A semiconductor component is provided. The semiconductor component includes a substrate and a pad. The pad has an upper surface and a slot, wherein the slot is recessed with respect to the upper surface.

A semiconductor device comprises a substrate body with a surface, a conductor comprising a conductor material covering at least part of the surface, and a dielectric that is arranged on a part of the surface that is not covered by the conductor. Therein, the conductor is in contact with the substrate body, the conductor and the dielectric form a layer, and a bonding surface of the layer has surface topographies of less than 10 nm, with the bonding surface facing away from the substrate body. Moreover, the semiconductor device is free of a diffusion barrier.

A microelectronic structure with through substrate vias (TSVs) and method for forming the same is disclosed. The microelectronic structure can include a bulk semiconductor with a via structure. The via structure can have a first and second conductive portion. The via structure can also have a barrier layer between the first conductive portion and the bulk semiconductor. The structure can have a second barrier layer between the first and second conductive portions. The second conductive portion can extend from the second barrier layer to the upper surface of the bulk semiconductor. The microelectronic structure containing TSVs is configured so that the microelectronic structure can be bonded to a second element or structure.

A semiconductor storage device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first stacked body, and a second stacked body. The first stacked body is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and includes a first trace, a first pad connected to the first trace, and a first insulator. The second stacked body is provided between the first stacked body and the second substrate and includes a second trace, a second pad connected to the second trace, and a second insulator. The first pad includes a plurality of first electrode portions connected to the first trace. The first insulator is provided between the plurality of first electrode portions. The plurality of first electrode portions are bonded to the second pad.

The present disclosure discloses a semiconductor device structure with an air gap for reducing capacitive coupling and a method for forming the semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a first conductive pad over a first semiconductor substrate, and a first conductive structure over the first conductive pad. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second conductive structure over the first conductive structure, and a second conductive pad over the second conductive structure. The second conductive pad is electrically connected to the first conductive pad through the first and the second conductive structures. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second semiconductor substrate over the second conductive pad, a first passivation layer between the first and the second semiconductor substrates and covering the first conductive structure, and a second passivation layer between the first passivation layer and the second semiconductor substrate. The first and the second passivation layers surround the second conductive structure, and a first air gap is enclosed by the first and the second passivation layers.

A microelectronic device includes a substrate a platinum-containing layer over the substrate. The platinum-containing layer includes a first segment and a second segment adjacent to the first segment, and has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface closer to the substrate than the first surface. A first spacing between the first segment and the second segment at the first surface is greater than a second spacing between the first segment and the second segment at the second surface. A width of the first segment along the first surface is less than twice a thickness of the first segment, and the second spacing is less than twice the thickness of the first segment.

A method of making an assembly can include juxtaposing a top surface of a first electrically conductive element at a first surface of a first substrate with a top surface of a second electrically conductive element at a major surface of a second substrate. One of: the top surface of the first conductive element can be recessed below the first surface, or the top surface of the second conductive element can be recessed below the major surface. Electrically conductive nanoparticles can be disposed between the top surfaces of the first and second conductive elements. The conductive nanoparticles can have long dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers. The method can also include elevating a temperature at least at interfaces of the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements to a joining temperature at which the conductive nanoparticles can cause metallurgical joints to form between the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements.

A microelectronic device is formed by forming a platinum-containing layer on a substrate of the microelectronic device. A cap layer is formed on the platinum-containing layer so that an interface between the cap layer and the platinum-containing layer is free of platinum oxide. The cap layer is etchable in an etch solution which also etches the platinum-containing layer. The cap layer may be formed on the platinum-containing layer before platinum oxide forms on the platinum-containing layer. Alternatively, platinum oxide on the platinum-containing layer may be removed before forming the cap layer. The platinum-containing layer may be used to form platinum silicide. The platinum-containing layer may be patterned by forming a hard mask or masking platinum oxide on a portion of the top surface of the platinum-containing layer to block the wet etchant.

A semiconductor device assembly that includes a first side of a semiconductor device supported on a substrate to permit the processing of a second side of the semiconductor device. A filler material deposited on the semiconductor device supports the semiconductor device on the substrate. The filler material does not adhere to the semiconductor device or the substrate. Alternatively, the filler material may be deposited on the substrate. Instead of a filler material, the substrate may include a topography configured to support the semiconductor device. Adhesive applied between an outer edge of the first side of the semiconductor and the substrate bonds the outer edge of the semiconductor device to the substrate to form a semiconductor device assembly. A second side of the semiconductor device may then be processed and the outer edge of the semiconductor device may be cut off to release the semiconductor device from the assembly.

Representative techniques provide process steps for forming a microelectronic assembly, including preparing microelectronic components such as dies, wafers, substrates, and the like, for bonding. One or more surfaces of the microelectronic components are formed and prepared as bonding surfaces. The microelectronic components are stacked and bonded without adhesive at the prepared bonding surfaces.