SiC wafers have become increasingly in demand due to their unique physical and electronic properties that make them ideal for use in high temperature, high power/frequency semiconductor applications such as those found in electric vehicles (EV) and 5G wireless communication technologies.
Pureon provides advanced solutions that enable manufacturers to implement reliable processes more easily and cost effectively. To combat these difficulties, production processes are complex and expensive while yields are low. To meet these challenges, Pureon provides cutting-edge solutions.
Silicon Valley Microelectronics
Silicon Valley Microelectronics (SVM) distributes silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry. Their products include double-side polished wafers, float zone wafers and silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers; additionally they provide custom fabrication services and custom processing. SVM offers wafers in different diameters and specifications.
SVM provides high-grade lithography grade wafers with precise flatness characteristics for high volume production applications. These substrates boast tight Total Thickness Variance (TTV) specifications and site flatness measurements to ensure minimal variations across their site, suitable for high-speed production environments.
The company provides float zone wafers with low impurity concentration and high temperature capabilities for use in power devices, high efficiency solar arrays and RF chips.
Float zone wafers offer lower densities than Czochalski-grown silicon wafers and greater durability compared to their p-type counterparts, making them suitable for high temperature applications like etching and chemical vapor deposition.
SVM also provides silicon wafer reclaim and polishing services, which involve repolishing used wafers either with single side polishing or double side polishing techniques. Following polishing, these wafers are cleaned prior to particle inspection tests – once passed these exams they are ready for reuse in semiconductor fabrication facilities.
Wolfspeed
Wolfspeed is an industry-leading supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor materials. Their SiC power semiconductors are engineered to improve performance while decreasing energy use for lighter systems with greater energy efficiency – these features make their SiC power semiconductors suitable for electric vehicles and data centers among many other uses.
Wolfspeed’s expansion will accommodate growing demand for energy efficient SiC chips, meeting it through increased production capacity. Their new facility in Durham, North Carolina will produce 200mm wafers which are approximately 1.7 times larger than what are produced currently at 150mm production lines currently used to manufacture 150mm wafers at their Durham site. This expansion will enable Wolfspeed to maximize SiC’s potential to accelerate a new era of energy efficiency and power density.
The company is expanding their existing long-term 150mm SiC bare and epitaxial wafer supply agreement with an unnamed power device manufacturer to meet increased demand for SiC substrate in high power/voltage semiconductor circuits.
Wolfspeed holds an advantage in the 8 inch wafer market by being first to create the world’s first and largest SiC plant at Mohawk Valley in New York – opening it since 2022 and reaching 20% capacity utilization as of June. Unfortunately, however, Wolfspeed faces stiff competition from Chinese competitors.
Onsemi
Onsemi products can be found in an array of applications, from automotive and industrial to LED lighting, 5G and cloud power. Their power management products include analog and logic components. With manufacturing facilities, design centers, sales offices and customer relationships throughout its network of manufacturing facilities and design centers; customers include manufacturers, retailers, OEMs and distributors. Onsemi’s product lineup also features semiconductor devices, integrated circuits discrete devices as well as logic ICs and microprocessors for customers to choose from.
Onsemi recently acquired Cypress’ CMOS image sensor business unit and the LSI Logic Gresham design and manufacturing facility to gain new technical capabilities, custom ASIC products, and exposure to new end markets. Furthermore, significant investments were made in its EFK 300mm fab to accelerate growth across power, analog and sensing segments of its business.
Onsemi plans to increase its manufacturing footprint over time through existing partnerships with Globalfoundries and SK Hynix. This expansion will allow it to provide comprehensive power solutions and increase market share in high-growth segments like vehicle electrification, advanced safety and alternative energy.
The company places great emphasis on corporate social responsibility initiatives, including environmental sustainability and ethical business practices, which is evident through the values held by its employees: respect, integrity and initiative are just some examples of these virtues. Furthermore, this firm boasts strong philanthropic practices, with employee volunteering encouraged as part of this philosophy.
Coherent
Coherent is a US manufacturer of industrial and fiber lasers, photonic systems and components, and other photonic-related systems and components. Their products can be found in microelectronics manufacturing, scientific research, material processing and material handling applications. Coherent has also pioneered new technologies like silicon carbide (SiC) wafers that are more energy-efficient than their silicon-based counterparts and can withstand higher temperatures without emitting excessive heat, helping lower energy consumption costs and saving costs overall.
Denso and Mitsubishi Electric invested $500 million into an US company’s SiC wafer business in October 2023, giving them 12.5% non-controlling ownership interest with long-term supply contracts. Furthermore, these two Japanese firms formed a new subsidiary to oversee this operation under Sohail Khan as executive vice president.
Coherent announced earlier this month a major technology milestone with their launch of 200-mm SiC epi-wafers – an increase in usable area that will greatly enhance productivity while decreasing operational costs for manufacturers of SiC power electronics devices.
Large wafers can be used to manufacture MOSFETs and IGBTs for high-temperature, high-frequency power electronics applications. These devices are critical for power conversion in electric vehicles (EVs) as well as critical sectors like electricity grids and high-power chargers; their increased efficiency will reduce weight and size while increasing range by improving performance.
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