Patent Publication Number: US-2021167034-A1

Title: Chip arrangements

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/659,670 filed on Jul. 26, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/154,523 filed on Jun. 7, 2011 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,735,136), the contents of which are all incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various aspects relate generally to chip arrangements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Decisions have been made by the European Union to ban environmentally hazardous substances in the near future; such decisions having been made with regard to end-of-life vehicles ELV, indicating that hazardous substances such as lead should be banned. Lead-based products, e.g. lead-based solder materials used for die or semiconductor chip attachment, will be banned and removed from the market in the near future. 
     Suitable alternative solder materials will in future be selected based on their economic viability. The cost of suitable alternatives would have to be at least comparable to that of current standard solder materials. Suitable alternatives will further have to meet the requirements and have the necessary properties to be used as a connection element, e.g. a solder connection. Such alternatives would have to be compatible for use on various surfaces, e.g. on lead frames or on chip back sides. They would also have to be electrically and thermally conductive, and robust and reliable enough for their application, e.g. being subjected to high temperatures or varying temperature loads. 
     A further technical requirement is that the solidus temperature of the solder material should lie above 260° C., so that the solder material will not melt and/or soften when subsequent processes are carried out, e.g. when soldering the printer circuit board. Further requirements of alternative solder materials are that they meet the requirements of ductility such that solder wires may be provided from the solder materials. 
     Up until now, the semiconductor field has not had a lead-free soft solder alternative for the connection of a chip to a lead frame, or from a clip to a bond pad, which may be achieved in mass production. The technical challenge lies in finding a lead-free solder which has a melting temperature over that of the solder material used in printed circuit boards e.g. Sn—Ag—Cu systems, with typical melting temperatures of 260° C. However, the melting temperature should not be too high either, as high mechanical stress would have to be installed in the system to cool down and at the same time, solidify the solder. 
     A lead-free solder material, apart from the melting temperature requirements, should have good wettability with various metallic surfaces e.g. chip surfaces or lead frames which may be used, to ensure that an optimal connection is provided. The solder material should further possess a certain ductility so that it can be produced and handled in wire form. That is, the solder material in wire form should not be brittle. The solder material has to withstand repetitive melting and solidification conditions, and mechanical and thermomechanical loads which may be applied to the material, without succumbing to degradation. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some aspects, a chip arrangement including: a chip including a chip back side; a substrate including a surface with a plating; and a zinc-based solder alloy which attaches the chip back side to the plating on the surface of the substrate, the zinc-based solder alloy including, by weight, 1% to 30% aluminum, 0.5% to 20% germanium, and 0.5% to 20% gallium, wherein a balance of the zinc-based solder alloy is zinc. 
     In some aspects, a chip arrangement including: a chip including a chip back side; a substrate including a surface with a plating, wherein the plating includes at least one of nickel or nickel-phosphorous; and a zinc-based solder alloy which attaches the chip back side to the plating on the surface of the substrate, the zinc-based solder alloy including, by weight, 1% to 20% aluminum, 1% to 20% magnesium, wherein a balance of the zinc-based solder alloy is zinc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various aspects of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a graph representing thermal conductivity (W/mK) vs. electrical conductivity (10 6  S/m) of solder alloys; 
         FIG. 2  shows a phase diagram  200  of an Al—Zn alloy; 
         FIG. 3  shows a phase diagram  300  of a Ga—Zn alloy; 
         FIG. 4  shows a phase diagram  400  of a Sn—Zn alloy; 
         FIG. 5  shows a phase diagram  500  of a Ag—Zn alloy; 
         FIG. 6  shows a phase diagram  600  of a Cu—Zn alloy; 
         FIG. 7  shows a phase diagram  700  of a Ni—Zn alloy; 
         FIG. 8  shows a method for attaching a chip to a carrier according to various aspects; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  show an arrangement for attaching a chip to a carrier according to various aspects; 
         FIGS. 10A to 10C  show an arrangement including a solder alloy applied to a carrier according to various aspects; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  show images of an arrangement including a solder alloy according to various aspects; 
         FIGS. 12 to 14  show differential scanning calorimetry plots of a solder alloy according to various aspects. 
