Uv-cure pre-treatment of carrier film for wafer dicing using hybrid laser scribing and plasma etch approach

Abstract

Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits on a front side of the semiconductor wafer includes adhering a back side the semiconductor wafer on the dicing tape of a substrate carrier. Subsequent to adhering the semiconductor wafer on a dicing tape, the dicing tape is treated with a UV-cure process. Subsequent to treating the dicing tape with the UV-cure process, a dicing mask is formed on the front side of the semiconductor wafer, the dicing mask covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The dicing mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide gaps in the dicing mask, the gaps exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the dicing mask layer to singulate the integrated circuits.