Patent ID: 8222139

Claim:
A method of forming a through-silicon via (TSV) structure, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a first opening in the first region; forming a first conductive material layer on the dielectric layer, filling the first opening; forming a second opening in the second region extending through the first conductive material layer, the dielectric layer and a portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the second opening has a sidewall portion and a bottom portion; forming a passivation layer overlying the first conductive material layer and lining the sidewall portion and the bottom portion of the second opening; forming a second conductive material layer overlying the passivation layer, filling the second opening; and removing portions of the second conductive material layer, the passivation layer and the first conductive material layer positioned outside the first opening and the second opening to expose the dielectric layer, wherein a portion of the second conductive material layer remaining in the second opening forms the TSV structure.