Abstract:
A method includes forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including at least one contact opening; forming an interconnect in the contact opening; and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. A method including forming a barrier layer on a substrate surface including a dielectric layer and a contact opening, depositing a conductive material in the contact opening, removing the conductive material sufficient to expose the barrier layer on the substrate surface, and reducing the electrical conductivity of the barrier layer. An apparatus including a circuit substrate including at least one active layer including at least one contact point, a dielectric layer on the at least one active layer, a barrier layer on a surface of the dielectric layer, a portion of the barrier layer having been transformed from a first electrical conductivity to a second different and reduced electrical conductivity, and an interconnect coupled to the at least one contact point.
Abstract:
A multiple stage method of electrolessly depositing a metal layer is presented. This method may have the two main stages of first forming a thin metal layer on a metal surface using an electroless plating solution containing activating agents that are highly reactive reducing agents, and second, forming a bulk metal layer over the thin metal layer by using an electroless plating solution containing mildly reactive reducing agents. Through this two stage method, the use of highly reactive reducing agents that may cause the formation of contaminant particles may be minimized. By minimizing the formation of contaminant particles in the electroless plating solution, the lifetime of the solution may be extended and the current leakage between metal interconnect lines may be reduced.
Abstract:
Seed layer treatment to remove impurities in the seed layer that might lead to the formation of voids in interconnect circuit features. In one embodiment, the seed layer is heated in a reducing environment. In another embodiment, the seed layer is washed with a surfactant that is compatible with a surfactant used when forming the remainder of the circuit feature on the seed layer. Yet another embodiment combines both techniques.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating copper-aluminum metallization utilizing the technique of electroless copper deposition is described. The method provides a self-encapsulated copper-aluminum metallization structure.
Abstract:
A high conductivity interconnect structure is formed by electroplating or electroless plating of Cu or a Cu-base alloy on a seed layer comprising an alloy of a catalytically active metal, such as Cu, and a refractory metal, such as Ta. The seed layer also functions as a barrier/adhesion layer for the subsequently plated Cu or Cu-base alloy. Another embodiment comprises initially depositing a refractory metal barrier layer before depositing the seed layer.
Abstract:
Light emitting diode (LED) package structures employing large area substrates are described. Panel or reel-to-reel substrate processing is utilized in the manufacture of such LED package structures. In some embodiments, electrochemically deposited metal patterns and through substrate vias (TSuVs) are formed through glass substrates and/or interposers. In some embodiments, the metal deposited into the TSuVs offer high thermal conductivity a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is to closely match the CTE of the glass. Singulated LED package structures including a plurality of LEDs arrayed for displays, such as, but not limited to, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and LED displays or for general purpose LED light sources are described, as are LED package structures including active devices (e.g., ICs) and/or passive devices (e.g., capacitors, inductors, resistors, etc.) integrated with LEDs at the package level.
Abstract:
Methods and associated structures of forming a microelectronic device are described. Those methods may include heating a substrate comprising a patterned metallic region to about 145 C or below in a reaction space, introducing an aluminum co-reactant into the reaction space, wherein an aluminum material is formed on the patterned metallic region, but not on non-metallic regions.
Abstract:
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of constructing an electronic assembly is provided. A layer of metal is formed on a backside of a semiconductor wafer having integrated formed thereon. Then, a porous layer is formed on the metal layer. A barrier layer of the porous layer at the bottom of the pores is thinned down. Then, a catalyst is deposited at the bottom of the pores. Carbon nanotubes are then grown in the pores. Another layer of metal is then formed over the porous layer and the carbon nanotubes. The semiconductor wafer is then separated into microelectronic dies. The dies are bonded to a semiconductor substrate, a heat spreader is placed on top of the die, and a semiconductor package resulting from such assembly is sealed. A thermal interface is formed on the top of the heat spreader. Then a heat sink is placed on top of the thermal interface.
Abstract:
A device having a functionalized electrode having a probe molecule, wherein the device has an ability to electrically detect a molecular binding event between the probe molecule and a target molecule by a polarization change of the functionalized electrode is disclosed. The device could also include an unfunctionalized electrode that does not have the probe molecule and the device could have an ability to electrically detect the molecular binding event between the probe molecule and the target molecule by a polarization change between the functionalized electrode and the unfuctionalized electrode.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first layer having at least one interconnect formed in an interlayer dielectric (ILD), a second layer formed over the first layer having a second at least one interconnect, a third layer formed over the second layer, the third layer defining at least one air gap between the second at least one interconnect and the third layer, and at least one shunt selectively covering the first and second at least one interconnects. In another embodiment, a method comprises forming a first layer comprising an ILD and a first at least one interconnect, forming a second layer over the first layer, the second layer having a second at least one interconnect, depositing at least one shunt over the first and second at least one interconnects, forming a third layer over the second layer, and evaporating a portion of the second layer to create at least one air gap between the second at least one interconnect and the third layer.