Abstract: In described examples, a semiconductor wafer with a thermally conductive surface layer comprises a bulk semiconductor layer having a first surface and a second surface, circuitry on the first surface, a metallic layer attached to the first surface or the second surface, and a graphene layer attached to the metallic layer. The first surface opposes the second surface. The metallic layer comprises a transition metal.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a pad and leads, the pad and leads including a base metal predominantly including copper, a first plated metal layer predominantly including nickel in contact with the base metal, and a second plated metal layer predominantly including silver in contact with the first plated metal layer. The first plated metal layer has a first plated metal layer thickness of 0.1 to 5 microns, and the second plated metal layer has a second plated metal layer thickness of 0.2 to 5 microns. The semiconductor package further includes an adhesion promotion coating predominantly including silver oxide in contact with the second plated metal layer opposite the first plated metal layer, a semiconductor die mounted on the pad, a wire bond extending between the semiconductor die and a lead of the leads, and a mold compound covering the semiconductor die and the wire bond.

Abstract: A microstructure comprises a plurality of interconnected units wherein the units are formed of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) tubes. The graphene tubes may be formed by photo-initiating the polymerization of a monomer in a pattern of interconnected units to form a polymer microlattice, removing unpolymerized monomer, coating the polymer microlattice with a metal, removing the polymer microlattice to leave a metal microlattice, depositing an h-BN precursor on the metal microlattice, converting the h-BN precursor to h-BN, and removing the metal microlattice.

Abstract: In described examples, a circuit (e.g., an integrated circuit) includes a semiconductor substrate that includes a frontside surface and a backside surface. A circuit element is included at the frontside surface. An optional electrical insulator layer can be included adjacent to the backside surface. A distributor layer is included adjacent to the backside surface. In some examples, the distributor layer includes a distributor material that includes a matrix of cohered nanoparticles and metallic particles embedded by the cohered nanoparticles.

Abstract: A structure for a semiconductor device includes a copper (Cu) layer and a first nickel (Ni) alloy layer with a Ni grain size a1. The structure also includes a second Ni alloy layer with a Ni grain size a2, wherein a1<a2. The first Ni alloy layer is between the Cu layer and the second Ni alloy layer. The structure further includes a tin (Sn) layer. The second Ni alloy layer is between the first Ni alloy layer and the Sn layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite material includes photo-initiating a polymerization of a monomer in a pattern of interconnected units to form a polymer microlattice. Unpolymerized monomer is removed from the polymer microlattice. The polymer microlattice is coated with a metal. The metal-coated polymer microlattice is dispersed in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: A switchable array includes: a microstructure of interconnected units formed of graphene tubes with open spaces in the microstructure bounded by the graphene tubes; at least one JFET gate in at least one of the graphene tubes; and a control line having an end connected to the at least one JFET gate. The control line extends to a periphery of the microstructure.

Abstract: A leadless packaged semiconductor device includes a metal substrate having at least a first through-hole aperture having a first outer ring and a plurality of cuts through the metal substrate to define spaced apart metal pads on at least two sides of the first through-hole aperture. A semiconductor die that has a back side metal (BSM) layer on its bottom side and a top side with circuitry coupled to bond pads is mounted top side up on the first outer ring. A metal die attach layer is directly between the BSM layer and walls of the metal substrate bounding the first through-hole aperture that provides a die attachment that fills a bottom portion of the first through-hole aperture. Bond wires are between metal pads and the bond pads. A mold compound is also provided including between adjacent ones of the metal pads.

Abstract: A composite material comprises a polymer matrix having microstructure filler materials that comprise a plurality of interconnected units wherein the units are formed of connected tubes. The tubes may be formed by photo-initiating the polymerization of a monomer in a pattern of interconnected units to form a polymer microlattice, removing unpolymerized monomer, coating the polymer microlattice with a metal, removing the polymer microlattice to leave a metal microlattice, growing or depositing a material on the metal microlattice such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride or other ceramic, and subsequently removing the metal microlattice.

Abstract: A die includes a semiconductor layer, an electrical contact on a first side of the semiconductor layer, a backside electrical contact layer on second side of the semiconductor layer. The die further includes a zinc layer over at least one of the electrical contact or the backside electrical contact layer of the die, and a conversion coating over the zinc layer. The conversion coating includes at least one of zirconium and vanadium. As part of an embedded die package including the die, at least a portion of the conversion coating may adjacent to an electrically insulating substrate of the embedded die package.

