In a method for connecting components during production of power electronics modules or assemblies, surfaces of the components have a metallic surface layer upon supply, or are furnished therewith, wherein the layer has a surface that is smooth enough to allow direct bonding or is smoothed to obtain a surface that is smooth enough to allow direct bonding. The surface layers of the surfaces that are to be connected are then pressed against each other with a pressure of at least 5 MPa at elevated temperature, so that they are joined to each other, forming a single layer. The method enables simple, rapid connection of even relatively large contact surfaces, which satisfies the high requirements of power electronics modules.

A method of forming an electrical contact and a method of forming a chip package are provided. The methods may include arranging a metal contact structure including a non-noble metal and electrically contacting the chip, arranging a packaging material, and a protective layer including or essentially consisting of a portion formed at an interface between a portion of the metal contact structure and the packaging material, wherein the protective layer may include a noble metal, wherein the portion of the protective layer may include a plurality of regions free from the noble metal, and wherein the regions free from the noble metal may provide an interface between the packaging material and the non-noble metal of the metal contact structure.

A bonded assembly and a method of forming a bonded assembly includes providing a first semiconductor die including a first substrate, first semiconductor devices, and first bonding pads that are electrically connected to a respective node of the first semiconductor devices, providing a second semiconductor die including a second substrate, second semiconductor devices, and second bonding pads that are electrically connected to a respective node of the second semiconductor devices, forming a dielectric bonding pattern definition layer including bonding pattern definition openings therethrough over the second bonding pads, and bonding the second bonding pads to the first bonding pads, where the first metal pads expand through the bonding pattern definition openings and are bonded to a respective one of the second bonding pads.

In various embodiments, a method of forming an electrical contact is provided. The method may include depositing, by atomic layer deposition, a passivation layer over at least a region of a metal surface, wherein the passivation layer may include aluminum oxide, and electrically contacting the region of the metal surface with a metal contact structure, wherein the metal contact structure may include copper.

A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad on the semiconductor substrate, a redistribution line conductor, a coating insulator, and an aluminum oxide layer. The redistribution line conductor is electrically connected to the conductive pad. The coating insulator covers the redistribution line conductor and partially exposes the redistribution line conductor. The aluminum oxide layer is provided below the coating insulator and extends along a top surface of the redistribution line conductor, and the aluminum oxide layer is in contact with the redistribution line conductor.

A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad on the semiconductor substrate, a redistribution line conductor, a coating insulator, and an aluminum oxide layer. The redistribution line conductor is electrically connected to the conductive pad. The coating insulator covers the redistribution line conductor and partially exposes the redistribution line conductor. The aluminum oxide layer is provided below the coating insulator and extends along a top surface of the redistribution line conductor, and the aluminum oxide layer is in contact with the redistribution line conductor.

A versatile, thermally stable and economically effective corrosion inhibition treatment for copper (Cu) metal and selected metals surface through a single step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of selected inhibitor compounds at temperatures as low as 100-200 C. is described in this invention. The resulting CVD deposited inhibition coating is thermally stable to 300 C. and protects Cu and selected metals from active corrosion in various technologically important operational environments. The selective coating for copper metal is achieved by controlling the chemistry of bonding between the Copper metal surface and inhibitor material used. The technique can be accomplished by using one or more inhibitors separately or in combination in order to create an all-terrain stable & robust corrosion prevention coating for copper metal.

Provided is a die structure including a die, a bonding structure, and a protection structure. The die includes a substrate and a metal feature disposed over the substrate. The bonding structure is disposed over the die. The bonding structure includes a bonding dielectric layer and a bonding metal layer disposed in the bonding dielectric layer. The bonding metal layer is electrically connected to the metal feature of the die. The protection structure is disposed between a top portion of the bonding metal layer and a top portion of the bonding dielectric layer. A die stack structure and a method of fabricating the die structure are also provided.

Provided is a die structure including a die, a bonding structure, and a protection structure. The die includes a substrate and a metal feature disposed over the substrate. The bonding structure is disposed over the die. The bonding structure includes a bonding dielectric layer and a bonding metal layer disposed in the bonding dielectric layer. The bonding metal layer is electrically connected to the metal feature of the die. The protection structure is disposed between a top portion of the bonding metal layer and a top portion of the bonding dielectric layer. A die stack structure and a method of fabricating the die structure are also provided.

A method of designing a layout includes determining a first layout pattern, wherein the first layout pattern corresponds to a plurality of contact pads. The method further includes generating a second layout pattern. The method further includes checking whether an edge of the second layout pattern overlaps the first layout pattern. The method further includes adjusting the second layout pattern so that the edge of the second layout pattern overlaps the first layout pattern in response to a determination that the edge of the second layout pattern is separated from the first layout pattern.