Embodiments of semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a first bonding layer having a plurality of first bonding contacts, and a first via structure extending vertically through the first bonding layer and into the first semiconductor structure. The second semiconductor structure includes a second bonding layer having a plurality of second bonding contacts, and a second via structure extending vertically through the second bonding layer and into the second semiconductor structure. The first bonding contacts are in contact with the second bonding contacts at the bonding interface, the first via structure is in contact with the second via structure, and sidewalls of the first via structure and the second via structures have a staggered profile at the bonding interface.

Embodiments of semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure. The first semiconductor structure includes a first bonding layer having a plurality of first bonding contacts, and a first via structure extending vertically through the first bonding layer and into the first semiconductor structure. The second semiconductor structure includes a second bonding layer having a plurality of second bonding contacts, and a second via structure extending vertically through the second bonding layer and into the second semiconductor structure. The first bonding contacts are in contact with the second bonding contacts at the bonding interface, the first via structure is in contact with the second via structure, and sidewalls of the first via structure and the second via structures have a staggered profile at the bonding interface.

The present application provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor package with air gaps for reducing capacitive coupling between conductive features. The method comprises: providing a first substrate with an integrated circuit; forming a first stack of insulating layers with first protruding portions on the integrated circuit; removing a topmost insulating layer in the first stack of insulating layers; forming through holes in the first stack to form a first semiconductor structure; providing a second substrate with an integrated circuit; forming a second stack of insulating layers with second protruding portions on the integrated circuit; forming a recess portion in the first stack to form a second semiconductor structure; and bonding the first semiconductor structure with the second semiconductor structure, with an air gap formed from the recess portion.

The present application provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor package with air gaps for reducing capacitive coupling between conductive features. The method comprises: providing a first substrate with an integrated circuit; forming a first stack of insulating layers with first protruding portions on the integrated circuit; removing a topmost insulating layer in the first stack of insulating layers; forming through holes in the first stack to form a first semiconductor structure; providing a second substrate with an integrated circuit; forming a second stack of insulating layers with second protruding portions on the integrated circuit; forming a recess portion in the first stack to form a second semiconductor structure; and bonding the first semiconductor structure with the second semiconductor structure, with an air gap formed from the recess portion.

A semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip including first pads and a first insulating layer, and a second semiconductor chip including second upper pads, a second insulating layer, second lower pads, and through electrodes connecting the second upper pads and the second lower pads to each other. The package includes a third semiconductor chip including third upper pads, an upper barrier layer, a third insulating layer, third lower pads, a lower barrier layer, and dummy electrode structures connecting the third upper pads and the third lower pads to each other. The package includes an encapsulant below the first semiconductor chip to seal at least a portion of each of the second and third semiconductor chips and cover side surfaces of the third lower pads. The package includes bump structures below the encapsulant and the second and third semiconductor chips.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a device layer, an interconnect layer over the device layer, a conductive pad over the interconnect layer, a conductive seed layer directly on the conductive pad, and a passivation layer encapsulating the conductive pad and the conductive seed layer. The conductive pad is between the interconnect layer and the conductive seed layer.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a device layer, an interconnect layer over the device layer, a conductive pad over the interconnect layer, a conductive seed layer directly on the conductive pad, and a passivation layer encapsulating the conductive pad and the conductive seed layer. The conductive pad is between the interconnect layer and the conductive seed layer.

A chamber cleaning method includes processing a wafer for a Cu-to-Cu bonding process using plasma in a chamber; and removing copper from the chamber. Removing copper includes forming copper oxide on an inner wall of the chamber by oxidizing copper in the chamber by a plasma treatment that uses a first gas, performing a first monitoring operation that monitors a copper contamination state in the chamber using an optical diagnostic method, removing the copper oxide by a plasma treatment that uses a second gas; and performing a second monitoring operation that monitors a copper contamination state in the chamber using the optical diagnostic method.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising embedding electrodes in insulating layers exposed to the joint surfaces of a first substrate and a second substrate, subjecting the joint surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate to chemical mechanical polishing, to form the electrodes into recesses recessed as compared to the insulating layers, laminating insulating films of a uniform thickness over the entire joint surfaces, forming an opening by etching in at least part of the insulating films covering the electrodes of the first substrate and the second substrate, causing the corresponding electrodes to face each other and joining the joint surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate to each other, heating the first substrate and the second substrate joined to each other, causing the electrode material to expand and project through the openings, and joining the corresponding electrodes to each other.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising embedding electrodes in insulating layers exposed to the joint surfaces of a first substrate and a second substrate, subjecting the joint surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate to chemical mechanical polishing, to form the electrodes into recesses recessed as compared to the insulating layers, laminating insulating films of a uniform thickness over the entire joint surfaces, forming an opening by etching in at least part of the insulating films covering the electrodes of the first substrate and the second substrate, causing the corresponding electrodes to face each other and joining the joint surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate to each other, heating the first substrate and the second substrate joined to each other, causing the electrode material to expand and project through the openings, and joining the corresponding electrodes to each other.