An electronic device, an electronic module comprising the electronic device and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. In one example, the electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate and a metal stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the metal stack comprises a first layer, wherein the first layer comprises NiSi.

In a semiconductor device, a semiconductor element includes a semiconductor substrate, a surface electrode and a protective film. The semiconductor substrate has an active region and an outer peripheral region. The surface electrode includes a base electrode disposed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate and a connection electrode disposed on the base electrode. The protective film covers a peripheral end portion of the base electrode and an outer peripheral edge of the connection electrode. The protective film has an opening to expose the connection electrode so as to enable a solder connection. A boundary between the outer peripheral edge of the connection electrode and the protective film is located at a position corresponding to the outer peripheral region in a plan view.

In a semiconductor device, a semiconductor element includes a semiconductor substrate, a surface electrode and a protective film. The semiconductor substrate has an active region and an outer peripheral region. The surface electrode includes a base electrode disposed on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate and a connection electrode disposed on the base electrode. The protective film covers a peripheral end portion of the base electrode and an outer peripheral edge of the connection electrode. The protective film has an opening to expose the connection electrode so as to enable a solder connection. A boundary between the outer peripheral edge of the connection electrode and the protective film is located at a position corresponding to the outer peripheral region in a plan view.

Semiconductor dies including ultra-thin wafer backmetal systems, microelectronic devices containing such semiconductor dies, and associated fabrication methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for processing a device wafer includes obtaining a device wafer having a wafer frontside and a wafer backside opposite the wafer frontside. A wafer-level gold-based ohmic bond layer, which has a first average grain size and which is predominately composed of gold, by weight, is sputter deposited onto the wafer backside. An electroplating process is utilized to deposit a wafer-level silicon ingress-resistant plated layer over the wafer-level Au-based ohmic bond layer, while imparting the plated layer with a second average grain size exceeding the first average grain size. The device wafer is singulated to separate the device wafer into a plurality of semiconductor die each having a die frontside, an Au-based ohmic bond layer, and a silicon ingress-resistant plated layer.

Semiconductor dies including ultra-thin wafer backmetal systems, microelectronic devices containing such semiconductor dies, and associated fabrication methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for processing a device wafer includes obtaining a device wafer having a wafer frontside and a wafer backside opposite the wafer frontside. A wafer-level gold-based ohmic bond layer, which has a first average grain size and which is predominately composed of gold, by weight, is sputter deposited onto the wafer backside. An electroplating process is utilized to deposit a wafer-level silicon ingress-resistant plated layer over the wafer-level Au-based ohmic bond layer, while imparting the plated layer with a second average grain size exceeding the first average grain size. The device wafer is singulated to separate the device wafer into a plurality of semiconductor die each having a die frontside, an Au-based ohmic bond layer, and a silicon ingress-resistant plated layer.

First and second contacts are formed on first and second wafers from disparate first and second conductive materials, at least one of which is subject to surface oxidation when exposed to air. A layer of oxide-inhibiting material is disposed over a bonding surface of the first contact and the first and second wafers are positioned relative to one another such that a bonding surface of the second contact is in physical contact with the layer of oxide-inhibiting material. Thereafter, the first and second contacts and the layer of oxide-inhibiting material are heated to a temperature that renders the first and second contacts and the layer of oxide-inhibiting material to liquid phases such that at least the first and second contacts alloy into a eutectic bond.

A method of removing a substrate, comprising: forming a growth restrict mask with a plurality of striped opening areas directly or indirectly upon a GaN-based substrate; and growing a plurality of semiconductor layers upon the GaN-based substrate using the growth restrict mask, such that the growth extends in a direction parallel to the striped opening areas of the growth restrict mask, and growth is stopped before the semiconductor layers coalesce, thereby resulting in island-like semiconductor layers. A device is processed for each of the island-like semiconductor layers. Etching is performed until at least a part of the growth restrict mask is exposed. The devices are then bonded to a support substrate. The GaN-based substrate is removed from the devices by a wet etching technique that at least partially dissolves the growth restrict mask. The GaN substrate that is removed then can be recycled.

A method of removing a substrate, comprising: forming a growth restrict mask with a plurality of striped opening areas directly or indirectly upon a GaN-based substrate; and growing a plurality of semiconductor layers upon the GaN-based substrate using the growth restrict mask, such that the growth extends in a direction parallel to the striped opening areas of the growth restrict mask, and growth is stopped before the semiconductor layers coalesce, thereby resulting in island-like semiconductor layers. A device is processed for each of the island-like semiconductor layers. Etching is performed until at least a part of the growth restrict mask is exposed. The devices are then bonded to a support substrate. The GaN-based substrate is removed from the devices by a wet etching technique that at least partially dissolves the growth restrict mask. The GaN substrate that is removed then can be recycled.

A semiconductor device includes a conductor, a semiconductor element, and a bonding layer. The conductor has obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces facing away from each other in a thickness direction. The semiconductor element has a body layer and electrodes projecting toward the obverse surfaces from a side of the body layer that opposes the obverse surfaces in the thickness direction. The bonding layer bonds the obverse surfaces and the electrodes. Each electrode has a base portion in contact with the body layer and a columnar portion projecting from the base portion and in contact with the bonding layer. The electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode located closer to the periphery of the body layer than is the first electrode as viewed in the thickness direction. The second electrode is larger in area of the columnar portion than the first electrode, as viewed in the thickness direction.

A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor die, a device layer, an insulator layer, a buffer layer, and connective terminals. The device layer is stacked over the semiconductor die. The device layer includes an edge coupler located at an edge of the semiconductor package and a waveguide connected to the edge coupler. The insulator layer is stacked over the device layer and includes a first dielectric material. The buffer layer is stacked over the insulator layer. The buffer layer includes a second dielectric material. The connective terminals are disposed on the buffer layer and reach the insulator layer through contact openings of the buffer layer.