Techniques and mechanisms for high interconnect density communication with an interposer. In some embodiments, an interposer comprises a substrate and portions disposed thereon, wherein respective inorganic dielectrics of said portions adjoin each other at a material interface, which extends to each of the substrate and a first side of the interposer. A first hardware interface of the interposer spans the material interface at the first side, wherein a first one of said portions comprises first interconnects which couple the first hardware interface to a second hardware interface at the first side. A second one of said portions includes second interconnects which couple one of first hardware interface or the second hardware interface to a third hardware interface at another side of the interposer. In another embodiment, a metallization pitch feature of the first hardware interface is smaller than a corresponding metallization pitch feature of the second hardware interface.

Techniques and mechanisms for high interconnect density communication with an interposer. In some embodiments, an interposer comprises a substrate and portions disposed thereon, wherein respective inorganic dielectrics of said portions adjoin each other at a material interface, which extends to each of the substrate and a first side of the interposer. A first hardware interface of the interposer spans the material interface at the first side, wherein a first one of said portions comprises first interconnects which couple the first hardware interface to a second hardware interface at the first side. A second one of said portions includes second interconnects which couple one of first hardware interface or the second hardware interface to a third hardware interface at another side of the interposer. In another embodiment, a metallization pitch feature of the first hardware interface is smaller than a corresponding metallization pitch feature of the second hardware interface.

A substrate bonding apparatus includes a substrate susceptor to support a first substrate, a substrate holder over the substrate susceptor to hold a second substrate, the substrate holder including a plurality of independently moveable holding fingers, and a chamber housing to accommodate the substrate susceptor and the substrate holder.

Embodiments of 3D memory devices and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In an example, a 3D memory device includes a memory stack, a first semiconductor layer, a supporting structure, a second semiconductor layer, and a plurality of channel structures. The memory stack includes vertically interleaved conductive layers and dielectric layers and has a core array region and a staircase region in a plan view. The first semiconductor layer is above and overlaps the core array region of the memory stack. The supporting structure is above and overlaps the staircase region of the memory stack. The supporting structure and the first semiconductor layer are coplanar. The second semiconductor layer is above and in contact with the first semiconductor layer and the supporting structure. Each channel structure extends vertically through the core array region of the memory stack and the first semiconductor layer into the second semiconductor layer.

A method of preparation of a first surface of an electronic component, the first surface being intended to be bonded to another electronic component by a direct bonding and the first surface having previously been submitted to a surface treatment in an atmosphere including nitrogen, for example, a treatment in a nitrogen plasma or an ozone UV treatment, the preparation method including: placing into contact the first surface with an aqueous solution including at least 90% water, for a contacting duration longer than or equal to 30 minutes; and then drying the first surface.

A wafer-to-wafer bonding structure includes a first wafer including a first conductive pad in a first insulating layer and a first barrier layer surrounding a lower surface and side surfaces of the first conductive pad, a second wafer including a second conductive pad in a second insulating layer and a second barrier layer surrounding a lower surface and side surfaces of the second conductive pad, the second insulating layer being bonded to the first insulating layer, and at least a portion of an upper surface of the second conductive pad being partially or entirely bonded to at least a portion of an upper surface of the first conductive pad, and a third barrier layer between portions of the first and second wafers where the first and second conductive pads are not bonded to each other.

A representative device includes a patterned opening through a layer at a surface of a device die. A liner is disposed on sidewalls of the opening and the device die is patterned to extend the opening further into the device die. After patterning, the liner is removed. A conductive pad is formed in the device die by filling the opening with a conductive material.

Embodiments herein relate to systems, apparatuses, or processes for hybrid bonding two dies, where at least one of the dies has a top layer to be hybrid bonded includes one or more copper pad and a top oxide layer surrounding the one or more copper pad, with another layer beneath the oxide layer that includes carbon atoms. The top oxide layer and the other carbide layer beneath may form a combination gradient layer that goes from a top of the top layer that is primarily an oxide to a bottom of the other layer that is primarily a carbide. The top oxide layer may be performed by exposing the carbide layer to a plasma treatment. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Methods for forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The method includes providing a first semiconductor wafer and a second semiconductor wafer. A first transistor is formed in a front-side of the first semiconductor wafer, and no devices are formed in the second semiconductor wafer. The method further includes bonding the front-side of the first semiconductor wafer to a backside of the second semiconductor wafer and thinning a front-side of the second semiconductor wafer. After thinning the second semiconductor wafer, a second transistor is formed in the front-side of the second semiconductor wafer. At least one first through substrate via (TSV) is formed in the second semiconductor wafer, and the first TSV directly contacts a conductive feature of the first semiconductor wafer.

A semiconductor device including a test pad contact and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device may include a first metal feature and a second metal feature disposed in a single top metal layer over a substrate. A test pad may be formed over and electrically connected to the first metal feature. A first passivation layer may be formed over the second metal feature and the test pad and may cover top and side surfaces of the test pad. A first via may be formed penetrating the first passivation layer and contacting the test pad and a second via may be formed penetrating the first passivation layer and contacting the second metal feature.