A fuse element includes a metal layer disposed on a substrate. The metal layer includes an intermediate segment, a first block and a second block. The first block and the second block are electrically connected to two respective ends of the intermediate segment. The fuse element also includes a dielectric layer covering the intermediate segment, the first block and the second block, a first passivation layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and a second passivation layer disposed on the first passivation layer. The fuse element further includes an opening penetrating through the first passivation layer, the second passivation layer and a portion of the dielectric layer, and located above the intermediate segment. In addition, a protective film is disposed on a bottom and a portion of a sidewall of the opening, and covers the first passivation layer exposed by the opening.

A method for forming trenches of an interconnect network in a substrate. The method includes forming a first trench in the substrate, which has a first width. The method also includes forming a second trench in the substrate, which has a second width that is greater than the first width. The method also includes depositing a metal layer into the trenches, applying a dielectric over the metal, and diffusing metal atoms from the trenches to the dielectric. The dielectric absorbs a majority of the metal atoms from the first trench while simultaneously absorbing only a minority of metal atoms from the second trench.

Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a redistribution layer including a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature, a first contact feature disposed over and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature, a second contact feature disposed over and electrically coupled to the second conductive feature, and a passivation feature extending from between the first conductive feature and the second conductive feature between the first contact feature and the second contact feature. The passivation feature includes a dielectric feature and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on a planar top surface of the dielectric feature and a composition of the dielectric feature is different from a composition of the dielectric layer.

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein for the formation of low capacitance through substrate via structures. An example apparatus includes an opening formed in a substrate, wherein the opening has at least one sidewall, a first dielectric at least formed on the sidewall of the opening, a first conductor at least formed on the first dielectric, a second dielectric at least formed on the first conductor, and a second conductor at least formed on a sidewall of the second dielectric.

In one aspect of the invention, a method for fabricating an advanced metal conductor structure includes a conductive line pattern including a set of conductive line trenches in a dielectric layer. Each conductive line trench of the conductive line pattern has parallel vertical sidewalls and a horizontal bottom. A surface treatment of the dielectric layer is performed. The surface treatment produces an element enriched surface layer in which a concentration of a selected element in a surface portion of the parallel sidewalls and horizontal bottoms of the conductive line trenches is increased. A first metal layer is deposited on the element enriched surface layer. A first thermal anneal is performed which simultaneously reflows the first metal layer to fill a first portion of the conductive line trenches and causes a chemical change at interfaces of the first metal layer and the element enriched surface layer creating a liner which is an alloy of the first metal and selected element. A second metal layer is deposited. A second thermal anneal is performed which reflows the second metal layer to fill a remaining portion of the conductive line trenches. Another aspect of the invention is a device formed by the process.

An optoelectronic module. In some embodiments, the optoelectronic module includes: a substrate; a digital integrated circuit, on an upper surface of the substrate; and a frame, secured in a pocket of the substrate. The pocket is in a lower surface of the substrate, and the substrate includes an insulating layer, and a plurality of conductive traces.

A via opening is provided in an interconnect dielectric material. Prior to line opening formation, a continuous layer of a sacrificial material is formed lining the entirety of the via opening. An organic planarization layer (OPL) and a photoresist that contains a line pattern are formed above the interconnect dielectric material. The line pattern is then transferred into an upper portion of the interconnect dielectric material, while maintaining a portion of the OPL and a portion of the continuous layer of sacrificial material within a lower portion of the via opening. The remaining portions of the OPL and the sacrificial material are then removed from the bottom portion of the via opening. A combined via opening/line opening is provided in which the via opening has a well controlled profile/geometry. An interconnect metal or metal alloy can then be formed into the combined via opening/line opening.

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a first dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate. The first dielectric material layer is patterned to form a plurality of vias therein. A metal layer is formed on the first dielectric material layer, wherein the metal layer fills the plurality of vias. The metal layer is etched such that portions of the metal layer above the first dielectric material layer are patterned to form a plurality of metal features aligned with the plurality of vias respectively. A self-assembled monolayer film is formed on surfaces of the plurality of metal features.

Interconnect structures and related methods of manufacture improve device reliability and performance by selectively incorporating dopants into conductive lines. Multiple seed layer deposition steps or variable trench bottom areas are used to locally control the dopant concentration within the interconnect structures at the same wiring level, which provides a robust integration approach for metallizing interconnects in future-generation technology nodes.

A method includes forming one or more vias in a substrate, forming a first photoresist layer on a top surface of the substrate and a second photoresist layer on a bottom surface of the substrate, patterning the first photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer to remove at least a first portion of the first photoresist layer and at least a second portion of the second photoresist layer, filling the one or more vias, the first portion and the second portion with solder material using injection molded soldering, and removing remaining portions of the first photoresist layer and the second photoresist layer.