The present application provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a bonding pad disposed over a semiconductor substrate; a first spacer disposed over a top surface of the bonding pad; a second spacer disposed over a sidewall of the bonding pad; a dielectric layer between the bonding pad and the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer includes silicon-rich oxide; and a conductive bump disposed over the first passivation layer. The conductive bump is electrically connected to a source/drain (S/D) region in the semiconductor substrate through the bonding pad.

A semiconductor package and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor package are provided. The semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor device, a second semiconductor device, and an alignment material. The first semiconductor device has a first bonding layer, and the first bonding layer includes a first bond pad contacting an organic dielectric material. The second semiconductor device has a second bonding layer, and the second bonding layer includes a second bond pad contacting the organic dielectric material. The alignment material is between the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer.

Structures, methods and devices are disclosed, related to improved stack structures in electronic devices. In some embodiments, a stack structure includes a pad implemented on a substrate, the pad including a polymer layer having a side that forms an interface with another layer of the pad, the pad further including an upper metal layer over the interface, the upper metal layer having an upper surface. In some embodiments, the stack structure also includes a passivation layer implemented over the upper metal layer, the passivation layer including a pattern configured to provide a compressive force on the upper metal layer to thereby reduce the likelihood of delamination at the interface, the pattern defining a plurality of openings to expose the upper surface of the upper metal layer.

A method includes thinning a semiconductor substrate of a device die to reveal through-substrate vias that extend into the semiconductor substrate, and forming a first redistribution structure, which includes forming a first plurality of dielectric layers over the semiconductor substrate, and forming a first plurality of redistribution lines in the first plurality of dielectric layers. The first plurality of redistribution lines are electrically connected to the through-substrate vias. The method further includes placing a first memory die over the first redistribution structure, and forming a first plurality of metal posts over the first redistribution structure. The first plurality of metal posts are electrically connected to the first plurality of redistribution lines. The first memory die is encapsulated in a first encapsulant. A second plurality of redistribution lines are formed over, and electrically connected to, the first plurality of metal posts and the first memory die.

An integrated circuit interconnect structure includes a first interconnect in a first metallization level and a first dielectric adjacent to at least a portion of the first interconnect, where the first dielectric having a first carbon content. The integrated circuit interconnect structure further includes a second interconnect in a second metallization level above the first metallization level. The second interconnect includes a lowermost surface in contact with at least a portion of an uppermost surface of the first interconnect. A second dielectric having a second carbon content is adjacent to at least a portion of the second interconnect and the first dielectric. The first carbon concentration increases with distance away from the lowermost surface of the second interconnect and the second carbon concentration increases with distance away from the uppermost surface of the first interconnect.

In an embodiment, a device includes: an interposer; a first integrated circuit device bonded to the interposer with dielectric-to-dielectric bonds and with metal-to-metal bonds; a second integrated circuit device bonded to the interposer with dielectric-to-dielectric bonds and with metal-to-metal bonds; a buffer layer around the first integrated circuit device and the second integrated circuit device, the buffer layer including a stress reduction material having a first Young's modulus; and an encapsulant around the buffer layer, the first integrated circuit device, and the second integrated circuit device, the encapsulant including a molding material having a second Young's modulus, the first Young's modulus less than the second Young's modulus.

A semiconductor structure includes a multi-level interconnect structure, a passivation layer, a barrier layer, and a pad layer. The passivation layer is above the multi-level interconnect structure. The barrier layer lines an inner sidewall of the passivation layer, a top surface of the passivation layer and a top surface of a conductive line of the multi-level interconnect structure. The barrier layer includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer. The first layer is in a nano-crystalline phase. The second layer is above the first layer and in an amorphous phase. The third layer is above the second layer and in a polycrystalline phase. The fourth layer is above the third layer and in a nano-crystalline phase. The pad layer is above the barrier layer.

A method includes performing a first light-exposure and a second a second light-exposure on a photo resist. The first light-exposure is performed using a first lithograph mask, which covers a first portion of the photo resist. The first portion of the photo resist has a first strip portion exposed in the first light-exposure. The second light-exposure is performed using a second lithograph mask, which covers a second portion of the photo resist. The second portion of the photo resist has a second strip portion exposed in the second light-exposure. The first strip portion and the second strip portion have an overlapping portion that is double exposed. The method further includes developing the photo resist to remove the first strip portion and the second strip portion, etching a dielectric layer underlying the photo resist to form a trench, and filling the trench with a conductive feature.

An integrated circuit (IC) comprising an enhanced passivation scheme for pad openings and trenches is provided. In some embodiments, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer covers a substrate and at least partially defines a trench. The trench extends through the ILD layer from a top of the ILD layer to the substrate. A conductive pad overlies the ILD layer. A first passivation layer overlies the ILD layer and the conductive pad, and further defines a pad opening overlying the conductive pad. A second passivation layer overlies the ILD layer, the conductive pad, and the first passivation layer, and further lines sidewalls of the first passivation layer in the pad opening and sidewalls of the ILD layer in the trench. Further, the second passivation layer has a low permeability for moisture or vapor relative to the ILD layer.

A method of forming an aluminum oxide layer is provided. The method includes providing a metal surface including at least one metal of a group of metals, the group of metals consisting of copper, aluminum, palladium, nickel, silver, and alloys thereof. The method further includes depositing an aluminum oxide layer on the metal surface by atomic layer deposition, wherein a maximum processing temperature during the depositing is 280° C., such that the aluminum oxide layer is formed with a surface having a liquid solder contact angle of less than 40°.