         FIG. 15  shows a plot of experimental solder composition versus theoretical liquid phase projection for a solder alloy including zinc, aluminum and magnesium. 
         FIG. 16  shows a plot of experimental solder composition versus theoretical liquid phase projection for a solder alloy including zinc, aluminum and germanium. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific details and aspects in which the invention may be practiced. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. 
     Various aspects provide a lead-free (Pb-free) multilayer solder connection system for electronic components, including at least one side of a chip, a solder connection, e.g. a solder alloy, a carrier, e.g. a lead frame, and a plating, e.g. a lead frame plating, formed over the carrier. 
     In comparison to lead-based solders, zinc-based solder systems have better physical characteristics, e.g. better thermal/heat and electrical conductivity. This can be seen from  FIG. 1  wherein a plot  100  illustrating thermal conductivity (W/mK) versus electrical conductivity (10 6  S/m) is shown. Pure zinc, and a zinc alloy including aluminum and germanium are shown from measurements and from calculations to have higher thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity compared to lead-based and tin-based solders. 
       FIG. 2  shows a phase diagram  200  of an Al—Zn binary alloy. With an atomic composition of 87.5% zinc and 12.5% aluminum, the Al—Zn binary alloy may achieve a melting point of approximately 650° C. 
       FIG. 3  shows a phase diagram  300  of a Ga—Zn binary alloy. With an atomic composition of 2.5% zinc and 87.5% gallium, the Ga—Zn binary alloy may achieve a melting point of approximately 300° C. 
       FIG. 4  shows a phase diagram  400  of a Sn—Zn binary alloy. At approximately 475° C., formed with an atomic composition of 13% zinc and 87% tin, the Sn—Zn binary alloy may achieve a melting point of approximately 475° C. 
       FIG. 5  shows a phase diagram  500  of a Ag—Zn binary alloy. With an atomic composition of 98% zinc and 2% silver, the Ag—Zn binary alloy may achieve a melting point of approximately 700° C. 
       FIG. 6  shows a phase diagram  600  of a Cu—Zn binary alloy. With an atomic composition of approximately 2% copper and 98% zinc, the Cu—Zn binary alloy may achieve a melting point of approximately 425° C. Table  606  shows the different phases with related alloy concentrations of the Cu—Zn binary alloy. 
       FIG. 7  shows a phase diagram  700  of a Ni—Zn binary alloy. With an atomic composition of approximately 1% nickel and 99% zinc, the Ni—Zn binary alloy may achieve a melting point of approximately 700° C. Table  706  shows the different phases with related alloy concentrations of the Ni—Zn binary alloy. 
       FIG. 8  shows a method for attaching and/or joining a chip  814  to a carrier. The method may include, in  800 , selecting carrier,  802  e.g. a substrate or a lead frame; in  804 , forming plating  806 , e.g. a nickel plating, over carrier  802 ; in  808 , depositing solder alloy  810  over carrier  802 , wherein solder alloy  810  may be formed directly on plating  806 . In  808 , depositing solder alloy  810  may be carried out according to a conventional wire bond process by melting solder alloy  810  which may be in wire and a soft solder, over carrier  802 , e.g. by forming a solder dot from solder alloy  810 . Solder alloy  810  may be deposited in ribbon form or plated over carrier  802 . Alternatively, solder alloy  810  may be placed over or directly on chip  814  at wafer level, i.e. before dicing of the wafer or on chip backside  820  wherein the chip back side may include chip back side metallization  816 . In  812 , chip  814  may be attached to carrier  802  via solder alloy  810 , wherein solder alloy  810  may be a connecting or joining material between chip  814  and carrier  802 . In  822 , a further solder alloy  828  may be configured to attach a clip-on connection to a contact surface on a chip front side  830  by depositing solder alloy  810  over one or more contact pads  818  on the chip front side  830 . One or more contact wires  824  may be attached to chip  814  and/or contact pads  818  via solder alloy  828 . The deposition and placement of solder alloys  810 , and further solder alloy  828  may be carried out by dispensing a paste of said alloys and/or through a plasma gun. 
