Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate, and a passivation layer disposed over the substrate and a first portion of the contact pad, a second portion of the contact pad being exposed. A post passivation interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to the second portion of the contact pad. A PPI pad is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to the PPI line. An insulating material is disposed over the PPI line, the PPI pad being exposed. The insulating material is spaced apart from an edge portion of the PPI pad by a predetermined distance.

A method of making a semiconductor including soldering a conductor to an aluminum metallization is disclosed. In one example, the method includes substituting an aluminum oxide layer on the aluminum metallization by a substitute metal oxide layer or a substitute metal alloy oxide layer. Then, substitute metal oxides in the substitute metal oxide layer or the substitute metal alloy oxide layer are at least partly reduced. The conductor is soldered to the aluminum metallization using a solder material.

A method of making a semiconductor including soldering a conductor to an aluminum metallization is disclosed. In one example, the method includes substituting an aluminum oxide layer on the aluminum metallization by a substitute metal oxide layer or a substitute metal alloy oxide layer. Then, substitute metal oxides in the substitute metal oxide layer or the substitute metal alloy oxide layer are at least partly reduced. The conductor is soldered to the aluminum metallization using a solder material.

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 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 includes a substrate; a laminate which is formed on one main surface side of the substrate, and includes an aluminum alloy wiring and an insulating film surrounding the aluminum alloy wiring; and a silicon nitride film covering the laminate, in which the silicon nitride film and the insulating film have an opening portion, through which the silicon nitride film and the insulating film, formed at a position overlapped with a bonding portion of the aluminum alloy wiring, and a deposition made of a residue caused by reverse sputtering, which contains silicon and nitrogen, adheres to a portion exposed from the opening portion of a surface of the aluminum alloy wiring, to form a film.

Wafers include a contact pad on a surface of a bulk redistribution layer. A final redistribution layer is formed on the surface and in contact with the contact pad. Solder is formed on the contact pad. The solder includes a pedestal portion formed to a same height as the final redistribution layer and a ball portion above the pedestal portion.

Wafers include multiple bulk redistribution layers. A contact pad is formed on a surface of one of the bulk redistribution layers. A final redistribution layer is formed on the surface and in contact with the contact pad. Solder is formed on the contact pad. The solder includes a pedestal portion formed to a same height as the final redistribution layer and a ball portion above the pedestal portion.

A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a conductive structure over a first passivation layer, depositing a first dielectric film continuously over the conductive structure, depositing a second dielectric film continuously over the first dielectric film, and depositing a third dielectric film over the second dielectric film. A portion of the third dielectric film is in contact with a portion of the first dielectric film.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a semiconductor device and methods of forming a semiconductor device. An embodiment is a method of forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising forming a conductive pad in a first substrate, forming an interconnecting structure over the conductive pad and the first substrate, the interconnecting structure comprising a plurality of metal layers disposed in a plurality of dielectric layers, bonding a die to a first side of the interconnecting structure, and etching the first substrate from a second side of the interconnecting structure, the etching exposing a portion of the conductive pad.