A plasma-based ashing process for surface conditioning and material modification to improve bond pad metallurgical properties as well as semiconductor device performance. Residue materials generated in a removal process at a process layer having recessed features with Ni—Pd surfaces are ashed in a plasma reactor to reduce defect count and improve surface conditioning associated with bond pads of the semiconductor device.

A semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure over first substrate, a first bonding layer over the first interconnect structure, multiple first bonding pads disposed in a first region of the first bonding layer, the first bonding pads having a first pitch, and multiple second bonding pads disposed in a second region of the first bonding layer, the second region extending between a first edge of the first bonding layer and the first region, the second bonding pads having the first pitch, the multiple second bonding pads including multiple pairs of adjacent second bonding pads, wherein the second bonding pads of each respective pair are connected by a first metal line.

Semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices include a substrate, a first interlayer insulating layer disposed on a front-side of the substrate, a TSV structure passing through the first interlayer insulating layer and the substrate. The TSV structure has a bottom end protruding from a back-side of the substrate, a back-side insulating layer and a back-side passivation layer disposed on the back-side of the substrate, and a bumping pad buried in the back-side insulating layer and the back-side passivation layer and disposed on the bottom end of the TSV structure. The bottom end of the TSV structure protrudes into the back-side bumping pad, and top surfaces of the back-side passivation layer and the back-side bumping pad are coplanar.

Semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices include a substrate, a first interlayer insulating layer disposed on a front-side of the substrate, a TSV structure passing through the first interlayer insulating layer and the substrate. The TSV structure has a bottom end protruding from a back-side of the substrate, a back-side insulating layer and a back-side passivation layer disposed on the back-side of the substrate, and a bumping pad buried in the back-side insulating layer and the back-side passivation layer and disposed on the bottom end of the TSV structure. The bottom end of the TSV structure protrudes into the back-side bumping pad, and top surfaces of the back-side passivation layer and the back-side bumping pad are coplanar.

According to various embodiments, a method for processing an electronic component including at least one electrically conductive contact region may include: forming a contact pad including a self-segregating composition over the at least one electrically conductive contact region to electrically contact the electronic component; forming a segregation suppression structure between the contact pad and the electronic component, wherein the segregation suppression structure includes more nucleation inducing topography features than the at least one electrically conductive contact region for perturbing a chemical segregation of the self-segregating composition by crystallographic interfaces of the contact pad defined by the nucleation inducing topography features.

According to various embodiments, a method for processing an electronic component including at least one electrically conductive contact region may include: forming a contact pad including a self-segregating composition over the at least one electrically conductive contact region to electrically contact the electronic component; forming a segregation suppression structure between the contact pad and the electronic component, wherein the segregation suppression structure includes more nucleation inducing topography features than the at least one electrically conductive contact region for perturbing a chemical segregation of the self-segregating composition by crystallographic interfaces of the contact pad defined by the nucleation inducing topography features.

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.

Object is to provide an etching solution which generates less foam and can etch copper or copper alloy at high selectivity when used in a step of etching copper or 5 copper alloy in an electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel. The etching solution to be used in a step of selectively etching copper or copper alloy in an electronic substrate having both of copper or copper alloy and nickel has, as essential components thereof, (A) a linear alkanolamine, (B) a chelating agent having an acid group in the molecule thereof, and (C) hydrogen peroxide.

Semiconductor packages and methods for forming a semiconductor package are disclosed. The method includes providing a package substrate having first and second major surfaces. The package substrate includes a base substrate having a mold material and a plurality of interconnect structures including via contacts extending through the first to the second major surface of the package substrate. A die having conductive contacts on its first or second surface is provided. The conductive contacts of the die are electrically coupled to the interconnect structures. A cap is formed over the package substrate to encapsulate the die.

A method of forming a package assembly includes forming a no-flow underfill layer on a substrate. The method further includes attaching a semiconductor die to the substrate. The semiconductor die comprises a bump and a molding compound layer in physical contact with a lower portion of the bump. An upper portion of the bump is in physical contact with the no-flow underfill layer.