At least one polymer material may be employed to facilitate bonding between the semiconductor dies. Plasma treatment, formation of a blended polymer, or formation of polymer hairs may be employed to enhance bonding. Alternatively, air gaps can be formed by subsequently removing the polymer material to reduce capacitive coupling between adjacent bonding pads.

A semiconductor memory device includes a first chip having a peripheral transistor and a first insulating layer, and includes a second chip having a stacked structure and a second insulating layer. The stacked structure includes conductive patterns and insulating patterns alternately stacked with each other, the first insulating layer includes a first bonding surface, the second insulating layer includes a second bonding surface contacting the first bonding surface, and the second chip further includes a protrusion protruding from the second bonding surface of the second insulating layer toward the first insulating layer.

A stacking structure including a first die, a second die stacked on the first die, and a third die and a fourth die disposed on the second die. The first die has a first metallization structure, and the first metallization structure includes first through die vias. The second die has a second metallization structure, and second metallization structure includes second through die vias. The first through die vias are bonded with the second through die vias, and sizes of the first through die vias are different from sizes of the second through die vias. The third and fourth dies are disposed side-by-side and are bonded with the second through die vias.

A microelectronic structure with through substrate vias (TSVs) and method for forming the same is disclosed. The microelectronic structure can include a bulk semiconductor with a via structure. The via structure can have a first and second conductive portion. The via structure can also have a barrier layer between the first conductive portion and the bulk semiconductor. The structure can have a second barrier layer between the first and second conductive portions. The second conductive portion can extend from the second barrier layer to the upper surface of the bulk semiconductor. The microelectronic structure containing TSVs is configured so that the microelectronic structure can be bonded to a second element or structure.

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for manufacturing a bonding structure. The method includes: providing a substrate with a seed layer; forming a conductive pattern on the seed layer; forming a dielectric layer on the substrate and the conductive pattern; and removing a portion of the dielectric layer to expose an upper surface of the conductive pattern without consuming the seed layer.

A hybrid bonding structure includes a first conductive structure and a second conductive structure. The first conductive structure includes a first conductive layer. A first barrier surrounds the first conductive layer. A first air gap surrounds and contacts the first barrier. A first dielectric layer surrounds and contacts the first air gap. The second conductive structure includes a second conductive layer. A second barrier contacts the second conductive layer. A second dielectric layer surrounds the second barrier. The second conductive layer bonds to the first conductive layer. The first dielectric layer bonds to the second dielectric layer.

A method of forming a semiconductor package includes the following operations. A first integrated circuit structure is provided, and the first integrated circuit structure includes a first substrate and a silicon layer over the first substrate. A plasma treatment is performed to transform a top portion of the silicon layer to a first bonding layer on the remaining silicon layer of the first integrated circuit structure. A second integrated circuit structure is provided, and the second integrated circuit structure includes a second substrate and a second bonding layer over the second substrate. The second integrated circuit structure is bonded to the first integrated circuit structure through the second bonding layer of the second integrated circuit structure and the first bonding layer of the first integrated circuit structure.

The present technology relates to a semiconductor device in which a MIM capacitive element can be formed without any process damage, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. In a semiconductor device, wiring layers of a first multilayer wiring layer formed on a first semiconductor substrate and a second multilayer wiring layer formed on a second semiconductor substrate are bonded to each other by wafer bonding. The semiconductor device includes a capacitive element including an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and a capacitive insulating film between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. One electrode of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is formed with a first conductive layer of the first multilayer wiring layer and a second conductive layer of the second multilayer wiring layer. The present technology can be applied to a semiconductor device or the like formed by joining two semiconductor substrates, for example.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a three-dimensional (3D) trench capacitor, as well as methods for forming the same. In some embodiments, a first substrate overlies a second substrate so a front side of the first substrate faces a front side of the second substrate. A first trench capacitor and a second trench capacitor extend respectively into the front sides of the first and second substrates. A plurality of wires and a plurality of vias are stacked between and electrically coupled to the first and second trench capacitors. A first through substrate via (TSV) extends through the first substrate from a back side of the first substrate, and the wires and the vias electrically couple the first TSV to the first and second trench capacitors. The first and second trench capacitors and the electrical coupling therebetween collectively define the 3D trench capacitor.

Structures and techniques provide bond enhancement in microelectronics by trapping contaminants and byproducts during bonding processes, and arresting cracks. Example bonding surfaces are provided with recesses, sinks, traps, or cavities to capture small particles and gaseous byproducts of bonding that would otherwise create detrimental voids between microscale surfaces being joined, and to arrest cracks. Such random voids would compromise bond integrity and electrical conductivity of interconnects being bonded. In example systems, a predesigned recess space or predesigned pattern of recesses placed in the bonding interface captures particles and gases, reducing the formation of random voids, thereby improving and protecting the bond as it forms. The recess space or pattern of recesses may be placed where particles collect on the bonding surface, through example methods of determining where mobilized particles move during bond wave propagation. A recess may be repeated in a stepped reticule pattern at the wafer level, for example, or placed by an aligner or alignment process.