Abstract: A method for fabricating a dual redistribution layer (RDL) interposer structure is provided. The method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to expose natural crystallographic planes to form trenches. The method also includes depositing conductive material within the trenches of the etched semiconductor substrate to form vias for an interposer structure. The method includes placing back end of line (BEOL) inter-chip wiring on a top side of the interposer structure using a first RDL. The method includes exposing the vias on a back side of the interposer structure. The method further includes forming power RDLs on a back side of the interposer structure using conductive lines in a dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a dual redistribution layer (RDL) interposer structure is provided. The method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to expose natural crystallographic planes to form trenches. The method also includes depositing conductive material within the trenches of the etched semiconductor substrate to form vias for an interposer structure. The method includes placing back end of line (BEOL) inter-chip wiring on a top side of the interposer structure using a first RDL. The method includes exposing the vias on a back side of the interposer structure. The method further includes forming power RDLs on a back side of the interposer structure using conductive lines in a dielectric layer.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory structures and methods of forming 3D semiconductor memory structures are provided. The 3D semiconductor memory structure includes a chip comprising a memory and Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs). The 3D semiconductor memory structure further includes a hardware accelerator arranged on and coupled face-to-face to the above chip. The 3D semiconductor memory structure also includes a substrate arranged under the under the (3D) semiconductor memory structure and the hardware accelerator and attached to the TSVs and external inputs and outputs of the memory chip and the hardware accelerator.

Abstract: An SOI semiconductor device includes a first wafer having an active semiconductor layer and a first oxide layer and a second wafer having a semiconductor substrate and a second oxide layer, the first oxide layer being bonded to the second oxide layer, and one of the first wafer and the second wafer includes a nitride layer. The nitride layer can be formed between the semiconductor substrate and the second oxide layer. A third oxide layer can be formed on the semiconductor substrate and the nitride layer is formed between the second oxide layer and the third oxide layer. The nitride layer can be formed between the active semiconductor layer and the first oxide layer. The first wafer can include a third oxide layer formed on the active semiconductor layer and the nitride layer is formed between the third oxide layer and the first oxide layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a dual redistribution layer (RDL) interposer structure is provided. The method includes etching a semiconductor substrate to expose natural crystallographic planes to form trenches. The method also includes depositing conductive material within the trenches of the etched semiconductor substrate to form vias for an interposer structure. The method includes placing back end of line (BEOL) inter-chip wiring on a top side of the interposer structure using a first RDL. The method includes exposing the vias on a back side of the interposer structure. The method further includes forming power RDLs on a back side of the interposer structure using conductive lines in a dielectric layer.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory structures and methods of forming 3D semiconductor memory structures are provided. The 3D semiconductor memory structure includes a chip comprising a memory and Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs). The 3D semiconductor memory structure further includes a hardware accelerator arranged on and coupled face-to-face to the above chip. The 3D semiconductor memory structure also includes a substrate arranged under the under the (3D) semiconductor memory structure and the hardware accelerator and attached to the TSVs and external inputs and outputs of the memory chip and the hardware accelerator.

Abstract: An EM testing method includes forcing electrical current through EM monitor wiring arranged in close proximity to the perimeter of the TSV and measuring an electrical resistance drop across the EM monitor wiring. The method may further include determining if an electrical short exists between the EM monitor wiring and the TSV from the measured electrical resistance. The method may further include determining if an early electrical open or resistance increase exists within the EM monitoring wiring due to TSV induced proximity effect.

Abstract: Methods of blocking ionizing radiation to reduce soft errors and resulting IC chips are disclosed. One embodiment includes forming a front end of line (FEOL) for an integrated circuit (IC) chip; and forming at least one back end of line (BEOL) dielectric layer including ionizing radiation blocking material therein. Another embodiment includes forming a front end of line (FEOL) for an integrated circuit (IC) chip; and forming an ionizing radiation blocking layer positioned in a back end of line (BEOL) of the IC chip. The ionizing radiation blocking material or layer absorbs ionizing radiation and reduces soft errors within the IC chip.

Abstract: A structure, such as a wafer, semiconductor chip, integrated circuit, or the like, includes a through silicon via (TSV) and an electromigration (EM) monitor. The TSV) includes at least one perimeter sidewall. The EM monitor includes a first EM wire separated from the perimeter sidewall of the TSV by a dielectric.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit structure for joining wafers. The IC structure may include: a metallic pillar over a substrate, the metallic pillar including an upper surface; a wetting inhibitor layer about a periphery of the upper surface of the metallic pillar; and a solder material over the upper surface of the metallic pillar, the solder material being within and constrained by the wetting inhibitor layer. The sidewall of the metallic pillar may be free of the solder material.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit structure for joining wafers. The IC structure may include: a metallic pillar over a substrate, the metallic pillar including an upper surface; a wetting inhibitor layer about a periphery of the upper surface of the metallic pillar; and a solder material over the upper surface of the metallic pillar, the solder material being within and constrained by the wetting inhibitor layer. The sidewall of the metallic pillar may be free of the solder material.

