MEMS Enabled Fast Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction Characterization Platform for Copper Nanoparticle Sintering in Heterogeneous Integration Applications

Abstract

We report the design, fabrication and experimental investigation of a MEMS micro-hotplate (MHP) for fast time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TRXRD) study of Cu nanoparticle paste (nanoCu paste) sintering process. The device and its system are designed to have a 60 ms minimum time interval, uniform temperature distribution and variant gas environments. A TRXRD study of nanoCu paste sintering at 200 °C in H2-N2 gas mixture was done using this device. With 1 sec interval, Cu8O reduction and Cu crystallization in sintering is observed. Results can be combined with other studies to optimize material design and process development.