A method of making an assembly can include juxtaposing a top surface of a first electrically conductive element at a first surface of a first substrate with a top surface of a second electrically conductive element at a major surface of a second substrate. One of: the top surface of the first conductive element can be recessed below the first surface, or the top surface of the second conductive element can be recessed below the major surface. Electrically conductive nanoparticles can be disposed between the top surfaces of the first and second conductive elements. The conductive nanoparticles can have long dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers. The method can also include elevating a temperature at least at interfaces of the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements to a joining temperature at which the conductive nanoparticles can cause metallurgical joints to form between the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements.

A method for chip on wafer bonding is provided. The method includes the formation of a plurality of posts on at least one of a chip and a wafer, and a like plurality of contacts on the other of the chip and the wafer. After formation, a contact surface of each post is planarized, the respective planarized contact surface having a surface roughness height. A bonding material is then applied to at least one of the chip in a thickness no greater than the surface roughness height of the contact surface. The posts are then temporarily bonded to the contacts using the bonding material to stabilize a position of the chip relative to the wafer for permanent diffusion bonding of the chip to the wafer.

A method of making an assembly can include juxtaposing a top surface of a first electrically conductive element at a first surface of a first substrate with a top surface of a second electrically conductive element at a major surface of a second substrate. One of: the top surface of the first conductive element can be recessed below the first surface, or the top surface of the second conductive element can be recessed below the major surface. Electrically conductive nanoparticles can be disposed between the top surfaces of the first and second conductive elements. The conductive nanoparticles can have long dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers. The method can also include elevating a temperature at least at interfaces of the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements to a joining temperature at which the conductive nanoparticles can cause metallurgical joints to form between the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements.

A method of making an assembly can include juxtaposing a top surface of a first electrically conductive element at a first surface of a first substrate with a top surface of a second electrically conductive element at a major surface of a second substrate. One of: the top surface of the first conductive element can be recessed below the first surface, or the top surface of the second conductive element can be recessed below the major surface. Electrically conductive nanoparticles can be disposed between the top surfaces of the first and second conductive elements. The conductive nanoparticles can have long dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers. The method can also include elevating a temperature at least at interfaces of the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements to a joining temperature at which the conductive nanoparticles can cause metallurgical joints to form between the juxtaposed first and second conductive elements.

A method of producing a hybridized device including two microelectronic components, including a first microelectronic component having conductive inserts on a connection surface, and a second microelectronic component having ductile conductive pads on a surface opposed to the connection surface, is provided. The method includes the steps of hybridizing the first and second electronic components face-to-face by arranging the connection surface of the first microelectronic component to oppose the surface of the second microelectronic component having the ductile conductive pads, and establishing an electro-mechanical connection between the first microelectronic component and the second microelectronic component by inserting, at ambient temperature, inserts of the first microelectronic component, provided with a second metal sub-layer, into the ductile conductive pads of the second microelectronic component.

Methods and systems for low-force, low-temperature thermocompression bonding. The present application teaches new methods and structures for three-dimensional integrated circuits, in which cold thermocompression bonding is used to provide reliable bonding. To achieve this, reduction and passivation steps are preferably both used to reduce native oxide on the contact metals and to prevent reformation of native oxide, preferably using atmospheric plasma treatments. Preferably the physical compression height of the elements is set to be only enough to reliably achieve at least some compression of each bonding element pair, compensating for any lack of flatness. Preferably the thermocompression bonding is performed well below the melting point. This not only avoids the deformation of lower levels which is induced by reflow techniques, but also provides a steep relation of force versus z-axis travel, so that a drastically-increasing resistance to compression helps to regulate the degree of thermocompression.

Methods and systems for low-force, low-temperature thermocompression bonding. The present application teaches new methods and structures for three-dimensional integrated circuits, in which cold thermocompression bonding is used to provide reliable bonding. To achieve this, reduction and passivation steps are preferably both used to reduce native oxide on the contact metals and to prevent reformation of native oxide, preferably using atmospheric plasma treatments. Preferably the physical compression height of the elements is set to be only enough to reliably achieve at least some compression of each bonding element pair, compensating for any lack of flatness. Preferably the thermocompression bonding is performed well below the melting point. This not only avoids the deformation of lower levels which is induced by reflow techniques, but also provides a steep relation of force versus z-axis travel, so that a drastically-increasing resistance to compression helps to regulate the degree of thermocompression.

Methods and systems for low-force, low-temperature thermocompression bonding. The present application teaches new methods and structures for three-dimensional integrated circuits, in which cold thermocompression bonding is used to provide reliable bonding. To achieve this, reduction and passivation steps are preferably both used to reduce native oxide on the contact metals and to prevent reformation of native oxide, preferably using atmospheric plasma treatments. Preferably the physical compression height of the elements is set to be only enough to reliably achieve at least some compression of each bonding element pair, compensating for any lack of flatness. Preferably the thermocompression bonding is performed well below the melting point. This not only avoids the deformation of lower levels which is induced by reflow techniques, but also provides a steep relation of force versus z-axis travel, so that a drastically-increasing resistance to compression helps to regulate the degree of thermocompression.

Methods and systems for low-force, low-temperature thermocompression bonding. The present application teaches new methods and structures for three-dimensional integrated circuits, in which cold thermocompression bonding is used to provide reliable bonding. To achieve this, reduction and passivation steps are preferably both used to reduce native oxide on the contact metals and to prevent reformation of native oxide, preferably using atmospheric plasma treatments. Preferably the physical compression height of the elements is set to be only enough to reliably achieve at least some compression of each bonding element pair, compensating for any lack of flatness. Preferably the thermocompression bonding is performed well below the melting point. This not only avoids the deformation of lower levels which is induced by reflow techniques, but also provides a steep relation of force versus z-axis travel, so that a drastically-increasing resistance to compression helps to regulate the degree of thermocompression.

Methods and systems for low-force, low-temperature thermocompression bonding. The present application teaches new methods and structures for three-dimensional integrated circuits, in which cold thermocompression bonding is used to provide reliable bonding. To achieve this, reduction and passivation steps are preferably both used to reduce native oxide on the contact metals and to prevent reformation of native oxide, preferably using atmospheric plasma treatments. Preferably the physical compression height of the elements is set to be only enough to reliably achieve at least some compression of each bonding element pair, compensating for any lack of flatness. Preferably the thermocompression bonding is performed well below the melting point. This not only avoids the deformation of lower levels which is induced by reflow techniques, but also provides a steep relation of force versus z-axis travel, so that a drastically-increasing resistance to compression helps to regulate the degree of thermocompression.