China quartz fiber crucibles Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

To meet the demands for high performance and low power consumption in the realm of modern semiconductor technology, SiGe (Silicon Germanium) has emerged as a composite material of choice in semiconductor chip manufacturing due to its unique physical and electrical properties.

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.

In semiconductor manufacturing, the precision and stability of the etching process are paramount. One critical factor in achieving high-quality etching is ensuring that wafers are perfectly flat on the tray during the process. Any deviation can lead to uneven ion bombardment, causing undesirable angles and variations in etching rates. To address these challenges, engineers have developed Electrostatic Chucks (ESCs), which have significantly improved etching quality and stability. This article delves into the design and functionality of ESCs, focusing on one key aspect: the electrostatic principles behind wafer adhesion.

There are several materials currently under investigation, among which silicon carbide stands out as one of the most promising. Similar to GaN, it boasts higher operating voltages, higher breakdown voltages, and superior conductivity compared to silicon. Moreover, thanks to its high thermal conductivity, silicon carbide can be utilized in environments with extreme temperatures. Lastly, it is significantly smaller in size yet capable of handling greater power.

Currently, many semiconductor devices employ mesa device structures, which are predominantly created through two types of etching: wet etching and dry etching. While the simple and rapid wet etching plays a significant role in semiconductor device fabrication, it has inherent drawbacks such as isotropic etching and poor uniformity, which result in limited control when transferring small-sized patterns. Dry etching, however, with its high anisotropy, good uniformity, and repeatability, has become prominent in semiconductor device fabrication processes. The term “dry etching” broadly refers to any non-wet etching technology used for removing surface materials and transferring micro and nano patterns, including laser etching, plasma etching, and chemical vapor etching. The dry etching discussed in this text specifically pertains to the narrow application of processes using plasma discharge—either physical or chemical—to modify material surfaces.

Electrostatic chucks (ESCs) have become indispensable in semiconductor manufacturing and flat panel display production, offering a damage-free, highly controllable method for holding and positioning delicate wafers and substrates during critical processing steps. This article delves into the intricacies of ESC technology, exploring its principles of operation, various adhesion mechanisms, and fundamental structural components.