Abstract: Methods of fabricating tamper-respondent sensors with random three-dimensional security patterns are provided. The methods include establishing a security circuit pattern for a security circuit of a tamper-respondent sensor to enclose, at least in part, one or more components of a circuit board within a secure volume. The establishing includes determining in three-dimensions boundaries for the security circuit of the tamper-respondent sensor. The boundaries define a sensor volume which the security circuit is to fill in three dimensions. The establishing also includes generating at least one trace configuration for the security circuit pattern. The at least one trace configuration defines a random, three-dimensional security pattern to fill the sensor volume, and the at least one trace configuration establishes, at least in part, the security circuit pattern. The process further includes fabricating the tamper-respondent sensor based on the established security circuit pattern.

Abstract: An electrical component comprises a main body and at least one external electrode that is fastened by a connecting material to the main body. The main body and the external electrode have different coefficients of thermal expansion that determine a critical temperature which, when exceeded, results in a connection between the main body and the external electrode experiencing mechanical stresses that lead to damage to the component. The connecting material has a melting point which is lower than a critical temperature.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a laminated magnetic core including: fabricating a magnetic-core mold on a surface, the magnetic-core mold including a first wall portion having a first sidewall, a second wall portion having a second sidewall, the second sidewall located opposite the first sidewall, the first and second sidewalls and a portion of the surface defining a mold cavity having a bottom width that is greater than a top width; depositing a seed material on the mold top surface and on a portion of the surface so as to form a conductive layer, wherein the seed material is directed toward the mold top surface and the portion of the surface of the substrate at an angle of incidence that substantially prevents deposition of the seed material on the first and second sidewalls; forming a magnetic layer on the conductive layer; and forming an insulating-sealing layer on the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a conductive structure that comprises: an upper conductive line arranged above and in electrical connection with a circuit component in a lower device layer through a via plug, wherein the upper conductive line extends laterally over the via plug; an interposing layer having a substantially uniform thickness arranged between the via plug and the upper conductive line, and extending laterally beyond a planar projection of the via plug, wherein the upper conductive line is in electrical connection with the via plug through the interposing layer; and an overlayer is disposed over the upper conductive line.

Abstract: A power amplifier comprising a GaN-based high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) device, wherein a power added efficiency (PAE) of the power amplifier is greater than 32% at P1DB during operation of the power amplifier between 26.5 GHz and 30.5 GHz.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device comprising: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer, which is provided on the substrate and has a first conductivity; an active layer, which is provided on the first semiconductor layer and generates ultraviolet light by electron-hole recombination; a second semiconductor layer, which is provided on the active layer and has a second conductivity different from the first conductivity; a first electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer; a second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer; a second region that includes a plurality of protruded parts of the active layer and the second semiconductor layer protruded from the first semiconductor layer as seen in cross-sectional view and recesses between the protruded parts; and a first region surrounding the second region.

Abstract: Provided are: a temperature sensor capable of ensuring reliability and improving thermal responsiveness; and a device equipped with such a temperature sensor. The present invention is provided with: a surface-mounted heat sensitive element (10) having at least a pair of electrode parts (12a), (12b); lead parts (22a), (22b) that are electrically connected to the pair of electrode parts (12a), (12b) by welding; a holder (21) that holds and fixes the lead parts (22a), (22b); and an insulation coating part (23) that insulates at least a portion of the lead parts (22a), (22b) and the heat sensitive element (10). The lead parts (22a), (22b) are tabular metal plates and are formed of a metallic material having a melting point of not more than 1300° C.

Abstract: Conformal hermetic dielectric films suitable as dielectric diffusion barriers over 3D topography. In embodiments, the dielectric diffusion barrier includes a dielectric layer, such as a metal oxide, which can be deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques with a conformality and density greater than can be achieved in a conventional silicon dioxide-based film deposited by a PECVD process for a thinner contiguous hermetic diffusion barrier. In further embodiments, the diffusion barrier is a multi-layered film including a high-k dielectric layer and a low-k or intermediate-k dielectric layer (e.g., a bi-layer) to reduce the dielectric constant of the diffusion barrier. In other embodiments a silicate of a high-k dielectric layer (e.g., a metal silicate) is formed to lower the k-value of the diffusion barrier by adjusting the silicon content of the silicate while maintaining high film conformality and density.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device including an insulating substrate provided with a circuit surface, and an external terminal bonded to the circuit surface. The circuit surface has an upper surface that is in contact with and bonded to a part of a lower surface of the external terminal. In at least a part of a portion where the upper surface of the circuit surface and the lower surface of the external terminal are in contact with each other, a melted portion of the circuit surface and the external terminal is formed. A gap between the upper surface of the circuit surface and the lower surface of the external terminal has a size of 20 ?m or less. The circuit surface and the external terminal are each made of copper or copper alloy.

