Solder joints for copper metallization having reduced interfacial voids

1. A metal interconnect structure comprising:

a bond pad comprising copper having at least 70 volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand at least 1 μm in their main direction, and 30 or less volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand less than 1 μm in their main direction; and a body of one of eutectic tin/lead solder, eutectic tin/bismuth solder, and eutectic tin/zinc solder in contact with said bond pad.

2. A metal interconnect structure comprising:

a bond pad comprising copper having at least 70 volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand at least 1 μm in their main direction, and 30 or less volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand less than 1 μm in their main direction; and a body of eutectic tin/silver solder in contact with said bond pad.

3. A metal interconnect structure comprising:

a bond pad comprising copper having at least 70 volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand at least 1 μm in their main direction, and 30 or less volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand less than 1 μm in their main direction; and a body of tin/silver/copper solder in contact with said bond pad.

4. A semiconductor device comprising:

a substrate having first and second surfaces, said first surface having a bond pad comprising copper having at least 70 volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand at least 1 μm in their main direction, and 30 or less volume percent composed of crystal grains, which expand less than 1 μm in their main direction;

a body of tin alloy on said second substrate surface in contact with said bond pad on said first substrate surface through a hole in said substrate; and

a semiconductor chip assembled on the side of said first substrate surface.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said substrate is a polymer tape.

6. A method for fabricating a metal interconnect structure, comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate and selecting an area for fabricating a bond pad;

depositing a seed layer of copper onto said pad area;

annealing said seed layer for a controlled time at a controlled temperature to grow a predetermined concentration of copper crystals of a predetermined crystal size;

depositing a copper layer onto said annealed seed layer; and

attaching a body of tin alloy solder with an alloy reflow step to said copper layer in said pad area.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said substrate is a polyimide tape.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein said substrate is a stainless steel material selected for its pre-determined large-grained crystal surface.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein said step of depositing said seed layer uses a plasma deposition technique.

10. The method according to claim 6 wherein said seed layer has a thickness in the range from about 50 to 200 nm.

11. The method according to claim 6 wherein said step of annealing comprises a temperature between about 100 and 240° C. and a time period form about 20 to 180 min.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said step of annealing is performed by baking.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said step of annealing is performed by laser heating.

14. The method according to claim 6 wherein said predetermined crystals size is at least 1 μm in the main crystal direction, and said predetermined crystal concentration is at least 70 volume percent.

15. The method according to claim 6 wherein said step of depositing a seed layer is an epitaxial deposition.

16. The method according to claim 6 wherein said step of depositing a copper layer uses a plating technique.

17. The method according to claim 6 wherein said deposited copper layer has a thickness in the range from about 10 to 30 μm.