Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T10:57:10.410Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Characterization of Low Temperature, Wafer-Level Gold-Gold Thermocompression Bonds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Christine H. Tsau
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Martin A. Schmidt
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
S. Mark Spearing
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Get access

Abstract

Low temperature, wafer-level bonding offers several advantages in MEMS packaging, such as device protection during aggressive processing/handling and the possibility of vacuum sealing. Although thermocompression bonding can be achieved with a variety of metals, gold is often preferred because of its acceptance in die bonding [1] and its resistance to oxidation. This study demonstrates that the simultaneous application of moderate pressure (0.5 MPa) and temperature (300°C) produces strong wafer-level bonds. A four-point benddelamination technique was utilized to quantify bond toughness. Test specimens exhibited constant load versus displacement behavior during steady state crack propagation. Two distinct fracture modes were observed: cohesive failure within the Au and adhesive failure at the Ti-Si interface. The strain energy release rate for Au-Au fracture was found to be higher than that associated with Ti-Si fracture, consistent with the greater plastic deformation that occurs in the metal during fracture.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Wolffenbuttel, R.F.. Low-temperature intermediate au-si wafers bonding; eutectic or silicide bond. Sensors and Actuators A, 62:680686, 1997.10.1016/S0924-4247(97)01550-1Google Scholar
[2] Furman, B.K. and Mita, S.G.. Gold-gold thermocompression bonding of very large arrays. In 42nd Electronic Components and Technology Conference, pages 883889. IEEE, 1992.Google Scholar
[3] Wolffenbuttel, R.F. and Wise, K.D.. Low-temperature silicon wafer-to-wafer bonding using gold at eutectic temperature. Sensors and Actuators A, 43:223229, 1994.Google Scholar
[4] Shimbo, M., Furukawa, K., Fukuda, K., and Tanzawa, K.. Silicon-to-silicon direct bonding method. Journal of Applied Physics, 60:2987, 1986.10.1063/1.337750Google Scholar
[5] Abe, T., Takei, T., Uchiyama, A., Yoshizawa, K., and Nakazato, Y.. Silicon wafer bonding mechanism for silicon-on-insulator structures. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics Part 2-Letters, 29:L2311–14, 1990.10.1143/JJAP.29.L2311Google Scholar
[6] Maszara, W.P., Goetz, G., Caviglia, A., and McKitterick, J.B.. Bonding of silicon wafers for silicon-on-insulator. Journal of Applied Physics, 64:4943, 1988.Google Scholar
[7] Schmidt, M.A.. Silicon wafer bonding for micromechanical devices. In Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop, Hilton Head, pages 127131, 1994.Google Scholar
[8] Charalambides, P.G., Cao, H.C., Lund, J., and Evans, A.G.. Development of a test method for measuring the mixed mode fracture resistance of bimaterial interfaces. Mechanics of Materials, 8:269283, 1990.Google Scholar
[9] Hutchinson, J.W. and Suo, Z.. Mixed mode cracking in layered materials. In Hutchinson, J.W. and Wu, T.Y., editors, Advances in Applied Mechanics, volume 29. Academic Press, 1991.Google Scholar
[10] Jellison, J.L.. Effect of surface contamination on the thermocompression bondability of gold. IEEE Transaction on Parts, Hybrids and Packaging, PHP-11:206211, 1975.Google Scholar
[11] Reimanis, I.E., Dalgleish, B.J., and Evans, A.G.. The fracture resistance of a model metal/ceramic interface. Acta Metallurgica et Materialia, 39:3133, 1991.Google Scholar