Applications of Finite Element Methods for Reliability Studies on ULSI Interconnections

Applications of Finite Element Methods for Reliability Studies on ULSI Interconnections
Author: Cher Ming Tan
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2011-03-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0857293109

Applications of Finite Element Methods for Reliability Studies on ULSI Interconnections provides a detailed description of the application of finite element methods (FEMs) to the study of ULSI interconnect reliability. Over the past two decades the application of FEMs has become widespread and continues to lead to a much better understanding of reliability physics. To help readers cope with the increasing sophistication of FEMs’ applications to interconnect reliability, Applications of Finite Element Methods for Reliability Studies on ULSI Interconnections will: introduce the principle of FEMs; review numerical modeling of ULSI interconnect reliability; describe the physical mechanism of ULSI interconnect reliability encountered in the electronics industry; and discuss in detail the use of FEMs to understand and improve ULSI interconnect reliability from both the physical and practical perspective, incorporating the Monte Carlo method. A full-scale review of the numerical modeling methodology used in the study of interconnect reliability highlights useful and noteworthy techniques that have been developed recently. Many illustrations are used throughout the book to improve the reader’s understanding of the methodology and its verification. Actual experimental results and micrographs on ULSI interconnects are also included. Applications of Finite Element Methods for Reliability Studies on ULSI Interconnections is a good reference for researchers who are working on interconnect reliability modeling, as well as for those who want to know more about FEMs for reliability applications. It gives readers a thorough understanding of the applications of FEM to reliability modeling and an appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of various numerical models for interconnect reliability.

Electromigration in ULSI Interconnections

Electromigration in ULSI Interconnections
Author: Cher Ming Tan
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2010
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9814273325

Electromigration in ULSI Interconnections provides a comprehensive description of the electromigration in integrated circuits. It is intended for both beginner and advanced readers on electromigration in ULSI interconnections. It begins with the basic knowledge required for a detailed study on electromigration, and examines the various interconnected systems and their evolution employed in integrated circuit technology. The subsequent chapters provide a detailed description of the physics of electromigration in both Al- and Cu-based Interconnections, in the form of theoretical, experimental and numerical modeling studies. The differences in the electromigration of Al- and Cu-based interconnections and the corresponding underlying physical mechanisms for these differences are explained. The test structures, testing methodology, failure analysis methodology and statistical analysis of the test data for the experimental studies on electromigration are presented in a concise and rigorous manner. Methods of numerical modeling for the interconnect electromigration and their applications to the understanding of electromigration physics are described in detail with the aspects of material properties, interconnection design, and interconnect process parameters on the electromigration performances of interconnects in ULSI further elaborated upon. Finally, the extension of the studies to narrow interconnections is introduced, and future challenges on the study of electromigration are outlined and discussed.

Graphene and VLSI Interconnects

Graphene and VLSI Interconnects
Author: Cher-Ming Tan
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 121
Release: 2021-11-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1000470687

Copper (Cu) has been used as an interconnection material in the semiconductor industry for years owing to its best balance of conductivity and performance. However, it is running out of steam as it is approaching its limits with respect to electrical performance and reliability. Graphene is a non-metal material, but it can help to improve electromigration (EM) performance of Cu because of its excellent properties. Combining graphene with Cu for very large-scale integration (VLSI) interconnects can be a viable solution. The incorporation of graphene into Cu allows the present Cu fabrication back-end process to remain unaltered, except for the small step of “inserting” graphene into Cu. Therefore, it has a great potential to revolutionize the VLSI integrated circuit (VLSI-IC) industry and appeal for further advancement of the semiconductor industry. This book is a compilation of comprehensive studies done on the properties of graphene and its synthesis methods suitable for applications of VLSI interconnects. It introduces the development of a new method to synthesize graphene, wherein it not only discusses the method to grow graphene over Cu but also allows the reader to know how to optimize graphene growth, using statistical design of experiments (DoE), on Cu interconnects in order to obtain good-quality and reliable interconnects. It provides a basic understanding of graphene–Cu interaction mechanism and evaluates the electrical and EM performance of graphenated Cu interconnects.

Electromigration Modeling at Circuit Layout Level

Electromigration Modeling at Circuit Layout Level
Author: Cher Ming Tan
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 111
Release: 2013-03-16
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9814451215

Integrated circuit (IC) reliability is of increasing concern in present-day IC technology where the interconnect failures significantly increases the failure rate for ICs with decreasing interconnect dimension and increasing number of interconnect levels. Electromigration (EM) of interconnects has now become the dominant failure mechanism that determines the circuit reliability. This brief addresses the readers to the necessity of 3D real circuit modelling in order to evaluate the EM of interconnect system in ICs, and how they can create such models for their own applications. A 3-dimensional (3D) electro-thermo-structural model as opposed to the conventional current density based 2-dimensional (2D) models is presented at circuit-layout level.

