In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a first side and an opposite second side, and a chip contact pad disposed on the first side of the semiconductor chip. A dielectric liner is disposed over the semiconductor chip. The dielectric liner includes a plurality of openings over the chip contact pad. A interconnect contacts the semiconductor chip through the plurality of openings at the chip contact pad.

An interconnection structure and method disclosed for providing an interconnection structure that includes conductive features having reduced topographic variations. The interconnection structure includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate. The contact pad includes a first layer of a first conductive material and a second layer of a second conductive material over the first layer. The first conductive material and the second conductive material are made of substantially the same material and have a first average grain size and a second average grain size that is smaller than the first average grain size. The interconnection structure also includes a passivation layer covering the substrate and the contact pad, and the passivation layer has an opening exposing the contact pad.

A manufacturing method of a passive component structure includes the following steps. A protection layer is formed on a substrate, and bond pads of the substrate are respectively exposed through protection layer openings. A conductive layer is formed on the bond pads and the protection layer. A patterned photoresist layer is formed on the conductive layer, and the conductive layer adjacent to the protection layer openings is exposed through photoresist layer openings. Copper bumps are respectively electroplated on the conductive layer. The photoresist layer and the conductive layer not covered by the copper bumps are removed. A passivation layer is formed on the copper bumps and the protection layer, and at least one of the copper bumps is exposed through a passivation layer opening. A diffusion barrier layer and an oxidation barrier layer are chemically plated in sequence on the copper bump.

A manufacturing method of a passive component structure includes the following steps. A protection layer is formed on a substrate, and bond pads of the substrate are respectively exposed through protection layer openings. A conductive layer is formed on the bond pads and the protection layer. A patterned photoresist layer is formed on the conductive layer, and the conductive layer adjacent to the protection layer openings is exposed through photoresist layer openings. Copper bumps are respectively electroplated on the conductive layer. The photoresist layer and the conductive layer not covered by the copper bumps are removed. A passivation layer is formed on the copper bumps and the protection layer, and at least one of the copper bumps is exposed through a passivation layer opening. A diffusion barrier layer and an oxidation barrier layer are chemically plated in sequence on the copper bump.

A semiconductor structure includes a multi-level interconnect structure, a passivation layer, a barrier layer, and a pad layer. The passivation layer is above the multi-level interconnect structure. The barrier layer lines an inner sidewall of the passivation layer, a top surface of the passivation layer and a top surface of a conductive line of the multi-level interconnect structure. The barrier layer includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer. The first layer is in a nano-crystalline phase. The second layer is above the first layer and in an amorphous phase. The third layer is above the second layer and in a polycrystalline phase. The fourth layer is above the third layer and in a nano-crystalline phase. The pad layer is above the barrier layer.

A semiconductor structure includes a multi-level interconnect structure, a passivation layer, a barrier layer, and a pad layer. The passivation layer is above the multi-level interconnect structure. The barrier layer lines an inner sidewall of the passivation layer, a top surface of the passivation layer and a top surface of a conductive line of the multi-level interconnect structure. The barrier layer includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer. The first layer is in a nano-crystalline phase. The second layer is above the first layer and in an amorphous phase. The third layer is above the second layer and in a polycrystalline phase. The fourth layer is above the third layer and in a nano-crystalline phase. The pad layer is above the barrier layer.

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of middle interconnections and a plurality of middle plugs, which are disposed in an interlayer insulating layer and on a substrate. An upper insulating layer is disposed on the interlayer insulating layer. A first upper plug, a first upper interconnection, a second upper plug, and a second upper interconnection are disposed in the upper insulating layer. Each of the plurality of middle interconnections has a first thickness. The first upper interconnection has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness. The second upper interconnection has a third thickness that is greater than the first thickness. The third thickness is twice to 100 times the first thickness. The second upper interconnection includes a material different from the second upper plug.

A method includes forming a seed layer over a first conductive feature of a wafer, forming a patterned plating mask on the seed layer, and plating a second conductive feature in an opening in the patterned plating mask. The plating includes performing a plurality of plating cycles, with each of the plurality of plating cycles including a first plating process performed using a first plating current density, and a second plating process performed using a second plating current density lower than the first plating current density. The patterned plating mask is then removed, and the seed layer is etched.

A method is provided. The method includes forming an interconnect structure electrically connected to a semiconductor device; forming a tantalum-based barrier layer over the interconnect structure; oxidizing the tantalum-based barrier layer to form a tantalum oxide over the tantalum-based barrier layer; and forming a metal layer over the tantalum oxide.

A method is provided. The method includes forming an interconnect structure electrically connected to a semiconductor device; forming a tantalum-based barrier layer over the interconnect structure; oxidizing the tantalum-based barrier layer to form a tantalum oxide over the tantalum-based barrier layer; and forming a metal layer over the tantalum oxide.