Abstract: There is provided a new technology for anodic oxidation etching performed to GaN material having arithmetic mean line roughness Ra of 15 nm or less at a measurement length of 100 ?m on a bottom surface of a recess when anodic oxidation etching is performed at an etching voltage of 1 V while irradiating the GaN material with UV light to form the recess of 2 ?m in depth.

Abstract: The service life of electrical equipment is predicted using a thermal history sensor mounted in the electrical equipment. At least one thermal history sensor is mounted inside or on an outer wall surface of electrical equipment. The thermal history sensor includes dissimilar metal joints, and the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints change in response to the amount of intermetallic compound growing in the dissimilar metal joints due to the temperature inside the electrical equipment or of the outer wall thereof during operation. A determining mechanism periodically or irregularly monitors and stores in memory the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints from the thermal history sensor, and uses the stored history of resistance values to predict the service life of the electrical equipment.

Abstract: The service life of electrical equipment is predicted using a thermal history sensor mounted in the electrical equipment. At least one thermal history sensor is mounted inside or on an outer wall surface of electrical equipment. The thermal history sensor includes dissimilar metal joints, and the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints change in response to the amount of intermetallic compound growing in the dissimilar metal joints due to the temperature inside the electrical equipment or of the outer wall thereof during operation. A determining mechanism periodically or irregularly monitors and stores in memory the resistance values of the dissimilar metal joints from the thermal history sensor, and uses the stored history of resistance values to predict the service life of the electrical equipment.

Abstract: A method of forming a wiring structure for an integrated circuit device includes forming a first metal line within an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer, and forming a second metal line in the ILD layer adjacent the first metal line; masking selected regions of the first and second metal lines; selectively plating metal cap regions over exposed regions of the first and second metal lines at periodic intervals such that a spacing between adjacent metal cap regions of an individual metal line corresponds to a critical length, L, at which a back stress gradient balances an electromigration force in the individual metal line, so as to suppress mass transport of electrons; and wherein the metal cap regions of the first metal line are formed at staggered locations with respect to the metal cap regions of the second metal line, along a common longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices with through-substrate vias (TSVs). One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an opening through a dielectric structure and at least a portion of a semiconductor substrate, and forming a dielectric liner material having a first portion lining the opening and a second portion on an outer surface of the dielectric structure laterally outside of the opening. The method further includes removing the conductive material such that the second portion of the dielectric liner material is exposed, and forming a damascene conductive line in the second portion of the dielectric liner material that is electrically coupled to the TSV.

Abstract: A microelectronic assembly is provided in which first and second electrically conductive pads exposed at front surfaces of first and second microelectronic elements, respectively, are juxtaposed, each of the microelectronic elements embodying active semiconductor devices. An electrically conductive element may extend within a first opening extending from a rear surface of the first microelectronic element towards the front surface thereof, within a second opening extending from the first opening towards the front surface of the first microelectronic element, and within a third opening extending through at least one of the first and second pads to contact the first and second pads. Interior surfaces of the first and second openings may extend in first and second directions relative to the front surface of the first microelectronic element, respectively, to define a substantial angle.

Abstract: A wiring substrate includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulator and a plurality of columnar conductors. The insulator is made of an insulating material filled in a groove or hole provided in the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of columnar conductors are filled in grooves or holes provided in the insulator. The grooves or holes are arranged at a narrow pitch in a plane of the insulator. The insulating material has a Si—O bond obtained by reacting Si particles with an organic Si compound.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to the design, fabrication, and manufacture of gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuits are disclosed. Copper can be used as the contact material for a GaAs integrated circuit. Metallization of the wafer and through-wafer vias can be achieved through copper plating processes disclosed herein. To avoid warpage, the tensile stress of a conductive layer deposited onto a GaAs substrate can be offset by depositing a compensating layer having negative stress over the GaAs substrate. GaAs integrated circuits can be singulated, packaged, and incorporated into various electronic devices.

