Patent ID: 7008867

Claim:
A method for forming a copper bump having improved oxidation resistance and thermal stability comprising the steps of: providing a metal bonding pad formed over a substrate comprising electrical communication pathways; forming a passivation layer over the substrate excepting an exposed portion of the metal bonding pad; forming a first metallurgy over the passivation layer and contacting the exposed portion; forming a second metallurgy overlying and contacting the first metallurgy; forming a patterned photoresist layer over the second metallurgy patterned to provide an opening aligned to overlie the exposed portion; depositing a copper layer to at least partially fill the opening to form a copper bump; removing the patterned photoresist layer to expose the copper bump; selectively depositing at least one oxidation resistant metal layer over the copper bump to cover exposed portions comprising upper and sidewall portions according to an electro-chemical deposition (ECD) process; and etcthing through a thickness of the first metallurgy surounding the copper bump to expose the passivation layer following the step of selectively depositing.