Various chip stacks and methods and structures of interconnecting the same are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes a first semiconductor chip that has a first glass layer and plural first groups of plural conductor pads in the first glass layer. Each of the plural first groups of conductor pads is configured to bumplessly connect to a corresponding second group of plural conductor pads of a second semiconductor chip to make up a first interconnect of a plurality interconnects that connect the first semiconductor chip to the second semiconductor chip. The first glass layer is configured to bond to a second glass layer of the second semiconductor chip.

A method of fabricating an IC device is disclosed, in which a dielectric layer is first etched to form a contact opening and a dummy opening. Both do not extend through the dielectric layer, the contact opening has a width greater than that of the dummy opening. A sacrificial layer, which covers inner surface of the dummy opening and the dielectric layer at side surface of the contact opening, and from which the dielectric layer at bottom surface of the contact opening is exposed, is then formed, and under protection of this sacrificial layer, the dielectric layer exposed in the contact opening is etched in a self-aligned manner, a self-aligned contact hole is formed, in which a surface of the conductive structure is exposed. In this way, reliability of a contact that extends in both contact opening and self-aligned contact hole is ensured, avoiding the problem of possible contact failure.

A bonded assembly of a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die includes first and second semiconductor dies. The first semiconductor die includes first semiconductor devices, first metal interconnect structures embedded in first dielectric material layers, and first metal bonding pads laterally surrounded by a semiconductor material layer. The second semiconductor die includes second semiconductor devices, second metal interconnect structures embedded in second dielectric material layers, and second metal bonding pads that include primary metal bonding pads and auxiliary metal bonding pads. The auxiliary metal bonding pads are bonded to the semiconductor material layer through metal-semiconductor compound portions formed by reaction of surface portions of the semiconductor material layer and an auxiliary metal bonding pad. The primary metal bonding pads are bonded to the first metal bonding pads by metal-to-metal bonding.

The present application discloses a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a first semiconductor structure; and forming a first connecting structure comprising a first connecting insulating layer on the first semiconductor structure, two first conductive layers in the first connecting insulating layer, and a first porous layer between the two first conductive layers; wherein a porosity of the first porous layer is between about 25% and about 100%.

A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) is provided. In some embodiments, a second IC die is bonded to a first IC die. The first IC die includes a first semiconductor substrate and a first interconnect structure over the first semiconductor substrate. The second IC die includes a second semiconductor substrate and a second interconnect structure over the second semiconductor substrate. A plurality of electrical coupling structures is arranged at the peripheral region of the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. The plurality of electrical coupling structures respectively comprises a through silicon via (TSV) disposed in the second semiconductor substrate and electrically coupled to the first semiconductor device through a stack of wiring layers and inter-wire vias.

A hybrid bonded structure including a first integrated circuit component and a second integrated circuit component is provided. The first integrated circuit component includes a first dielectric layer, first conductors and isolation structures. The first conductors and the isolation structures are embedded in the first dielectric layer. The isolation structures are electrically insulated from the first conductors and surround the first conductors. The second integrated circuit component includes a second dielectric layer and second conductors. The second conductors are embedded in the second dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is bonded to the second dielectric layer and the first conductors are bonded to the second conductors.

Embodiments of bonded semiconductor structures and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a method for forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. A first interconnect layer including first interconnects is formed above a first substrate. A first bonding layer including first bonding contacts is formed above the first interconnect layer, such that each first interconnect is in contact with a respective first bonding contact. A second interconnect layer including second interconnects is formed above a second substrate. A second bonding layer including second bonding contacts is formed above the second interconnect layer, such that at least one second bonding contact is in contact with a respective second interconnect, and at least another second bonding contact is separated from the second interconnects. The first and second substrates are bonded in a face-to-face manner, such that each first bonding contact is in contact with one second bonding contact at a bonding interface.

A package structure of a semiconductor device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a bonding layer. The bonding layer bonds the first substrate and the second substrate. The bonding layer includes an inner bonding pad pattern and an outer bonding pad pattern formed in a dielectric layer. The outer bonding pad pattern surrounds the inner bonding pad pattern. A first bonding pad density of the outer bonding pad pattern is greater than a second bonding pad density of the inner bonding pad pattern.

A first semiconductor device includes: a first wiring layer including a first interlayer insulating film, a first electrode pad, and a first dummy electrode, the first electrode pad being embedded in the first interlayer insulating film and having one surface located on same plane as one surface of the first interlayer insulating film, and the first dummy electrode being embedded in the first interlayer insulating film, having one surface located on same plane as the one surface of the first interlayer insulating film, and being disposed around the first electrode pad; and a second wiring layer including a second interlayer insulating film, a second electrode pad, and a second dummy electrode, the second electrode pad being embedded in the second interlayer insulating film, having one surface located on same surface as one surface of the second interlayer insulating film, and being bonded to the first electrode pad, and the second dummy electrode having one surface located on same plane as the surface located closer to the first interlayer insulating film of the second interlayer insulating film, being disposed around the second electrode pad, and being bonded to the first dummy electrode. A second semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor section including a first electrode, the first electrode being formed on a surface located closer to a bonding interface and extending in a first direction; and a second semiconductor section including a second electrode and disposed to be bonded to the first semiconductor section at the bonding interface, the second electrode being bonded to the first electrode and extending in a second direction that intersects with the first direction.

In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first interconnection provided above the substrate, and a first pad provided on the first interconnection. The device further includes a second pad provided on the first pad, and a second interconnection provided on the second pad. Furthermore, the first pad includes a first layer provided in a first insulator above the substrate, and a second layer that is provided in the first insulator via the first layer and is in contact with the first interconnection, or the second pad includes a third layer provided in a second insulator above the substrate, and a fourth layer that is provided in the second insulator via the third layer and is in contact with the second interconnection.