Abstract: Stress generation free thru-silicon-via structures with improved performance and reliability and methods of manufacture are provided. The method includes forming a first conductive diffusion barrier liner on an insulator layer within a thru-silicon-via of a wafer material. The method further includes forming a stress absorption layer on the first conductive diffusion barrier. The method further includes forming a second conductive diffusion barrier on the stress absorption layer. The method further includes forming a copper plate on the second conductive diffusion barrier.

Abstract: An SOI semiconductor device includes a first wafer having an active semiconductor layer and a first oxide layer and a second wafer having a semiconductor substrate and a second oxide layer, the first oxide layer being bonded to the second oxide layer, and one of the first wafer and the second wafer includes a nitride layer. The nitride layer can be formed between the semiconductor substrate and the second oxide layer. A third oxide layer can be formed on the semiconductor substrate and the nitride layer is formed between the second oxide layer and the third oxide layer. The nitride layer can be formed between the active semiconductor layer and the first oxide layer. The first wafer can include a third oxide layer formed on the active semiconductor layer and the nitride layer is formed between the third oxide layer and the first oxide layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments include approaches for designing through-silicon vias (TSVs) in integrated circuits (ICs). In some cases, a method includes: identifying types of through-silicon vias (TSVs) for placement within an integrated circuit (IC) design based upon an electrical requirement for the TSVs, wherein the IC design includes distinct types of TSVs; calculating etch and fill rates for the IC design with the distinct types of TSVs with common etching and filling processes; and providing fabrication instructions to form the distinct types of TSVs according to the calculated etch and fill rates in the common processes.

Abstract: A structure and method for forming a split probe pad structure for a semiconductor structure. The split probe pad structure may include a first probe pad structure over a substrate, the first probe pad structure including a first probe pad in electrical communication with the substrate; a second probe pad structure over the substrate, the second probe pad structure including a second probe pad in electrical communication with the substrate, wherein the second probe pad structure is laterally separated from the first probe pad structure; and a non-metal region between the first probe pad structure and the second probe pad structure. The split probe pad structure may be formed in a kerf region of the semiconductor structure. The non-metal region may include a dielectric material.

Abstract: An SOI semiconductor device includes a first wafer having an active semiconductor layer and a first oxide layer and a second wafer having a semiconductor substrate and a second oxide layer, the first oxide layer being bonded to the second oxide layer, and one of the first wafer and the second wafer includes a nitride layer. The nitride layer can be formed between the semiconductor substrate and the second oxide layer. A third oxide layer can be formed on the semiconductor substrate and the nitride layer is formed between the second oxide layer and the third oxide layer. The nitride layer can be formed between the active semiconductor layer and the first oxide layer. The first wafer can include a third oxide layer formed on the active semiconductor layer and the nitride layer is formed between the third oxide layer and the first oxide layer.

Abstract: A structure and method for forming a split probe pad structure for a semiconductor structure. The split probe pad structure may include a first probe pad structure over a substrate, the first probe pad structure including a first probe pad in electrical communication with the substrate; a second probe pad structure over the substrate, the second probe pad structure including a second probe pad in electrical communication with the substrate, wherein the second probe pad structure is laterally separated from the first probe pad structure; and a non-metal region between the first probe pad structure and the second probe pad structure. The split probe pad structure may be formed in a kerf region of the semiconductor structure. The non-metal region may include a dielectric material.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes disposing a mask on a substrate; etching the mask to form an opening in the mask; etching a trench in the substrate beneath the opening in the mask; and implanting a dopant in an area of the substrate beneath the opening of the mask, the dopant capable of gettering mobile ions that can contaminate the substrate; wherein the dopant extends through the substrate from a sidewall of the trench and an endwall of the trench.

Abstract: A method of forming an IC structure, including: forming a first plurality of active devices within a first semiconductor layer over a substrate; forming a first wiring layer over the first semiconductor layer, the first wiring layer including a first metal having a melting point greater than approximately 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.); forming a second semiconductor layer over the first wiring layer; forming a second plurality of active devices within the second semiconductor layer; and forming a second wiring layer over the second semiconductor layer, the second wiring layer including the first metal having a melting point greater than approximately 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.).

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an integrated circuit structure for joining wafers and methods of forming same. The IC structure may include: a metallic pillar over a substrate, the metallic pillar including an upper surface; a wetting inhibitor layer about a periphery of the upper surface of the metallic pillar; and a solder material over the upper surface of the metallic pillar, the solder material being within and constrained by the wetting inhibitor layer. The sidewall of the metallic pillar may be free of the solder material. The method may include: forming a metallic pillar over a substrate, the metallic pillar having an upper surface; forming a wetting inhibitor layer about a periphery of the upper surface of the metallic pillar; and forming a solder material over the upper surface of the metallic pillar within and constrained by the wetting inhibitor layer.