Nickel alloy for semiconductor packaging

A packaged semiconductor die includes a semiconductor die coupled to a die pad. The semiconductor die has a front side containing copper leads, a copper seed layer coupled to the copper leads, and a nickel alloy coating coupled to the copper seed layer. The nickel alloy includes tungsten and cerium (NiWCe). The packaged semiconductor die may also include wire bonds coupled between leads of a lead frame and the copper leads of the semiconductor die. In addition, the packaged semiconductor die may be encapsulated in molding compound. A method for fabricating a packaged semiconductor die. The method includes forming a copper seed layer over the copper leads of the semiconductor die. In addition, the method includes coating the copper seed layer with a nickel alloy. The method also includes singulating the semiconductor wafer to create individual semiconductor die and placing the semiconductor die onto a die pad of a lead frame.