Abstract: A self-aligned interconnect structure is provided that includes a first patterned and cured low-k material located on a surface of a substrate, wherein the first patterned and cured low-k material includes at least one first interconnect pattern (via or trench pattern) therein. A second patterned and cured low-k material having at least one second interconnect pattern that is different from the first interconnect pattern is located atop the first patterned and cured low k material. A portion of the second patterned and cured low-k material partially fills the at least one first interconnect within the first patterned and cured low-k material. A conductive material fills the at least one first interconnect pattern and the at least one second interconnect pattern. A method of forming such a self-aligned interconnect structure is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. According to the method, a first active circuitry layer wafer that includes active circuitry is provided, and a first portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is removed such that a second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer remains. Another wafer that includes active circuitry is provided, and the other wafer is bonded to the second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer. The first active circuitry layer wafer is lower-cost than the other wafer. Also provided are a tangible computer readable medium encoded with a program for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure, and a 3D integrated circuit structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is accepted at a stage of its fabrication, at which stage the device includes a diffusion-barrier cap-material (DBCM) layer and an intermetal dielectric layer covering the DBCM layer. The DBCM layer is exposed and it is suitable for removal by an etching procedure in a portion of a pattern contained in the intermetal dielectric layer. A silylation treatment is performed on the semiconductor device prior to the etching procedure for removing the DBCM layer. The intermetal dielectric layer of the completed device has surfaces in contact with metal interconnects and metal vias, and it may have an excess of carbon content near at least a portion of the these surfaces.

Abstract: A device comprises a heater, a dielectric layer, a phase-change element, and a capping layer. The dielectric layer is disposed at least partially on the heater and defines an opening having a lower portion and an upper portion. The phase-change element occupies the lower portion of the opening and is in thermal contact with the heater. The capping layer overlies the phase-change element and occupies the upper portion of the opening. At least a fraction of the phase-change element is operative to change between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of an electrical signal to the heater.

Abstract: A method for forming an interconnect structure with nanocolumnar intermetal dielectric is described involving the construction of an interconnect structure using a solid dielectric, and introducing a regular array of vertically aligned nanoscale pores through stencil formation and etching to form a hole array and subsequently pinching off the tops of the hole array with a cap dielectric. Variations of the method and means to construct a multilevel nanocolumnar interconnect structure are also described.

Abstract: A method for forming an interconnect structure with nanocolumnar intermetal dielectric is described involving the construction of an interconnect structure using a solid dielectric, and introducing a regular array of vertically aligned nanoscale pores through stencil formation and etching to form a hole array and subsequently pinching off the tops of the hole array with a cap dielectric. Variations of the method and means to construct a multilevel nanocolumnar interconnect structure are also described.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a structure which includes the steps of providing a structure having an insulator layer with at least one interconnect, forming a sub lithographic template mask over the insulator layer, and selectively etching the insulator layer through the sub lithographic template mask to form sub lithographic features spanning to a sidewall of the plurality of interconnects.

Abstract: A structure for a semiconductor component is provided having a bi-layer capping coating integrated and built on supporting layer to be transferred. The bi-layer capping protects the layer to be transferred from possible degradation resulting from the attachment and removal processes of the carrier assembly used for layer transfer. A wafer-level layer transfer process using this structure is enabled to create three-dimensional integrated circuits.

Abstract: Methods of minimizing or eliminating plasma damage to low k and ultra low k organosilicate intermetal dielectric layers are provided. The reduction of the plasma damage is effected by interrupting the etch and strip process flow at a suitable point to add an inventive treatment which protects the intermetal dielectric layer from plasma damage during the plasma strip process. Reduction or elimination of a plasma damaged region in this manner also enables reduction of the line bias between a line pattern in a photoresist and a metal line formed therefrom, and changes in the line width of the line trench due to a wet clean after the reactive ion etch employed for formation of the line trench and a via cavity. The reduced line bias has a beneficial effect on electrical yields of a metal interconnect structure.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes: providing a structure having a first layer overlying a substrate, where the first layer includes a dielectric material having a plurality of pores; applying a filling material to an exposed surface of the first layer; heating the structure to a first temperature to enable the filling material to homogeneously fill the plurality of pores; after filling the plurality of pores, performing at least one first process on the structure; after performing the at least one first process, removing the filling material from the plurality of pores by heating the structure to a second temperature to decompose the filling material; and after removing the filling material from the plurality of pores, performing at least one second process on the structure, where the at least one second process is performed at a third temperature that is greater than the second temperature.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an interconnect structure for interconnecting a semiconductor substrate to have three distinct patterned structures such that the interconnect structure provides both a low k and high structural integrity. The method includes depositing an interlayer dielectric onto the semiconductor substrate, forming a first pattern within the interlayer dielectric material by a first lithographic process that results in both via features and ternary features being formed in the interconnect structure. The method further includes forming a second pattern within the interlayer dielectric material by a second lithographic process to form line features within the interconnect structure. Hence the method forms the three separate distinct patterned structures using only two lithographic processes for each interconnect level.

Abstract: An enhanced 3D integration structure comprises a logic microprocessor chip bonded to a collection of vertically stacked memory slices and an optional set of outer vertical slices comprising optoelectronic devices. Such a device enables both high memory content in close proximity to the logic circuits and a high bandwidth for logic to memory communication. Additionally, the provision of optoelectronic devices in the outer slices of the vertical slice stack enables high bandwidth direct communication between logic processor chips on adjacent enhanced 3D modules mounted next to each other or on adjacent packaging substrates. A method to fabricate such structures comprises using a template assembly which enables wafer format processing of vertical slice stacks.

Abstract: An enhanced 3D integration structure comprises a logic microprocessor chip bonded to a collection of vertically stacked memory slices and an optional set of outer vertical slices comprising optoelectronic devices. Such a device enables both high memory content in close proximity to the logic circuits and a high bandwidth for logic to memory communication. Additionally, the provision of optoelectronic devices in the outer slices of the vertical slice stack enables high bandwidth direct communication between logic processor chips on adjacent enhanced 3D modules mounted next to each other or on adjacent packaging substrates. A method to fabricate such structures comprises using a template assembly which enables wafer format processing of vertical slice stacks.

Abstract: An enhanced 3D integration structure comprises a logic microprocessor chip bonded to a collection of vertically stacked memory slices and an optional set of outer vertical slices comprising optoelectronic devices. Such a device enables both high memory content in close proximity to the logic circuits and a high bandwidth for logic to memory communication. Additionally, the provision of optoelectronic devices in the outer slices of the vertical slice stack enables high bandwidth direct communication between logic processor chips on adjacent enhanced 3D modules mounted next to each other or on adjacent packaging substrates. A method to fabricate such structures comprises using a template assembly which enables wafer format processing of vertical slice stacks.

Abstract: A computer readable medium is provided that is encoded with a program comprising instructions for performing a method for fabricating a 3D integrated circuit structure. Provided are an interface wafer including a first wiring layer and through-silicon vias, and a first active circuitry layer wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to the interface wafer. Then, a first portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is removed such that a second portion remains attached to the interface wafer. A stack structure including the interface wafer and the second portion of the first active circuitry layer wafer is bonded to a base wafer. Next, the interface wafer is thinned so as to form an interface layer, and metallizations coupled through the through-silicon vias in the interface layer to the first wiring layer are formed on the interface layer.

Abstract: An enhanced 3D integration structure comprises a logic microprocessor chip bonded to a collection of vertically stacked memory slices and an optional set of outer vertical slices comprising optoelectronic devices. Such a device enables both high memory content in close proximity to the logic circuits and a high bandwidth for logic to memory communication. Additionally, the provision of optoelectronic devices in the outer slices of the vertical slice stack enables high bandwidth direct communication between logic processor chips on adjacent enhanced 3D modules mounted next to each other or on adjacent packaging substrates. A method to fabricate such structures comprises using a template assembly which enables wafer format processing of vertical slice stacks.

Abstract: A 3D integrated circuit structure is provided. The 3D integrated circuit structure includes an interface wafer including a first wiring layer, a first active circuitry layer including active circuitry, and a wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer is bonded face down to the interface wafer, and the wafer is bonded face down to the first active circuitry layer. The first active circuitry layer is lower-cost than the wafer.

Abstract: Apparatus configured for the fabrication of three-dimensional integrated devices and three-dimensional integrated devices fabricated therefrom are described. A device side of a donor wafer is coated with a polymer film and exposure of a substrate side to an oxidizing plasma creates a continuous SiO2 film. Portions of the substrate side are selectively coated with a polymer film and etching of uncoated areas removes at least a substantial portion of the crystalline substrate. A plasma etch tool etches a crystalline substrate to within a pre-determined thickness. The silicon portions of the substrate side are etched by exposure to TMAH. After etching, the donor semiconductor wafer is supported by portions of the substrate that were not etched. The supporting structure allows flexing of the donor semiconductor wafer within the etched areas to enable conformality and reliable bonding to the device surfaces of an acceptor wafer to form a three dimensional integrated device.

Abstract: A method of depositing a SiNxCy liner on a porous low thermal conductivity (low-k) substrate by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD), which includes forming a SiNxCy liner on a surface of a low-k substrate having pores on a surface thereon, in which the low-k substrate is repeatedly exposed to a aminosilane-based precursor and a plasma selected from nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, helium, and combinations thereof until a thickness of the liner is obtained, and wherein the liner is prevented from penetrating inside the pores of a surface of the substrate. A porous low thermal conductivity substrate having a SiNxCy liner formed thereon by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of fabrication of three-dimensional integrated devices and three-dimensional integrated devices fabricated therefrom are described. A device side of a donor wafer is coated with a polymer film and exposure of a substrate side to an oxidizing plasma creates a continuous SiO2 film. Portions of the substrate side are selectively coated with a polymer film and etching of uncoated areas removes at least a substantial portion of the crystalline substrate. A plasma etch tool etches a crystalline substrate to within a pre-determined thickness. The silicon portions of the substrate side are etched by exposure to TMAH. After etching, the donor semiconductor wafer is supported by portions of the substrate that were not etched. The supporting structure allows flexing of the donor semiconductor wafer within the etched areas to enable conformality and reliable bonding to the device surfaces of an acceptor wafer to form a three dimensional integrated device.