Effect of Cu Film Thickness on Cu Bonding Quality and Bonding Mechanism

Materials (Basel). 2024 May 4;17(9):2150. doi: 10.3390/ma17092150.

Abstract

In the hybrid bonding process, the final stage of chemical mechanical polishing plays a critical role. It is essential to ensure that the copper surface is recessed slightly from the oxide surface. However, this recess can lead to the occurrence of interfacial voids between the bonded copper interfaces. To examine the effects of copper film thickness on bonding quality and bonding mechanisms in this study, artificial voids were intentionally introduced at the bonded interfaces at temperatures of 250 °C and 300 °C. The results revealed that as the thickness of the copper film increases, there is an increase in the bonding fraction and a decrease in the void fraction. The variations in void height with different copper film thicknesses were influenced by the bonding mechanism and bonding fraction.

Keywords: Cu film thickness; Cu–Cu direct bonding; elastic deformation; surface creep; void morphology.