Repair of Dielectric Interfaces with Chemistry Specific Coupling Agents

Low dielectric constant (low‐k) materials are currently being incorporated into advanced microelectronic devices to improve or maintain performance. As the dielectric constant is reduced, so are its mechanical properties. These reduced properties have recently been related to chip‐package interaction (CPI) failures. Significant effort has focused on eliminating CPI failures through engineering of copper crackstop structures. However, published data suggests that crackstop engineering needs to occur at each technology node to ensure CPI reliability. In this study, the focus is on repairing interfacial delaminations with chemistry specific coupling agents rather than attempting to stop them with a specially designed crackstop structure. Critical adhesion values and corrosion resistance of the repaired interfaces are compared to the original interface. The application of the repair chemistry in an integrated structure is discussed along with the potential impact on reliability.