Aromatic Polyaminoamide Additives for TSV Copper Plating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current copper electroplating processes for semiconductor features with micrometer dimensions and high aspect ratios face challenges in achieving uniform deposits without defects like voids and seams, and in minimizing stress due to recrystallization during annealing, which is influenced by grain size and impurity content.

Innovation Solution

The use of aromatic polyaminoamides as additives in copper electroplating baths to promote rapid, defect-free deposition with increased grain size and reduced impurity content, ensuring voidless and seamless filling of features on both micrometer and nanometer scales.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional electroplating additives are used, then copper deposition occurs, but voids and seams form in high aspect ratio features

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect-free fillingVSAvoiduniformity of deposit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the electroplating bath by introducing aromatic polyaminoamides with specific functional groups that change the deposition kinetics, enabling uniform filling of high aspect ratio features without voids or seams

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite additive systems combining aromatic polyaminoamides with traditional suppressors, accelerators, and levelers to achieve synergistic effects that simultaneously prevent void formation and ensure uniform deposit morphology

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If plating chemistry produces small copper grains, then rapid deposition occurs, but strong recrystallization stress forms during annealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition rateVSAvoidrecrystallization stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The aromatic polyaminoamide additives modify the crystal growth parameters during electroplating to produce larger initial grain sizes, which reduces the driving force for recrystallization during subsequent annealing processes while maintaining rapid deposition rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If conventional additives are used, then copper deposition occurs, but impurity content increases in the deposited layer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecopper deposit amountVSAvoidpurity of deposit
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The aromatic polyaminoamides act as intermediary agents that facilitate copper ion reduction while preventing co-deposition of impurities, likely through selective complexation and controlled release mechanisms that maintain high deposit purity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the electrochemical parameters of the plating bath through aromatic polyaminoamide additives, optimizing the reduction potential and kinetics to favor pure copper deposition over impurity incorporation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If rapid deposition is achieved, then productivity increases, but overplating occurs on substrate surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition rateVSAvoidcontrol of deposit thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The aromatic polyaminoamide additives create local differences in deposition behavior, promoting preferential growth inside features while suppressing overplating on flat substrate surfaces through localized complexation and controlled mass transport

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The aromatic polyaminoamides facilitate a copper electroplating process that results in a metal layer with reduced overplating, minimal voids, and decreased impurity content, leading to reduced stress on substrates and improved filling of complex feature geometries.

Implementation Method 1

Composition for metal electroplating comprising an additive for bottom-up filling of though silicon vias and interconnect features

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroplating: Electroplating

Data Source

PatentEP2714807B1Composition for metal electroplating comprising an additive for bottom-up filling of though silicon vias and interconnect features
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 BASF SE
  • EP2714807B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2714807B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2714807B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A composition comprising a source of metal ions and at least one polyaminoamide, said polyaminoamide comprising amide and amine functional groups in the polymeric backbone and aromatic moieties attached to or located within said polymeric backbone.