Patent Publication Number: US-2022216052-A1

Title: Integrate Rinse Module in Hybrid Bonding Platform

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/569,019, entitled “Integrate Rinse Module in Hybrid Bonding Platform,” filed on Sep. 12, 2019, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/269,346, entitled “Integrate Rinse Module in Hybrid Bonding Platform,” filed on Sep. 19, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,665,449 issued May 26, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/888,921, entitled “Integrate Rinse Module in Hybrid Bonding Platform,” filed on May 7, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,446,467 issued Sep. 20, 2016, which application claims the benefit of the following provisionally filed U.S. patent application: U.S. Patent Application No. 61/785,993, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, and entitled “Integrated Clean Station in Hybrid Bonding System,” which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In wafer-to-wafer bonding technology, various methods have been developed to bond two package components (such as wafers) together. The available bonding methods include fusion bonding, eutectic bonding, direct metal bonding, hybrid bonding, and the like. In the fusion bonding, an oxide surface of a wafer is bonded to an oxide surface or a silicon surface of another wafer. In the eutectic bonding, two eutectic materials are placed together, and are applied with a high pressure and a high temperature. The eutectic materials are hence melted. When the melted eutectic materials are solidified, the wafers are bonded together. In the direct metal-to-metal bonding, two metal pads are pressed against each other at an elevated temperature, and the inter-diffusion of the metal pads causes the bonding of the metal pads. In the hybrid bonding, the metal pads of two wafers are bonded to each other through direct metal-to-metal bonding, and an oxide surface of one of the two wafers is bonded to an oxide surface or a silicon surface of the other wafer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a first package component that is to be bonded in accordance with some exemplary embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a second package component that is to be bonded to the first package component; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a plasma activation of the first package component; 
         FIGS. 4 through 6  illustrate an integrated cleaning process including a metal oxide removal and a de-ionized water cleaning process, which integrated cleaning process is performed in an integrated cleaning station; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the first package component after the integrated cleaning process is performed; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the cross-sectional view of a pre-bonding process for pre-bonding the first and the second package components; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a process flow for bonding package components and a hybrid bonding system for performing the bonding in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The making and using of the embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are illustrative, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     A method for bonding package components and the apparatus for performing the bonding are provided in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The intermediate stages of the bonding process are illustrated. The variations of the apparatus and bonding methods in accordance with embodiments are discussed. Throughout the various views and illustrative embodiments, like reference numbers are used to designate like elements. 
       FIGS. 1 through 8  illustrate cross-sectional views of intermediate stages in a bonding process in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The process steps may be performed using the integrated hybrid bonding system  300 , which is schematically shown in the process flow in  FIG. 9 . The process flow in accordance with the embodiments is briefly described herein, and the details of the process flow and integrated hybrid bonding system  300  are discussed referring to the process steps shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the package components that are to be bonded (for example, package components  100  and  200  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively) are loaded into integrated hybrid bonding system  300  through loading station  302 . Integrated hybrid bonding system  300  may be located in a controlled environment, for example, filled with clean air or nitrogen. Alternatively, integrated hybrid bonding system  300  is located in open air. Next, a surface treatment/activation is performed on the surfaces of the package components, wherein the surface treatment is performed in surface treatment station  304 . In the surface treatment, the exposed surfaces of the dielectric materials in the package components are activated. An integrated cleaning step is then performed on the package components to remove metal oxides, chemicals, particles, or other undesirable substances from the surfaces of the package components. Integrated cleaning station  306  is configured to perform the integrated cleaning step in accordance with some embodiments. 
     A pre-bonding is then performed to bond the package components together. The pre-bonding is performed in pre-bonding station  308 . After the pre-bonding, the package components are bonded to each other. The bonded package components may then be unloaded from integrated hybrid bonding system  300  through unloading station  310 , and transferred into annealing station  312 . The bonding strength is then enhanced through a thermal annealing, which is held in thermal annealing station  312 . 
