China IC Single-Crystal Silicon Epitaxy Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

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.

Carbon-based materials such as graphite, carbon fibers, and carbon/carbon (C/C) composites are known for their high specific strength, high specific modulus, and excellent thermal properties, making them suitable for a wide range of high-temperature applications. These materials are widely utilized in aerospace, chemical engineering, and energy storage. However, their susceptibility to oxidation and corrosion in high-temperature environments, along with poor scratch resistance, restricts their further application.

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.

Semiconductors are materials whose electrical conductivity at room temperature lies between that of insulators and conductors. By introducing impurities, a process known as doping, these materials can become conductors.

In semiconductor manufacturing, besides core process equipment such as photolithography and etching, another type of fundamental component plays a crucial role in process stability: the wafer boat.