Abstract: An iridium interfacial stack (“IrIS”) and a method for producing the same are provided. The IrIS may include ordered layers of TaSi2, platinum, iridium, and platinum, and may be placed on top of a titanium layer and a silicon carbide layer. The IrIS may prevent, reduce, or mitigate against diffusion of elements such as oxygen, platinum, and gold through at least some of its layers.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of fabricating a metal silicide includes the following steps. A semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of silicon and silicon germanium is provided. A metal(s) is deposited on the semiconductor material. A first anneal is performed at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to react the metal(s) with the semiconductor material to form an amorphous layer including an alloy formed from the metal(s) and the semiconductor material, wherein the temperature at which the first anneal is performed is below a temperature at which a crystalline phase of the alloy is formed. An etch is used to selectively remove unreacted portions of the metal(s). A second anneal is performed at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to crystallize the alloy thus forming the metal silicide. A device contact and a method of fabricating a FET device are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided an electrode pad including: a connection terminal part; a first plating layer including palladium phosphorus (Pd—P) formed on the connection terminal part; and a second plating layer including palladium (Pd) formed on the first plating layer.

Abstract: A method and structure for preventing integrated circuit failure due to electromigration and time dependent dielectric breakdown is disclosed. A randomly patterned metal cap layer is selectively formed on the metal interconnect lines (typically copper (Cu)) with an interspace distance between metal cap segments that is less than the critical length (for short-length effects). Since the diffusivity is lower for the Cu/metal cap interface than for the Cu/dielectric cap interface, the region with a metal cap serves as a diffusion barrier.

Abstract: A structure and method of producing a semiconductor structure including a semi-insulating semiconductor layer, a plurality of isolated devices formed over the semi-insulating semiconductor layer, and a metal-semiconductor alloy region formed in the semi-insulating semiconductor layer, where the metal-semiconductor alloy region electrically connects two or more of the isolated devices.

Abstract: A contact rhodium structure is fabricated by a process that comprises obtaining a substrate having a dielectric layer thereon, wherein the dielectric layer has cavities therein into which the contact rhodium is to be deposited; depositing a seed layer in the cavities and on the dielectric layer; and depositing the rhodium by electroplating from a bath comprising a rhodium salt; an acid and a stress reducer; and then optionally annealing the structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for metallization during semiconductor wafer processing and the resulting structures. In this method, a passivation layer is patterned with first openings aligned above and extending vertically to metal structures below. A mask layer is formed and patterned with second openings aligned above the first openings, thereby forming two-tier openings extending vertically through the mask layer and passivation layer to the metal structures below. An electrodeposition process forms, in the two-tier openings, both under-bump pad(s) and additional metal feature(s), which are different from the under-bump pad(s) (e.g., a wirebond pad; a final vertical section of a crackstop structure; and/or a probe pad). Each under-bump pad and additional metal feature initially comprises copper with metal cap layers thereon.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an embedded package structure comprising a metal substrate, a chip module, an insulation material layer, and at least one patterned metal layer. The metal substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The chip module is disposed on the first surface of the metal substrate, and comprises at least two stacked chips being electrically connected to each. The insulation material layer covers the first surface of the metal substrate and the stacked chips and has an electrical interconnection formed therein. The patterned metal layer is positioned on the insulation material layer, and is electrically connected the chip module through the electrical interconnection. The method for manufacturing the embedded package structure also provides.

Abstract: Standard solder-based interconnect structures are utilized as mechanical fasteners to attach an IC die in a “flip-chip” orientation to a support structure (e.g., a package base substrate or printed circuit board). Electrical connections between the support structure and the IC die are achieved by curved micro-springs that are disposed in peripheral regions of the IC die and extend through a gap region separating the upper structure surface and the processed surface of the IC die. The micro-springs are fixedly attached to one of the support structure and the IC die, and have a free (tip) end that contacts an associated contact pad disposed on the other structure/IC die. Conventional solder-based connection structures (e.g., solder-bumps/balls) are disposed on “dummy” (non-functional) pads disposed in a central region of the IC die. After placing the IC die on the support structure, a standard solder reflow process is performed to complete the mechanical connection.

