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Analysis of a passive sensor for predicting process-induced stress in advanced integrated circuit interconnect

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Barry Gallacher, Professor Anthony O'Neill, Professor Steve BullORCiD, Dr Alton Horsfall

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Abstract

Process-induced stress and its deleterious effects on interconnect reliability become increasingly severe as current densities escalate at scaled geometries. Accurate and reliable measurements of stress are paramount to understand the failure mechanisms in advanced interconnect schemes, the control of process technologies, the integration of new materials, and the reliability-driven architecture design. An analytical model of a recently developed passive strain sensor that is suitable for predicting process-induced stress in advanced interconnect technology is presented. This passive strain sensor is scalable for future interconnect geometries predicted by the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. The model is developed using complementary energy principles and is compared against the available experimental data on aluminum interconnect. Agreement between the model and the experiment is shown to be within 5%. The use of the developed model enables critical design parameters to be identified and optimized for any level of stress. Furthermore, as the model is scalable, it will facilitate the design of such sensors for future interconnect geometries. © 2008 IEEE.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Gallacher B, O'Neill A, Bull S, Wilson C, Horsfall A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Device and Materials Reliability

Year: 2008

Volume: 8

Issue: 1

Pages: 174-181

Print publication date: 01/03/2008

ISSN (print): 1530-4388

ISSN (electronic): 1558-2574

Publisher: IEEE

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TDMR.2007.912272

DOI: 10.1109/TDMR.2007.912272


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