China SiC Coating for GaN Epitaxy Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

Silicon carbide (SiC) plays an important role in manufacturing power electronics and high-frequency devices due to its excellent electrical and thermal properties. The quality and doping level of SiC crystals directly affect the performance of the device, so precise control of doping is one of the key technologies in the SiC growth process.

In the rapidly evolving field of semiconductor manufacturing, even the smallest improvements can make a big difference when it comes to achieving optimal performance, durability, and efficiency. One advancement that is generating a lot of buzz in the industry is the use of TaC (Tantalum Carbide) coating on graphite surfaces. But what exactly is TaC coating, and why are semiconductor manufacturers taking notice of it?

Defect-free epitaxial growth occurs when one crystal lattice has nearly identical lattice constants to another. Growth happens when lattice sites of the two lattices at the interface region are approximately matched, which is possible with a small lattice mismatch (less than 0.1%). This approximate matching is achieved even with elastic strain at the interface, where each atom is slightly displaced from its original position in the boundary layer. While a small amount of strain is tolerable for thin layers and even desirable for quantum well lasers, the strain energy stored in the crystal is generally lowered by the formation of misfit dislocations, which involve a missing row of atoms in one lattice.

The development of high-powered blue and UV LEDs has enabled the creation of full-color LED TV displays, as well as white LED automotive and domestic lighting. These LEDs are based on Gallium Nitride, which is deposited on substrate wafers supported by CVD SiC-coated graphite susceptor using the MOCVD process.

The push for higher power density and efficiency has become a primary driver of innovation across multiple industries, including data centers, renewable energy, consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and autonomous driving technologies. In the realm of wide bandgap (WBG) materials, Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) are currently the two core platforms, viewed as pivotal tools leading power semiconductor innovation. These materials are profoundly transforming the power electronics industry to address the ever-increasing demand for power.

Within the silicon carbide (SiC) industry chain, substrate suppliers hold significant leverage, primarily due to value distribution. SiC substrates account for 47% of the total value, followed by epitaxial layers at 23%, while device design and manufacturing constitute the remaining 30%. This inverted value chain stems from the high technological barriers inherent to substrate and epitaxial layer production. Three major challenges plague SiC substrate growth: stringent growth conditions, slow growth rates, and demanding crystallographic requirements. These complexities contribute to increased processing difficulty, ultimately resulting in low product yields and high costs. Furthermore, the epitaxial layer’s thickness and doping concentration are critical parameters directly impacting the final device performance.