U.S. patent application number 11/092703 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for through electrode, spacer provided with the through electrode, and method of manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Komuro, Masahiro.
Application Number | 20050218497 11/092703 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35050068 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050218497 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Komuro, Masahiro |
October 6, 2005 |
Through electrode, spacer provided with the through electrode, and
method of manufacturing the same
Abstract
A through electrode that offers excellent performance and can be
manufactured through a simple process is to be provided. In a
silicon spacer including a silicon substrate, an insulative thick
film is provided so as to be in contact with a surface of the
silicon substrate and a side wall of a through hole penetrating the
silicon substrate. An upper surface of a through plug is retreated
to a lower level than an interface between the silicon substrate
and the insulative thick film, thus to define a height gap. A first
bump is then formed, which is connected to the retreated surface of
the through plug and has a larger diameter than that of the through
plug at the upper surface of the insulative thick film.
Inventors: |
Komuro, Masahiro; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET
2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
KAWASAKI
JP
|
Family ID: |
35050068 |
Appl. No.: |
11/092703 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
257/686 ;
257/698; 257/737; 257/E23.008; 257/E25.013; 438/109; 438/613 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2924/30105
20130101; H01L 23/147 20130101; H01L 24/11 20130101; H01L
2924/00014 20130101; H01L 2924/01006 20130101; H01L 2224/0401
20130101; H01L 2924/01078 20130101; H01L 2924/01082 20130101; H01L
2924/01013 20130101; H01L 2224/73207 20130101; H01L 2224/13009
20130101; H01L 2225/06572 20130101; H01L 23/481 20130101; H01L
2924/04953 20130101; H01L 2224/05001 20130101; H01L 2924/01015
20130101; H01L 2224/1147 20130101; H01L 2224/48227 20130101; H01L
2224/73265 20130101; H01L 2224/13025 20130101; H01L 2924/01004
20130101; H01L 2224/13144 20130101; H01L 2224/05555 20130101; H01L
2224/16 20130101; H01L 24/48 20130101; H01L 2224/03912 20130101;
H01L 2924/00014 20130101; H01L 2224/45099 20130101; H01L 2224/45015
20130101; H01L 2224/73265 20130101; H01L 2924/207 20130101; H01L
2924/00 20130101; H01L 21/6835 20130101; H01L 2224/32225 20130101;
H01L 2224/48227 20130101; H01L 2224/05555 20130101; H01L 24/03
20130101; H01L 2224/32225 20130101; H01L 2924/01005 20130101; H01L
2224/48227 20130101; H01L 2224/32225 20130101; H01L 2924/00014
20130101; H01L 2924/00 20130101; H01L 2924/00012 20130101; H01L
21/76898 20130101; H01L 2924/01029 20130101; H01L 2924/15311
20130101; H01L 2924/01073 20130101; H01L 2224/04042 20130101; H01L
2221/68372 20130101; H01L 2924/00014 20130101; H01L 2924/01033
20130101; H01L 24/12 20130101; H01L 24/73 20130101; H01L 25/0657
20130101; H01L 2924/01079 20130101; H01L 24/05 20130101; H01L
2224/13099 20130101; H01L 2225/0651 20130101; H01L 2924/01022
20130101; H01L 2924/1433 20130101; H01L 2924/15311 20130101; H01L
2224/73265 20130101; H01L 2924/01014 20130101; H01L 2224/04042
20130101; H01L 2924/01028 20130101; H01L 2225/06513 20130101; H01L
2224/13022 20130101; H01L 2224/0554 20130101; H01L 2924/0105
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
257/686 ;
257/737; 438/613; 438/109; 257/698 |
International
Class: |
H01L 021/48; H01L
023/52 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2004 |
JP |
2004-099681 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A through electrode comprising: a silicon substrate provided
with a through hole; an insulating protective film formed on a
surface of said silicon substrate with an opening connecting with
said through hole; a through plug formed by embedding a conductive
material in said through hole; and a bump connected to said through
plug; wherein said bump is connected to said through plug inside
said through hole, and a portion of said bump located outside said
through hole has a larger diameter than that of a portion of said
bump located inside said through hole.
2. The through electrode according to claim 1, wherein a
larger-diameter portion of said bump is in contact with said
insulating protective film.
3. The through electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a
side wall insulating film formed so as to cover a side wall of said
through plug.
4. The through electrode according to claim 3, wherein said side
wall insulating film and said insulating protective film are
continuously and integrally formed.
5. The through electrode according to claim 1, wherein said through
plug includes a barrier film covering a side wall inside said
through hole, and a metal film around covered by said barrier
film.
6. A silicon spacer comprising a silicon substrate provided with
said through electrodes according to claim 1.
7. A method of manufacturing a through electrode, comprising:
forming a hole on one surface of a silicon substrate; forming an
insulating film that covers said surface and an inner wall of said
hole; forming a conductive film so as to fill said hole; performing
polishing or etching back on said conductive film so as to remove a
portion of said conductive film formed outside said hole for
exposing said insulating film, and to retreat a surface of said
conductive film into an inner level of said silicon substrate than
the surface thereof, for forming a conductive plug and a recessed
portion; growing a metal film on a retreated surface of said
conductive plug thus to fill said recessed portion and to further
form a bump having a larger diameter outside said hole than that of
a portion of said bump located inside said hole; and polishing
another surface of said silicon substrate for exposing said
conductive plug, thus to form a through electrode.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said forming said bump
includes forming a barrier metal film on the surface of said
conductive plug and a side wall of said recessed portion, and
growing said metal film utilizing said barrier metal film as a
base.
9. The method according to claim 7, comprising, after said step of
forming said conductive plug: selectively removing a portion of
said silicon substrate from said another surface thereof opposite
to said one surface thus to expose a surface of said conductive
plug; and growing another metal film on an exposed surface of said
conductive plug, thus to form a bump on the rear surface.
10. The method according to claim 7, comprising, after said forming
said through electrode: growing another metal film on an exposed
surface of said conductive plug, thus to form a bump on the rear
surface.
11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said forming said
insulating film includes forming a silicon oxide film on said one
surface of said silicon substrate.
12. The method according to claim 7, comprising forming a barrier
film on said one surface of said silicon substrate provided with
said hole, after said forming said insulating film and before said
forming said conductive film.
Description
[0001] This application is based on Japanese patent application No.
2004-099681, the content of which is incorporated hereinto by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a through electrode, a
spacer provided with the through electrode, and a method of
manufacturing them.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] In recent years, with the view of achieving an even higher
degree of integration of a semiconductor chip, development of
three-dimensional implementation of semiconductor chips such as an
LSI has lately been vigorously carried out. Such attempts include
providing a through electrode on a semiconductor substrate. An
example of the through electrode is disclosed in the H. Yonemura,
et al., "Time-Modulated Cu-Plating Technique for Fabricating
High-Aspect-Ratio Vias for Three-dimensional Stacked LSI System",
2002, Proceedings of the International Interconnect Technology
Conference, pp. 75 to 77 (H. Yonemura, et al.). The document
discloses a through electrode constituted of a Cu plug formed so as
to penetrate a silicon substrate, with a bump formed on an upper
face of the Cu plug. Providing such through electrode allows
achieving electrical connection between the substrates and an
external component via a short distance without the need of
performing wire bonding, when three-dimensionally stacking a
plurality of semiconductor chip substrates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] However, as a result of the review on the cited technique
made by the present inventors, it has now been discovered that
sufficient secure of adhesion between a metal film and the bump
constituting the through electrode has still room for improvement.
In addition, a room for further simplification has been found in
the manufacturing process of the through electrode.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a
through electrode comprising a silicon substrate provided with a
through hole; an insulating protective film formed on a surface of
the silicon substrate with an opening connecting with the through
hole; a through plug formed by embedding a conductive material in
the through hole; and a bump connected to the through plug; wherein
the bump is connected to the through plug inside the through hole,
and a portion of the bump located outside the through hole has a
larger diameter than that of a portion of the bump located inside
the through hole. In such configuration, the bump may be connected
to the through plug on the surface of the substrate.
[0008] In the through electrode thus constructed, the bump is
connected to the through plug inside the through hole penetrating
the silicon substrate. This means that a recessed portion is formed
on the silicon substrate, and it is in the recessed portion that
the through plug and the bump are connected. Also, the bump has a
larger diameter outside the through hole. Accordingly, the bump and
the through plug are tightly adhered because of an anchoring
effect. Further, the electrical contact between the bump and the
through plug is fully secured, which leads to decrease of contact
resistance therebetween. In addition, since the insulating
protective film is provided, the bump can be kept from directly
contacting with the silicon substrate on the surface where the
through electrode is formed.
[0009] In the present invention, the conductive material may be
made of a metal material. This further assures the conductivity of
the through electrode.
[0010] In the through electrode according to the present invention,
the larger-diameter portion of the bump may be in contact with the
insulating protective film. Such configuration can keep the bump
from contacting with the silicon substrate. This enhances the
reliability of the electrode in its essential performance.
[0011] The through electrode according to the present invention may
further comprise a side wall insulating film formed so as to cover
a side wall of the through plug. Such configuration allows
suppressing generation of a parasitic capacitance in the silicon
substrate along the side periphery of the through electrode. This
further increases the reliability of the through electrode.
[0012] In the through electrode according to the present invention,
the side wall insulating film and the insulating protective film
may be continuously and integrally formed. Such configuration
allows manufacturing the configuration by simple process.
[0013] The term "continuously and integrally formed" herein means
forming a continuous and unified structure. Preferably, the
structure is constituted of a single part without forming a joint
portion. Forming a continuous and unified structure allows
preventing the side wall insulating film and the insulating
protective film from separating or detachment from each other.
Accordingly, such constitution further assures insulating property
and further increases the reliability of the electrode.
