• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.41-47
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• 2020

The effect of Co interlayer on the interfacial reliability of SiN_x/Co/Cu thin film structure for advanced Cu interconnects was systematically evaluated by using a double cantilever beam test. The interfacial adhesion energy of the SiN_x/Cu thin film structure was 0.90 J/㎡. This value of the SiN_x/Co/Cu thin film structure increased to 9.59 J/㎡.Measured interfacial adhesion energy of SiN_x/Co/Cu structure was around 10 times higher than SiN_x/Cu structure due to CoSi₂ reaction layer formation at SiN_x/Co interface, which was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The interfacial adhesion energy of SiN_x/Co/Cu structure decreased sharply after post-annealing at 200℃ for 24 h due to Co oxidation at SiN_x/Co interface. Therefore, it is required to control the CoO and Co₃O₄ formation during the environmental storage of the SiN_x/Co/Cu thin film to achieve interfacial reliability for advanced Cu interconnections.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.64-70
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• 2006

The 3-dimensional (3D) chip stacking technology is a leading technology to realize a high density and high performance system in package (SiP). There are several kinds of methods for chip stacking, but the stacking and interconnection through Cu filled through-hole via is considered to be one of the most advanced stacking technologies. Therefore, we studied the optimum process of through-hole via formation and Cu filling process for Si wafer stacking. Through-hole via was formed with DRIE (Deep Reactive ion Etching) and Cu filling was realized with the electroplating method. The optimized conditions for the via formation were RE coil power of 200 W, etch/passivation cycle time of 6.5 : 6 s and SF6 : C4F8 gas flow rate of 260 : 100 sccm. The reverse pulsed current of 1.5 A/dm2 was the most favorable condition for the Cu electroplating in the via. The Cu filled Si wafer was chemically and mechanically polished (CMP) for the following flip chip bumping technology.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.256-256
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• 2012

Cu가 기존 배선물질인 Al을 대체함에 따라 resistance-capacitance delay와 electromigration (EM) 등의 문제들이 어느 정도 해결되었다. 그러나 지속적인 배선 폭의 감소로 배선의 저항 증가, EM 현상 강화 그리고 stability 악화 등의 문제가 지속적으로 야기되고 있다. 이를 해결하기 위한 방법으로 Cu alloy seed layer를 이용한 barrier 자가형성 공정에 대한 연구를 진행하였다. 이 공정은 Cu 합금을 seed layer로 사용하여 도금을 한 후 열처리를 통해 $SiO_2$와의 계면에서 barrier를 자가 형성시키는 공정이다. 이 공정은 매우 균일하고 얇은 barrier를 형성할 수 있고 별도의 barrier와 glue layer를 형성하지 않아 seed layer를 위한 공간을 추가로 확보할 수 있는 장점을 가지고 있다. 또한, via bottom에 barrier가 형성되지 않아 배선 전체 저항을 급격히 낮출 수 있다. 합금 물질로는 초기 Al이나 Mg에 대한 연구가 진행되었으나, 낮은 oxide formation energy로 인해 SiO2에 과도한 손상을 주는 문제점이 제기되었다. 최근 Mn을 합금 물질로 사용한 안정적인 barrier 형성 공정이 보고 되고 있다. 하지만, barrier 형성을 하기 위해 300도 이상의 열처리 온도가 필요하고 열처리 시간 또한 긴 단점이 있다. 본 실험에서는 co-sputtering system을 사용하여 Cu-V 합금을 형성하였고, barrier를 자가 형성을 위해 300도에서 500도까지 열처리 온도를 변화시키며 1시간 동안 열처리를 실시하였다. Cu-V 공정 조건 확립을 위해 AFM, XRD, 4-point probe system을 이용하여 표면 거칠기, 결정성과 비저항을 평가하였다. Cu-V 박막 내 V의 함량은 V target의 plasma power density를 변화시켜 조절 하였으며 XPS를 통해 분석하였다. 열처리 후 시편의 단면을 TEM으로 분석하여 Cu-V 박막과 $SiO_2$ 사이에 interlayer가 형성된 것을 확인 하였으며 EDS를 이용한 element mapping을 통해 Cu-V 내 V의 거동과 interlayer의 성분을 확인하였다. PVD Cu-V 박막은 기판 온도에 큰 영향을 받았고, 200도 이상에서는 Cu의 높은 표면에너지에 의한 agglomeration 현상으로 거친 표면을 가지는 박막이 형성되었다. 7.61 at.%의 V함량을 가지는 Cu-V 박막을 300도에서 1시간 열처리 한 결과 4.5 nm의 V based oxide interlayer가 형성된 것을 확인하였다. 열처리에 의해 Cu-V 박막 내 V은 $SiO_2$와의 계면과 박막 표면으로 확산하며 oxide를 형성했으며 Cu-V 박막 내 V 함량은 줄어들었다. 300, 400, 500도에서 열처리 한 결과 동일 조성과 열처리 온도에서 Cu-Mn에 의해 형성된 interlayer의 두께 보다 두껍게 성장했다. 이는 V의 oxide formation energy가 Mn 보다 작으므로 SiO2와의 계면에서 산화막 형성이 쉽기 때문으로 판단된다. 또한, $V^{+5}$이온 반경이 $Mn^{+2}$이온 반경보다 작아 oxide 내부에서 확산이 용이하며 oxide 박막 내에 여기되는 전기장이 더 큰 산화수를 가지는 V의 경우 더 크기 때문으로 판단된다.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.43-49
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• 2007