Semiconductor Process Reliability in Practice

Semiconductor Process Reliability in Practice
Author: Zhenghao Gan
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
Total Pages: 624
Release: 2012-10-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 007175427X

Proven processes for ensuring semiconductor device reliability Co-written by experts in the field, Semiconductor Process Reliability in Practice contains detailed descriptions and analyses of reliability and qualification for semiconductor device manufacturing and discusses the underlying physics and theory. The book covers initial specification definition, test structure design, analysis of test structure data, and final qualification of the process. Real-world examples of test structure designs to qualify front-end-of-line devices and back-end-of-line interconnects are provided in this practical, comprehensive guide. Coverage includes: Basic device physics Process flow for MOS manufacturing Measurements useful for device reliability characterization Hot carrier injection Gate-oxide integrity (GOI) and time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) Negative bias temperature instability Plasma-induced damage Electrostatic discharge protection of integrated circuits Electromigration Stress migration Intermetal dielectric breakdown

Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis
Author: Farzad Ebrahimi
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 414
Release: 2012-10-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9535107690

In the past few decades, the Finite Element Method (FEM) has been developed into a key indispensable technology in the modeling and simulation of various engineering systems. The present book reports on the state of the art research and development findings on this very broad matter through original and innovative research studies exhibiting various investigation directions of FEM in electrical, civil, materials and biomedical engineering. This book is a result of contributions of experts from international scientific community working in different aspects of FEM. The text is addressed not only to researchers, but also to professional engineers, students and other experts in a variety of disciplines, both academic and industrial seeking to gain a better understanding of what has been done in the field recently, and what kind of open problems are in this area.

Fundamentals of Electromigration-Aware Integrated Circuit Design

Fundamentals of Electromigration-Aware Integrated Circuit Design
Author: Jens Lienig
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 171
Release: 2018-02-23
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319735586

The book provides a comprehensive overview of electromigration and its effects on the reliability of electronic circuits. It introduces the physical process of electromigration, which gives the reader the requisite understanding and knowledge for adopting appropriate counter measures. A comprehensive set of options is presented for modifying the present IC design methodology to prevent electromigration. Finally, the authors show how specific effects can be exploited in present and future technologies to reduce electromigration’s negative impact on circuit reliability.

Advanced Interconnects for ULSI Technology

Advanced Interconnects for ULSI Technology
Author: Mikhail Baklanov
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 616
Release: 2012-02-17
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1119966868

Finding new materials for copper/low-k interconnects is critical to the continuing development of computer chips. While copper/low-k interconnects have served well, allowing for the creation of Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) devices which combine over a billion transistors onto a single chip, the increased resistance and RC-delay at the smaller scale has become a significant factor affecting chip performance. Advanced Interconnects for ULSI Technology is dedicated to the materials and methods which might be suitable replacements. It covers a broad range of topics, from physical principles to design, fabrication, characterization, and application of new materials for nano-interconnects, and discusses: Interconnect functions, characterisations, electrical properties and wiring requirements Low-k materials: fundamentals, advances and mechanical properties Conductive layers and barriers Integration and reliability including mechanical reliability, electromigration and electrical breakdown New approaches including 3D, optical, wireless interchip, and carbon-based interconnects Intended for postgraduate students and researchers, in academia and industry, this book provides a critical overview of the enabling technology at the heart of the future development of computer chips.

Chemistry in Microelectronics

Chemistry in Microelectronics
Author: Yannick Le Tiec
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2013-02-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1118578120

Microelectronics is a complex world where many sciences need to collaborate to create nano-objects: we need expertise in electronics, microelectronics, physics, optics and mechanics also crossing into chemistry, electrochemistry, as well as biology, biochemistry and medicine. Chemistry is involved in many fields from materials, chemicals, gases, liquids or salts, the basics of reactions and equilibrium, to the optimized cleaning of surfaces and selective etching of specific layers. In addition, over recent decades, the size of the transistors has been drastically reduced while the functionality of circuits has increased. This book consists of five chapters covering the chemicals and sequences used in processing, from cleaning to etching, the role and impact of their purity, along with the materials used in “Front End Of the Line” which corresponds to the heart and performance of individual transistors, then moving on to the “Back End Of the Line” which is related to the interconnection of all the transistors. Finally, the need for specific functionalization also requires key knowledge on surface treatments and chemical management to allow new applications. Contents 1. Chemistry in the “Front End of the Line” (FEOL): Deposits, Gate Stacks, Epitaxy and Contacts, François Martin, Jean-Michel Hartmann, Véronique Carron and Yannick Le Tiec. 2. Chemistry in Interconnects, Vincent Jousseaume, Paul-Henri Haumesser, Carole Pernel, Jeffery Butterbaugh, Sylvain Maîtrejean and Didier Louis. 3. The Chemistry of Wet Surface Preparation: Cleaning, Etching and Drying, Yannick Le Tiec and Martin Knotter. 4. The Use and Management of Chemical Fluids in Microelectronics, Christiane Gottschalk, Kevin Mclaughlin, Julie Cren, Catherine Peyne and Patrick Valenti. 5. Surface Functionalization for Micro- and Nanosystems: Application to Biosensors, Antoine Hoang, Gilles Marchand, Guillaume Nonglaton, Isabelle Texier-Nogues and Francoise Vinet. About the Authors Yannick Le Tiec is a technical expert at CEA-Leti, Minatec since 2002. He is a CEA-Leti assignee at IBM, Albany (NY) to develop the advanced 14 nm CMOS node and the FDSOI technology. He held different technical positions from the advanced 300 mm SOI CMOS pilot line to different assignments within SOITEC for advanced wafer development and later within INES to optimize solar cell ramp-up and yield. He has been part of the ITRS Front End technical working group at ITRS since 2008.