A Study for the Improvement of Torn Oxide Defect in STI(Shallow Trench Isolation)Process

STI(Shallow Trench Isolation) 공정에서 Torn Oxide Defect 해결에 관한 연구

STI CMP process are substituting gradually for LOCOS(Local Oxidation of Silicon) process to be available below sub-0.5um technology and to get planarized. The other hand, STI CMP process(especially STI CMP with RIE etch back process) has some kinds of defect like Nitride residue, Torn Oxide defect, etc. In this paper, we studied how to reduce Torn Oxide defects after STI CMP with RIE etch back process. Although Torn Oxide defects which occur on Oxide on Trench area is not deep and not sever, Torn oxide defects on Moat area is sometimes very deep and makes the yield loss. We did test on pattern wafers witch go through Trench process, APCVD process, and RIE etch back process by using an REC 472 polisher, IC1000/SUV A4 PAD and KOH base slurry to reduce the number of torn defects and to study what is the root causes of torn oxide defects.