China RTP/RTA Manufacturers, Suppliers, Factory

Epitaxial wafers have been used in the electronics industry for decades, but their importance has only increased as technology has advanced. In this article, we will explore what epitaxial wafers are and why they are such an essential component of modern electronics.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a compound formed by covalent bonds between silicon and carbon atoms, known for its excellent wear resistance, thermal shock resistance, corrosion resistance, and high thermal conductivity.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a versatile technique for producing high-quality coatings with various applications in industries such as aerospace, electronics, and materials science. CVD-SiC coatings are known for their exceptional properties, including high temperature resistance, mechanical strength, and excellent corrosion resistance.

Silicon carbide ceramic membranes have significant advantages in the fields of water treatment and industrial separation, and their application scenarios are wide-ranging.

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.

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.