Surface Morphology of Sn-Rich Solder Interconnects After Electrical Loading

Morphological changes from electromigration were examined on microsized Sn-Ag-Cu, pure Sn, and single-crystal Sn solder interconnects. It was found that both grain structure and alloying had a strong influence on the form of electromigration damage. In polycrystal Sn, grain boundary grooves were the primary form of electromigration damage, while in single-crystal Sn interconnects wavy surface relief appeared following electromigration. Alloying with Ag and Cu encouraged formation of Sn hillocks and Cu₆Sn₅ intermetallic compound (IMC) segregation. The grain boundary grooves were related to the divergence of the vacancy concentration at grain boundaries, which induced Sn grain tilting or sliding. Removal of the grain boundaries in the single-crystal interconnect made surface diffusion the primary electromigration mechanism, resulting in wavy surface relief after long electromigration time. In Sn-Ag-Cu alloy, directional flow of Cu caused Cu₆Sn₅ IMC segregation, which produced large compressive stress, driving the stressed grains to grow into hillocks.