     Solder alloy  810  may be used for joining chip back side  820  to carrier  802 , e.g. a lead frame, even if chip  814  is not a silicon-based chip. Chip back side  820  may include a backside metallization  816  system including a multilayer system or part or a variant of a multilayer system. The multilayer system may include individual layers having individual functions. 
     The multilayer system may include contact layer  816   a  for contacting to a semiconductor material, e.g. an aluminum contact layer, wherein the aluminum forms a layer having a thickness ranging from 50 nm to 1000 nm. 
     The multilayer system may include barrier layer  816   b,  e.g. a titanium (Ti) or titanium-tungsten (TiW) barrier layer, wherein barrier layer  816   b  may have a thickness ranging from 50 nm to 1000 nm. 
     The multilayer system may include solder reaction layer  816   c,  the solder reaction layer  816   c  including at least one of a group of the following elements and/or alloys thereof: nickel, nickel-vanadium, silver, aluminum, gold, platinum, palladium, nickel, wherein the solder reaction layer  816   c  may have a thickness ranging from 50 nm to 1000 nm. Solder reaction layer  816   c  may be a “partner” layer with solder alloy  810  as the thickness of solder reaction layer  816   c  may be selected so that during the solder process it does not dissolve completely in solder alloy  810 . 
     The multilayer system may include oxidation protection layer  816   d  to prevent oxidation of the solder reaction layer  816   c  as solder reaction layers  816   c  including silver, gold, platinum, palladium or alloys thereof, may be prone to oxidation. Oxidation protection layer  816   d  may have a thickness ranging from 50 nm to 1000 nm. 
     Substrate  802  may be formed from one of the following group of materials: copper, nickel, silver or a ceramic. Plating  806  may be formed over substrate  802 , e.g. substrate  802  may be a lead frame wherein lead frame plating may be formed over the lead frame. Plating  806  may include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, phosphorus, silver, nickel, nickel phosphorus in elemental form and/or in nitride form and/or in oxide form, the at least one from said group of materials, individually, or in combination. Plating  806  may be configured to be in connection with solder alloy  810 . 
     According to various aspects, substrate  802  may include plating  806  including copper in combination with nickel and/or nickel phosphorus, wherein plating  806  may be a lead frame plating configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. According to various aspects, plating  806  thickness may lie in the range from about 100 nm to about 3 μm. 
     According to various aspects, chip  814  may include chip back side  820  including at least one from the following group of materials: aluminum, titanium, nickel vanadium, silver, wherein chip back side  820  may be configured to be in connection with solder alloy  810 . 
     Solder alloy  810 A according to various aspects may include zinc, aluminum, magnesium and gallium, wherein aluminum constitutes by weight 8% to 20% of alloy  810 A, magnesium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of alloy  810 A and gallium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of alloy  810 A, the rest of alloy  810 A including zinc. Solder alloy  810 A may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 4.5 Ga 1 Mg 1 . Solder alloy  810 A may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ga 1 Mg 1 . According to various aspects, solder alloy  810 A may be a solder wire. Aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 12% of alloy  810 A. Magnesium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of alloy  810 A. Gallium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of alloy  810 A. 
     Solder alloy  810 B according to various aspects may include zinc, aluminum, tin and magnesium, wherein aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 30% of alloy  810 B, magnesium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of alloy  810 B and tin constitutes by weight 0.5% to 6.5% of alloy  810 B, the rest of alloy  810 B including zinc. Aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of alloy  810 B. Magnesium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of alloy  810 B. Tin may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of alloy  810 B. Solder alloy  810 B may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 4 Sn 2 Mg 1 . 
     Solder alloy  810 C according to various aspects may include zinc, aluminum, germanium and gallium, wherein aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 30% of alloy 810C, germanium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of alloy  810 C and gallium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of alloy  810 C, the rest of alloy  810 C including zinc. Aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of alloy  810 C. Germanium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of alloy  810 C. Gallium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of alloy  810 C. 
     Solder alloy  810 D according to various aspects may include zinc, aluminum and germanium, wherein aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of alloy  810 D, germanium constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of alloy  810 D, the rest of alloy  810 D including zinc. Solder alloy  810 D may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 5 Ge 3 . Solder alloy  810 D may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ge 3 . Solder alloy  810 D may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 6 Ge 3 . Solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 6 Ge 5 . According to various aspects, aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of alloy  810 D. According to various aspects, germanium may constitute by weight 1% to 6% of alloy  810 D. 
