Abstract
Silica nanoparticles have been synthesized from silica fume using alkali dissolution–precipitation process. The dissolution efficiency of 99% at a temperature of 80
°C and a time of 20
min was achieved. Sodium silicate solution was obtained by dissolving the fume with NaOH solution. Then, silica nanoparticles were precipitated using sulfuric acid. Silica nanoparticles (175
nm) were achieved using 12% sulfuric acid at pH 7 and 200
ppm sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The silica morphologies appeared as a spherical shape with narrow particle size distribution. The silica samples were used for the formulation and testing of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurries. The morphology of the polished wafer surface and its roughness were examined by atomic force microscope (AFM).The results indicated that the surface roughness was greatly improved after application of CMP. It was found that the surface roughness of the polished wafer is 0.226
nm at an applied pressure of 7
psi. The removal rate was found to be 1200
Å. These values confirm the quality of polished wafers.
Nanosize silica particles (10–30
nm) synthesized from silica fume through precipitation–dissolution process was used for production of CMP slurry. The wafer surface after planarization using 2% silica slurry was investigated by AFM. The surface roughness of the polished wafer is 0.226
nm of an applied pressure of 7 psi. The removal rate is found to be 1200 Å.
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