Methods for bonding substrates used, for example, in substrate-level packaging, are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for bonding substrates includes: performing electrochemical deposition (ECD) to deposit at least one material on each of a first substrate and a second substrate, performing chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) on the first substrate and the second substrate to form a bonding interface on each of the first substrate and the second substrate, positioning the first substrate on the second substrate so that the bonding interface on the first substrate aligns with the bonding interface on the second substrate, and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate using the bonding interface on the first substrate and the bonding interface on the second substrate.

A semiconductor chip with different chip pads and a method for forming a semiconductor chip with different chip pads are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor chip includes a chip front side, a first chip pad located on the chip front side, a second chip pad located on the chip front side and an electrically insulating material located between the first chip pad and the second chip pad, wherein the first chip pad includes a surface layer predominantly comprising copper and the second chip pad includes a surface layer predominantly comprising aluminum.

A semiconductor chip with different chip pads and a method for forming a semiconductor chip with different chip pads are disclosed. In some embodiments, a semiconductor chip includes a chip front side, a first chip pad located on the chip front side, a second chip pad located on the chip front side and an electrically insulating material located between the first chip pad and the second chip pad, wherein the first chip pad includes a surface layer predominantly comprising copper and the second chip pad includes a surface layer predominantly comprising aluminum.

A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming an organic insulating layer on a semiconductor on which metal wiring is provided, the organic insulating layer having an opening to expose part of the metal wiring, forming a seed metal covering the part of the metal wiring exposed from the opening, and an inside face and an around portion of the opening of the organic insulating layer, forming a mask covering an edge of the seed metal and exposing part of the seed metal formed in the opening, and forming a barrier metal on the seed metal exposed from the mask by electroless plating. The mask includes an organic material or an inorganic dielectric material.

Wafer level packaging includes a first layer of a catalytic adhesive on a wafer surface. The catalytic adhesive includes catalytic particles that will reduce electroless copper (Cu) from Cu.sup.++ to Cu. Metal traces are formed in trace channels within the first layer of catalytic adhesive. The trace channels extend below a surface of the first layer of the catalytic material. The trace metals traces are also in contact with integrated circuit pads on the surface of the wafer.

Wafer level packaging includes a first layer of a catalytic adhesive on a wafer surface. The catalytic adhesive includes catalytic particles that will reduce electroless copper (Cu) from Cu.sup.++ to Cu. Metal traces are formed in trace channels within the first layer of catalytic adhesive. The trace channels extend below a surface of the first layer of the catalytic material. The trace metals traces are also in contact with integrated circuit pads on the surface of the wafer.

Three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) structures are disclosed. A 3DIC structure includes a first die and a second die bonded to the first die. The first die includes a first integrated circuit region and a first seal ring region around the first integrated circuit region, and has a first alignment mark within the first integrated circuit region. The second die includes a second integrated circuit region and a second seal ring region around the second integrated circuit region, and has a second alignment mark within the second seal ring region and corresponding to the first alignment mark.

Three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) structures are disclosed. A 3DIC structure includes a first die and a second die bonded to the first die. The first die includes a first integrated circuit region and a first seal ring region around the first integrated circuit region, and has a first alignment mark within the first integrated circuit region. The second die includes a second integrated circuit region and a second seal ring region around the second integrated circuit region, and has a second alignment mark within the second seal ring region and corresponding to the first alignment mark.

[Object] To enable reliability to be further improved in a semiconductor device.

[Solution] Provided is a semiconductor device including a plurality of substrates that is stacked, each of the substrates including a semiconductor substrate and a multi-layered wiring layer stacked on the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a circuit with a predetermined function formed thereon. Bonding surfaces between at least two substrates among the plurality of substrates have an electrode junction structure in which electrodes formed on the respective bonding surfaces are joined in direct contact with each other, the electrode junction structure being a structure for electrical connection between the two substrates. In at least one of the two substrates, at least one of the electrode constituting the electrode junction structure or a via for connection of the electrode to a wiring line in the multi-layered wiring layer has a structure in which a protective film for prevention of diffusion of an electrically-conductive material constituting the electrode and the via is embedded inside the electrically-conductive material.

[Object] To enable reliability to be further improved in a semiconductor device.

[Solution] Provided is a semiconductor device including a plurality of substrates that is stacked, each of the substrates including a semiconductor substrate and a multi-layered wiring layer stacked on the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a circuit with a predetermined function formed thereon. Bonding surfaces between at least two substrates among the plurality of substrates have an electrode junction structure in which electrodes formed on the respective bonding surfaces are joined in direct contact with each other, the electrode junction structure being a structure for electrical connection between the two substrates. In at least one of the two substrates, at least one of the electrode constituting the electrode junction structure or a via for connection of the electrode to a wiring line in the multi-layered wiring layer has a structure in which a protective film for prevention of diffusion of an electrically-conductive material constituting the electrode and the via is embedded inside the electrically-conductive material.