Thickness of intermetallic compounds and consumption rates of under bump metallurgies (UBMs) were investigated in wafer-level solder bumping with variations of UBM materials and reflow times. In the case of Cu UBM, $0.6\;{\mu}m-thick$ intermetallic compound layer was formed before reflow of Sn solder, and the average thickness of the intermetallic compound layer increased to $4\;{\mu}m$ by reflowing at $250^{\circ}C$ for 450 sec. On the contrary, the intermetallic layer had a thickness of $0.2\;{\mu}m$ on Ni UBM before reflow and it grew to $1.7\;{\mu}m$ thickness with reflowing for 450 sec. While the consumption rates of Cu UBM were 100nm/sec fur 15-sec reflow and 4.50-sec for 450-sec reflow, those of Ni UBM decreased to 28.7 nm/sec for 15-sec reflow and 1.82 nm/sec for 450-sec reflow.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2014

Effects of wet chemical treatment and thermal cycle conditions on the quantitative interfacial adhesion energy of $Cu/SiN_x$ thin film interfaces were evaluated by 4-point bending test method. The test samples were cleaned by chemical treatment after Cu chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). The thermal cycle test between Cu and $SiN_x$ capping layer was experimented at the temperature, -45 to $175^{\circ}C$ for 250 cycles. The measured interfacial adhesion energy increased from 10.57 to $14.87J/m^2$ after surface chemical treatment. After 250 thermal cycles, the interfacial adhesion energy decreased to $5.64J/m^2$ and $7.34J/m^2$ for without chemical treatment and with chemical treatment, respectively. The delaminated interfaces were confirmed as $Cu/SiN_x$ interface by using the scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis results, the relative Cu oxide amounts between $SiN_x$ and Cu decreased by chemical treatment and increased after thermal cycle. The thermal stress due to the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient during thermal cycle seemed to weaken the $Cu/SiN_x$ interface adhesion, which led to increased CuO amounts at Cu film surface.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.7-12
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• 2018

