Gold in gallium arsenide die-attach technology

Gold plays an important role in leading-edge semiconductor technologies based on gallium arsenide. This metal is used extensively in contact metallizations and in solders for bonding gallium arsenide devices into packages. The quality of soldered joints made to this semiconductor depends critically on the choice of the metallization/solder combination and bonding temperature. A set of design guidelines for achieving sound joints has been derived from a metàllurgical study, which encompassed a representative selection of metallizations and solders employed in industry.