Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive pattern at an upper portion of a first insulating interlayer on a first substrate, a first plurality of conductive nanotubes (CNTs) extending vertically, a second conductive pattern at a lower portion of a second insulating interlayer beneath a second substrate, and a second plurality of CNTs extending vertically. A lower surface of the second insulating interlayer contacts an upper surface of the first insulating interlayer. At least a portion of a sidewall of each of the first plurality of CNTs is covered by the first conductive pattern, and at least a portion of a sidewall of each of the second plurality of CNTs is covered by the second conductive pattern. The first and second conductive patterns vertically face each other, and at least one of the first plurality of CNTs and at least one of the second plurality of CNTs contact each other.

Abstract: There is provided a method for fabricating a substrate structure capable of enhancing process reproducibility and process stability by trimming a bevel region of a substrate using a wafer level process. The method includes providing a first substrate including first and second surfaces opposite each other and a first device region formed at the first surface, providing a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces opposite each other and a second device region at the third surface, bonding the first substrate and the second substrate to electrically connect the first device region and the second device region, and forming a trimmed substrate. The forming the trimmed substrate includes etching an edge region of the second substrate bonded to the first substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a conductive component on a substrate, a passivation layer on the substrate and including an opening that exposes at least a portion of the conductive component, and a pad structure in the opening and located on the passivation layer, the pad structure being electrically connected to the conductive component. The pad structure includes a lower conductive layer conformally extending on an inner sidewall of the opening, the lower conductive layer including a conductive barrier layer, a first seed layer, an etch stop layer, and a second seed layer that are sequentially stacked, a first pad layer on the lower conductive layer and at least partially filling the opening, and a second pad layer on the first pad layer and being in contact with a peripheral portion of the lower conductive layer located on the top surface of the passivation layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a conductive component on a substrate, a passivation layer on the substrate and including an opening that exposes at least a portion of the conductive component, and a pad structure in the opening and located on the passivation layer, the pad structure being electrically connected to the conductive component.

Abstract: There is provided a method for fabricating a substrate structure capable of enhancing process reproducibility and process stability by trimming a bevel region of a substrate using a wafer level process. The method includes providing a first substrate including first and second surfaces opposite each other and a first device region formed at the first surface, providing a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces opposite each other and a second device region at the third surface, bonding the first substrate and the second substrate to electrically connect the first device region and the second device region, and forming a trimmed substrate. The forming the trimmed substrate includes etching an edge region of the second substrate bonded to the first substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, the device including a through-hole electrode structure extending through a substrate; a redistribution layer on the through-hole electrode structure; and a conductive pad, the conductive pad including a penetrating portion extending through the redistribution layer; and a protrusion portion on the penetrating portion, the protrusion portion protruding from an upper surface of the redistribution layer, wherein a central region of an upper surface of the protrusion portion is flat and not closer to the substrate than an edge region of the upper surface of the protrusion portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a protective layer, a redistribution pattern, a pad pattern and an insulating polymer layer. The protective layer may be formed on a substrate. The redistribution pattern may be formed on the protective layer. An upper surface of the redistribution may be substantially flat. The pad pattern may be formed directly on the redistribution pattern. An upper surface of the pad pattern may be substantially flat. The insulating polymer layer may be formed on the redistribution pattern and the pad pattern. An upper surface of the insulating polymer layer may be lower than the upper surface of the pad pattern. The semiconductor device may have a high reliability.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a conductive component on a substrate, a passivation layer on the substrate and including an opening that exposes at least a portion of the conductive component, and a pad structure in the opening and located on the passivation layer, the pad structure being electrically connected to the conductive component. The pad structure includes a lower conductive layer conformally extending on an inner sidewall of the opening, the lower conductive layer including a conductive barrier layer, a first seed layer, an etch stop layer, and a second seed layer that are sequentially stacked, a first pad layer on the lower conductive layer and at least partially filling the opening, and a second pad layer on the first pad layer and being in contact with a peripheral portion of the lower conductive layer located on the top surface of the passivation layer.

