An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate; and a pad region over the semiconductor substrate. The integrated circuit device further includes an under-bump-metallurgy (UBM) layer over the pad region. The integrated circuit device further includes a conductive pillar on the UBM layer, wherein the conductive pillar has a sidewall surface and a top surface. The integrated circuit device further includes a protection structure over the sidewall surface of the conductive pillar, wherein sidewalls of the UBM layer are substantially free of the protection structure, and the protection structure is a non-metal material.

A solder connection may be surrounded by a solder locking layer (1210, 2210) and may be recessed in a hole (1230) in that layer. The recess may be obtained by evaporating a vaporizable portion (1250) of the solder connection. Other features are also provided.

A solder connection may be surrounded by a solder locking layer (1210, 2210) and may be recessed in a hole (1230) in that layer. The recess may be obtained by evaporating a vaporizable portion (1250) of the solder connection. Other features are also provided.

Disclosed herein are interconnects and methods of fabricating a plurality of interconnects. The method includes depositing a conformal layer of a plating base in each of a plurality of vias, and depositing a photoresist on two portions of a surface of the plating base outside and above the plurality of vias. The method also includes depositing a plating metal over the plating base in each of the plurality of vias, the depositing resulting in each of the plurality of vias being completely filled or incompletely filled, performing a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), and performing metrology to determine if any of the plurality of vias is incompletely filled following the depositing the plating metal. A second iteration of the depositing the plating metal over the plating base is performed in each of the plurality of vias based on determining that at least one of the plurality of vias is incompletely filled.

A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first electrode provided on the semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer including a first part provided on an upper surface of the first electrode, a second electrode including a main portion and an eaves portion, the main portion being provided on the upper surface of the first electrode, the eaves portion extending over the first part and solder covering an upper surface of the main portion and a part of an upper surface of the eaves portion wherein the insulating layer includes a second part covering a part of the upper surface of the eaves portion, the part being closer to an end portion of the eaves portion than the part covered by the solder and a third part connecting the first part and the second part and covering the end portion of the eaves portion.

A semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first electrode provided on the semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer including a first part provided on an upper surface of the first electrode, a second electrode including a main portion and an eaves portion, the main portion being provided on the upper surface of the first electrode, the eaves portion extending over the first part and solder covering an upper surface of the main portion and a part of an upper surface of the eaves portion wherein the insulating layer includes a second part covering a part of the upper surface of the eaves portion, the part being closer to an end portion of the eaves portion than the part covered by the solder and a third part connecting the first part and the second part and covering the end portion of the eaves portion.

In described examples, a circuit (e.g., an integrated circuit) includes a semiconductor substrate that includes a frontside surface and a backside surface. A circuit element is included at the frontside surface. An optional electrical insulator layer can be included adjacent to the backside surface. A distributor layer is included adjacent to the backside surface. In some examples, the distributor layer includes a distributor material that includes a matrix of cohered nanoparticles and metallic particles embedded by the cohered nanoparticles.

In described examples, a circuit (e.g., an integrated circuit) includes a semiconductor substrate that includes a frontside surface and a backside surface. A circuit element is included at the frontside surface. An optional electrical insulator layer can be included adjacent to the backside surface. A distributor layer is included adjacent to the backside surface. In some examples, the distributor layer includes a distributor material that includes a matrix of cohered nanoparticles and metallic particles embedded by the cohered nanoparticles.

A semiconductor device structure includes a silicon layer disposed over a first semiconductor die, and a first mask layer disposed over the silicon layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second semiconductor die disposed over the first mask layer, and a through silicon via penetrating through the silicon layer and the first mask layer. A bottom surface of the through silicon via is greater than a top surface of the through silicon via, and the top surface of the through silicon via is greater than a cross-section of the through silicon via between and parallel to the top surface and the bottom surface of the through silicon via.

A semiconductor device structure includes a silicon layer disposed over a first semiconductor die, and a first mask layer disposed over the silicon layer. The semiconductor device structure also includes a second semiconductor die disposed over the first mask layer, and a through silicon via penetrating through the silicon layer and the first mask layer. A bottom surface of the through silicon via is greater than a top surface of the through silicon via, and the top surface of the through silicon via is greater than a cross-section of the through silicon via between and parallel to the top surface and the bottom surface of the through silicon via.