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Semiconductor materials can be divided into three generations according to the time sequence. The first generation of germanium, silicon and other common monomaterials, which is characterised by convenient switching, generally used in integrated circuits. The second generation of gallium arsenide, indium phosphide and other compound semiconductors, mainly used for light-emitting and communication materials.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is currently facing challenges in the "price war," while gallium nitride (GaN) is emerging as a key player in the next technological battlefield.

Silicon carbide substrate is a compound semiconductor single crystal material composed of two elements, carbon and silicon. It has the characteristics of large bandgap, high thermal conductivity, high critical breakdown field strength, and high electron saturation drift rate.

The first generation of semiconductor materials is mainly represented by silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), which began to rise in the 1950s. Germanium was dominant in the early days and was mainly used in low-voltage, low-frequency, medium-power transistors and photodetectors, but due to its poor high temperature resistance and radiation resistance, it was gradually replaced by silicon devices in the late 1960s. Silicon is still the main semiconductor material in the field of microelectronics due to its high technological maturity and cost advantages.

Currently, silicon carbide dominates the third generation of semiconductors. In the cost structure of silicon carbide devices, substrates account for 47%, and epitaxy contributes 23%. Together, these two components represent about 70% of the overall manufacturing cost, making them crucial in the silicon carbide device production chain.

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.