Improved bonding surfaces for microelectronics are provided. An example method of protecting a dielectric surface for direct bonding during a microelectronics fabrication process includes overfilling cavities and trenches in the dielectric surface with a temporary filler that has an approximately equal chemical and mechanical resistance to a chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) process as the dielectric bonding surface. The CMP process is applied to the temporary filler to flatten the temporary filler down to the dielectric bonding surface. The temporary filler is then removed with an etchant that is selective to the temporary filler, but nonreactive toward the dielectric surface and toward inner surfaces of the cavities and trenches in the dielectric bonding surface. Edges of the cavities remain sharp, which minimizes oxide artifacts, strengthens the direct bond, and reduces the bonding seam.

Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device, including: a first substrate including a first electrode, and a first insulating film configured from a diffusion preventing material for the first electrode and covering a periphery of the first electrode, the first electrode and the first insulating film cooperating with each other to configure a bonding face; and a second substrate bonded to and provided on the first substrate and including a second electrode joined to the first electrode, and a second insulating film configured from a diffusion preventing material for the second electrode and covering a periphery of the second electrode, the second electrode and the second insulating film cooperating with each other to configure a bonding face to the first substrate.

Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device, including: a first substrate including a first electrode, and a first insulating film configured from a diffusion preventing material for the first electrode and covering a periphery of the first electrode, the first electrode and the first insulating film cooperating with each other to configure a bonding face; and a second substrate bonded to and provided on the first substrate and including a second electrode joined to the first electrode, and a second insulating film configured from a diffusion preventing material for the second electrode and covering a periphery of the second electrode, the second electrode and the second insulating film cooperating with each other to configure a bonding face to the first substrate.

A first conductive material having a first hardness is disposed within a recess or opening of a microelectronic component, in a first preselected pattern, and forms a first portion of an interconnect structure. A second conductive material having a second hardness different from the first hardness is disposed within the recess or opening in a second preselected pattern and forms a second portion of the interconnect structure.

A first semiconductor structure including a first bonding oxide layer having a first metallic bonding structure embedded therein and a second semiconductor structure including a second bonding oxide layer having a second metallic bonding structure embedded therein are provided. A nitride surface treatment process is performed to provide a nitrided surface layer to each structure. Each nitrided surface layer includes nitridized oxide regions located in an upper portion of the bonding oxide layer and nitridized metallic regions located in an upper portion of the metallic bonding structures. The nitrogen within the nitridized metallic regions is then removed to restore the upper portion of the metallic bonding structures to its original composition. Bonding is performed to form a dielectric bonding interface between the nitridized oxide regions present in the first and second structures, and a metallic bonding interface between the first and second metallic bonding structures.

A method for forming an interconnect structure in an element is disclosed. The method can include patterning a cavity in a non-conductive material. The method can include exposing a surface of the cavity in the non-conductive material to a surface nitriding treatment. The method can include depositing a conductive material directly onto the treated surface after the exposing.

Improved bonding surfaces for microelectronics are provided. An example method of protecting a dielectric surface for direct bonding during a microelectronics fabrication process includes overfilling cavities and trenches in the dielectric surface with a temporary filler that has an approximately equal chemical and mechanical resistance to a chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) process as the dielectric bonding surface. The CMP process is applied to the temporary filler to flatten the temporary filler down to the dielectric bonding surface. The temporary filler is then removed with an etchant that is selective to the temporary filler, but nonreactive toward the dielectric surface and toward inner surfaces of the cavities and trenches in the dielectric bonding surface. Edges of the cavities remain sharp, which minimizes oxide artifacts, strengthens the direct bond, and reduces the bonding seam.

Improved bonding surfaces for microelectronics are provided. An example method of protecting a dielectric surface for direct bonding during a microelectronics fabrication process includes overfilling cavities and trenches in the dielectric surface with a temporary filler that has an approximately equal chemical and mechanical resistance to a chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) process as the dielectric bonding surface. The CMP process is applied to the temporary filler to flatten the temporary filler down to the dielectric bonding surface. The temporary filler is then removed with an etchant that is selective to the temporary filler, but nonreactive toward the dielectric surface and toward inner surfaces of the cavities and trenches in the dielectric bonding surface. Edges of the cavities remain sharp, which minimizes oxide artifacts, strengthens the direct bond, and reduces the bonding seam.

A representative device includes a patterned opening through a layer at a surface of a device die. A liner is disposed on sidewalls of the opening and the device die is patterned to extend the opening further into the device die. After patterning, the liner is removed. A conductive pad is formed in the device die by filling the opening with a conductive material.

The disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit stack and method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit stack may include: a plurality of vertically stacked wafers, each wafer including a back side and a front side, the back side of each wafer including a through-semiconductor-via (TSV) within a substrate, and the front side of each wafer including a metal line within a first dielectric, wherein the metal line is connected with the TSV within each wafer; and an inorganic dielectric interposed between adjacent wafers within the plurality of vertically stacked wafer; wherein the plurality of vertically stacked wafers are stacked in a front-to-back orientation such that the TSV on the back side of one wafer is electrically connected to the metal line on the front side of an adjacent wafer by extending through the inorganic dielectric interposed therebetween.