A process for producing an electrical contact with a first metal layer and at least one second metal layer on a silicon carbide substrate includes removing at least some of the carbon residue by a chemical cleaning process, to clean the first metal layer. The first metal layer and/or the at least one second metal layer may be generated by sputtering deposition.

A process for producing an electrical contact with a first metal layer and at least one second metal layer on a silicon carbide substrate includes removing at least some of the carbon residue by a chemical cleaning process, to clean the first metal layer. The first metal layer and/or the at least one second metal layer may be generated by sputtering deposition.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer or a single semiconductor chip or die, and a layer stack. The layer stack comprises a first layer comprising NiSi, and a second layer comprising NiV, wherein the second layer is arranged between the first layer and the semiconductor wafer or single semiconductor chip or die.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer or a single semiconductor chip or die, and a layer stack. The layer stack comprises a first layer comprising NiSi, and a second layer comprising NiV, wherein the second layer is arranged between the first layer and the semiconductor wafer or single semiconductor chip or die.

Advanced flat metals for microelectronics are provided. While conventional processes create large damascene features that have a dishing defect that causes failure in bonded devices, example systems and methods described herein create large damascene features that are planar. In an implementation, an annealing process creates large grains or large metallic crystals of copper in large damascene cavities, while a thinner layer of copper over the field of a substrate anneals into smaller grains of copper. The large grains of copper in the damascene cavities resist dishing defects during chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP), resulting in very flat damascene features. In an implementation, layers of resist and layers of a second coating material may be applied in various ways to resist dishing during chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP), resulting in very flat damascene features.

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.

An integrated circuit (IC) die structure comprises a substrate material comprising silicon. Integrated circuitry is over a first side of the substrate material. A composite layer is in direct contact with a second side of the substrate material. The second side is opposite the first side. The composite layer comprises a first constituent material associated with a first linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and a first thermal conductivity exceeding that of the substrate. The composite layer also comprises a second constituent material associated with a second CTE that is lower than the first, and a second thermal conductivity exceeding that of the substrate.

An integrated circuit (IC) die structure comprises a substrate material comprising silicon. Integrated circuitry is over a first side of the substrate material. A composite layer is in direct contact with a second side of the substrate material. The second side is opposite the first side. The composite layer comprises a first constituent material associated with a first linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and a first thermal conductivity exceeding that of the substrate. The composite layer also comprises a second constituent material associated with a second CTE that is lower than the first, and a second thermal conductivity exceeding that of the substrate.

A semiconductor device including a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate and including a trench, at least one via structure penetrating the substrate and protruding above a bottom surface of the trench, and a conductive structure surrounding the at least one via structure in the trench may be provided.