Representative techniques and devices including process steps may be employed to mitigate the potential for delamination of bonded microelectronic substrates due to metal expansion at a bonding interface. For example, a metal pad having a larger diameter or surface area (e.g., oversized for the application) may be used when a contact pad is positioned over a TSV in one or both substrates.

A semiconductor arrangement and method of forming the semiconductor arrangement are provided. The semiconductor arrangement includes a device having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A first through substrate via (TSV) structure extends between the first surface and the second surface in a first region of the device. A second TSV structure extends between the first surface and the second surface in a second region of the device. The first TSV structure has a first cross-sectional area. The second TSV structure has a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area.

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package includes: forming through-vias extending from a front side of a semiconductor substrate into the substrate; forming, on the front side of the semiconductor substrate, a circuit structure including a wiring structure electrically connected to the through-vias; removing a portion of the semiconductor substrate so that at least a portion of each of the through-vias protrudes to a rear side of the semiconductor substrate; forming a passivation layer covering the protruding portion of each of the through-vias; forming trenches recessed along a periphery of a corresponding one of the through-vias; removing a portion of the passivation layer so that one end of each of the through-vias is exposed to the upper surface of the passivation layer; and forming backside pads including a dam structure in each of the trenches, the dam structure being spaced apart from the corresponding one of the through-vias.

A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes: a first substrate; an active pattern extending on the first substrate; a gate electrode extending on the active pattern; a source/drain region on the active pattern; a first interlayer insulating layer on the source/drain region; a sacrificial layer on the first substrate; a lower wiring layer on a lower surface of the sacrificial layer; a through via trench extending to the lower wiring layer by passing through the first interlayer insulating layer and the sacrificial layer in a vertical direction; a through via inside the through via trench and connected to the lower wiring layer; a recess inside the sacrificial layer and protruding from a sidewall of the through via trench in the second horizontal direction; and a through via insulating layer extending along the sidewall of the through via trench and into the recess.

Disclosed herein are methods for direct bonding. In some embodiments, the direct bonding method includes microwave annealing a dielectric bonding layer of a first element by exposing the dielectric bonding layer to microwave radiation and then directly bonding the dielectric bonding layer of the first element to a second element without an intervening adhesive. The bonding method also includes depositing the dielectric bonding layer on a semiconductor portion of the first element at a first temperature and microwave annealing the dielectric bonding layer at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

A microelectronic structure is disclosed. The microelectronic structure can include a bulk semiconductor portion that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The microelectronic structure can include a via structure that extends at least partially through the bulk semiconductor portion along a direction non-parallel to the first surface. The microelectronic structure can include a first dielectric barrier layer that is disposed on the first surface of the bulk semiconductor portion and extends to the via structure. The microelectronic structure can include a second dielectric layer that is disposed on the first dielectric barrier layer and extends to the via structure.

A microelectronic structure with through substrate vias (TSVs) and method for forming the same is disclosed. The microelectronic structure can include a bulk semiconductor with a via structure. The via structure can have a first and second conductive portion. The via structure can also have a barrier layer between the first conductive portion and the bulk semiconductor. The structure can have a second barrier layer between the first and second conductive portions. The second conductive portion can extend from the second barrier layer to the upper surface of the bulk semiconductor. The microelectronic structure containing TSVs is configured so that the microelectronic structure can be bonded to a second element or structure.

A microelectronic structure with through substrate vias (TSVs) and method for forming the same is disclosed. The microelectronic structure can include a bulk semiconductor with a via structure. The via structure can have a first and second conductive portion. The via structure can also have a barrier layer between the first conductive portion and the bulk semiconductor. The structure can have a second barrier layer between the first and second conductive portions. The second conductive portion can extend from the second barrier layer to the upper surface of the bulk semiconductor. The microelectronic structure containing TSVs is configured so that the microelectronic structure can be bonded to a second element or structure.

A wafer includes a substrate that includes a channel layer, a first active region, a second active region, and a saw street region between the first active region and the second active region. The wafer includes a first device formed on the substrate in the first active region. The first device includes a first portion of the channel layer. The wafer includes a second device formed on the substrate in the second active region. The second device includes a second portion of the channel layer. The wafer includes a conductive channel between the first active region and the second active region. The conductive channel is in the saw street of the wafer and includes a third portion of the channel layer.

An exemplary semiconductor structure includes a device substrate having a first side and a second side. A dielectric layer is disposed over the first side of the device substrate. A through via extends along a first direction through the dielectric layer and through the device substrate from the first side to the second side. The through via has a total length along the first direction and a width along a second direction that is different than the first direction. The total length is a sum of a first length of the through via in the dielectric layer and a second length of the through via in the device substrate. The first length is less than the second length. A guard ring is disposed in the dielectric layer and around the through via.