A method for surface treatment of an at least primarily crystalline substrate surface of a substrate such that by amorphization of the substrate surface, an amorphous layer is formed at the substrate surface with a thickness d>0 nm of the amorphous layer. This invention also relates to a corresponding device for surface treatment of substrates.

The present invention relates to a substrate holder, a bonding device, a method for producing a substrate holder and a method for bonding.

The present invention provides a wafer bonding structure, a wafer bonding method and a chip bonding structure. A first wafer has non-metallic regions and metallic regions provided with a first metal layer. A portion of a first modification layer located above the non-metallic regions is recessed with respect to a portion of the first modification layer located above the metallic regions. A second modification layer covers the first modification layer. A chemical mechanical polishing process is performed on the second and first modification layers, which uses a polishing slurry exhibiting different polishing rates for the first and second modification layers, and as a result of which, the remaining second modification layer above the non-metallic regions is raised or recessed with respect to the remaining first modification layer above the metallic regions, resulting in the formation of first convex portions or first concave portions above the non-metallic regions. When this wafer is bonded to a wafer or dies with corresponding concavities or convexities, less gaps will be left from the bonding, improving process quality and product yield. Moreover, local concavities resulting from the CMP process can be eliminated or reduced, alleviating the problem of gaps left between bonded upper and lower wafers and achieving enhanced bonding strength and quality.

A wafer bonding apparatus includes lower and upper stages, lower and upper push rods, a position detection sensor, and processing circuitry. The stages may vacuum suction respective wafers on respective surfaces of the stages based on a vacuum pressure being supplied to respective suction holes in the respective surfaces from a vacuum pump. The push rods are movable through respective center holes in the stages to apply pressure to respective middle regions of the respective wafers. The position detection sensor may generate information indicating a bonding propagation position of the wafers based on detecting at least one wafer through a detection hole in at least one stage. The processing circuitry may process the information to detect the bonding propagation position and cause a change of at least one of a ratio of protruding lengths of the push rods, or a ratio of suction areas of the stages.

A method for surface treatment of an at least primarily crystalline substrate surface of a substrate such that by amorphization of the substrate surface, an amorphous layer is formed at the substrate surface with a thickness d>0 nm of the amorphous layer. This invention also relates to a corresponding device for surface treatment of substrates.

A bonding apparatus configured to bond a first substrate and a second substrate includes a first holder configured to hold the first substrate; a second holder configured to hold the second substrate; a first imaging device provided at the first holder and configured to image the second substrate held by the second holder; a first light irradiating device provided at the first holder and configured to irradiate light to the second substrate when the second substrate is imaged; a second imaging device provided at the second holder and configured to image the first substrate held by the first holder; and a second light irradiating device provided at the second holder and configured to irradiate light to the first substrate when the first substrate is imaged. Each of the first light irradiating device and the second light irradiating device is connected to a first light source configured to irradiate white light.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a carbon structure on a handle substrate at a first surface of the handle substrate. The method further includes attaching a first surface of a semiconductor substrate to the first surface of the handle substrate. The method further includes processing the semiconductor substrate and performing a separation process to separate the handle substrate from the semiconductor substrate. The separation process comprises modifying the carbon structure.

A method and a corresponding device for bonding a first substrate with a second substrate at mutually facing contact faces of the substrates. The method includes holding of the first substrate to a first holding surface of a first holding device and holding of the second substrate to a second holding surface of a second holding device. A change in curvature of the contact face of the first substrate and/or a change in curvature of the contact face of the second substrate are controlled during the bonding.

A method and a corresponding device for bonding a first substrate with a second substrate at mutually facing contact faces of the substrates. The method includes holding of the first substrate to a first holding surface of a first holding device and holding of the second substrate to a second holding surface of a second holding device. A change in curvature of the contact face of the first substrate and/or a change in curvature of the contact face of the second substrate are controlled during the bonding.

A method of fabricating a semiconductor substrate includes the following activities: a) providing a donor substrate with a weakened zone inside the donor substrate, the weakened zone forming a border between a layer to be transferred and the rest of the donor substrate, b) attaching the donor substrate to a receiver substrate, the layer to be transferred being located at the interface between the donor substrate and the receiver substrate; c) detaching the receiver substrate along with the transferred layer from the rest of the donor substrate, at the weakened zone; and d) at least one step of smoothing the surface of the transferred layer, wherein the semiconductor substrate obtained from step c) is kept, at least from the moment of detachment until the end of the smoothing step, in a non-oxidizing inert atmosphere or in a mixture of non-oxidizing inert gases. Semiconductor substrates are fabricated using such a method.