Abstract: A system in package and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. The system in package comprises a laminate body having a substrate arranged inside a laminate body. A semiconductor die is embedded in the laminate body and the semiconductor is bonded to contact pads of the substrate by help of a sintered bonding layer, which is made from a sinter paste. Lamination of the substrate and further layers providing the laminate body and sintering of the sinter paste may be performed in a single and common curing step.

Abstract: Provided are a hole-injecting material for an organic electroluminescent device (organic EL device) exhibiting high luminous efficiency at a low voltage and having greatly improved driving stability, and an organic EL device using the material. The hole-injecting material for an organic EL device is selected from benzenehexacarboxylic acid anhydrides, benzenehexacarboxylic acid imides, or N-substituted benzenehexacarboxylic acid imides. Further, the organic EL device has at least one light-emitting layer and at least one hole-injecting layer between an anode and a cathode arranged opposite to each other, and includes the above-mentioned hole-injecting material for an organic EL device in the hole-injecting layer. The organic EL device may contain a hole-transporting material having an ionization potential (IP) of 6.0 eV or less in the hole-injecting layer or a layer adjacent to the hole-injecting layer.

Abstract: A plurality of macro and micro alignment marks may be formed on a wafer. The macro alignment marks may be formed in pairs at opposite edges of the wafer. The micro alignment marks may be formed to align to streets on the wafer along a first and second direction. A molding compound may be formed on the wafer. The macro alignment marks may be exposed from the molding compound. A pair of the micro alignment marks may be exposed from the molding compound at opposite ends of the streets along the first and the second direction. The wafer may be aligned to a dicing tool using pairs of the macro alignment marks. The dicing tool may be aligned to the streets using pairs of the micro alignment marks. The wafer may be diced using successive pairs of micro alignment marks along the first and second direction.

Abstract: An interconnect structure including a noble metal-containing cap that is present at least on some portion of an upper surface of at least one conductive material that is embedded within an interconnect dielectric material is provided. In one embodiment, the noble metal-containing cap is discontinuous, e.g., exists as nuclei or islands on the surface of the at least one conductive material. In another embodiment, the noble metal-containing cap has a non-uniform thickness across the surface of the at least one conductive material.

Abstract: A set of metal line structures including a signal transmission metal line and a capacitively-grounded inductively-signal-coupled metal line is embedded in a dielectric material layer. A capacitor is serially connected between the capacitively-grounded inductively-signal-coupled metal line and a local electrical ground, which may be on the input side or on the output side. The set of metal line structures and the capacitor collective provide a frequency dependent inductor. The Q factor of the frequency dependent inductor has multiple peaks that enable the operation of the frequency dependent inductor at multiple frequencies. Multiple capacitively-grounded inductively-signal-coupled metal lines may be provided in the frequency-dependent inductor, each of which is connected to the local electrical ground through a capacitor. By selecting different capacitance values for the capacitors, multiple values of the Q-factor may be obtained in the frequency dependent inductor at different signal frequencies.

Abstract: A 3D integrated circuit structure comprises a first chip, wherein the first chip comprises: a substrate; a semiconductor device formed on the substrate and a dielectric layer formed on both the substrate and the semiconductor device; a conductive material layer formed within a through hole penetrating through both the substrate and the dielectric layer; a stress releasing layer surrounding the through hole; and a first interconnecting structure connecting the conductive material layer with the semiconductor device. By forming a stress releasing layer to partially release the stress caused by the conductive material in the via, the stress caused by mismatch of CTE between the conductive material and the semiconductor (for example, silicon) surrounding it can be reduced, thereby enhancing the performance of the semiconductor device and the corresponding 3D integrated circuit consisting of the semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a P-type region, on at least one main surface of which integrated circuits are formed; one or more via electrodes inserted into the P-type region of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer formed between the semiconductor substrate and the via electrodes; an N-type region, which is formed in the semiconductor substrate to contact a portion of the dielectric layer and to expose other portion of the dielectric layer; and a power circuit, which is electrically connected to the N-type region and apply a bias voltage or a ground voltage thereto, such that electric signals flowing in the via electrodes form an inversion layer on a surface of the semiconductor substrate facing the exposed portion of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A high aspect ratio metallization structure is provided in which a noble metal-containing material is present at least within a lower portion of a contact opening located in a dielectric material and is in direct contact with a metal semiconductor alloy located on an upper surface of a material stack of at least one semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the noble metal-containing material is plug located within the lower region of the contact opening and an upper region of the contact opening includes a conductive metal-containing material. The conductive metal-containing material is separated from plug of noble metal-containing material by a bottom walled portion of a U-shaped diffusion barrier. In another embodiment, the noble metal-containing material is present throughout the entire contact opening.

