Patent ID: 9425090
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method of forming a metallization for electrically connecting one or more semiconductor devices, the method comprising; forming an electrically conductive barrier layer on a semiconductor substrate such that the barrier layer covers a first terminal of a device formed in the substrate; forming a seed layer on the barrier layer, the seed layer extending over the first terminal and comprising a noble metal other than gold; masking the substrate with a mask having a first opening that is laterally aligned with the first terminal such that an unmasked portion of the seed layer is exposed by the first opening and such that a masked portion of the seed layer is covered by the mask, electroplating the unmasked portion of the seed layer using a gold electrolyte solution so as to form a first gold metallization structure arranged in the first mask opening; removing the mask; removing the masked portions of the seed layer and the barrier layer; and diffusing the noble metal from the unmasked portion of the seed layer into the first gold metallization structure, wherein the first gold metallization structure is electrically connected to the first terminal via the barrier layer, and wherein diffusing the noble metal comprises diffusing all metallic state noble metal from the unmasked portion of the seed layer into the first gold metallization structure such that gold from the first gold metallization structure directly contacts the barrier layer.