     In the integrated hybrid bonding system  300 , a plurality of transferring tools  314  are used to transfer the package components between stations  304 ,  306 , and  308 , so that stations  304 ,  306 , and  308  may be integrated together as an integrated system. Transferring tools  314  may include robot arms (not shown), transferring guides (not shown), and/or the like, which are used to automatically transfer the package components from one station to another, so that the bonding process may be automated. After the bonding process is finished, the bonded package components are unloaded from integrated hybrid bonding system  300  using unloading station  310 , which may include robot arms, for example. In addition, some or all of stations  304 ,  306 , and  308  and transferring tools  314  may be connected to a central control unit  316 , which controls, and coordinates, the operations of stations  304 ,  306 , and  308  and transferring tools  314 . 
     A brief hybrid bonding process is discussed herein referring to  FIGS. 1 through 8 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , package component  100  is illustrated. Package component  100  may comprise a device wafer, a package substrate strip, an interposer wafer, or the like. In the embodiments in which package component  100  comprise a device wafer, package component  100  may include semiconductor substrate  102 , which may be, for example, a silicon substrate, although other semiconductor substrates are also usable. Active devices  104  may be formed on a surface of substrate  102 , and may include, for example, transistors. Metal lines and vias  106  are formed in dielectric layers  108 , which may be low-k dielectric layers in some embodiments. The low-k dielectric layers  108  may have dielectric constants (k values) lower than about 3.5, lower than about 3.0, or lower than about 2.5, for example. Dielectric layers  108  may also comprise non-low-k dielectric materials having dielectric constants (k values) greater than 3.9. Metal lines and vias  106  may comprise copper, aluminum, nickel, tungsten, or alloys thereof. Metal lines and vias  106  interconnect active devices  104 , and may connect active devices  104  to the overlying metal pads  112 . 
     In alternative embodiments, package component  100  is an interposer wafer, which is free from active devices therein. Package component  100  may, or may not, include passive devices (not shown) such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, and the like in accordance with some embodiments. 
     In yet alternative embodiments, package component  100  is a package substrate strip. In some embodiments, package component  100  includes laminate package substrates, wherein conductive traces  106  (which are schematically illustrated) are embedded in laminate dielectric layers  108 . In alternative embodiments, package components  100  are build-up package substrates, which comprise cores (not shown) and conductive traces (represented by  106 ) built on opposite sides of the cores. 
     In each of the embodiments wherein package component  100  is a device wafer, an interposer wafer, a package substrate strip, or the like, surface dielectric layer  110  is formed at the surface of package component  100 . In some embodiments, surface dielectric layer  110  is an oxide layer, which may comprise silicon oxide, SiON, SiN, or the like. Metal pads  112  are formed in surface dielectric layer  110 , and may be electrically coupled to active devices  104  through metal lines and vias  106 . Metal pads  112  may also be formed of copper, aluminum, nickel, tungsten, or alloys thereof. The top surface of surface dielectric layer  110  and the top surfaces of metal pads  112  are substantially level with each other.  FIG. 1  also illustrates metal oxides regions  114  formed on the surfaces of metal pads  112 . Metal oxide regions  114  may be the native oxide regions that are formed due to the exposure of metal pads  112  to open air. 
     In the embodiments wherein package component  100  is a device wafer, surface dielectric layer  110  and metal pads  112 , which are used for the subsequent bonding, may be on the front side (the side with active devices  104 ) or the back side of substrate  102 , although  FIG. 1  illustrates that surface dielectric layer  110  and metal pads  112  are on the front side of substrate  102 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates package component  200 , which is to be bonded to package component  100 . Package component  200  may also be selected from a device wafer, an interposer wafer, a package substrate, and the like. In the illustrated  FIG. 2 , package component  200  includes substrate  202 , active devices  204 , dielectric layers  208 , metal lines and vias  206  in dielectric layers  208 , surface dielectric layer  210 , and metal pads  212 . Package component  200  may have a structure similar to what is described for package component  100 , and the details are not repeated herein. The materials of the features in package component  200  may be found referring to the like features in package component  100 , with the like features in package component  100  starting with number “1,” which features correspond to the features in package component  200  and having reference numerals starting with number “2.” 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 3 , package component  100  is loaded into surface treatment station  304 , which is a part of integrated hybrid bonding system  300  in  FIG. 9 . The loading may be performed using loading station  302  as described regarding  FIG. 9 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a surface treatment (symbolized by arrows  320 ) is performed on the surface of package component  100 . In some embodiments, the surface treatment includes a plasma treatment. 
