Low temperature direct bonding method using an electron-beam evaporated silicon-oxide interlayer

In this work, we proposed a direct bonding method using interlayers for single crystalline silicon wafers and glass wafers. Various materials were used for interlayers of thermal oxide, sputtered nitride, electron-beam(E-beam) evaporated silicon oxide and molybdenum. After hydrophilization, samples were spin dried and mated together without external forces. Three types of solutions were used for hydrophilizing the samples. Changes of average surface roughness after hydrophilization of the single crystalline silicon wafer, thermal oxide and E-beam silicon-oxide were inspected using atomic force microscope(AFM). Bonding interfaces of the bonded pairs were observed by scanning electron microscope(SEM). Voids and non-contact areas of the bonding pairs were also inspected using infrared(IR) transmission microscope. Surface energy, tensile strength measurements and breaking tests were also done.