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Application of Broadband RF Metrology to Integrated Circuit Interconnect Reliability Analyses: Monitoring Copper Interconnect Corrosion in 3D-ICs

Published

Author(s)

Papa Amoah, Jesus Perez, Yaw S. Obeng

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the development, and application, of a suite of high-frequency electromagnetic wave (RF) based techniques to probe material and structural changes in copper interconnects in TSV enabled 3-D integrated circuits during high-temperature storage. Illustratively, we discuss how RF insertion loss (S21) based-techniques have been used to study the oxidation of copper interconnects in 3D-ICs. We compare the microwave insertion loss results to those from DC measurements and discuss the advantages of the former technique over the latter. Using electrodynamic simulations, we discuss the partitioning of microwave signal loss in corroded copper interconnects, and the significance of the roughness at the air-copper oxide interface.
Proceedings Title
2020 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MICROELECTRONIC TEST STRUCTURES, April 6-9, EDINBURGH, UNITED
KINGDOM
Conference Dates
April 6-9, 2020
Conference Location
Edinburgh, UK

Keywords

metrology, microwave, corrosion, interconnect

Citation

Amoah, P. , Perez, J. and Obeng, Y. (2020), Application of Broadband RF Metrology to Integrated Circuit Interconnect Reliability Analyses: Monitoring Copper Interconnect Corrosion in 3D-ICs, 2020 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MICROELECTRONIC TEST STRUCTURES, April 6-9, EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM, Edinburgh, UK, [online], https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMTS48187.2020.9107926., https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=929468 (Accessed December 30, 2024)

Issues

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Created June 3, 2020, Updated October 12, 2021