Abstract: In some examples, a system comprises a die having multiple electrical connectors extending from a surface of the die and a lead coupled to the multiple electrical connectors. The lead comprises a first conductive member; a first non-solder metal plating stacked on the first conductive member; an electroplated layer stacked on the first non-solder metal plating; a second non-solder metal plating stacked on the electroplated layer; and a second conductive member stacked on the second non-solder metal plating, the second conductive member being thinner than the first conductive member. The system also comprises a molding to at least partially encapsulate the die and the lead.

Abstract: An interconnect structure for a semiconductor device includes a plurality of unit cells. Each unit cell is formed of interconnected conducting segments. The plurality of unit cells forms a conducting lattice.

Abstract: A nanostructure barrier for copper wire bonding includes metal grains and inter-grain metal between the metal grains. The nanostructure barrier includes a first metal selected from nickel or cobalt, and a second metal selected from tungsten or molybdenum. A concentration of the second metal is higher in the inter-grain metal than in the metal grains. The nanostructure barrier may be on a copper core wire to provide a coated bond wire. The nanostructure barrier may be on a bond pad to form a coated bond pad. A method of plating the nanostructure barrier using reverse pulse plating is disclosed. A wire bonding method using the coated bond wire is disclosed.

Abstract: A die includes a semiconductor layer, an electrical contact on a first side of the semiconductor layer, a backside electrical contact layer on second side of the semiconductor layer. The die further includes a zinc layer over at least one of the electrical contact or the backside electrical contact layer of the die, and a conversion coating over the zinc layer. The conversion coating includes at least one of zirconium and vanadium. As part of an embedded die package including the die, at least a portion of the conversion coating may adjacent to an electrically insulating substrate of the embedded die package.

Abstract: A microelectronic device has bump bond structures on input/output (I/O) pads. The bump bond structures include copper-containing pillars, a barrier layer including cobalt and zinc on the copper-containing pillars, and tin-containing solder on the barrier layer. The barrier layer includes 0.1 weight percent to 50 weight percent cobalt and an amount of zinc equivalent to a layer of pure zinc 0.05 microns to 0.5 microns thick. A lead frame has a copper-containing member with a similar barrier layer in an area for a solder joint. Methods of forming the microelectronic device are disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor package including a semiconductor die and at least one bondline positioned on the semiconductor die, the at least one bondline comprising a nickel lanthanide alloy diffusion barrier layer abutting a gold layer.

Abstract: In some examples, a system comprises a die having multiple electrical connectors extending from a surface of the die and a lead coupled to the multiple electrical connectors. The lead comprises a first conductive member; a first non-solder metal plating stacked on the first conductive member; an electroplated layer stacked on the first non-solder metal plating; a second non-solder metal plating stacked on the electroplated layer; and a second conductive member stacked on the second non-solder metal plating, the second conductive member being thinner than the first conductive member. The system also comprises a molding to at least partially encapsulate the die and the lead.

Abstract: A packaged semiconductor die includes a semiconductor die coupled to a die pad. The semiconductor die has a front side containing copper leads, a copper seed layer coupled to the copper leads, and a nickel alloy coating coupled to the copper seed layer. The nickel alloy includes tungsten and cerium (NiWCe). The packaged semiconductor die may also include wire bonds coupled between leads of a lead frame and the copper leads of the semiconductor die. In addition, the packaged semiconductor die may be encapsulated in molding compound. A method for fabricating a packaged semiconductor die. The method includes forming a copper seed layer over the copper leads of the semiconductor die. In addition, the method includes coating the copper seed layer with a nickel alloy. The method also includes singulating the semiconductor wafer to create individual semiconductor die and placing the semiconductor die onto a die pad of a lead frame.

Abstract: A structure includes a metal layer and a plurality of interconnected unit cells forming a lattice contained at least partly within the metal layer, including at least a first unit cell formed of first interconnected graphene tubes, and a second unit cell formed of second interconnected graphene tubes, wherein the metal layer protrudes through holes within the lattice.

Abstract: A device and method for fabrication thereof is provided which results in corrosion resistance of metal flanges (802) of a semiconductor package, such as a quad flat no-lead package (QFN). Using metal electroplating (such as electroplating of nickel (Ni) or nickel alloys on copper flanges of the QFN package), corrosion resistance for the flanges is provided using a process that allows an electric current to reach the entire backside of a substrate (102) to permit electroplating. In addition, the method may be used to directly connect a semiconductor die (202) to the metal substrate (102) of the package.