China Crystalline Silicon Wafers Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

There are two types of epitaxy: homogeneous and heterogeneous. In order to produce SiC devices with specific resistance and other parameters for different applications, the substrate must meet the conditions of epitaxy before production can begin. The quality of the epitaxy affects the device's performance.

As a wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor material, SiC's wider energy difference gives it higher thermal and electronic properties compared to traditional Si. This feature enables power devices to operate at higher temperatures, frequencies and voltages.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an inorganic substance. The amount of naturally occurring silicon carbide is very small. It is a rare mineral and is called moissanite. Silicon carbide used in industrial production is mostly artificially synthesized.

SiC MOSFETs are transistors that offer high power density, improved efficiency, and low failure rates at high temperatures. These advantages of SiC MOSFETs bring numerous benefits to electric vehicles (EVs), including longer driving range, faster charging, and potentially lower cost battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Over the past five years, SiC MOSFETs have been widely used in the power electronics of EVs in vehicles from OEMs such as Tesla and Hyundai. In fact, SiC inverters accounted for 28% of the BEV market in 2023.

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.

Both epitaxial and diffused wafers are essential materials in semiconductor manufacturing, but they differ significantly in their fabrication processes and target applications. This article delves into the key distinctions between these wafer types.