Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, a through-via electrode extending through the substrate. The through-via electrode has an interconnection metal layer and a barrier metal layer surrounding a side surface of the interconnection metal layer. One end of the through-via electrode protrudes above the second surface. A spacer insulating layer may be provided on an outer sidewall of the through-via electrode. A through-via electrode pad is connected to the through-via electrode and extends on the spacer insulating layer substantially parallel to the second surface. A first silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride layer are stacked on the second surface. A thickness of the first silicon oxide layer is greater than a thickness of the silicon nitride layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a photoresist pattern having a side recess on a seed metal layer and forming a plating layer having a hem using a plating process to fill the side recess.

Abstract: A method of forming through silicon vias (TSVs) uses a low-k dielectric material as a via insulating layer to thereby improve step coverage and minimize resistive capacitive (RC) delay. To this end, the method includes forming a primary via hole in a semiconductor substrate, depositing low-k dielectric material in the primary via hole, forming a secondary via hole by etching the low-k dielectric in the primary via hole, in such a manner that a via insulating layer and an inter metal dielectric layer of the low-k dielectric layer are simultaneously formed. The via insulating layer is formed of the low-k dielectric material on sidewalls and a bottom surface of the substrate which delimit the primary via hole and the inter metal dielectric layer is formed on an upper surface of the substrate. Then a metal layer is formed on the substrate including in the secondary via hole, and the metal layer is selectively removed from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Optical input/output (I/O) devices, which include a substrate including a trench, a waveguide within the trench of the substrate; and a photodetector within the trench and optically connected to the waveguide. An upper surface of the photodetector is at a same level as an upper surface of the waveguide.

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor devices with a through electrode and methods of fabricating the same. The methods may include forming a via hole at least partially penetrating a substrate, the via hole having an entrance provided on a top surface of the substrate, forming a via-insulating layer to cover conformally an inner surface of the via hole, forming a buffer layer on the via-insulating layer to cover conformally the via hole provided with the via-insulating layer, the buffer layer being formed of a material whose shrinkability is superior to the via-insulating layer, forming a through electrode to fill the via hole provided with the buffer layer, and recessing a bottom surface of the substrate to expose the through electrode.

Abstract: Provided are electrode-connecting structures or semiconductor devices, including a lower device including a lower substrate, a lower insulating layer formed on the lower substrate, and a lower electrode structure formed in the lower insulating layer, wherein the lower electrode structure includes a lower electrode barrier layer and a lower metal electrode formed on the lower electrode barrier layer, and an upper device including an upper substrate, an upper insulating layer formed under the upper substrate, and an upper electrode structure formed in the upper insulating layer, wherein the upper electrode structure includes an upper electrode barrier layer extending from the inside of the upper insulating layer under a bottom surface thereof and an upper metal electrode formed on the upper electrode barrier layer. The lower metal electrode is in direct contact with the upper metal electrode.

Abstract: For forming a semiconductor device, a via structure is formed through at least one dielectric layer and at least a portion of a substrate. In addition, a protective buffer layer is formed onto the via structure. Furthermore, a conductive structure for an integrated circuit is formed over the substrate after forming the via structure and the protective buffer layer, with the conductive structure not being formed over the via structure. Thus, deterioration of the conductive and via structures is minimized.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are disclosed. The semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other and a pad trench formed at a portion of the second surface, a through-electrode penetrating the semiconductor substrate and protruding from a bottom surface of the pad trench. A buried pad may be disposed in the pad trench and may surround the through-electrode.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices having through electrodes are provided. The method may comprise forming a via hole which opens towards an upper surface of a substrate and disconnects with a lower surface of the substrate; forming a via isolation layer which extends along an inner surface of the via hole and covers the upper surface of the substrate; forming a seed layer on the via isolation layer which extends along the via isolation layer; annealing the seed layer in-situ after forming the seed layer; forming a conductive layer, filling the via hole, by an electroplating using the seed layer; and planarizing the upper surface of the substrate to form a through electrode surrounded by the via isolation layer in the via hole.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure and a conductive structure. The via structure has a surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion. The conductive structure is formed over at least part of the planar portion and not over at least part of the protrusion portion of the via structure. For example, the conductive structure is formed only onto the planar portion and not onto any of the protrusion portion for forming high quality connection between the conductive structure and the via structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a via hole comprised of a first region having a first width and a second region having a second width greater than the first width, wherein at least a portion of the substrate is exposed in the via hole, and an insulating region having an air gap spaced apart from and surrounding the first region of the via hole.

Abstract: A fabricating method for a semiconductor device is provided. The fabricating method includes providing a first wafer, forming a sacrificial layer on the first wafer, forming a release layer on the sacrificial layer, forming an adhesive layer on the release layer, and placing a second wafer on the adhesive layer and bonding the first wafer to the second wafer.

Abstract: A conductive via of a semiconductor device is provided extending in a vertical direction through a substrate, a first end of the conductive via extending through a first surface of the substrate, so that the first end protrudes in the vertical direction relative to the first surface of the substrate. An insulating layer is provided on the first end of the conductive via and on the first surface of the substrate. An upper portion of a mask layer pattern is removed so that a capping portion of the insulating layer that is on the first end of the conductive via is exposed. A portion of the insulating layer at a side of, and spaced apart from, the conductive via, is removed, to form a recess in the insulating layer. The capping portion of the insulating layer on the first end of the conductive via is simultaneously removed.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, and methods of fabricating a semiconductor device, include forming a via hole through a first surface of a substrate, the via hole being spaced apart from a second surface facing the first surface, forming a first conductive pattern in the via hole, forming an insulating pad layer on the first surface of the substrate, the insulating pad having an opening exposing the first conductive pattern, performing a thermal treatment on the first conductive pattern to form a protrusion protruding from a top surface of the first conductive pattern toward the opening, and then, forming a second conductive pattern in the opening.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same are provided. For example, the semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first contact pad formed on the substrate, an insulation layer formed on the substrate and including a first opening which exposes the first contact pad, a first bump formed on the first contact pad and electrically connected to the first contact pad, and a reinforcement member formed on the insulation layer and adjacent to a side surface of the first lower bump. The first bump includes a first lower bump and a first upper bump, which are sequentially stacked on the first contact pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a top surface having a first contact, a bottom surface having a second contact, a via hole penetrating a substrate, an insulation layer structure on a sidewall of the via hole, the insulation layer structure having an air gap therein, a through electrode having an upper surface and a lower surface on the insulation layer structure, the through electrode filling the via hole and the lower surface being the second contact, and a metal wiring electrically connected to the upper surface of the through electrode and electrically connected to the first contact.

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor devices having through electrodes and methods of fabricating the same. The method includes providing a substrate including top and bottom surfaces facing each other, forming a hole and a gap extending from the top surface of the substrate toward the bottom surface of the substrate, the gap surrounding the hole and being shallower than the hole, filling the hole with an insulating material, forming a metal interconnection line on the top surface of the substrate on the insulating material, recessing the bottom surface of the substrate to expose the insulating material, removing the insulating material to expose the metal interconnection line via the hole, filling the hole with a conductive material to form a through electrode connected to the metal interconnection line, recessing the bottom surface of the substrate again to expose the gap, and forming a lower insulating layer on the bottom surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A wafer carrier includes a base having a cavity provided at the center of the base and an outer sidewall extending along and away from an edge of the base to define the cavity. The cavity is configured to be filled with an adhesive layer. The wafer carrier is configured to be bonded to a wafer with an adhesive layer in the cavity of base such that the outer sidewall faces and is in contact with an edge of the wafer and the cavity faces a center of the wafer.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate is loaded to a process chamber having, unit process sections in which unit processes are performed, respectively. The unit processes are performed on the substrate independently from one another at the unit process sections under a respective process pressure. The substrate sequentially undergoes the unit processes at the respective unit process section of the process chamber. Cleaning processes are individually performed to the unit process sections, respectively, when the substrate is transferred from each of the unit process sections and no substrate is positioned at the unit process sections. Accordingly, the process defects of the process units may be sufficiently prevented and the operation period of the manufacturing apparatus is sufficiently elongated.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor chip and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor chip includes a substrate having a first side and a second side facing each other, and a through electrode being disposed in a hole penetrating the substrate, wherein an opening surrounded by the through electrode is disposed in the hole, wherein the opening comprises a first end adjacent to the first side of the substrate and a second end adjacent to the second side of the substrate.