Future and technical considerations of gold wirebonding in semiconductor packaging – a technical review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review on technical findings and discuss the feasibility and future of gold (Au) wirebonding in microelectronics packaging. It also aims to study and compare the cost, quality and wear-out reliability performance of Au wirebonding with respect to other wire alloys such as copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) wirebonding. This paper discusses the influence of wire type on the long-term reliability tests. Design/methodology/approach – Literature reviews are conducted based on cost and wire selections of Au, Cu or Ag wirebonding. Detailed wear-out failure findings and wire selection with cost considerations are presented in this review paper. The future and the status of Au wirebonding in microelectronics packaging are discussed in this paper. Findings – This paper briefly reviews selected aspects of the Au ball and other alternative bonding options, focusing on reliability performance, and discusses the future of Au wirebonding in the near future in semiconductor packaging. Practical implications – The paper reveals the technical considerations when choosing the wire types for future microelectronics packaging. Originality/value – The in-depth technical review and strategies of the selection of wire types (Au, Cu or the latest Ag alloy) in microelectronics packaging are discussed in this paper based on previous literature studies.