Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Thermal stresses may affect significantly electromigration induced open failures in nearbamboo interconnect structures ending in W-vias. Based on a physical model, we investigate the thermal stress effects on void nucleation, on early failures due to grain boundary diffusion, and on longer term bulk diffusion dominated failures. It is shown that thermal stress is all important as far as early failures are concerned. In particular, during accelerated tests and service, the early failures, when occur, arise due to stress and current directed grain boundary diffusion along grain clusters. In the accelerated test, bulk diffusion dominated void growth at vias determines the long term failures while during service bulk diffusion contribution is usually negligibly small within time frames of practical interest. Because the dominant failure mechanisms change, the extrapolation from the accelerated tests to the service conditions is not straight-forward.