[0014] In the through electrode according to the present invention,
the through plug may include a barrier film covering a side wall
inside the through hole, and a metal film around covered by the
barrier film. In the present invention, the barrier film serves as
an insulating film that prevents diffusion of a metal component
contained in the metal film into outward of the through plug. Such
configuration effectively prevents the diffusion of a metal
component in the metal film into the semiconductor substrate.
[0015] According to the present invention, there is provided a
method of manufacturing a through electrode, comprising forming a
hole on one surface of a silicon substrate; forming an insulating
film that covers the surface and an inner wall of the hole; forming
a conductive film so as to fill the hole; performing polishing or
etching back on the conductive film so as to remove a portion of
the conductive film formed outside the hole for exposing the
insulating film, and to retreat a surface of the conductive film
into an inner level of the silicon substrate than the surface
thereof, for forming a conductive plug and a recessed portion;
growing a metal film on a retreated surface of the conductive plug
thus to fill the recessed portion and to further form a bump having
a larger diameter outside the hole than that of a portion of the
bump located inside the hole; and polishing another surface of the
silicon substrate for exposing the conductive plug, thus to form a
through electrode.
[0016] The method of manufacturing thus arranged includes
retreating the surface of the conductive film into an inner level
of the silicon substrate than the surface thereof, thus to form the
recessed portion, that is, the retreated portion on the surface of
the silicon substrate, thereby forming a height gap on these
surfaces. Therefore, such recessed portion assures the connection
of the conductive plug and the bump. Also, such method eliminates
the need to form an insulating film on the silicon substrate
surface and to form an opening thereon at a determined position,
when forming the bump. Accordingly, a through electrode that offers
excellent property can be stably manufactured through a simplified
process, and hence a manufacturing cost is decreased.
[0017] In the present invention, the insulating film may be formed
as a thick film. Such configuration further assures the insulation
between the through electrode and the silicon substrate, and the
prevention of generation of a parasitic capacitance in the silicon
substrate.
[0018] In the method of manufacturing according to the present
invention, forming the bump may include growing the metal film
selectively on the retreated surface of the conductive plug. Having
such process, the configuration of the bump, which effectively has
adhesion between the bump and the through plug, may be further
obtained by an anchoring effect.
[0019] In the method of manufacturing according to the present
invention, forming the bump may include forming a barrier metal
film on the surface of the conductive plug and a side wall of the
recessed portion, and growing the metal film utilizing the barrier
metal film as the base. Such method further assures the electrical
contact between the conductive plug and the bump. Also, the metal
film may be more assuredly grown from the surface of the conductive
plug and the side surface of the recessed portion. Accordingly, a
stability of manufacturing the bump may be increased.
[0020] The method of manufacturing according to the present
invention may comprise, after forming the conductive plug,
selectively removing a portion of the silicon substrate from
another surface thereof opposite to the one surface thus to expose
a surface of the conductive plug; and growing another metal film on
an exposed surface of the conductive plug, thus to form a bump on
the rear surface.
[0021] Alternatively, the method of manufacturing according to the
present invention may comprise, after forming the through
electrode, growing another metal film on an exposed surface of the
conductive plug, thus to form a bump on the rear surface.
[0022] In the present invention, since the inner wall of the hole
is covered with the insulating film, the bump on the rear surface
may be formed without additionally forming another insulating film
for forming the bump on the rear surface, that is, another surface
of the silicon insulator. This allows simplifying the manufacturing
process, and hence facilitating the manufacturing of the through
electrode more easily. Here, in the present invention, the metal
film from which to form the bump and the metal film from which to
form another bump on the rear surface may be constituted of an
identical material or different materials.
[0023] In the method of manufacturing according to the present
invention, forming the insulating film may include forming a
silicon oxide film on the one surface of the silicon substrate.
Such method further assures insulation and protection of the
surface of the silicon substrate. In addition, such method further
ensures suppression of generation of a parasitic capacitance in the
silicon substrate along the side periphery of the through hole.
[0024] The method of manufacturing according to the present
invention may comprise forming a barrier film on the one surface of
the silicon substrate provided with the hole, after forming the
insulating film and before forming the conductive film. Such method
allows effectively inhibiting the conductive material in the
conductive film from diffusing into the silicon substrate.
[0025] According to the present invention, there is provided a
silicon spacer comprising the through electrode.
[0026] According to the present invention, there is provided a
method of manufacturing a silicon spacer, comprising forming a
through electrode by the foregoing method of manufacturing the
through electrode.
[0027] The silicon spacer according to the present invention
includes the through electrode formed as specified above.
Accordingly, the conductive plug and the bump are tightly adhered
to each other, and an electrical conductive path is adequately
secured in a cross-sectional direction of the silicon substrate.
Therefore, such spacer can be advantageously provided between a
plurality of semiconductor devices to be three-dimensionally
stacked, for assured electrical connection between those
devices.