     The plasma treatment may be performed in a vacuum environment (a vacuum chamber), for example, which is a part of the surface treatment station  304  ( FIGS. 3 and 9 ). The process gas used for generating the plasma may be a hydrogen-containing gas, which includes a first combined gas of hydrogen (H 2 ) and argon (Ar), a second combined gas of H 2  and nitrogen (N 2 ), or a third combined gas of H 2  and helium (He). In some exemplary embodiments, the flow rate ratio of H 2  in the first, the second, or the third combined gas, whichever is used in the plasma treatment, may be between about 4 percent and about 5 percent. Through the treatment, the number of OH groups at the surface of surface dielectric layer  110  is increased, which is beneficial for forming strong fusion bonds. Furthermore, the hydrogen helps reduce the metal oxide  114  on the surfaces of metal pads  112  back to metal. The plasma treatment may also be performed using pure or substantially pure H 2 , Ar, or N 2  as the process gas, which treats the surfaces of metal pads  112  and surface dielectric layer  110  through reduction and/or bombardment. The plasma used in the treatment may be low-power plasma, with the power for generating the plasma between about 10 Watts and about 2,000 Watts. Using surface treatment station  304  in  FIG. 3 , package component  200  is also treated, which treatment is essentially the same as the treatment of package component  100 . 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 4 , package component  100  is transferred to integrated cleaning station  306 , and a metal oxide removal and a De-Ionized (DI) water cleaning are performed on package component  100 . The integrated cleaning station  306  includes chamber  402 , which may be sealed to confine the chemical vapors, which chemical vapors are evaporated from the chemicals used in the cleaning processes that are performed inside chamber  402 . Integrated cleaning station  306  includes a plurality of containers  404 ,  406 , and  408  therein. In some embodiments, the plurality of containers is disposed by placing smaller containers inside lager containers. For example, container  404  is smaller than, and is placed inside, container  406 , and container  406  is smaller than, and is placed inside, container  408 . Furthermore, the sidewalls of the outer containers are higher than the sidewalls of the respective inner containers therein. For example, container  408  has the highest sidewalls, while container  404  has the lowest sidewalls. Containers  404 ,  406 , and  408  are connected to outlets  414 ,  416 , and  418 , respectively, so that the chemical solutions collected by the containers may be extracted out of chamber  402 , and may be collected separately in accordance with the types of the collected chemical solutions. In some exemplary embodiments, containers  404 ,  406 , and  408  are used to collect used acid solution, used alkaline solution, and used DI water, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the functions of containers  404 ,  406 , and  408  may be switched. 
     Integrated cleaning station  306  also includes a plurality of storages, for example,  424 ,  426 , and  428 . The plurality of storages is used to store the chemicals/solutions that are used in the metal oxide removal and the DI water cleaning. For example,  424 ,  426 , and  428  may store an acidic solution, an alkaline solution, and DI water, respectively. Integrated cleaning station  306  is configured to mix the chemicals and the DI water, and dispose the chemicals, either mixed or not mixed, to nozzle  430 , which is used to dispense the chemical solution to the package component (such as package component  100  in  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 ) that is to be cleaned. 
     Retractable wafer support  432  is located in chamber  402 . Retractable wafer support  432  may extend or retract as desired to different levels during the integrated cleaning process. Hence, retractable wafer support  432  may raise package component  100 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , or lower package component  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . In some embodiments, air outlets  434  are disposed in retractable wafer support  432 , and are used to blow air  440  to the back side of package component  100 , as will be discussed referring to  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 . 
     Integrated cleaning station  306  also includes ultrasonic generator  436 , which is used to generate ultrasound. The ultrasound is used in the cleaning process, for example, when DI water is disposed on package component  100 . As also shown in  FIG. 4 , chamber  402  includes door  438 , which is opened to allow package component  100  to be transported into and out of chamber  402 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , after package component  100  is transported into chamber  402 , door  438  is closed. During the time period that door  438  is opened, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and during the time period door  438  is closed, as shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 , a negative pressure is generated in chamber  402 , for example, by suck air  439  into chamber  402 , and then evacuate the air through an outlet (not shown). With the negative pressure, which means that the pressure inside chamber  402  is lower than the pressure (for example, one atmosphere) outside chamber  402 , air always flows into, not out of, chamber  402  (except through the outlet). Hence, the chemical vapors in chamber  402  will not escape to pollute the package components and other tools in integrated cleaning station  306 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates the metal oxide removal using an alkaline solution, through which oxide regions  114  ( FIG. 1 ) are removed. An alkaline solution such as Ammonium Hydroxide (NH 4 OH) solution is disposed on package component  100 . During the oxide removal, package component  100  is rotated to spin off the used alkaline solution. Through the reaction of the alkaline solution with metal oxide regions  114 , metal oxide regions  114  are removed. In addition, some loose particles and undesirable substances on the surfaces of metal pads  112  and surface dielectric layer  110  are also removed. Retractable wafer support  432  may adjust the height of package component  100  to a level higher than the top edges of container  404 , and lower than the top edges of container  406 . The alkaline solution spun off from package component  100  may thus be spun off to the sidewalls of container  406 , and evacuated out of chamber  402  through outlet  416 . During the metal oxide removal using the alkaline solution, ultrasonic generator  436  may, or may not, supply ultrasound to package component  100 . 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates the metal oxide removal using an acidic solution, through which oxide regions  114  ( FIG. 1 ) may also be removed. During the oxide removal, an acidic solution such as formic acid (HCOOH) solution is disposed on package component  100 . Package component  100  is rotated to spin off the used acidic solution. Through the use of the acidic solution, the metal oxide regions  114  on the surfaces of metal pads  112  are removed. Some particles and undesirable substances on the surface of metal pads  112  and surface dielectric layer  110  are also removed. Retractable wafer support  432  may lower package component  100  to a level lower than the top edges of container  404 . The acidic solution spun off from package component  100  may thus be spun off to the sidewalls of container  404 , and evacuated out of chamber  402  through outlet  414 . During the metal oxide removal using the acidic solution, ultrasonic generator  436  may, or may not, supply ultrasound to package component  100 . 
     In accordance with some embodiments, one or both of the alkaline cleaning and/or acid cleaning is performed on package component  100  before it is pre-bonded. After the alkaline cleaning and/or the acid cleaning, a DI water cleaning is performed, as shown in  FIG. 6 , during which DI water is dispensed on the respective package component  100 . Package component  100  is also rotated to spin off the used DI water. Through the use of DI water, the residue of the acidic solution and/or the alkaline solution is removed. During the DI water clean, retractable wafer support  432  may raise package component  100  to a level higher than the top edges of container  406 , and lower than the top edges of container  408 . The DI water spun off from package component  100  may thus be spun off to the sidewalls of container  408 , and evacuated out of chamber  402  through outlet  418 . During the cleaning using DI water, ultrasonic generator  436  may, or may not, supply ultrasound to package component  100 . 
     During the alkaline cleaning, the acid cleaning, and possibly the DI water cleaning, air, clean air, nitrogen, or other type of gas, which are represented by arrows  440 , may be blown out of outlets  434  ( FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 ). This prevents the acidic solution and the alkaline solution from flowing to the backside of package component  100  to contaminate the backside. 
     Package component  200  is also cleaned using essentially the same process as shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 . After the integrated cleaning, the oxide regions on both package components  100  and  200  are removed.  FIG. 7  illustrates package component  100 , wherein metal pads  112  no longer have metal oxide regions thereon. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 8 , package components  100  and  200  are transferred into pre-bonding station  308  (also refer to  FIG. 9 ). Package components  100  and  200  are aligned, with bond pads  112  of package component  100  being aligned to bond pads  212  of package component  200 . The alignment may be performed in pre-bonding station  308  (which is an alignment and pre-bonding station in these embodiments), although it may also be performed in a separate alignment station. After the alignment, package components  100  and  200  are pressed against each other. At the time the pre-bonding is performed, substantially no oxide is re-grown on the surface of metal pads  112  and  212 . This is due to the fact that the oxide regions are removed in the integrated cleaning station  306 , which is a part of the hybrid bonding system. Accordingly, the time period between the removal of the oxide and the pre-bonding is short enough, and hence substantially no oxide is grown. In addition, the environment of hybrid bonding system  300  ( FIG. 9 ) may be controlled, which includes, for example, using cleaned air or nitrogen (or other inert gases) to fill hybrid bonding system  300 , removing moisture from the air in hybrid bonding system  300 , etc. As shown in  FIG. 8 , during the pre-bonding, pressing force  326  is applied to press package components  100  and  200  against each other. Pressing force  326  may be lower than about 5 Newton per die in some exemplary embodiments, although a greater or a smaller force may also be used. The pre-bonding may be performed at the room temperature (for example, between about 21° C. and about 25° C.), although higher temperatures may be used. The bonding time may be shorter than about 1 minute, for example. 
     After the pre-bonding, surface dielectric layer  110  and  210  are bonded to each other. The bonding strength, however, needs to be improved in a subsequent annealing step. The bonded package components  100  and  200  in combination are referred to as bonded pair  324  hereinafter. Bonded pair  324  is unloaded out of pre-bonding station  308  and integrated cleaning station  306  ( FIG. 9 ), and is transferred to annealing station  312  ( FIG. 9 ) for annealing. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in annealing station  312 , the bonded pair  324  is annealed at a temperature between about 300° C. and about 400° C., for example. The annealing may be performed for a period of time between about 1 hour and 2 hours in some exemplary embodiments. When temperature rises, the OH bonds in oxide layers  110  and  210  ( FIG. 8 ) break to form strong Si—O—Si bonds, and hence package components  100  and  200  are bonded to each other through fusion bonds. In addition, during the annealing, the copper in metal pads  112  and  212  diffuse to each other, so that metal-to-metal bonds are also formed. Hence, the resulting bonds between package components  100  and  200  are hybrid bonds. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, by integrating the integrated cleaning station into the hybrid bonding system, the oxides on the surfaces of metal bonds are removed. Experiments have shown that in conventional bonding processes in which the DI water clean is performed, and no oxide removal is performed in the respective hybrid bonding station  300 , a resulting bond structure has a clearly visible interface, indicating the inferior inter-diffusion of copper atoms. The bond quality is hence low. As a comparison, by removing the oxide in hybrid bonding system, there is substantially no metal oxide re-grown when the bonding is performed. The resulting bond structure has no visible interface, indicating the high-quality inter-diffusion of copper atoms has occurred, and quality of bonds is improved. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a method includes performing a plasma activation on a surface of a first package component, removing oxide regions from surfaces of metal pads of the first package component, and performing a pre-bonding to bond the first package component to a second package component. 
     In accordance with other embodiments, a hybrid bonding system includes a plasma treatment chamber configured to perform a plasma cleaning on a package component, and an integrated cleaning station. The integrated cleaning station includes a chamber, and a plurality of storages outside of the chamber. The plurality of storages comprises a first storage storing one of an acidic solution and an alkaline solution therein and a second storage storing deionized water therein. The integrated cleaning station further includes a nozzle in the chamber and connected to the plurality of storages, and a retractable wafer support configured to hold the package component thereon. The hybrid bonding system further includes an alignment and pre-bonding station configure to align and bonding the package component with an additional package component. 
     Although the embodiments and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. In addition, each claim constitutes a separate embodiment, and the combination of various claims and embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure.