Abstract: A bonded structure is disclosed. The bonded structure includes a first element and a second element that is bonded to the first element along a bonding interface. The bonding interface has an elongate conductive interface feature and a nonconductive interface feature. The bonded structure also includes an integrated device that is coupled to or formed with the first element or the second element. The elongate conductive interface feature has a recess through a portion of a thickness of the elongate conductive interface feature. A portion of the nonconductive interface feature is disposed in the recess.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Direct bonded stack structures for increased reliability and improved yields in microelectronics are provided. Structural features and stack configurations are provided for memory modules and 3DICs to reduce defects in vertically stacked dies. Example processes alleviate warpage stresses between a thicker top die and direct bonded dies beneath it, for example. An etched surface on the top die may relieve warpage stresses. An example stack may include a compliant layer between dies. Another stack configuration replaces the top die with a layer of molding material to circumvent warpage stresses. An array of cavities on a bonding surface can alleviate stress forces. One or more stress balancing layers may also be created on a side of the top die or between other dies to alleviate or counter warpage. Rounding of edges can prevent stresses and pressure forces from being destructively transmitted through die and substrate layers. These measures may be applied together or in combinations in a single package.

Abstract: 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 through-silicon via (TSV) may be disposed through at least one of the microelectronic substrates. The TSV is exposed at the bonding interface of the substrate and functions as a contact surface for direct bonding.

Abstract: Representative techniques and devices, including process steps may be employed to mitigate undesired dishing in conductive interconnect structures and erosion of dielectric bonding surfaces. For example, an embedded layer may be added to the dished or eroded surface to eliminate unwanted dishing or voids and to form a planar bonding surface. Additional techniques and devices, including process steps may be employed to form desired openings in conductive interconnect structures, where the openings can have a predetermined or desired volume relative to the volume of conductive material of the interconnect structures. Each of these techniques, devices, and processes can provide for the use of larger diameter, larger volume, or mixed-sized conductive interconnect structures at the bonding surface of bonded dies and wafers.

Abstract: Representative techniques provide process steps for forming a microelectronic assembly, including preparing microelectronic components such as dies, wafers, substrates, and the like, for bonding. One or more surfaces of the microelectronic components are formed and prepared as bonding surfaces. The microelectronic components are stacked and bonded without adhesive at the prepared bonding surfaces.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include post-TSV reveal processing methods and devices formed using the methods. In some embodiments, the methods include forming an electrically and thermally conductive layer on the device that may be used as a power/ground connection path or a thermal spreading plane in a device assembly that includes a plurality of interconnected stacked devices.

Abstract: Devices and techniques include process steps for preparing various microelectronic components for bonding, such as for direct bonding without adhesive. The processes include providing a first bonding surface on a first surface of the microelectronic components, bonding a handle to the prepared first bonding surface, and processing a second surface of the microelectronic components while the microelectronic components are gripped at the handle. In some embodiments, the processes include removing the handle from the first bonding surface, and directly bonding the microelectronic components at the first bonding surface to other microelectronic components.

Abstract: Representative techniques and devices, including process steps may be employed to mitigate undesired dishing in conductive interconnect structures and erosion of dielectric bonding surfaces. For example, an embedded layer may be added to the dished or eroded surface to eliminate unwanted dishing or voids and to form a planar bonding surface. Additional techniques and devices, including process steps may be employed to form desired openings in conductive interconnect structures, where the openings can have a predetermined or desired volume relative to the volume of conductive material of the interconnect structures. Each of these techniques, devices, and processes can provide for the use of larger diameter, larger volume, or mixed-sized conductive interconnect structures at the bonding surface of bonded dies and wafers.

Abstract: Representative implementations of techniques and methods include processing singulated dies in preparation for bonding. A plurality of semiconductor die components may be singulated from a wafer component, the semiconductor die components each having a substantially planar surface. Particles and shards of material may be removed from edges of the plurality of semiconductor die component. Additionally, one or more of the plurality of semiconductor die components may be bonded to a prepared bonding surface, via the substantially planar surface.

Abstract: 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 through-silicon via (TSV) may be disposed through at least one of the microelectronic substrates. The TSV is exposed at the bonding interface of the substrate and functions as a contact surface for direct bonding.

