Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundaries

Low-temperature Cu–Cu solid-state bonding is key for interconnect miniaturization and higher current densities in advanced semiconductor devices. Achieving reliable joints requires effective void closure at the interface, driven by diffusion. We employed molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate t...

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Main Authors: Hiroaki Tatsumi, C.R. Kao, Hiroshi Nishikawa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127524009511
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author Hiroaki Tatsumi
C.R. Kao
Hiroshi Nishikawa
author_facet Hiroaki Tatsumi
C.R. Kao
Hiroshi Nishikawa
author_sort Hiroaki Tatsumi
collection DOAJ
description Low-temperature Cu–Cu solid-state bonding is key for interconnect miniaturization and higher current densities in advanced semiconductor devices. Achieving reliable joints requires effective void closure at the interface, driven by diffusion. We employed molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the dominant atomic transport mechanism enhancing void closure. We modeled two polycrystalline Cu structures with high-density boundaries—a randomly oriented nanocrystalline (NC) structure with high-density grain boundaries (GBs) and a unidirectional [111]-oriented columnar nanotwinned (NT) structure with high-density twin boundaries (TBs). Thermocompression bonding was simulated for both structures, with the bonding surfaces designed to replicate surface roughness. The NC structure exhibited significant atomic movement at the GBs with simultaneous grain coalescence, leading to early void closure. In contrast, the NT structure showed limited atomic movement and void closure, despite active surface diffusion. Potential energy analysis revealed that the NC structure’s energy decreased significantly over time, promoting void closure, while the NT structure’s quasi-stable energy state hindered this process. This was attributed to its high potential energy state, low activation energy for GB diffusion, and complex GB migration during grain coalescence at randomly oriented GBs. This study provides a deeper understanding of the GB-driven atomic transport mechanism that promotes void closure.
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spelling doaj-art-2c77c75529624b57af72159dc623bcbf2025-01-04T04:55:55ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-02-01250113576Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundariesHiroaki Tatsumi0C.R. Kao1Hiroshi Nishikawa2Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan; Corresponding author at: Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, TaiwanJoining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, JapanLow-temperature Cu–Cu solid-state bonding is key for interconnect miniaturization and higher current densities in advanced semiconductor devices. Achieving reliable joints requires effective void closure at the interface, driven by diffusion. We employed molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the dominant atomic transport mechanism enhancing void closure. We modeled two polycrystalline Cu structures with high-density boundaries—a randomly oriented nanocrystalline (NC) structure with high-density grain boundaries (GBs) and a unidirectional [111]-oriented columnar nanotwinned (NT) structure with high-density twin boundaries (TBs). Thermocompression bonding was simulated for both structures, with the bonding surfaces designed to replicate surface roughness. The NC structure exhibited significant atomic movement at the GBs with simultaneous grain coalescence, leading to early void closure. In contrast, the NT structure showed limited atomic movement and void closure, despite active surface diffusion. Potential energy analysis revealed that the NC structure’s energy decreased significantly over time, promoting void closure, while the NT structure’s quasi-stable energy state hindered this process. This was attributed to its high potential energy state, low activation energy for GB diffusion, and complex GB migration during grain coalescence at randomly oriented GBs. This study provides a deeper understanding of the GB-driven atomic transport mechanism that promotes void closure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127524009511Atomistic modelingCu–Cu solid-state bondingGrain boundaries (GBs)Molecular dynamics simulationsNanocrystalline (NC) structure
spellingShingle Hiroaki Tatsumi
C.R. Kao
Hiroshi Nishikawa
Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundaries
Materials & Design
Atomistic modeling
Cu–Cu solid-state bonding
Grain boundaries (GBs)
Molecular dynamics simulations
Nanocrystalline (NC) structure
title Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundaries
title_full Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundaries
title_fullStr Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundaries
title_full_unstemmed Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundaries
title_short Atomistic behavior of Cu–Cu solid-state bonding in polycrystalline Cu with high-density boundaries
title_sort atomistic behavior of cu cu solid state bonding in polycrystalline cu with high density boundaries
topic Atomistic modeling
Cu–Cu solid-state bonding
Grain boundaries (GBs)
Molecular dynamics simulations
Nanocrystalline (NC) structure
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127524009511
work_keys_str_mv AT hiroakitatsumi atomisticbehaviorofcucusolidstatebondinginpolycrystallinecuwithhighdensityboundaries
AT crkao atomisticbehaviorofcucusolidstatebondinginpolycrystallinecuwithhighdensityboundaries
AT hiroshinishikawa atomisticbehaviorofcucusolidstatebondinginpolycrystallinecuwithhighdensityboundaries