Abstract
The electromigration phenomena and the characterizations of the conductor lifetime (Time-To-Failure, TTF) in Al-1%Si thin film interconnections under D.C. and Pulsed D.C. conditions were investigated . Meander type test patterns were fabricated with the dimensions of 21080$mu \textrm{m}$ length, 3$\mu\textrm{m}$ width, 0.7$\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness and the 0.1$\mu\textrm{m}$/0.8$\mu\textrm{m}$($SiO_2$/PSG)dielectric overlayer. The current densities of $2 \times10^6 A/\textrm{cm}^2$ and $1 \times10^7 A/\textrm{cm}^2$ were stressed in Al-1%Si thin film interconnection s under a D.C. condition. The peak current densities of $2 \times10^6 A/\textrm{cm}^2$ and $1 \times10^7 A/\textrm{cm}^2$ were also applied under a Pulsed D.C. condition at frequencies of 200KHz, 800KHz, 1MHz, and 4MHz with the duty factor of 0.5. THe time-to-failure under a Pulsed D.C.($TTF_{pulsed D.C}$) was appeared to be larger than that under a D.C. condition. It was found that the TTF under both a D.C. and a Pulsed D.C. condition. It was found that the TTF under both a D.C. and a Pulsed D.C. condition largely depends upon the appiled current densities respectively . This can be explained by a relaxation mechanism view due to a duty cycle under a Pulsed D.C. related to the wave on off. The relaxation phenomena during the pulsed off period result in the decayof excess vacancies generated in the Al-1%Si thin film interconnections because of the electrical and mechanical stress gradient . Hillocks and voids formed by an electromigration were observed by using a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy).
