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 were taken to measure their surface quality, and the measurement results are shown in
[0101] At last, it should be stated that the above various embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure without limitation; and despite reference to the aforementioned embodiments to make a detailed description of the present invention, those of ordinary skilled in the art should understand: the described technical solutions in above various embodiments may be modified or the part of or all technical features may be equivalently substituted; while these modifications or substitutions do not make the essence of their corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure.