Patent ID: 8980747
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: exposing a metal coupling a conductor to a first material in a first area of a semiconductor substrate to water and oxygen to yield metal ions from the metal, wherein at least one of the metal and the conductor forms an anode; exposing the metal and the conductor to an electrical field having a magnitude selected to cause the metal ions to migrate from the anode toward a cathode in a controlled manner in response to at least the electrical field; and applying an inhibiting material over a region formed by the migrated metal ions, between the migrated metal ions and the anode, to inhibit further migration of the metal ions from the metal; wherein the semiconductor substrate includes a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a gate lead forming the anode and a source lead forming the cathode.