     Solder alloy  810 E according to various aspects, may include zinc, aluminum and magnesium, wherein aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of alloy  810 E, magnesium constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of alloy  810 E, the rest of alloy  810 E including zinc. Aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of alloy  810 E. Magnesium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of alloy  810 E. 
     Solder alloy  810 F according to various aspects may include zinc and tin, wherein zinc constitutes by weight 10% to 91% of alloy  810 F. Solder alloy  810 F may be represented by the chemical formula Zn 40 Sn 60 . Zinc may constitute by weight 10% to 15% of alloy  810 F. 
     Solder alloy  810 G according to various aspects may include zinc and silver, wherein zinc constitutes by weight 26% to 98% of alloy  810 G. Zinc may constitute by weight 83% to 99% of alloy  810 G. 
     Solder alloy  810 H according to various aspects may include zinc and copper, wherein zinc constitutes by weight 80% to 98% of alloy  810 H. Zinc may constitute by weight 88% to 99% of alloy  810 H. 
     According to an aspect, each of solder alloys  810 A to  810 H may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of alloys  810 A to  810 H. 
       FIG. 9A  shows arrangements  930 ,  932  and  934  according to various aspects. Arrangement  930  shows solder alloy  810 , e.g. solder alloy  810 D deposited on carrier  802 , e.g. a lead frame, before attaching chip  814  to carrier  802 . Arrangement  932  shows an ultrasonic plot of said arrangement  930  after attaching chip  814  using a chip attachment process to said solder alloy  810 , e.g. solder alloy  810 D, e.g. solder alloy  810 D having a chemical formula ZnAl 5 Ge 3 . Arrangement  934  shows an ultrasonic plot according to arrangement  932  wherein solder alloy  810  has a chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ge 3 . 
       FIG. 9B  shows arrangements  936 ,  938  and  940  according to various aspects. Arrangement  936  shows an ultrasonic plot of solder alloy  810 , e.g. solder alloy  810 A on carrier  802 , e.g. a lead frame, after attaching chip  814  using a chip attachment process to said solder alloy  810 , e.g. solder alloy  810 A having a chemical formula ZnAl 4.5 Ga 1 Mg 1 . Arrangement  938  shows an ultrasonic plot according to arrangement  936 , wherein solder alloy  810  has a chemical ZnAl 12 Ga 1 Mg 1 . White colored spots in the ultrasonic plots are indicating delamination or voids whereas black areas are directly connected homogenous solder areas. 
       FIG. 10A  shows an arrangement  1030  wherein solder alloy  810 , e.g. solder alloy  810 A, including zinc, aluminum, magnesium and gallium may be applied to a carrier  802 , e.g. a lead frame, wherein the lead frame includes lead frame plating  806  including NiNiP.  FIG. 10B  shows an arrangement  1032  which shows various aspects according to arrangement  1030  wherein lead frame plating  806  includes copper instead of NiNiP. Solder alloy  810 A shows good wetting behavior on both copper surfaces and NiNiP surfaces of carrier  802 , providing the best performances in terms of homogeneity of the solder alloy  810 A on the surface of lead frame plating  806 .  FIG. 10C  shows arrangements  1034  and  1036  according to various aspects. Arrangement  1034  shows an image of the interface between carrier  802 , e.g. a lead frame, and solder alloy  810 A. Arrangement  1036  shows an image of the interface between carrier  802 , e.g. a lead frame, solder alloy  810 A, and chip  814 . In each of  1034  and  1036 , two chips  814  are attached to leadframe  802 . The white spots insides the chip areas  814  may be attributed to delaminations or voids. The void rate obtained in solder alloy  810 A on plating  806 , e.g. lead frame plating including NiNiP is less compared to that of a plating  806  including a Cu lead frame plating. 