The effects of Ru deposition temperature and post-annealing conditions on the interfacial adhesion energies of atomic layer deposited (ALD) Ru diffusion barrier layer and Cu thin films for the advanced Cu interconnects applications were systematically investigated. The initial interfacial adhesion energies were 8.55, 9.37, $8.96J/m^2$ for the sample deposited at 225, 270, and $310^{\circ}C$, respectively, which are closely related to the similar microstructures and resistivities of Ru films for ALD Ru deposition temperature variations. And the interfacial adhesion energies showed the relatively stable high values over $7.59J/m^2$ until 250h during post-annealing at $200^{\circ}C$, while dramatically decreased to $1.40J/m^2$ after 500 h. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Cu 2p peak separation analysis showed that there exists good correlation between the interfacial adhesion energy and the interfacial CuO formation. Therefore, ALD Ru seems to be a promising diffusion barrier candidate with reliable interfacial reliability for advanced Cu interconnects.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2012

소자가 고집적화 됨에 따라, 비저항이 낮고 electro migration (EM), Stress Migration (SM) 특성이 우수한 구리(Cu)를 배선재료로서 사용하고 있다. 그러나, 구리는 Si과 $SiO_2$의 내부로 확산이 빠르게 일어나, Si 소자 내부에 deep donor level을 형성하고, 누설 전류를 증가시키는 등 소자의 성능을 저하시킬 수 있는 문제점을 가지고 있다. 그러나, electroplating 을 이용하여 증착한 Cu 박막은 일반적으로 확산 방지막으로 쓰이는 TiN, TaN, 등의 물질과의 접착 (adhesion) 특성이 나쁘다. 따라서, Cu CMP 에서 증착된 Cu 박막의 벗겨지거나(peeling), EM or SM 저항성 저하 등의 배선에서의 reliability 문제를 야기하게된다. 따라서 Cu 와 접착 특성이 좋은 새로운 확산방지막 또는 adhesion layer의 필요성이 대두되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 Cu 배선에서의 접착성 문제를 해결하고자 Metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)을 이용하여 제조한 코발트(Co) 박막을 $Cu/TaN_x$ 사이의 접착력 개선을 위한 adhesion layer로 적용하려는 시도를 하였다. Co는 비저항이 낮고, Cu 와 adhesion이 좋으며, Cu direct electroplating 이 가능하다는 장점을 가지고 있다. 하지만, 수소 분위기에서 $C_{12}H_{10}O_6(Co)_2$ (dicobalt hexacarbonyl tert-butylacetylene, CCTBA) 전구체에 의한 MOCVD Co 박막의 경우 탄소, 산소와 같은 불순물이 다량 함유되어 있어, 비저항, surface roughness 가 높아지게 된다. 따라서 구리 전착 초기에 구리의 핵 생성(nucleation)을 저해하고 핵 생성 후에도 응집(agglomeration)이 발생하여 연속적이고 얇은 구리막 형성을 방해한다. 이를 해결하기 위해, MOCVD Co 박막 증착 시 수소 반응 가스에 암모니아를 추가로 주입하여, 수소/암모니아의 분압을 1:1, 1:6, 1:10으로 변화시켜 $Co/TaN_x$ 박막의 특성을 비교 분석하였다. 각각의 수소/암모니아 분압에 따른 $Co/TaN_x$ 박막을 TEM (Transmission electron microscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), AES (Auger electron spectroscopy)를 통해 물성 및 조성을 분석하였고, AFM (Atomic force microscopy)를 이용하여, surface roughness를 측정하였다. 실험 결과, $Co/TaN_x$ 박막은 수소/암모니아 분압 1:6에서 90 ${\mu}{\Omega}-cm$의 낮은 비저항과 0.97 nm 의 낮은 surface roughness 를 가졌다. 뿐만 아니라, MOCVD 에 의해 증착된 Co 박막이4-6 % concentration 의 탄소 및 산소 함량을 가지는 것으로 나타났고, 24nm 크기의 trench 기판 위에 약 6nm의 $Co/TaN_x$ 박막이 매우 균일하게 형성된 것을 확인 할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과들은, 향후 $Co/TaN_x$ 박막이 Cu direct electroplating 공정이 가능한 diffusion barrier로서 성공적으로 사용될 수 있음을 보여준다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.546-546
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• 2008