Abstract: A wire bonded structure for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The wire bonded structure comprises a bonding pad; and a continuous length of wire mutually diffused with the bonding pad, the wire electrically coupling the bonding pad with a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact different from the first electrical contact.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques and configurations for an integrated circuit (IC) package having an underfill layer with filler particles arranged in a generally random distribution pattern. In some embodiments, a generally random distribution pattern of filler particles may be obtained by reducing an electrostatic charge on one or more components of the IC package assembly, by applying a surface treatment to filler to reduce filler electrical charge, by applying an electric force against the filler particles of the underfill material in a direction opposite to a direction of gravitational force, by using an underfill material with a relatively low maximum filler particle size, and/or by snap curing the underfill layer at a relatively low temperature. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a plurality of insulator layers (connected to each other) that form a laminated structure. Further included are via openings within each of the insulator layers, and conductive via material within the via openings. The conductive via material within corresponding via openings of adjacent insulator layers are electrically connected to form continuous electrical via paths through the insulator layers between the top surface and the bottom surface of the laminated structure. Within each of the continuous electrical via paths, the via openings are positioned relative to each other to form a diagonal structural path of the conductive via material through the laminated structure. The corresponding via openings of the adjacent insulator layers partially overlap each other. The diagonal structural paths are non-perpendicular to the top surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: A substrate having, on a base material, a barrier film for preventing copper diffusion containing one or more metal elements selected from tungsten, molybdenum and niobium, a metal element having a catalytic function in electroless plating such as platinum, gold, silver and palladium, and nitrogen contained in the form of a nitride of the aforementioned one or more metal elements selected from tungsten, molybdenum and niobium. The barrier film for preventing copper diffusion is manufactured by sputtering in a nitrogen atmosphere using a target containing one or more metal elements selected from tungsten, molybdenum and niobium and the aforementioned metal element having a catalytic function in electroless plating.

Abstract: A semiconductor package structure, comprises a substrate, a die region having one or more dies disposed on the substrate, and at least one stress relief structure disposed at one or more corners of the substrate, the at least one stress relief structure being adjacent to at least one die of the one or more dies.

Abstract: Some embodiments include constructions which have platinum-containing structures. In some embodiments, the constructions may have a planarized surface extending across the platinum-containing structures and across metal oxide. In some embodiments, the constructions may have a planarized surface extending across the platinum-containing structures, across a first material retaining the platinum-containing structures, and across metal oxide liners along sidewalls of the platinum-containing structures and directly between the platinum-containing structures and the first material. Some embodiments include methods of forming platinum-containing structures. In some embodiments, first material is formed across electrically conductive structures, and metal oxide is formed across the first material. Openings are formed to extend through the metal oxide and the first material to the electrically conductive structures. Platinum-containing material is formed within the openings and over the metal oxide.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes first etching a substrate according to a first mask. The first etching forms a first etch feature in the substrate to a first depth. The first etching also forms a sliver opening in the substrate. The sliver opening may then be filled with a fill material. A second mask may be formed by removing a portion of the first mask. The substrate exposed by the second mask may be etched with a second etch, in which the second etching is selective to the fill material. The second etching extends the first etch feature to a second depth that is greater than the first depth, and the second etch forms a second etch feature. The first etch feature and the second etch feature may then be filled with a conductive metal.