Abstract: Provided are a wafer bonding apparatus for accurately detecting a bonding state of wafers in a wafer bonding process and/or in a wafer bonding system including the wafer bonding apparatus. The wafer bonding apparatus includes a first supporting plate including a first surface and vacuum grooves for vacuum-absorption of a first wafer disposed on the first surface, a second supporting plate including a second surface facing the first surface. A second wafer is on the second surface. The wafer bonding apparatus and/or the wafer bonding system include a bonding initiator at a center portion of the first supporting plate, and an area sensor on the first supporting plate and configured to detect a propagation state of bonding between the first wafer and the second wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive pattern at an upper portion of a first insulating interlayer on a first substrate, a first plurality of conductive nanotubes (CNTs) extending vertically, a second conductive pattern at a lower portion of a second insulating interlayer beneath a second substrate, and a second plurality of CNTs extending vertically. A lower surface of the second insulating interlayer contacts an upper surface of the first insulating interlayer. At least a portion of a sidewall of each of the first plurality of CNTs is covered by the first conductive pattern, and at least a portion of a sidewall of each of the second plurality of CNTs is covered by the second conductive pattern. The first and second conductive patterns vertically face each other, and at least one of the first plurality of CNTs and at least one of the second plurality of CNTs contact each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate structure includes providing a first substrate including a first device region on a first surface, providing a second substrate including a second device region on a second surface, such that a width of the first device region is greater than a width of the second device region, and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate, such that the first and second device regions are facing each other and are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device can include a substrate that has a surface. A via structure can extend through the substrate toward the surface of the substrate, where the via structure includes an upper surface. A pad structure can be on the surface of the substrate, where the pad structure can include a lower surface having at least one protrusion that is configured to protrude toward the upper surface of the via structure.

Abstract: There is provided a method for fabricating a substrate structure capable of enhancing process reproducibility and process stability by trimming a bevel region of a substrate using a wafer level process. The method includes providing a first substrate including first and second surfaces opposite each other and a first device region formed at the first surface, providing a second substrate including third and fourth surfaces opposite each other and a second device region at the third surface, bonding the first substrate and the second substrate to electrically connect the first device region and the second device region, and forming a trimmed substrate. The forming the trimmed substrate includes etching an edge region of the second substrate bonded to the first substrate.

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 plug structure of a semiconductor chip includes a substrate, an insulating interlayer disposed on the substrate, wherein the insulating interlayer includes a pad structure disposed therein, a via hole penetrating the substrate and the insulating interlayer, wherein the via hole exposes the pad structure, an insulating pattern formed on an interior surface of the via hole, wherein the insulating pattern includes a burying portion, and the burying portion fills a notch disposed in the substrate at the interior surface of the via hole, and a plug formed on the insulating pattern within the via hole, wherein the plug is electrically connected with the pad structure.

Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer bonding structure includes a first wafer including a first conductive pad in a first insulating layer and a first barrier layer surrounding a lower surface and side surfaces of the first conductive pad, a second wafer including a second conductive pad in a second insulating layer and a second barrier layer surrounding a lower surface and side surfaces of the second conductive pad, the second insulating layer being bonded to the first insulating layer, and at least a portion of an upper surface of the second conductive pad being partially or entirely bonded to at least a portion of an upper surface of the first conductive pad, and a third barrier layer between portions of the first and second wafers where the first and second conductive pads are not bonded to each other.

Abstract: A wafer-to-wafer bonding structure includes a first wafer including a first conductive pad in a first insulating layer and a first barrier layer surrounding a lower surface and side surfaces of the first conductive pad, a second wafer including a second conductive pad in a second insulating layer and a second barrier layer surrounding a lower surface and side surfaces of the second conductive pad, the second insulating layer being bonded to the first insulating layer, and at least a portion of an upper surface of the second conductive pad being partially or entirely bonded to at least a portion of an upper surface of the first conductive pad, and a third barrier layer between portions of the first and second wafers where the first and second conductive pads are not bonded to each other.

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 penetrating through a substrate, a portion of the via structure being exposed over a surface of the substrate, a protection layer pattern structure provided on the surface of the substrate and including a first protection layer pattern and a second protection layer pattern, the first protection layer pattern surrounding a lower sidewall of the exposed portion of the via structure and exposing an upper sidewall of the exposed portion of the via structure, the second protection layer pattern exposing a portion of the top surface of the first protection layer pattern adjacent to the sidewall of the via structure, and a pad structure provided on the via structure and the protection layer pattern structure and covering the top surface of the first protection layer pattern exposed by the second protection layer pattern.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device is provided which includes a through-silicon via (TSV) structure and one or more decoupling capacitors, along with a method of manufacturing the same. The integrated circuit device may include a semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate, a TSV structure passing through the semiconductor substrate, and a decoupling capacitor formed in the semiconductor substrate and connected to the TSV structure. The TSV structure and the one or more decoupling capacitors may be substantially simultaneously formed. A plurality of decoupling capacitors may be disposed within a keep out zone (KOZ) of the TSV structure. The plurality of decoupling capacitors may have the same or different widths and/or depths. An isopotential conductive layer may be formed to reduce or eliminate a potential difference between different parts of the TSV structure.