Electrode assembly for analysis of metal electroplating solution, comprising self-cleaning mechanism, plating optimization mechanism, and/or voltage limiting mechanism
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly for analyzing a sample metal electroplating solution, comprising a measuring electrode and at least one of (1) an in situ cleaning mechanism, (2) a nucleation and metal growth optimization mechanism, and (3) a voltage limiting mechanism, said in situ cleaning mechanism comprising an auxiliary electrode and an auxiliary current source connected to said auxiliary electrode, wherein the measuring electrode is detachably connectable to said auxiliary current source, so that when both the measuring electrode and the auxiliary electrode are immersed in a sample metal electroplating solution or an electrolytic cleaning solution, the auxiliary current source applies a cycling electric current to the measuring electrode and the auxiliary electrode through said sample metal electroplating solution or electrolytic cleaning solution, for in situ cleaning and depassivating the measuring electrode;
- said nucleation and metal growth optimization mechanism comprising a rotation speed controller, which is connected to the measuring electrode for rotating the measuring electrode at various rotation speeds during a metal plating/analyzing cycle, wherein during an initial nucleation stage, said rotation speed controller effectuates rotation of the measuring electrode at a first predetermined speed, wherein after said initial nucleation stage, said rotation speed controller effectuates rotation of the measuring electrode at a second predetermined speed that is substantially higher than the first predetermined speed, and wherein said rotation speed controller sends an output signal for initiation of a subsequent metal growth stage when the rotation of the measuring electrode at said second predetermined speed stabilizes; and
said voltage limiting mechanism comprising a voltage controller for monitoring electropotential at a surface of the measuring electrode and for applying an opposite electric current to the measuring electrode when the electropotential exceeds a predetermined value, so that said electropotential is maintained at not more than said predetermined value during various stages of a metal plating/analyzing cycle.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an electrode assembly useful for analyzing metal electroplating solutions. Such electrode assembly comprises a measuring electrode, preferably a rotating disc electrode or a microelectrode, and at least one of an in situ cleaning mechanism, a nucleation and metal growth optimization mechanism, and a voltage limiting mechanism. The present invention also relates to usage of such electrode assembly for in situ cleaning of the measuring electrode, nucleation and metal growth optimization, or voltage limitation.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly for analyzing a sample metal electroplating solution, comprising a measuring electrode and at least one of (1) an in situ cleaning mechanism, (2) a nucleation and metal growth optimization mechanism, and (3) a voltage limiting mechanism,
said in situ cleaning mechanism comprising an auxiliary electrode and an auxiliary current source connected to said auxiliary electrode, wherein the measuring electrode is detachably connectable to said auxiliary current source, so that when both the measuring electrode and the auxiliary electrode are immersed in a sample metal electroplating solution or an electrolytic cleaning solution, the auxiliary current source applies a cycling electric current to the measuring electrode and the auxiliary electrode through said sample metal electroplating solution or electrolytic cleaning solution, for in situ cleaning and depassivating the measuring electrode; -
said nucleation and metal growth optimization mechanism comprising a rotation speed controller, which is connected to the measuring electrode for rotating the measuring electrode at various rotation speeds during a metal plating/analyzing cycle, wherein during an initial nucleation stage, said rotation speed controller effectuates rotation of the measuring electrode at a first predetermined speed, wherein after said initial nucleation stage, said rotation speed controller effectuates rotation of the measuring electrode at a second predetermined speed that is substantially higher than the first predetermined speed, and wherein said rotation speed controller sends an output signal for initiation of a subsequent metal growth stage when the rotation of the measuring electrode at said second predetermined speed stabilizes; and
said voltage limiting mechanism comprising a voltage controller for monitoring electropotential at a surface of the measuring electrode and for applying an opposite electric current to the measuring electrode when the electropotential exceeds a predetermined value, so that said electropotential is maintained at not more than said predetermined value during various stages of a metal plating/analyzing cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification