Patent ID: 7294217

Claim:
A method of forming an interconnect structure in a semiconductor device or package comprising the steps of: providing at least one metallic interconnect element comprising Cu, the at least one metallic interconnect element being selected from the group consisting of a bond pad, a wire, a lead frame, a ball grid array, a stud bump, TAB, C4 or solder bumps, and combinations of two or more of these; oxidizing a surface of the at least one metallic interconnect element; forming on at least one of said interconnect elements, after the oxidizing step, a bonding surface layer comprising Cu (N) in an amount effective to substantially inhibit oxidation of underlying metallic layers; forming an electrically conductive bond in the location of said surface layer; and prior to or substantially simultaneous with said bond forming step, decomposing said Cu (N) to substantially increase the conductivity of said layer.