Disclosed is a semiconductor device suppressed in decrease of reliability. The semiconductor device comprises an electrode pad portion (2) formed on the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate (1), a passivation layer (3) so formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate (1) as to overlap a part of the electrode pad portion (2) and having a first opening portion (3a) where the upper surface of the electrode pad portion (2) is exposed, a barrier metal layer (5) formed on the electrode pad portion (2), and a solder bump (6) formed on the barrier metal layer (5). The barrier metal layer (5) is formed such that an outer peripheral end (5b) lies within the first opening portion (3a) of the passivation layer (3) when viewed in plan.

A package structure and method for forming the same are provided. The package structure includes a first interconnect structure formed over a first substrate, and the first interconnect structure includes a first metal layer. The package structure further includes a second interconnect structure formed over a second substrate. The package structure includes a bonding structure between the first interconnect structure and the second interconnect structure. The bonding structure includes a first intermetallic compound (IMC) and a second intermetallic compound (IMC), a portion of the first IMC protrudes from the sidewall surfaces of the second IMC, and there could be a grain boundary between the first IMC and the second IMC.

A semiconductor device includes a passivation layer over a dielectric layer, a via through the passivation layer and the dielectric layer, an interconnection metallization arranged over said at least one via; said passivation layer underlying peripheral portions of said interconnection metallization, and an outer surface coating that coats said interconnection metallization. The coating preferably includes at least one of a nickel or nickel alloy layer and a noble metal layer. The passivation layer is separated from the peripheral portion of the interconnection metallization by a diffusion barrier layer, preferably a titanium or a titanium alloy barrier. The device includes a dielectric layer arranged between the passivation layer and the diffusion barrier layer; and a hollow recess area between the passivation layer and the end portion of the barrier layer and between the passivation layer and the foot of the outer surface coating.

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.

To improve the reliability of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of wiring layers formed on a semiconductor substrate, a pad formed on an uppermost wiring layer of the plurality of wiring layers, a surface protection film which includes an opening on the pad and is made of an inorganic insulating film, a rewiring formed on the surface protection film; a pad electrode formed on the rewiring, and a wire connected to the pad electrode. The rewiring includes a pad electrode mounting portion on which the pad electrode is mounted, a connection portion which is connected to the pad, and an extended wiring portion which couples the pad electrode mounting portion and the connection portion, and the pad electrode mounting portion has a rectangular shape when seen in a plan view.

A system and method for preventing cracks in a passivation layer is provided. In an embodiment a contact pad has a first diameter and an opening through the passivation layer has a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter by a first distance of about 10 m. In another embodiment, an underbump metallization is formed through the opening, and the underbump metallization has a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter by a second distance of about 5 m. In yet another embodiment, a sum of the first distance and the second distance is greater than about 15 m. In another embodiment the underbump metallization has a first dimension that is less than a dimension of the contact pad and a second dimension that is greater than a dimension of the contact pad.

A semiconductor device includes a passivation layer, an interconnection metallization 37 having a peripheral portion over the passivation layer, and an outer surface coating 37 on the interconnection metallization. A diffusion barrier layer comprises an inner planar portion directly on the surface of the passivation layer and a peripheral portion extending along a plane at a vertical height higher than the surface of the passivation layer, so that the peripheral portion forms with the inner portion a step in the barrier layer. The outer surface coating, has a vertical wall with a foot adjacent to the peripheral portion and positioned at the vertical height over the surface of the passivation layer to form a hollow recess area between the surface of the passivation layer and both of the peripheral portion and the foot of the outer surface coating.

A structure and method for performing metal-to-metal bonding in an electrical device. For example and without limitation, various aspects of this disclosure provide a structure and method that utilize an interlocking structure configured to enhance metal-to-metal bonding.

Described examples provide microelectronic devices and fabrication methods, including fabricating a contact structure by forming a titanium or titanium tungsten barrier layer on a conductive feature, forming a tin seed layer on the barrier layer, forming a copper structure on the seed layer above the conductive feature of the wafer or die, heating the seed layer and the copper structure to form a bronze material between the barrier layer and the copper structure, removing the seed layer using an etching process that selectively removes an exposed portion of the seed layer, and removing an exposed portion of the barrier layer.

Disclosed is a semiconductor device including a conductive pattern on a substrate, a passivation layer on the substrate and including an opening that partially exposes the conductive pattern, and a pad structure in the opening of the passivation layer and connected to the conductive pattern. The pad structure includes a first metal layer that fills the opening of the passivation layer and has a width greater than that of the opening, and a second metal layer on the first metal layer. The first metal layer has a first thickness at an outer wall of the first metal layer, a second thickness on a top surface of the passivation layer, and a third thickness on a top surface of the conductive pattern. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness, and the third thickness is greater than the second thickness.