China Plasma Edge Ring Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

Heat treatment is one of the essential and important processes in the semiconductor process. Thermal process is the process of applying thermal energy to a wafer by placing it in an environment filled with a specific gas, including oxidation/diffusion/annealing, etc.

As global acceptance of electric vehicles gradually increases, Silicon Carbide (SiC) will encounter novel growth opportunities in the forthcoming decade. It is anticipated that manufacturers of power semiconductors and operators in the automotive industry will participate more actively in the construction of this sector’s value chain.

The Silicon Carbide (SiC) production process encompasses the preparation of substrate and epitaxy from the materials side, followed by chip design and manufacturing, device packaging, and finally, distribution to downstream application markets. Among these stages, substrate material processing is the most challenging aspect of the SiC industry. SiC substrates are both hard and brittle, making cutting, grinding, and polishing extremely difficult. This increases the likelihood of defects during processing and reduces the yield rate. Currently, major international SiC manufacturers are planning to transition from 6-inch to 8-inch SiC wafers. Overcoming the challenges associated with 8-inch substrates has become a critical benchmark for the SiC industry. This article will introduce the key parameters of SiC substrates.

GaN materials gained prominence following the awarding of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for blue LEDs. Initially entering the public eye through fast-charging applications in consumer electronics, GaN-based power amplifiers and RF devices have also quietly emerged as critical components in 5G base stations. In recent years, GaN-based automotive-grade power devices have shown promise, potentially opening new growth avenues for GaN material applications.

The history of silicon carbide (SiC) dates back to 1891, when Edward Goodrich Acheson accidentally discovered it while attempting to synthesize artificial diamonds. Acheson heated a mixture of clay (aluminosilicate) and powdered coke (carbon) in an electric furnace. Instead of the expected diamonds, he obtained a bright green crystal adhering to the carbon. This crystal had a hardness second only to diamond, and was thus named carborundum. In 1904, French-Jewish chemist Henri Moissan discovered rare natural silicon carbide minerals while studying meteorite samples from the Diablo Canyon in Arizona, USA. He named these minerals moissanite, and his discovery earned him the 1906 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Semiconductor technology has been the backbone of modern civilization, fundamentally transforming the way we live, work, and interact with the world. It has enabled unprecedented advancements in various fields including information technology, energy, telecommunications, and healthcare. From the microprocessors that power our smartphones and computers, to the sensors in medical devices, and the power electronics in renewable energy systems, semiconductors are at the core of nearly every technological innovation of the past century.