China Silicon Wafer Handling Tools Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

The development of 3C-SiC, a significant polytype of silicon carbide, reflects the continuous advancement of semiconductor material science. In the 1980s, Nishino et al. first achieved a 4 μm thick 3C-SiC film on a silicon substrate using chemical vapor deposition (CVD)[1], laying the foundation for 3C-SiC thin-film technology.

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.

C/C composite is a carbon-carbon composite material made of carbon fibers as reinforcement and carbon as matrix through processing and carbonization, with excellent mechanical and high-temperature resistance properties. The material was initially used in aerospace and special fields, and with the maturity of the technology, it has been gradually used in photovoltaic, automotive, lithium battery, medical devices and other fields.

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.

Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment increased 5 percent from $102.6 billion in 2021 to an all-time record of $107.6 billion last year, SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain.

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?