scholarly journals Microstructure Characterization and Interfacial Reactions between Au-Sn Solder and Different Back Metallization Systems of GaAs MMICs

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1266
Author(s):  
Na Wu ◽  
Yongfang Hu ◽  
Shufeng Sun
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Mass Production ◽  
Liquidus Temperature ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Isothermal Solidification ◽  
Bonding Process ◽  
Elemental Distribution ◽  
Microwave Integrated Circuits ◽  
Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits ◽  
Au Film

GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) with different back metallization systems (TiW/Au and Au/Ti/Au) exhibit different problems in the automatic Au-Sn eutectic bonding process, such as edge breakage or excessive voids. In this study, the formation mechanism of the edge breakage and excessive voids were investigated to prevent the damage of the MMICs in mass production scenarios. The microstructure and elemental distribution were studied using a scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The void contents of the brazed region were measured with three-dimensional computed tomography. The top Au layer of the TiW/Au metallization partially dissolved in the melting An-Sn solder. Consequently, liquidus temperature of the solder increased, leading to isothermal solidification with the formation of ζ-Au5Sn in the scrubbing process, which was the reason for the edge breakage. The terminal Au film of the Au/Ti/Au metallization completely dissolved in the melting An-Sn solder. The metallurgical combination was achieved by the formation of the TiAu4 intermetallic compound between the Au-Sn solder and the Ti layer. The wettability of Au-Sn solder on Ti layer should be improved to prevent the formation of the excessive voids.

Using the secondary electrons (SE) of SEM with NIST‘s MONSEL-II program to obtain improved linewidth measurements and slope angles of line edges on a MMIC GaAs device

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 944-945
Author(s):  
Richard G. Sartore
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Microwave Integrated Circuits ◽  
Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits ◽  
Thick Gold ◽  
Gaas Devices ◽  
Source Distance ◽  
Margin Of Error ◽  
Dimensional Measurements ◽  
Barrier Metal

In the evaluation of GaAs devices from the MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits) program for Army applications, there was a requirement to obtain accurate linewidth measurements on the nominal 0.5 micrometer gate lengths used to fabricate these devices. Preliminary measurements indicated a significant variation (typically 10 % to 30% but could be more) in the critical dimensional measurements of the gate length, gate to source distance and gate to drain distance. Passivation introduced a margin of error, which was removed by plasma etching. Additionally, the high aspect ratio (4-5) of the thick gold (Au) conductors also introduced measurement difficulties. The final measurements were performed after the thick gold conductor was removed and only the barrier metal remained, which was approximately 250 nanometer thick platinum on GaAs substrate. The thickness was measured using the penetration voltage method. Linescan of the secondary electron signal as it scans across the gate is shown in Figure 1.

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