Patent ID: 8183673

Claim:
A microelectronic device structure, comprising: a substrate; a conductive via comprising a conductive body portion extending into the substrate from an upper surface thereof and a conductive connecting portion on top of the body portion and laterally extending along the upper surface of the substrate, the connecting portion having a width greater than the body portion and including a recess therein in a top surface thereof opposite the body portion, the connecting portion further including a barrier portion on the top surface of the connecting portion outside of the recess such that the barrier portion is elevated relative to a bottom of the recess; and a conductive metal in the recess, the conductive metal comprising a material having a ductility greater than that of the conductive via, wherein the recess is confined within the connecting portion of the conductive via and does not extend into the body portion thereof, and wherein the barrier portion is configured to prevent the conductive metal in the recess from extending beyond the barrier portion when the connecting portion is in contact with a second conductive via.