Abstract: An electroplating apparatus includes an electroplating bath including an anode installed therein and a plating solution received therein, a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate to be submerged into the plating solution and including a support surrounding the substrate and a cathode on the support to be electrically connected to a periphery of the substrate, a magnetic field generating assembly provided in the support and including at least one electromagnetic coil extending along a circumference of the substrate, and a power supply configured to current to the electromagnetic coil.

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 includes a via structure having a top surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion that is surrounded by the planar portion, and includes a conductive structure including a plurality of conductive lines contacting at least a part of the top surface of the via structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of coating the surface of inorganic powder particles with a silicon-carbon composite and to inorganic powder particles coated by the method. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of coating the surface of inorganic powder particles with a silicon-carbon composite by mixing inorganic powder particles with a solid organic silicon polymer and heating the mixture, and to inorganic powder particles coated by the method.

Abstract: Provided are a current collector for a battery, including: a base material; adhesive layers positioned on the base material; and metal mesh layers positioned on the adhesive layers, in which the metal mesh layer includes a plurality of metal mesh patterns, and holes positioned between the metal mesh patterns, and a method of manufacturing the same. An active material is applied onto the metal mesh layer through the holes of the metal mesh layer, and thus a contact area of the metal mesh layer and the active material is increased, so that it is possible to restrict the active material from being deintercalated from the current collector and improve a cycle lifespan property of a battery.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a circuit pattern over a first surface of a substrate, an insulating interlayer covering the circuit pattern, a TSV structure filling a via hole through the insulating interlayer and the substrate, an insulation layer structure on an inner wall of the via hole and on a top surface of the insulating interlayer, a buffer layer on the TSV structure and the insulation layer structure, a conductive structure through the insulation layer structure and a portion of the insulating interlayer to be electrically connected to the circuit pattern, a contact pad onto a bottom of the TSV structure, and a protective layer structure on a second surface the substrate to surround the contact pad.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate through which a first through-hole extends, and an interlayer insulating film on the substrate, the interlayer insulating film having a second through-hole communicating with the first through-hole. A Through-Silicon Via (TSV) structure is provided in the first through-hole and the second through-hole. The TSV structure extends to pass through the substrate and the interlayer insulating film. The TSV structure comprises a first through-electrode portion having a top surface located in the first through-hole, and a second through-electrode portion having a bottom surface contacting with the top surface of the first through-electrode portion and extending from the bottom surface to at least the second through-hole. Related fabrication methods are also described.

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: 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: 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.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a via structure having a top surface with a planar portion and a protrusion portion that is surrounded by the planar portion, and includes a conductive structure including a plurality of conductive lines contacting at least a part of the top surface of the via structure.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor chip and a method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: The methods include forming a semiconductor substrate pattern by etching a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor pattern has a first via hole that exposes side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern, and the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole have an impurity layer pattern. The methods further include treating upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern, the treated upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern being hydrophobic; removing the impurity layer pattern from the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; forming a first insulating layer pattern on the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; and filling a first conductive layer pattern into the first via hole and over the first insulating layer pattern.

Abstract: In methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface is prepared. A sacrificial layer pattern is formed in a region of the substrate that a through electrode will be formed. The sacrificial layer pattern extends from the first surface of the substrate in a thickness direction of the substrate. An upper wiring layer is formed on the first surface of the substrate. The upper wiring layer includes a wiring on the sacrificial layer pattern. The second surface of the substrate is partially removed to expose the sacrificial layer pattern. The sacrificial layer pattern is removed from the second surface of the substrate to form an opening that exposes the wiring. A through electrode is formed in the opening to be electrically connected to the wiring.

Abstract: A via structure may include a first conductive pattern, a buffer pattern, and a second conductive pattern. The first conductive pattern may be on an inner wall of a first substrate and the inner wall may define a via hole passing at least partially through the first substrate. The buffer pattern may be on the first conductive pattern and the buffer pattern may partially fill the via hole. The second conductive pattern may be on a top surface of the buffer pattern in the via hole.

Abstract: The methods include forming a semiconductor substrate pattern by etching a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor pattern has a first via hole that exposes side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern, and the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole have an impurity layer pattern. The methods further include treating upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern, the treated upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate pattern being hydrophobic; removing the impurity layer pattern from the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; forming a first insulating layer pattern on the side walls of the semiconductor substrate pattern exposed by the first via hole; and filling a first conductive layer pattern into the first via hole and over the first insulating layer pattern.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a front end of line (FEOL) process may be performed on a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor structure. A back end of line (BEOL) process may be performed on the semiconductor substrate to form a wiring structure electrically connected to the semiconductor structure, thereby formed a semiconductor chip. A hole may be formed through a part of the semiconductor chip. A preliminary plug may have a dimple in the hole. The preliminary plug may be expanded into the dimple by a thermal treatment process to form a plug. Thus, the plug may not have a protrusion protruding from the upper surface of the semiconductor chip, so that the plug may be formed by the single CMP process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a circuit pattern over a first surface of a substrate, an insulating interlayer covering the circuit pattern, a TSV structure filling a via hole through the insulating interlayer and the substrate, an insulation layer structure on an inner wall of the via hole and on a top surface of the insulating interlayer, a buffer layer on the TSV structure and the insulation layer structure, a conductive structure through the insulation layer structure and a portion of the insulating interlayer to be electrically connected to the circuit pattern, a contact pad onto a bottom of the TSV structure, and a protective layer structure on a second surface the substrate to surround the contact pad.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate through which a first through-hole extends, and an interlayer insulating film on the substrate, the interlayer insulating film having a second through-hole communicating with the first through-hole. A Through-Silicon Via (TSV) structure is provided in the first through-hole and the second through-hole. The TSV structure extends to pass through the substrate and the interlayer insulating film. The TSV structure comprises a first through-electrode portion having a top surface located in the first through-hole, and a second through-electrode portion having a bottom surface contacting with the top surface of the first through-electrode portion and extending from the bottom surface to at least the second through-hole. Related fabrication methods are also described.