The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor chip that includes a substrate, a metal layer, and a number of component portions. Herein, the substrate has a substrate base and a number of protrusions protruding from a bottom surface of the substrate base. The substrate base and the protrusions are formed of a same material. Each of the protrusions has a same height. At least one via hole extends vertically through one protrusion and the substrate base. The metal layer selectively covers exposed surfaces at a backside of the substrate and fully covers inner surfaces of the at least one via hole. The component portions reside over a top surface of the substrate base, such that a certain one of the component portions is electrically coupled to a portion of the metal layer at the top of the at least one via hole.

A semiconductor device includes a predetermined number of leads, a semiconductor element electrically connected to the leads and supported by one of the leads, and a sealing resin that covers the semiconductor element and a part of each lead. Each lead includes some portions exposed from the sealing resin. A surface plating layer is formed on at least one of the exposed portions of the respective leads.

Methods for bonding substrates used, for example, in substrate-level packaging, are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for bonding substrates includes: performing electrochemical deposition (ECD) to deposit at least one material on each of a first substrate and a second substrate, performing chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) on the first substrate and the second substrate to form a bonding interface on each of the first substrate and the second substrate, positioning the first substrate on the second substrate so that the bonding interface on the first substrate aligns with the bonding interface on the second substrate, and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate using the bonding interface on the first substrate and the bonding interface on the second substrate.

The present disclosure relates to a fabrication process of a semiconductor chip, which starts with providing a precursor wafer mounted on a carrier. The precursor wafer includes a precursor substrate and component portions between the carrier and the precursor substrate. The precursor substrate is then thinned down to provide a thinned substrate, which includes a substrate base adjacent to the component portions and an etchable region over the substrate base. Next, the etchable region is selectively etched to generate a number of protrusions over the substrate base. Herein, the substrate base is retained, and portions of the substrate base are exposed through the protrusions. Each protrusion protrudes from the substrate base and has a same height. A metal layer is then applied to provide a semiconductor wafer. The metal layer selectively covers the exposed portions of the substrate base and covers at least a portion of each protrusion.

The present disclosure relates to a fabrication process of a semiconductor chip, which starts with providing a precursor wafer mounted on a carrier. The precursor wafer includes a precursor substrate and component portions between the carrier and the precursor substrate. The precursor substrate is then thinned down to provide a thinned substrate, which includes a substrate base adjacent to the component portions and an etchable region over the substrate base. Next, the etchable region is selectively etched to generate a number of protrusions over the substrate base. Herein, the substrate base is retained, and portions of the substrate base are exposed through the protrusions. Each protrusion protrudes from the substrate base and has a same height. A metal layer is then applied to provide a semiconductor wafer. The metal layer selectively covers the exposed portions of the substrate base and covers at least a portion of each protrusion.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor chip that includes a substrate, a metal layer, and a number of component portions. Herein, the substrate has a substrate base and a number of protrusions protruding from a bottom surface of the substrate base. The substrate base and the protrusions are formed of a same material. Each of the protrusions has a same height. At least one via hole extends vertically through one protrusion and the substrate base. The metal layer selectively covers exposed surfaces at a backside of the substrate and fully covers inner surfaces of the at least one via hole. The component portions reside over a top surface of the substrate base, such that a certain one of the component portions is electrically coupled to a portion of the metal layer at the top of the at least one via hole.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor chip that includes a substrate, a metal layer, and a number of component portions. Herein, the substrate has a substrate base and a number of protrusions protruding from a bottom surface of the substrate base. The substrate base and the protrusions are formed of a same material. Each of the protrusions has a same height. At least one via hole extends vertically through one protrusion and the substrate base. The metal layer selectively covers exposed surfaces at a backside of the substrate and fully covers inner surfaces of the at least one via hole. The component portions reside over a top surface of the substrate base, such that a certain one of the component portions is electrically coupled to a portion of the metal layer at the top of the at least one via hole.

A semiconductor device includes a predetermined number of leads, a semiconductor element electrically connected to the leads and supported by one of the leads, and a sealing resin that covers the semiconductor element and a part of each lead. Each lead includes some portions exposed from the sealing resin. A surface plating layer is formed on at least one of the exposed portions of the respective leads.

A bonding structure formed on a substrate includes an indium layer and a passivating nickel plating formed on the indium layer. The nickel plating serves to prevent a reaction involving the indium layer.

A bonding structure formed on a substrate includes an indium layer and a passivating nickel plating formed on the indium layer. The nickel plating serves to prevent a reaction involving the indium layer.