       FIG. 11A  shows a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image  1130  of a cross section of a solder alloy  810 A having a chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ga 1 Mg 1  deposited on carrier  802  e.g. a copper lead frame, and solder alloy  810 A joined to chip back side  820 . Chip back side  820  may include chip back side metallization  816  wherein back side metallization  816  may include an Al—Ti—Ag stack. Back side metallization  816  may include contact layer  816   a,  e.g. aluminum contact layer; barrier layer  816   b,  e.g. titanium barrier layer; and solder reaction layer  816   c,  e.g. silver solder reaction layer. 
       FIG. 11B  shows image  1132  wherein marked portions of SEM image  1130  are provided, from which Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) data may be extracted. Spectrum 2  1134  includes zinc, copper and aluminum. Spectrum 3  1136  includes zinc, copper, aluminum and silver. Spectrum 4  1138  includes zinc, copper, silver and trace amounts (less than 2%) of aluminum. Spectrum 5  1140  includes zinc, aluminum, copper and trace amounts (less than 2%) of silver. Spectrum 6  1142  includes zinc, aluminum and trace amounts (less than 2%) of silver. The silver diffuses from solder reaction layer  816   c  into solder alloy  810 A. Gallium may be detected between the grain boundaries, which improves the mechanical properties of the solder, the tensile strength of 345 MPa of solder alloy  810 A having a chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ga 1 Mg 1  may be attained. Copper diffusion from the leadframe into all bright visible parts of the cross-section is detected. 
       FIG. 12  shows differential scanning calorimetry plots (DSC)  1230 ,  1236  of solder alloy  810 A. DSC plot  1230  shows Heat flow (W/g)  1232  versus Temperature (° C.)  1234  with respect to solder alloy  810 A having chemical formula ZnAl 4.5 Ga 1 Mg 1  according to an aspect. Solder alloy  810 A shows exothermic peaks at approximately 262° C., 340° C. and 366° C. The peak representing an enthalpy of 9.0 J/g and peak temperature 261.8° C. reflects an eutectoid reaction between zinc and aluminum. Any further peaks at higher temperatures are created by ternary reactions of Zn—Al with a further alloy element of the alloy, e.g., Ga, Mg. The further peaks reflect the melting temperature range and is of importance for the setting of the process parameters. The occurrence of 2 or more peaks at specific positions are characteristic of a specific composition of the alloy with specific phases formed during the manufacturing process of the wires. 
     DSC plot  1236  shows Heat flow (W/g)  1238  versus Temperature (° C.)  1240  with respect to solder alloy  810 A having chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ga 1 Mg 1  according to an aspect. Solder alloy  810 A shows exothermic peaks at approximately 273° C., 344° C. Thus, a melting point of approximately 344° C. may be attained in solder alloy  810 A having chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ga 1 Mg 1 . The peak representing an enthalpy of 24.4 J/g and peak temperature 272.6° C. reflects a eutectoid reaction between zinc and aluminum. Any further peaks at higher temperatures are created by ternary reactions of Zn—Al with a further alloy element of the alloy, e.g. Ga, Mg. 
       FIG. 13  shows DSC plot  1330  showing Heat flow (W/g)  1332  versus Temperature (° C.)  1334  with respect to solder alloy  810 B having chemical formula ZnAl 4 Sn 2 Mg 1  according to various aspects. Solder alloy  810 B shows exothermic peaks at approximately 284° C., 336° C. and 365° C. The peak representing an enthalpy of 9.0 J/g and peak temperature 284.4° C. reflects a eutectoid reaction between zinc and aluminum. Any further peaks at higher temperatures are created by ternary reactions of Zn—Al with a further alloy element of the alloy, e.g. Sn, Mg. 
       FIG. 14  shows differential scanning calorimetry plots (DSC)  1430 ,  1436  of solder alloy  810 D. DSC plot  1430  shows Heat flow (W/g)  1432  versus Temperature (° C.)  1434  with respect to solder alloy  810 D having chemical formula ZnAl 5 Ge 3  according to various aspects. Solder alloy  810 D shows exothermic peaks at approximately 283° C. and 359° C. The peak representing an enthalpy of 8.6 J/g and peak temperature 282.8° C. reflects a eutectoid reaction between zinc and aluminum. Any further peaks at higher temperatures are created by ternary reactions of Zn—Al with a further alloy element of the alloy, e.g. Ge. 
     DSC plot  1436  shows Heat flow (W/g)  1438  versus Temperature (° C.)  1440  with respect to solder alloy  810 D having chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ge 3  according to various aspects. Solder alloy  810 D shows exothermic peaks at approximately 283° C., 359° C., 368° C. and 412° C. The peak representing an enthalpy of 24.4 J/g and peak temperature 282.8° C. reflects a eutectoid reaction between zinc and aluminum. Any further peaks at higher temperatures are created by ternary reactions of Zn—Al with a further alloy element of the alloy, e.g. Ge. 
       FIG. 15  shows a plot  1500  of experimental solder composition versus theoretical liquid phase projection for a solder alloy including zinc, aluminum and magnesium. According to various aspect, a lowest achievable melting temperature for the solder alloy of approximately 350° C. may be attainable at an atomic zinc composition of between approximately 91% to 96%. Axis  1532  indicates the molar fraction of aluminum relative to zinc. Axis  1534  indicates the molar fraction of zinc relative to magnesium. Axis  1536  indicates the molar fraction of magnesium relative to aluminum. The quaternary solder compositions  810 B (ZnAl4Sn2Mg1) and  810 A (ZnAl5Mg1Ga1) could be placed slightly above the horizontal  400 ° C. line of the diagram in  FIG. 15  since the low concentrations of tin for  810 B and gallium for  810 A will not change significantly the liquidus temperatures of the solders  810 B and  810 A. 
       FIG. 16  shows a plot  1600  of experimental solder composition versus theoretical liquid phase projection for a solder alloy including zinc, aluminum and germanium. Axis  1632  indicates the molar fraction of aluminum relative to zinc. Axis  1634  indicates the molar fraction of zinc relative to germanium. Axis  1636  indicates the molar fraction of germanium relative to aluminum. Plot  1638  shows a magnified portion of selected portion  1640 , wherein a lowest achievable melting temperature for the solder alloy of approximately 335° C. may be attainable at an atomic composition of 97 Zn %, 1.5 Al % and 1.5 Ge %. Solder alloy  810  having the chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ge 3  and ZnAl 5 Ge 3  are points indicated on plot  1600  and  1638 . With an atomic composition of 1.6% aluminum, 80% zinc and 3.4% germanium, a four-phase intersection may be obtained. A melting temperature of 343.42° C. may further be obtained. 
     In various aspects, a solder alloy is provided. The solder alloy may include zinc, aluminum, magnesium and gallium, wherein the aluminum constitutes by weight 8% to 20% of the alloy, the magnesium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of the alloy and the gallium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of the alloy, the rest of the alloy including zinc. In various aspects, the solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 4.5 Ga 1 Mg 1 . In various aspects, the solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ga 1 Mg 1 . In various aspects, the solder alloy may be a solder wire. In various aspects, the aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 12% of the alloy. In various aspects, the magnesium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of the alloy. In various aspects, the gallium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of the alloy. In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. 
     In various aspects, a solder alloy is provided. The solder alloy may include zinc, aluminum, tin and magnesium, wherein the aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 30% of the alloy, the magnesium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of the alloy and the tin constitutes by weight 0.5% to 6.5% of the alloy, the rest of the alloy including zinc. In various aspects, the aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of the alloy. In various aspects, the magnesium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of the alloy. In various aspects, the tin may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of the alloy. In various aspects, the solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 4 Sn 2 Mg 1 . In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. 
     In various aspects, a solder alloy is provided. The solder alloy may include zinc, aluminum, germanium and gallium, wherein the aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 30% of the alloy, the germanium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of the alloy and the gallium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of the alloy, the rest of the alloy including zinc. In various aspects, the aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of the alloy. In various aspects, the germanium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of the alloy. In various aspects, the gallium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of the alloy. In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. 
     In various aspects, an arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include a chip; a solder alloy configured to attach the chip to a lead frame; the solder alloy including: zinc, aluminum and germanium, wherein the aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of the alloy, the germanium constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of the alloy, the rest of the alloy including zinc. In various aspects, the solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 5 Ge 3 . In various aspects, the solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 12 Ge 3 . In various aspects, the solder alloy is represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 6 Ge 3 . In various aspects, the solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula ZnAl 6 Ge 5 . In various aspects, the aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of the alloy. In various aspects, the germanium may constitute by weight 1% to 6% of the alloy. In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, phosphorus, silver, nickel, nickel phosphorus in elemental form and/or in nitride form and/or in oxide form, the at least one from said group of materials, individually, or in combination including the lead frame plating; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including copper in combination with nickel and/or nickel phosphorus; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame plating thickness lies between 100 nm to 3 μm. In various aspects, the chip may include a chip back side including at least one from the following group of materials: aluminum, titanium, nickel vanadium, silver, wherein the chip back side is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. 
     In various aspects, an arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include a chip; a solder alloy for attaching the chip to a lead frame; the solder alloy including zinc, aluminum and magnesium, wherein the aluminum constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of the alloy, the magnesium constitutes by weight 1% to 20% of the alloy, the rest of the alloy including zinc. In various aspects, the aluminum may constitute by weight 3% to 8% of the alloy. In various aspects, the magnesium may constitute by weight 0.5% to 4% of the alloy. In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, phosphorus, silver, nickel, nickel phosphorus in elemental form and/or in nitride form and/or in oxide form, the at least one from said group of materials, individually, or in combination including the lead frame plating; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including copper in combination with nickel and/or nickel phosphorus; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame plating thickness lies between 100 nm to 3 μm. In various aspects, the chip may include a chip back side including at least one from the following group of materials: aluminum, titanium, nickel vanadium, silver; wherein the chip back side is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. 
     In various aspects, an arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include a chip; a solder alloy configured to attach the chip to a lead frame; the solder alloy including zinc and tin, wherein the zinc constitutes by weight 10% to 91% of the alloy. In various aspects, the solder alloy may be represented by the chemical formula Zn 40 Sn 60 . In various aspects, the zinc may constitute by weight 10% to 15% of the alloy. In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, phosphorus, silver, nickel, nickel phosphorus in elemental form and/or in nitride form and/or in oxide form, the at least one from said group of materials, individually, or in combination including the lead frame plating; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including copper in combination with nickel and/or nickel phosphorus; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame plating thickness lies between 100 nm to 3 μm. In various aspects, the chip may include a chip back side including at least one from the following group of materials: aluminum, titanium, nickel vanadium, silver; wherein the chip back side is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. 
     In various aspects, an arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include a chip; a solder alloy configured to attach the chip to a lead frame; the solder alloy including zinc and silver, wherein the zinc constitutes by weight 26% to 98% of the alloy. In various aspects, the zinc may constitute by weight 83% to 99% of the alloy. In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, phosphorus, silver, nickel, nickel phosphorus in elemental form and/or in nitride form and/or in oxide form, the at least one from said group of materials, individually, or in combination including the lead frame plating; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including copper in combination with nickel and/or nickel phosphorus; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame plating thickness lies between 100 nm to 3 nm. In various aspects, the chip may include a chip back side including at least one from the following group of materials: aluminum, titanium, nickel vanadium, silver; wherein the chip back side is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. 
     In various aspects, an arrangement is provided. The arrangement may include a chip; a solder alloy configured to attach the chip to a lead frame; the solder alloy including zinc and copper, wherein the zinc constitutes by weight 80% to 98% of the alloy. In various aspects, the zinc may constitute by weight 88% to 99% of the alloy. In various aspects, the alloy may further include at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, each and/or in combination including by weight 0.001% to 10% of the alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including at least one from the following group of materials: silver, gold, nickel, platinum, palladium, vanadium, molybdenum, tin, copper, arsenic, antimony, gallium, zinc, aluminum, niobium, tantalum, phosphorus, silver, nickel, nickel phosphorus in elemental form and/or in nitride form and/or in oxide form, the at least one from said group of materials, individually, or in combination including the lead frame plating; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame may include a lead frame plating including copper in combination with nickel and/or nickel phosphorus; wherein the lead frame plating is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. In various aspects, the lead frame plating thickness lies between 100 nm to 3 μm. In various aspects, the chip may include a chip back side including at least one from the following group of materials: aluminum, titanium, nickel vanadium, silver; wherein the chip back side is configured to be in connection with the solder alloy. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific aspects, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.