IP Library Granted Patent US 10,446,440
Granted Patent B2
US 10,446,440 · App. 16/106,611 · Granted Oct 15, 2019

Semiconductor devices comprising nickel— and copper—containing interconnects

Inventors: Salman Akram (Boise, ID); James M. Wark (Boise, ID); William Mark Hiatt (Eagle, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L21/76879C23C18/1607C23C18/1637C23C18/1831C23C18/1834H01L21/288H01L21/76898C23C18/34C23C18/36H01L2924/00013Y10T428/12528Y10T428/24917
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,446,440
App. No.
16/106,611
Granted
Oct 15, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of activating a metal structure on an intermediate semiconductor device structure toward metal plating. The method comprises providing an intermediate semiconductor device structure comprising at least one first metal structure and at least one second metal structure on a semiconductor substrate. The at least one first metal structure comprises at least one aluminum structure, at least one copper structure, or at least one structure comprising a mixture of aluminum and copper and the at least one second metal structure comprises at least one tungsten structure. One of the at least one first metal structure and the at least one second metal structure is activated toward metal plating without activating the other of the at least one first metal structure and the at least one second metal structure. An intermediate semiconductor device structure is also disclosed.

Claims (28)

1. A semiconductor device, comprising:

an interconnect comprising a nickel material surrounding a copper-containing material; and

a metal interconnection structure surrounding an end of the interconnect, the metal interconnection structure electrically coupled to the interconnect by another nickel material.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the metal interconnection structure comprises an annular ring, a bond pad, a component lead, a metal wire, or other metal layer.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing material comprises a conductive pathway comprising copper.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the interconnect further comprises a seed material surrounding the nickel material.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the metal interconnection structure comprises copper; aluminum, or combinations thereof.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the metal interconnection structure comprises a thickness of from approximately 1.0 μm to approximately 1.5 μm.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a passivation material comprising at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride adjacent to the metal interconnection structure.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 7 , wherein the passivation material comprises a thickness of from approximately 0.5 μm to 10 μm.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the nickel material comprises a thickness of from approximately 3 μm to approximately 5 μm.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the another nickel material comprises a thickness of from approximately 500 Å to approximately 10 μm.

11. A semiconductor device, comprising:

an interconnect at least partially extending through a material, the interconnect comprising a nickel material surrounding a copper core;

a copper bond pad around an end of the interconnect; and

another nickel material over the copper bond pad and electrically coupled to the interconnect.

12. The semiconductor device of claim 11 , wherein the interconnect comprises a through-water-interconnect.

13. The semiconductor device of claim 11 , wherein the interconnect comprises a blind-wafer-interconnect.

14. The semiconductor device of claim 11 , wherein the interconnect further comprises one or more of silver, tin, lead, indium, and antimony.

15. The semiconductor device of claim 11 , wherein the interconnect further comprises a tungsten material around the nickel material.

16. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein the tungsten material comprises a thickness of from approximately 0.02 μm to approximately 1 μm.

17. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , further comprising a titanium nitride material adjacent to the tungsten material.

18. A semiconductor device, comprising:

an interconnect extending through a material, the interconnect comprising a nickel material surrounding a copper core;

a copper bond pad around an end of the interconnect; and

another nickel material adjacent the copper bond pad and electrically coupled to the interconnect.

19. The semiconductor device of claim 18 , wherein the copper core comprises a conductive pathway comprising copper.

20. The semiconductor device of claim 18 , wherein the copper core further comprises one or more of silver, tin, lead, indium, and antimony.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0835 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050719/0550 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047630/0756 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 10 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048102/0420 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15584226 · May 2, 2017
Continuation 14176547 · Feb 10, 2014
Continuation 12401566 · Mar 10, 2009
Continuation 11516193 · Sep 6, 2006
Continuation 10934635 · Sep 2, 2004
Related Publication 20180358263A1 · Dec 13, 2018