[0028] As described above, the present invention provides a through
electrode that offers excellent property and can be manufactured
through a simple process, wherein a through plug formed by
embedding a conductive material in a through hole penetrating a
silicon substrate and a bump are connected with the through plug
inside the through hole, and the bump has a larger-diameter portion
outside the through hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
configuration of a silicon spacer according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0031] FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic cross-sectional views for
explaining a manufacturing process of the silicon spacer of FIG.
1;
[0032] FIGS. 3D to 3F are schematic cross-sectional views for
explaining a manufacturing process of the silicon spacer of FIG.
1;
[0033] FIGS. 4G and 4H are schematic cross-sectional views for
explaining a manufacturing process of the silicon spacer of FIG.
1;
[0034] FIG. 5I is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a
manufacturing process of the silicon spacer of FIG. 1;
[0035] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic plan views and cross-sectional
views showing a constitution of through electrodes;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
configuration of a semiconductor device including a silicon spacer,
according to the embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
configuration of a silicon spacer according to a comparative
example;
[0038] FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic cross-sectional views for
explaining a manufacturing process of the silicon spacer according
to the comparative example;
[0039] FIGS. 10D to 10F are schematic cross-sectional views for
explaining a manufacturing process of the silicon spacer according
to the comparative example; and
[0040] FIGS. 11G and 11H are schematic cross-sectional views for
explaining a manufacturing process of the silicon spacer according
to the comparative example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] The present invention will be now described herein with
reference to illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art
will recognize that many alternative embodiments can be
accomplished using the teachings of the present invention and that
the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated for
explanatory purposed.
[0042] Firstly, a spacer provided with a through electrode
according to the present invention will be described. The spacer is
to be disposed between three-dimensionally stacked semiconductor
devices formed on a substrate, for securing an electrical
connection.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
configuration of a semiconductor device on which a plurality of
chips is stacked. The semiconductor device 60 shown in FIG. 7
includes an MPU/ASIC chip 71, a large capacitance system memory
chip 72, and a 128MNOR flush memory chip 73 stacked in this
sequence on a base substrate 61, and the substrate 61 and the chip
71 are connected via a bonding wire 67, and the substrate 61 and
the chip 73 are connected via a bonding wire 65.
[0044] Normally the semiconductor chip on the second layer from the
base substrate is required to be smaller in dimensions than that on
the first layer from the base substrate, in order to secure a room
for disposing the bonding wire for connection, which naturally
imposes a limitation to a capacitance and property of the
semiconductor chip to be stacked.
[0045] However, even when the second layer chip 72 is larger than
the first layer chip 71 as shown in FIG. 7, interposing a spacer 11
therebetween and thus connecting electrodes via through electrode 5
generates a space between the first layer chip 71 and the second
layer chip 72, thereby allowing disposing the bonding wire 67 for
the connection.
[0046] The spacer according to the present invention, which is
provided with the through electrode, can be advantageously
incorporated in such semiconductor devices. Hereunder, an
embodiment of the spacer including the through electrode will be
described referring to the drawings. Here, with respect to all the
drawings, constituents employed in common will be given an
identical numeral, and the description thereof will be omitted as
the case may be. Also, for the purpose of the description of the
embodiment, a surface of the spacer on which the retreated surface
of the through plug constituting the through electrode will be
referred to as an upper face (surface), and the opposite surface as
a lower face (rear face).
[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
configuration of a silicon spacer according to this embodiment. A
silicon spacer 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a through electrode 102
penetrating a silicon substrate 101, which is a semiconductor
substrate, from the upper face to the lower face thereof. Although
FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the single silicon substrate
101 includes two through electrodes 102, the number of the through
electrodes 102 or a position thereof is not specifically limited,
but may be appropriately determined according to a configuration of
the semiconductor devices to which the silicon spacer 100 is to be
incorporated.
[0048] On the upper face of the silicon substrate 101 and on the
inner side face of the through hole penetrating the silicon
substrate 101, an insulative thick film 103 is provided in contact
with the silicon substrate 101. Inside the through hole penetrating
the silicon substrate 101, the insulative thick film 103, a SiN
film 105, and a through plug 107 are filled in this sequence.
Accordingly, the side wall of the through plug 107 is covered with
the insulative thick film 103 via the SiN film 105, thus separated
from the silicon substrate 101.
[0049] A material for constituting the insulative thick film 103 is
to be selected out of those that are stable against treatments to
be performed in the manufacturing process of the through electrode
102 to be later described. Also, preferably the material of the
insulative thick film 103 is selected material capable of
suppressing generation of a parasitic capacitance in the silicon
substrate 101. For example, a SiO.sub.2 film or the like is
preferably employed. Likewise, a thickness of the insulative thick
film 103 is preferably determined so as to secure stability under
the manufacturing process of the through electrode 102 and to allow
suppressing generation of a parasitic capacitance. When employing
the SiO.sub.2 film as the insulative thick film 103, a thickness
thereof may be, for example, from 300 nm to 5 .mu.m. With a
thickness of 300 nm or greater, degradation of the through
electrode 102 during the manufacturing process can be effectively
prevented. Accordingly, emergence of a leak current, caused by a
contact of the silicon substrate 101 and the first bump 111 or the
second bump 115, can be securely prevented. With a thickness of 5
.mu.m or less, the silicon spacer 100 and the through electrode 102
can be formed to be smaller and thinner.
[0050] The through electrode 102 includes the through plug 107, an
under bump metal film 109, a first bump 111, a second bump 115, and
a SiN film 105. The through plug 107 serves as a conductive
material embedded inside the through hole formed in the silicon
substrate 101. A material of the through plug 107 may be a metal
such as copper. The first bump 111 is formed in contact with the
upper face of the through plug 107 via the under bump metal film
109.
[0051] The SiN film 105 serves as a barrier film covered on the
side wall of the through plug 107, for preventing diffusion of a
metal component in the through plug 107 into the insulative thick
film 103 and the silicon substrate 101. The barrier film may be
formed of a material other than the SiN, as long as it is an
insulative material. Here, the SiN film 105 is thinner than the
insulative thick film 103. A thickness of the SiN film 105 may be,
for example, 10 nm or greater. Such thickness assures proper
property of the barrier film.
[0052] The upper face of the through plug 107 is located at an
inner level inside the through hole, than an interface between the
silicon substrate 101 and the insulative thick film 103, thus
forming a height gap 113 between those faces. The retreated space
of the through plug 107 is filled with a portion of the first bump
111, by which the through plug 107 is in contact with the first
bump 111 at the retreated face from the interface between the
silicon substrate 101 and the insulative thick film 103, that is,
at the recessed portion. The first bump 111 is outwardly expanding
outside the through hole in an eaves-like shape, forming an
approximately T-shaped cross section. In other words, a diameter of
the first bump 111 located outside the through hole is larger than
a diameter of the first bump 111 located inside the through hole.
The first bump 111 may be constituted of a metal, such as Au.
[0053] The second bump 115 is disposed in contact with the lower
face of the through plug 107. The second bump 115 is formed within
the contact face between the insulative thick film 103 and the
silicon substrate 101. Accordingly, the second bump 115 is securely
kept from making an electrical connection with the silicon
substrate 101. The second bump 115 may be constituted of a metal,
such as Ni. The second bump 115 may be provided with a metal
coating layer such as Au, on the surface thereof.
[0054] A method of manufacturing the silicon spacer 100 will now be
described. FIGS. 2A to 2C, 3D to 3F, 4G, 4H, and FIG. 5I are
schematic cross-sectional views showing the manufacturing process
of the silicon spacer 100.
[0055] Firstly, a photoresist is applied to a surface of the
silicon substrate 101, and photolithography is performed to form a
resist pattern in which an opening is formed at a position
corresponding to the through plug 107. Then etching is performed
utilizing the resist pattern as a mask, to remove a portion of the
silicon substrate 101, thus to form an opening 117 (FIG. 2A).
[0056] After removing the photoresist, the insulative thick film
103 is formed all over the upper face of the silicon substrate 101,
including the opening 117 (FIG. 2B). The insulative thick film 103
may be an SiO.sub.2 film deposited by a CVD technique. Then the SiN
film 105, which is to serve as a barrier film, is formed all over
the upper face of the silicon substrate 101 on which the insulative
thick film 103 is provided, in a thickness of for example 50 nm by
a plasma CVD technique (FIG. 2C).
[0057] Thereafter, a seed Cu film (not shown in the drawings) is
formed on the SiN film 105. Then electrolytic plating is carried
out to completely fill the opening 117 with a Cu film, and
annealing is performed to grow the grains of Cu. At this stage,
formation of the Cu film 119 is completed (FIG. 3D).
[0058] The above is followed by a CMP (Chemical Mechanical
Polishing) process, by which the Cu film 119 and the SiN film 105
are removed from the upper face of the silicon substrate 101. Here,
conditions of the CMP process are selected such that the upper face
of the Cu film 119 falls to an lower level than the contact face
between the silicon substrate 101 and the insulative thick film 103
(FIG. 3E). Specifically, slurry is to be appropriately selected
such that the chemical polishing due to the oxidation of the Cu
film 119 takes place with priority to the mechanical polishing of
the insulative thick film 103.
[0059] Accordingly, the Cu film 119 is polished with priority while
leaving the insulative thick film 103 not removed on the silicon
substrate 101, thus forming the height gap 113 (recess) between the
upper face of the Cu film 119 and the interface between the silicon
substrate 101 and the insulative thick film 103. In this way a
recessed portion 131 is defined in a portion of the opening 117, by
depressing the Cu film 119 such that the upper face thereof is
located lower than the upper face of the insulative thick film 103.
Therefore a bottom portion of the recessed portion 131 corresponds
to the retreated face, that is, the recessed surface. Slurry for
metal polishing may be employed as such polishing slurry.
[0060] Then, a TiW film, which is to serve as the under bump metal
film 109, and a resist film 121 are applied all over the substrate
101, and photolithography is performed to form an opening 123, thus
to expose the under bump metal film 109 (FIG. 3F). The opening 123
is located above the through plug 107 as well as the SiN film 105
and the insulative thick film 103 disposed along the side wall of
the through plug 107.
[0061] Now electrolytic plating is performed to selectively grow an
Au film based on the exposed portion of the under bump metal film
109. The Au film is grown so as to fill the recessed portion 131
and to expand its diameter outside the recessed portion 131, thus
to form the first bump 111 that contacts with the insulative thick
film 103. The resist film 121 is removed. After that, wet etching
is performed utilizing the first bump 111 as a mask, to thereby
remove the under bump metal film 109 except a portion formed in the
formation region of the first bump 111 (FIG. 4G).
[0062] Then the surface of the silicon substrate 101 on which the
first bump 111 is provided is adhered to a supporting component
125, via an adhesive 120 and a peeling layer 122 (FIG. 4H). The
adhesive 120 may be of a UV-setting material or a thermosetting
material. For the peeling layer 122, a material having a different
absorption wavelength from that of the adhesive 120, which foams
when irradiated by a light of such absorption wavelength. Also, the
supporting component 125 may be constituted of a material resistant
against heat, chemicals, an external force and the like to be
applied thereto during a thinning process of the silicon substrate
101 such as rear face grinding, to be later described. Examples of
such material include quartz and a glass such as Pyrex.TM., though
a material other than glass may be employed, including a plastic
such as acrylic resin.
[0063] Thereafter, the rear face of the silicon substrate 101 is
ground (FIG. 5I). The rear face grinding is performed mechanically.
A thickness of the silicon substrate 101 after the grinding may be
set as for example 50 to 200 .mu.m, depending on the stack
configuration of the semiconductor device in which the silicon
spacer 100 is to be incorporated.
[0064] Then non-electrolytic plating is performed to grow a Ni film
on the exposed portion of the through plug 107. Here, the growing
condition of the Ni film is adjusted such that the Ni film is
formed in an inner region than the contact face between the
insulative thick film 103 and the silicon substrate 101, provided
on the side wall of the through plug 107. The Ni film is then
plated with Au on its surface. At this stage, the second bump 115
is formed on the other face of the through plug 107.
[0065] Upon peeling the supporting component 125 from the silicon
substrate 101, the supporting component 125 is removed and the
silicon spacer 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.
[0066] Now the advantageous effect of the silicon spacer 100 shown
in FIG. 1 will be described.
[0067] In the silicon spacer 100, the surface of the through plug
107 filled in the through hole of the silicon substrate 101 is
located lower in the through hole than the interface between the
silicon substrate 101 and the insulative thick film 103, and a
height gap 113 is defined between the upper face of the through
plug 107 and the contact face between the first bump 111 and the
insulative thick film 103. Also, a portion of the first bump 111 is
embedded inside the through hole. The first bump 111 has a larger
diameter outside the through hole than a diameter inside the
through hole, forming an eaves-like projecting shape.
[0068] Such configuration of the bump 111, as being connected to
the through plug 107 inside the through hole and having a larger
diameter outside the through hole than a diameter inside the
through hole, provokes an anchoring effect which enhances and
stabilizes the adhesion between the bump 111 and the through plug
107. Also, a sufficiently large contact area between the through
plug 107 and the first bump 111 provides adequate conductivity
therebetween and minimizes a contact resistance. Such configuration
also provides stability of the manufacturing process. In addition,
because of the presence of the insulative thick film 103, a defect
can be effectively prevented, such as emergence of a leak current
from the bump 111 on the face of the silicon substrate 101, where
is the face of the first bump 111 side.
[0069] Further, the height gap 113 can be obtained by appropriately
selecting a CMP condition with respect to the Cu film 119. This
significantly simplifies the manufacturing process, and also
provides stability of the manufacturing process.
[0070] Also, the insulative thick film 103, formed between the
through plug 107 and the silicon substrate 101 along the side
periphery of the through plug 107, is thicker than the SiN film
105. Accordingly, a parasitic capacitance is effectively decreased
from being generated in the silicon substrate 101. Such effect
becomes more prominent when the insulative thick film 103 has a
thickness of 300 nm or greater.
[0071] Also, the insulative thick film 103 for protecting the
surface of the silicon substrate 101 and sustaining the first bump
111 still remains after the CMP process so as to contact with the
larger-diameter portion of the first bump 111. The insulative thick
film 103 is originally formed to be thick, and maintains a
sufficient thickness even after the CMP process. Therefore, the
insulation between the first bump 111 and the silicon substrate 101
can be effectively secured. Such effect becomes more prominent when
the insulative thick film 103 has a thickness of 300 nm or
greater.
[0072] Further, as shown in FIG. 3E, a configuration wherein the
surface of the silicon substrate 101 is insulated except the upper
face of the through plug 107 is obtained after forming the through
plug 107 and before forming the first bump 111, without forming an
insulating film on the surface of the silicon substrate 101, or
forming a resist pattern with a photoresist for defining an opening
on the insulating film at a position corresponding to the upper
surface of the through plug 107. Accordingly, the configuration
that the manufacturing process of the first bump 111 can be
simplified and the relevant manufacturing cost can be reduced is
obtained.
