A microelectronic device includes a reflow structure. The reflow structure has a copper-containing member and a solder member, and a barrier layer between them. The barrier layer has metal grains, with a diffusion barrier filler between the metal grains. The metal grains include at least a first metal and a second metal, each selected from nickel, cobalt, lanthanum, and cerium, with each having a concentration in the metal grains of at least 10 weight percent. The diffusion barrier filler includes at least a third metal, selected from tungsten and molybdenum. A combined concentration of tungsten and molybdenum in the diffusion barrier filler is higher than in the metal grains to provide a desired resistance to diffusion of copper. The barrier layer includes 2 weight percent to 15 weight percent of the combined concentration of tungsten, and molybdenum. A bump bond structure and a lead frame package are disclosed.

A microelectronic device includes a reflow structure. The reflow structure has a copper-containing member and a solder member, and a barrier layer between them. The barrier layer has metal grains, with a diffusion barrier filler between the metal grains. The metal grains include at least a first metal and a second metal, each selected from nickel, cobalt, lanthanum, and cerium, with each having a concentration in the metal grains of at least 10 weight percent. The diffusion barrier filler includes at least a third metal, selected from tungsten and molybdenum. A combined concentration of tungsten and molybdenum in the diffusion barrier filler is higher than in the metal grains to provide a desired resistance to diffusion of copper. The barrier layer includes 2 weight percent to 15 weight percent of the combined concentration of tungsten, and molybdenum. A bump bond structure and a lead frame package are disclosed.

A semiconductor chip, a display device or an electronic device includes a substrate, one or more conductive pads disposed on the substrate, and one or more bumps electrically connected to the one or more conductive pads, in which the one or more bumps includes a metal core, a polymer layer disposed over a surface of the metal core, and a conductive coating layer disposed over a surface of the polymer layer and electrically connected to the one or more conductive pads.

A semiconductor chip, a display device or an electronic device includes a substrate, one or more conductive pads disposed on the substrate, and one or more bumps electrically connected to the one or more conductive pads, in which the one or more bumps includes a metal core, a polymer layer disposed over a surface of the metal core, and a conductive coating layer disposed over a surface of the polymer layer and electrically connected to the one or more conductive pads.

Produced is a metal ball which suppresses an emitted dose. Contained are the steps of melting a pure metal by heating the pure metal at a temperature which is higher than a boiling point of an impurity to be removed, higher than a melting point of the pure metal, and lower than a boiling point of the pure metal, the pure metal containing a U content of 5 ppb or less, a Th content of 5 ppb or less, purity of 99.9% or more and 99.995% or less, and a Pb or Bi content or a total content of Pb and Bi of 1 ppm or more, and the pure metal having the boiling point higher than the boiling point at atmospheric pressure of the impurity to be removed; and sphering the molten pure metal in a ball.

Produced is a metal ball which suppresses an emitted dose. Contained are the steps of melting a pure metal by heating the pure metal at a temperature which is higher than a boiling point of an impurity to be removed, higher than a melting point of the pure metal, and lower than a boiling point of the pure metal, the pure metal containing a U content of 5 ppb or less, a Th content of 5 ppb or less, purity of 99.9% or more and 99.995% or less, and a Pb or Bi content or a total content of Pb and Bi of 1 ppm or more, and the pure metal having the boiling point higher than the boiling point at atmospheric pressure of the impurity to be removed; and sphering the molten pure metal in a ball.

A method of forming surface protrusions on an article, and the article with the protrusions attached. The article may be an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip, a test probe for the IC chip or any suitable substrate or nanostructure. The surface protrusions are electroplated to a template or mold wafer, transferred to the article and easily separated from the template wafer. Thus, the attached protrusions may be, e.g., micro-bumps or micro pillars on an IC chip or substrate, test probes on a probe head, or one or more cantilevered membranes in a micro-machine or micro-sensor or other micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) formed without undercutting the MEMS structure.

A method of forming surface protrusions on an article, and the article with the protrusions attached. The article may be an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip, a test probe for the IC chip or any suitable substrate or nanostructure. The surface protrusions are electroplated to a template or mold wafer, transferred to the article and easily separated from the template wafer. Thus, the attached protrusions may be, e.g., micro-bumps or micro pillars on an IC chip or substrate, test probes on a probe head, or one or more cantilevered membranes in a micro-machine or micro-sensor or other micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) formed without undercutting the MEMS structure.

A Cu core ball is provided that prevents any soft errors and decreases any connection failure. The Cu core ball includes a solder plating film formed on the surface of a Cu ball that is a Sn solder plating film or is made of a lead-free solder alloy, a principal ingredient of which is Sn. The solder plating film contains U of 5 ppb or less and Th of 5 ppb or less. The Cu ball has a purity of not less than 99.9% Cu and not more than 99.995% Cu. Pb and/or Bi contents therein are at a total of 1 ppm or more. The sphericity thereof is 0.95 or more. The obtained Cu core ball has an dose of 0.0200 cph/cm.sup.2 or less.

A Cu core ball is provided that prevents any soft errors and decreases any connection failure. The Cu core ball includes a solder plating film formed on the surface of a Cu ball that is a Sn solder plating film or is made of a lead-free solder alloy, a principal ingredient of which is Sn. The solder plating film contains U of 5 ppb or less and Th of 5 ppb or less. The Cu ball has a purity of not less than 99.9% Cu and not more than 99.995% Cu. Pb and/or Bi contents therein are at a total of 1 ppm or more. The sphericity thereof is 0.95 or more. The obtained Cu core ball has an dose of 0.0200 cph/cm.sup.2 or less.