China Wafer Handling Equipment Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

The CVD process for SiC wafer epitaxy involves the deposition of SiC films onto a SiC substrate using a gas-phase reaction. The SiC precursor gases, typically methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) and ethylene (C2H4), are introduced into a reaction chamber where the SiC substrate is heated to a high temperature (usually between 1400 and 1600 degrees Celsius) under a controlled atmosphere of hydrogen (H2).

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.

In the realm of semiconductor device fabrication, the precise control of crystal growth is paramount for achieving high-quality and reliable devices. One technique that has played a pivotal role in this domain is Liquid-Phase Epitaxy (LPE).

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.

Single crystal silicon and polycrystalline silicon each have their own unique advantages and applicable scenarios. Single crystal silicon is suitable for high-performance electronic products and microelectronics due to its excellent electrical and mechanical properties. Polycrystalline silicon, on the other hand, dominates the field of solar cells due to its low cost and good photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Silicon carbide (SiC) crystal growth furnaces are the cornerstone of SiC wafer production. While sharing similarities with traditional silicon crystal growth furnaces, SiC furnaces face unique challenges due to the material’s extreme growth conditions and complex defect formation mechanisms. These challenges can be broadly categorized into two areas: crystal growth and epitaxial growth.