[0073] Further, in the silicon spacer, since the insulative thick
film 103 formed so as to cover the side wall of the through plug
107 is sufficiently insulative thick film, the second bump 115 does
not surpass the width of the insulative thick film 103 provided
along the side periphery of the through plug 107. Accordingly, the
insulation between the rear face of the silicon substrate 101 and
the second bump 115 can be effectively secured, without
additionally providing an insulating film on the rear surface of
the silicon substrate 101 for the insulation therebetween.
Consequently, the configuration that the manufacturing process for
forming the second bump 115 can be shortened is obtained.
[0074] Further, in the silicon spacer 100, as shown in FIG. 2B, the
insulative thick film 103 provided on the surface of the silicon
substrate 101 and the insulative thick film 103 that covers the
side wall of the through hole are continuously and integrally
formed. Therefore, this configuration can be obtained with a simple
process. In the case where these insulative thick films 103 are
separately formed, the thick film may separate in the proximity of
a boundary region between the surface of the silicon substrate 101
and the side wall of the through hole. However, forming the both
insulative thick films 103 as a continuous and integral film allows
preventing such separation, and hence enhances the stability during
the manufacturing process.
[0075] As described above, the silicon spacer 100 includes the
insulative thick film 103 on the surface of the silicon substrate
101 as well as on the side wall of the through hole. Accordingly,
there is no need to form insulating films for insulating the
silicon substrate 101 from the first bump 111 and from the second
bump 115. Therefore, the configuration has no an additional process
for forming insulating films and has simplicity of manufacturing
the configuration. Also, the presence of the height gap 113
enhances the adhesion between the through plug 107 and the first
bump 111, thereby increasing the property as the through
electrode.
[0076] Now, further description will be given regarding the
configuration of the through electrode 102 provided in the silicon
spacer 100 shown in FIG. 1, in contrast with a conventional through
electrode in a semiconductor device disclosed in the foregoing H.
Yonemura, et al. FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional
views showing a configuration of the through electrodes. FIG. 6A
shows the configuration of the through electrode according to this
embodiment, while FIG. 6B shows the configuration of the
conventional through electrode.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 6B, the upper face of a through plug 207
is aligned with the upper surface of a substrate (dotted line in
FIG. 6B) in the conventional through electrode, and it is at this
surface that the through plug 207 and the first bump 211 are in
mutual contact. On the other hand, referring to FIG. 6A, the upper
face of the through plug 107 is located lower than an interface
between the silicon substrate 101 and the insulative thick film 103
serving as the protective film for the silicon substrate 101
(dotted line in FIG. 6A) and the height gap 113 is defined, in the
through electrode according to this embodiment. Also, a portion of
the first bump 111 is embedded in the recessed portion on the
through plug 107, thus in contact with the through plug 107. Since
the first bump 111 is in contact with the upper face of the thick
film and that of the through plug 107, the first bump 111 and the
through plug 107 are tightly adhered to each other, thus achieving
more secure electrical contact therebetween in comparison with the
configuration shown in FIG. 6B.
[0078] Further, the configuration of FIG. 6A includes the thick
film along the side periphery of the through plug 107, which the
configuration of FIG. 6B does not have. Therefore, the through
electrode according to this embodiment can decrease a parasitic
capacitance more effectively than the conventional through
electrode can.
[0079] Further, referring to FIG. 6B, in the case where the bump
211 has a larger diameter than that of the through plug 207, an
additional process becomes necessary for forming an insulating
layer between the substrate and the bump 211. Accordingly, the
configuration of FIG. 6A can be manufactured through a fewer number
of process than that required by the configuration of FIG. 6B.
Therefore, the configuration of the through electrode according to
this embodiment allows simplifying the manufacturing process and
hence reducing the relevant manufacturing cost. In addition, though
not shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the second bump 115 of the through
electrode according to this embodiment can also be formed through a
fewer number of process, than in the case of the conventional
through electrode.
[0080] Although the present invention has been described based on
an embodiment referring to the drawings, it is to be understood
that the foregoing is merely an example of the present invention,
and that various other constitutions may be adopted.
[0081] For example, the height gap 113 in the silicon spacer 100
according to FIG. 1 is vertically formed with respect to the
surface of the silicon substrate 101, while a shape of the height
gap 113 is not specifically determined but may be otherwise
designed, including the shape that is expanded from the inside of
the silicon substrate 101 to the outside of the silicon substrate
101. Also, though the retreated face of the through plug 107 is
oriented in parallel to the surface of the silicon substrate 101
according to FIG. 1, the retreated face of the through plug 107 may
be of a concave curved surface. For example, such shape may be
obtained by a dishing effect to form a concave recess on the upper
surface of the through plug 107.
