An electronic device comprises a semiconductor die, a layer stack disposed on the semiconductor die and comprising one or more functional layers, wherein the layer stack comprises a protection layer which is an outermost functional layer of the layer stack, and a sacrificial layer disposed on the protection layer, wherein the sacrificial layer comprises a material which decomposes or becomes volatile at a temperature between 100° and 400° C.

An electronic device comprises a semiconductor die, a layer stack disposed on the semiconductor die and comprising one or more functional layers, wherein the layer stack comprises a protection layer which is an outermost functional layer of the layer stack, and a sacrificial layer disposed on the protection layer, wherein the sacrificial layer comprises a material which decomposes or becomes volatile at a temperature between 100° and 400° C.

A method of forming semiconductor devices includes providing a wafer having a first side and second side, electrically conductive pads at the second side, and an electrically insulative layer at the second side with openings to the pads. The first side of the wafer is background to a desired thickness and an electrically conductive layer is deposited thereon. Nickel layers are simultaneously electrolessly deposited over the electrically conductive layer and over the pads, and diffusion barrier layers are then simultaneously deposited over the nickel layers. Another method of forming semiconductor devices includes depositing backmetal (BM) layers on the electrically conductive layer including a titanium layer, a nickel layer, and/or a silver layer. The BM layers are covered with a protective coating and a nickel layer is electrolessly deposited over the pads. A diffusion barrier layer is deposited over the nickel layer over the pads, and the protective coating is removed.

A method of forming semiconductor devices includes providing a wafer having a first side and second side, electrically conductive pads at the second side, and an electrically insulative layer at the second side with openings to the pads. The first side of the wafer is background to a desired thickness and an electrically conductive layer is deposited thereon. Nickel layers are simultaneously electrolessly deposited over the electrically conductive layer and over the pads, and diffusion barrier layers are then simultaneously deposited over the nickel layers. Another method of forming semiconductor devices includes depositing backmetal (BM) layers on the electrically conductive layer including a titanium layer, a nickel layer, and/or a silver layer. The BM layers are covered with a protective coating and a nickel layer is electrolessly deposited over the pads. A diffusion barrier layer is deposited over the nickel layer over the pads, and the protective coating is removed.

A redistribution layer for an integrated circuit is made by forming a conductive interconnection layer; forming a conductive body in electrical contract with the interconnection layer; and covering the conductive body with a first coating layer having a thickness less than 100 nm. The first coating layer is configured to provide a protection against oxidation and/or corrosion of the conductive body. To carry out an electrical test of the integrated circuit, a testing probe locally perforates the first coating layer until the conductive body is electrically contacted by the testing probe.

A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad on the semiconductor substrate, a redistribution line conductor, a coating insulator, and an aluminum oxide layer. The redistribution line conductor is electrically connected to the conductive pad. The coating insulator covers the redistribution line conductor and partially exposes the redistribution line conductor. The aluminum oxide layer is provided below the coating insulator and extends along a top surface of the redistribution line conductor, and the aluminum oxide layer is in contact with the redistribution line conductor.

A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad on the semiconductor substrate, a redistribution line conductor, a coating insulator, and an aluminum oxide layer. The redistribution line conductor is electrically connected to the conductive pad. The coating insulator covers the redistribution line conductor and partially exposes the redistribution line conductor. The aluminum oxide layer is provided below the coating insulator and extends along a top surface of the redistribution line conductor, and the aluminum oxide layer is in contact with the redistribution line conductor.

A semiconductor device comprises a metallization layer, a passivation layer disposed above the metallization layer, a copper redistribution layer disposed on the passivation layer, a second passivation layer disposed on the copper redistribution layer, and a polyimide layer disposed over the second passivation layer. The polyimide layer and the second passivation layer include a continuous gap there-through that exposes a portion of the copper redistribution layer.

A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes: providing a semiconductor chip comprising an active surface; forming a conductive bump over the active surface of the semiconductor chip; and coupling the conductive bump to a substrate. The conductive bump includes a plurality of bump segments including a first group of bump segments and a second group of bump segments. Each bump segment has a same segment thickness in a direction orthogonal to the active surface of the semiconductor chip, and each bump segment has a volume defined by a multiplication of the same segment thickness with an average cross-sectional area of the bump segment in a plane parallel to the active surface of the semiconductor chip. A ratio of a total volume of the first group of bump segments to a total volume of the second group of bump segments is between 0.03 and 0.8.

A system includes a metallic contact integrated onto a semiconductor integrated circuit substrate with a stress buffer dielectric between the contact and the bulk dielectric. The bulk dielectric typically covers an integrated circuit metal layer to provide electrical isolation of the circuitry. The semiconductor circuit can include a trace that connects the contact to a package pad to enable external access to the signal from off the semiconductor circuit. The stress buffer dielectric has higher elongation and lower filler loading relative to the bulk dielectric, which makes the stress buffer more pliable. The stress buffer is disposed between the contact and the bulk dielectric to improve stress response, reducing the possibility of delamination of the contact from the bulk dielectric.