Abstract: A semiconductor package including a substrate, a semiconductor device, a protection layer, a bonding wire, and a molding compound is provided. The substrate has a contact pad and a solder mask, and the contact pad is exposed from the solder mask. The semiconductor device is disposed on the substrate. The protection layer is disposed on the contact pad. The bonding wire connects the semiconductor device to the contact pad. An end of the bonding wire penetrates the protection layer and bonds with a portion of a surface of the contact pad to form a bonding region. The protection layer covers an entire surface of the contact pad except the bonding region. The molding compound covers the semiconductor device, the contact pad, and the bonding wire.

Abstract: A liner-less tungsten contact is formed on a nickel-tungsten silicide with a tungsten rich surface. A tungsten-containing layer is formed using tungsten-containing fluorine-free precursors. The tungsten-containing layer may act as a glue layer for a subsequent nucleation layer or as the nucleation layer. The tungsten plug is formed by standard processes. The result is a liner-less tungsten contact with low resistivity.

Abstract: An electrical structure comprises a dielectric layer present on a semiconductor substrate. A contact opening is present through the dielectric layer. A nickel-tungsten alloy silicide is formed over the semiconductor substrate within the contact opening. A tungsten-containing nucleation layer formed within the contact opening covers the nickel-tungsten alloy silicide and at least a portion of a sidewall of the contact opening. A tungsten contact is formed within the contact opening and separated from the nickel-tungsten alloy silicide and at least a portion of the sidewall by the tungsten-containing nucleation layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a raised silicide contact, the method including depositing a layer of silicon using a gas cluster implant technique which accelerates clusters of silicon atoms causing them to penetrate a surface oxide on a top surface of the silicide; heating the silicide including the silicon layer to a temperature from about 300° C. to about 950° and holding the temperature for about 0.1 miliseconds to about 600 seconds in an inert atmosphere causing silicon from the layer of silicon to react with the remaining silicide partially formed in the silicon containing substrate; and forming a raised silicide from the layer of silicon, wherein the thickness of the raised silicide is greater than the thickness of the silicide and the raised silicide protrudes above a top surface of the silicon containing substrate.

Abstract: Some embodiments include constructions which have platinum-containing structures. In some embodiments, the constructions may have a planarized surface extending across the platinum-containing structures and across metal oxide. In some embodiments, the constructions may have a planarized surface extending across the platinum-containing structures, across a first material retaining the platinum-containing structures, and across metal oxide liners along sidewalls of the platinum-containing structures and directly between the platinum-containing structures and the first material. Some embodiments include methods of forming platinum-containing structures. In some embodiments, first material is formed across electrically conductive structures, and metal oxide is formed across the first material. Openings are formed to extend through the metal oxide and the first material to the electrically conductive structures. Platinum-containing material is formed within the openings and over the metal oxide.

Abstract: A composite substrate for a semiconductor chip includes a first covering layer containing a semiconductor material, a second covering layer, and a core layer arranged between the first covering layer and the second covering layer, wherein the core layer has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the covering layers.

Abstract: The circuit arrangement according to the invention provides a substrate (10), a connecting element (18) and a chip (16). The substrate (10) provides at least a partial metallisation (11) on its surface. The connecting element (18) is applied to the metallisation (11). The chip (16) is applied to the connecting element (18). The connecting element (18) provides an electrically non-conductive glass layer (14), which is applied directly to the metallisation (11), and an adhesive layer (15) between the chip (16) and the glass layer (14).

Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe a method of plating platinum selectively on a copper film using a self-initiated electroless process. In particular, platinum films are plated onto very thin copper films having a thickness of less than 300 angstroms. The electroless plating solution and the resulting structure are also described. This process has applications in the semiconductor processing of logic devices, memory devices, and photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of fabricating a metal silicide includes the following steps. A semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of silicon and silicon germanium is provided. A metal(s) is deposited on the semiconductor material. A first anneal is performed at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to react the metal(s) with the semiconductor material to form an amorphous layer including an alloy formed from the metal(s) and the semiconductor material, wherein the temperature at which the first anneal is performed is below a temperature at which a crystalline phase of the alloy is formed. An etch is used to selectively remove unreacted portions of the metal(s). A second anneal is performed at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to crystallize the alloy thus forming the metal silicide. A device contact and a method of fabricating a FET device are also provided.