[0082] Also, the under bump metal film 109 may be constituted of a
refractory metal such as Ti, Ta other than TiW. For example, Ti,
TiN, WN, Ta, TaN or the like are illustrated. In addition, a Ta
containing barrier metal including layers of TaN and Ta may also be
employed. The barrier metal film may be formed with sputtering, CVD
and the like.
[0083] Further, though in FIG. 6A, a circular cylinder shaped
through electrode 102 is described as an example, the shape of the
through electrode 102 according to this embodiment is not limited
to the circular cylinder, but may be another shape as long as the
shape allows formation of the height gap 113, such as an elliptic
cylinder or a rectangular column having substantially the same area
upper face as lower face. Alternatively, the through electrode 102
may be a truncated cone, a truncated elliptic cylinder or a
truncated pyramid which does not have a pointed top. The cylinder
shape may include a striped shape extending in one direction.
[0084] Further, while the foregoing description represents a
configuration wherein the through electrode 102 is formed in the
silicon spacer 100 as an example, the through electrode 102 may be
applied to various other semiconductor chip substrates, other than
the silicon spacer 100.
EXAMPLE
[0085] As the example, the silicon spacer 100 shown in FIG. 1 was
manufactured according to the process described referring to FIGS.
2A to 2C, 3D to 3F, 4G to 4H and 5I. Here, a SiO.sub.2 film of 300
nm in thickness was formed as the insulative thick film 103. The
SiN film 105 was formed to have a thickness of 50 nm. The through
plug 107 was formed of a Cu film. Also, the silicon substrate 101
was thinned to 200 .mu.m by grinding rear surface of the silicon
substrate 101. The silicon spacer 100 including the through
electrode 102 was obtained with highly stability of the
manufacturing process and an excellent yield.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE
[0086] As a comparative example, a silicon spacer including a
through electrode was manufactured through a conventional process.
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration
of the silicon spacer manufactured in the comparative example.
Also, FIGS. 9A to 9C, 10D to 10F, and 11G to 11H are schematic
cross-sectional views for explaining the manufacturing process of a
silicon spacer 200 shown in FIG. 8. Hereunder, the manufacturing
process of the silicon spacer according to the comparative example
will be described, focusing on differences from the foregoing
example.
[0087] Firstly, a resist pattern was formed on a surface of a
silicon substrate 201 by a photolithography technique, and etching
was performed utilizing the resist pattern as a mask on the silicon
substrate 201, thus to form an opening (not shown in the drawings).
Then the resist pattern was removed, and an insulating film 203 and
a SiN film 205 was formed in this sequence all over the surface of
the silicon substrate 201 on which the opening was provided. A
SiO.sub.2 film of 10 nm in thickness was formed as the insulating
film 203. The SiN film 205 was also formed in a thickness of 10
nm.
[0088] Thereafter, a Cu film 219 was formed so as to fill the
opening (FIG. 9A). Then the Cu film 219, the SiN film 205 and the
insulating film 203 on the silicon substrate 201 was removed with
CMP. At this stage, the CMP condition was adjusted such that a
surface of the silicon substrate 201 to be exposed and a surface of
the through plug 207 were aligned (FIG. 9B).
[0089] An insulating film 204 was formed in a thickness of 300 nm
on the surface of the silicon substrate 201, as a cover film. Then
a resist pattern was formed on the insulating film 204, and etching
was selectively performed on the insulating film 204 located on the
through plug 207, thus to form an opening 231 (FIG. 9C).
[0090] Then a first bump 211 that is connected to the through plug
207 was formed, through the process described referring to FIGS. 3F
to 5I, and the surface on the side of the first bump 211 was fixed
to a supporting component 225 via an adhesive (not shown in the
drawings) and a peeling layer (not shown in the drawings) (FIG.
10D).
[0091] After the above, the rear face of the silicon substrate 201
was ground, so as to expose the lower face of the through plug 207.
Then silicon etch back on the rear face was performed, thus to form
a Cu post 210 (FIG. 10E), followed by forming an insulating film
206 all over the rear surface, as a cover film. As the insulating
film 206, a SiN film of 100 nm in thickness was formed (FIG. 10F).
Thereafter, CMP was performed to selectively remove the insulating
film 206 on the rear face of the through plug 207, thus to expose
the through plug 207 (FIG. 11G). Similarly to the example,
non-electrolytic plating was performed to grow an Ni film on the
exposed surface of the through plug 207, to thereby form a second
bump 215 around the through plug 207 (FIG. 11H). Then an Au plated
film was formed on the surface of the Ni film, after which the
supporting component 225 was removed, and finally the silicon
spacer 200 shown in FIG. 8 was obtained.
[0092] Since the comparative example did not include the insulative
thick film 103 unlike the example, the silicon spacer 200 according
to the comparative example required additional process of forming
the insulating film 204 and the insulating film 206 for the
insulation of the through plug 207 from the first bump 211 and from
the second bump 215, performing selective etching on the insulating
film 204 and selectively removing the insulating film 206,
resulting in an increase in the number of process in
manufacturing.
[0093] It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to
the above embodiment, that may be modified and changed without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *