Inhibition of tin oxide formation in lead free interconnect formation
US6900142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 31, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L2924/014
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for removing exposed seed layers in the fabrication of solder interconnects on electronic components such as semiconductor wafers without damaging the interconnects or underlying wafer substrate and with a high wafer yield. The solder interconnects are lead free or substantially lead free and typically contain Sn. An oxalic acid solution is used to contact the wafer after an etching step to remove part of the seed layer. The seed layer is typically a Cu containing layer with a lower barrier layer containing barrier metals such as Ti, Ta and W. The lower barrier layer remains after the etch and the oxalic acid solution inhibits the formation of Sn compounds on the barrier layer surface which compounds may mask the barrier layer and the barrier layer etchant resulting in incomplete barrier layer removal on the wafer surface. Any residual conductive barrier layer can cause shorts and other wafer problems and result in a lower wafer yield. An electroetch is preferred to remove the portion of the seed layer overlying the lower barrier layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.