Abstract: Representative implementations of techniques and methods include chemical mechanical polishing for hybrid bonding. The disclosed methods include depositing and patterning a dielectric layer on a substrate to form openings in the dielectric layer, depositing a barrier layer over the dielectric layer and within a first portion of the openings, and depositing a conductive structure over the barrier layer and within a second portion of the openings not occupied by the barrier layer, at least a portion of the conductive structure in the second portion of the openings coupled or contacting electrical circuitry within the substrate. Additionally, the conductive structure is polished to reveal portions of the barrier layer deposited over the dielectric layer and not in the second portion of the openings. Further, the barrier layer is polished with a selective polish to reveal a bonding surface on or at the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A bonded structure can include a carrier including a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact, a first singulated element including a third conductive contact directly bonded to the first conductive contact without an adhesive, and a second singulated element including a fourth conductive contact directly bonded to the second conductive contact without an adhesive, wherein the first and second conductive contacts are spaced apart by a contact spacing of no more than 250 microns.

Abstract: Techniques for joining dissimilar materials in microelectronics are provided. Example techniques direct-bond dissimilar materials at an ambient room temperature, using a thin oxide, carbide, nitride, carbonitride, or oxynitride intermediary with a thickness between 100-1000 nanometers. The intermediary may comprise silicon. The dissimilar materials may have significantly different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) and/or significantly different crystal-lattice unit cell geometries or dimensions, conventionally resulting in too much strain to make direct-bonding feasible. A curing period at ambient room temperature after the direct bonding of dissimilar materials allows direct bonds to strengthen by over 200%. A relatively low temperature anneal applied slowly at a rate of 1° C. temperature increase per minute, or less, further strengthens and consolidates the direct bonds.

Abstract: A method of integrating a first substrate having a first surface with a first insulating material and a first contact structure with a second substrate having a second surface with a second insulating material and a second contact structure. The first insulating material is directly bonded to the second insulating material. A portion of the first substrate is removed to leave a remaining portion. A third substrate having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) substantially the same as a CTE of the first substrate is bonded to the remaining portion. The bonded substrates are heated to facilitate electrical contact between the first and second contact structures. The third substrate is removed after heating to provided a bonded structure with reliable electrical contacts.

Abstract: A bonded structure comprising a first semiconductor element, a second semiconductor element spaced apart from the first semiconductor element by a gap, and an interconnect assembly comprising an insulating substrate with conductive traces, the insulating substrate including a first section directly bonded to the first semiconductor element, a second section directly bonded to the second semiconductor element, and a flexible section disposed between the first and second sections, the flexible section at least partially bridging the gap.

Abstract: A system for direct bonding can include a substrate support configured to hold a substrate for direct bonding and a die handling tool including an end effector configured to hold a die and bring the die into contact with the substrate supported on the substrate support, the end effector configured to initiate contact between the substrate and a bond initiation region of the die and to subsequently allow contact between the substrate and other regions of the die.

Abstract: A bonded structure comprises a frame element having a cavity formed through its thickness. The frame element is directly bonded to a first element at a first side and to a second element at a second side enclosing the cavity. The frame element may comprise a through substrate via (TSV). Redundant conductive contact pads may be formed in bonding layers for enhanced direct bonding quality and reliability.

Abstract: Structures and methods for direct bonding are disclosed. A bonded structure can include a first element and a second element. The first element can include a first non-conductive structure that has a non-conductive bonding surface, a cavity that extends at least partially through a thickness of the non-conductive structure from the non-conductive bonding surface, and a first conductive feature that has a first conductive material and a second conductive material over the first conductive material disposed in the cavity. A maximum grain size, in a linear lateral dimension, of the second conductive material can be smaller than 20% of the linear lateral dimension of the conductive feature. There can be less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of impurities at grain boundaries of the second conductive material.

Abstract: A stacked electronic device is disclosed. The stacked electronic device can comprise a die stack including two or more connected dies, such as a lower die, an upper die, and a middle die between the lower die and the upper die. A plurality of through substrate vias (TSVs) can provide signal transmission to dies of the stack. A power supply path can be configured to provide power to the middle die without passing through the lower die. In some embodiments, external paths can provide power through an upper surface of a die in the stack while signals are supplied through the lower surface.