Copper (Cu) Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) has been an essential process for Cu wifing of DRAM and NAND flash memory beyond 45nm. Copper has been employed as ideal material for interconnect and metal line due to the low resistivity and high resistant to electro-migration. Damascene process is currently used in conjunction with CMP in the fabrication of multi-level copper interconnects for advanced logic and memory devices. Cu CMP involves removal of material by the combination of chemical and mechanical action. Chemicals in slurry aid in material removal by modifying the surface film while abrasion between the particles, pad, and the modified film facilitates mechanical removal. In our research, we emphasized on the role of chemical effect of slurry on Cu CMP, especially on the effect of amine functional group on removal rate selectivity between Cu and Tantalum-nitride (TaN) film. We investigated the two different kinds of complexing agent both with amine functional group. On the one hand, Polyacrylamide as a polymer affected the stability of abrasive, viscosity of slurry and the corrosion current of copper film especially at high concentration. At higher concentration, the aggregation of abrasive particles was suppressed by the steric effect of PAM, thus showed higher fraction of small particle distribution. It also showed a fluctuation behavior of the viscosity of slurry at high shear rate due to transformation of polymer chain. Also, because of forming thick passivation layer on the surface of Cu film, the diffusion of oxidant to the Cu surface was inhibited; therefore, the corrosion current with 0.7wt% PAM was smaller than that without PAM. the polishing rate of Cu film slightly increased up to 0.3wt%, then decreased with increasing of PAM concentration. On the contrary, the polishing rate of TaN film was strongly suppressed and saturated with increasing of PAM concentration at 0.3wt%. We also studied the electrostatic interaction between abrasive particle and Cu/TaN film with different PAM concentration. On the other hand, amino-methyl-propanol (AMP) as a single molecule does not affect the stability, rheological and corrosion behavior of the slurry as the polymer PAM. The polishing behavior of TaN film and selectivity with AMP appeared the similar trend to the slurry with PAM. The polishing behavior of Cu film with AMP, however, was quite different with that of PAM. We assume this difference was originated from different compactness of surface passivation layer on the Cu film under the same concentration due to the different molecular weight of PAM and AMP.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.8-16
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• 2023

The importance of next-generation packaging technologies is being emphasized as a solution as the miniaturization of devices reaches its limits. To address the bottleneck issue, there is an increasing need for 2.5D and 3D interconnect pitches. This aims to minimize signal delays while meeting requirements such as small size, low power consumption, and a high number of I/Os. Hybrid bonding technology is gaining attention as an alternative to conventional solder bumps due to their limitations such as miniaturization constraints and reliability issues in high-temperature processes. Recently, there has been active research conducted on SiCN to address and enhance the limitations of the Cu/SiO₂ structure. This paper introduces the advantages of Cu/SiCN over the Cu/SiO₂ structure, taking into account various deposition conditions including precursor, deposition temperature, and substrate temperature. Additionally, it provides insights into the core mechanisms of SiCN, such as the role of Dangling bonds and OH groups, and the effects of plasma surface treatment, which explain the differences from SiO₂. Through this discussion, we aim to ultimately present the achievable advantages of applying the Cu/SiCN hybrid bonding structure.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.12 no.1 s.34
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• pp.53-58
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• 2005

We researched damage formation and failure mechanism under DC(direct current) and AC(alternative current) in order to estimate reliability of Cu interconnects in ULSI. Higher current density and temperature induces more short TTF(time to failure) during interconnects carry DC. Measurement reveals that Cu electromigration has activation energy of 0.96eV and current density exponent value of 4. Thermal fatigue is occurred under DC, and higher frequency and ${\Delta}$T value gives more severe damage during interconnects carry AC Through failure morphology analysis with respect to texture, we observed that damages had grown widely and facetted grains had appeared in (100)grain but damages in (111) had grown thickness direction of line and had induced a failure rapidly.