#process engineer

Silicon carbide (SiC) is rapidly emerging as a game-changing material in the semiconductor industry. Its superior performance in high-power applications — such as electric vehicles, power grids, and renewable energy — sets it apart from traditional silicon-based solutions. With a wide bandgap, high electron mobility, and excellent thermal conductivity, SiC enables more efficient power devices, reducing energy loss and enhancing performance.

This article explores SiC crystal growth and wafer processing techniques, shedding light on the challenges and innovations driving the scalability and cost-effectiveness of SiC semiconductor manufacturing.

1. Fundamentals of SiC Crystal Growth and Material Properties

1.1 SiC Requirements

SiC is integral to modern power applications due to its exceptional properties, including a bandgap three times wider than silicon and a significantly higher critical electric field. These characteristics enable SiC-based power devices to operate at higher voltages and temperatures while reducing power losses and heat dissipation requirements.

Orbit & Skyline Semiconductor Fab Services specializes in precision processing and advanced fabrication solutions tailored for SiC technology, ensuring high-performance outcomes for semiconductor manufacturers.

1.2 SiC Crystal Structure

Silicon carbide exists in over 250 polytypes, each with unique electrical properties. Among them, 4H-SiC is the most favored due to its high electron mobility, breakdown voltage, and thermal conductivity. However, growing SiC crystals at industrial scales presents significant challenges, primarily due to the high processing temperatures (exceeding 2000°C) and the slow growth rates required to maintain quality and minimize defects.

1.3 SiC Boule Growth Methods

The semiconductor industry primarily employs three major methods for growing SiC boules, with the Physical Vapor Transport (PVT) method being the most prevalent. PVT relies on sublimation due to the lack of a stable liquid phase for SiC. Despite its advantages, challenges such as micropipes, stacking faults, and dislocation densities persist.

Orbit & Skyline’s process engineering team optimizes growth techniques to maximize yield and reduce defects, ensuring superior wafer quality. By fine-tuning parameters such as temperature control and pressure regulation, we enhance SiC crystal production efficiency.

1.4 Physical Vapor Transport (PVT) Process

The PVT process involves melting high purity SiC powder in a growth chamber at temperatures exceeding 2000°C. The sublimated vapor then deposits onto a seed crystal, gradually forming a high-quality SiC boule. This method enables precise control over doping levels, essential for tailoring electrical characteristics. N-type doping (typically using nitrogen) enhances conductivity, while p-type doping (using aluminium) influences the polytype formation, affecting overall device performance.

2. From Boule to Epi-Ready Wafer

2.1 SiC Hardness and Processing Challenges

SiC is one of the hardest materials known, ranking 9–9.5 on the Mohs scale. This extreme hardness complicates the slicing and processing of SiC boules into wafers. Specialized grinding, lapping, and polishing techniques are required to achieve the precise dimensions necessary for semiconductor applications.

Orbit & Skyline’s Equipment Engineering services provide tailored solutions to overcome these challenges, ensuring precise wafer preparation for further processing.

2.2 Wafer Slicing and Surface Preparation

SiC boules undergo slicing using multi-wire saws coated with diamond slurry. This process must balance kerf loss (material waste) and throughput efficiency. Following slicing, wafers undergo lapping to ensure uniform thickness and surface quality, crucial for subsequent epitaxial growth.

2.3 Epi-Ready Polishing and Surface Finishing

To achieve EPI-ready surfaces, wafers undergo Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP), combining mechanical abrasion with chemical etching. Innovations in CMP technology, such as rapid thinning techniques, enhance material removal rates while maintaining surface integrity. This ensures defect-free epitaxial layers, which are critical for high-performance semiconductor applications.

3. Epitaxial Growth and Doping of SiC

3.1 High-Temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition (HT-CVD)

Epitaxial growth involves depositing thin, defect-free SiC layers on wafers to enhance electrical performance. HT-CVD is the industry standard, offering precise control over doping concentration and layer thickness. By using silicon and carbon precursors, diluted in hydrogen or argon carrier gases, HT-CVD facilitates uniform SiC layer growth.

3.2 Alternative Epitaxy Methods

Other epitaxy methods, such as Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) and Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE), have been explored. However, challenges in impurity control, growth rate limitations, and scalability make HT-CVD the preferred approach for large-scale SiC production.

3.3 Scaling to 8” and 200mm Wafers

With the industry shifting towards 8” (200mm) SiC wafers, significant improvements in slicing and polishing processes have been made. Advanced wafer thinning and surface finishing techniques ensure high yield and minimal defect rates. The transition to larger wafers increases device yield per wafer while optimizing fabrication costs.

Conclusion

SiC wafer technology continues to evolve, with advances in boule growth, wafer slicing, and epitaxial deposition driving the transition from 6” to 8” wafers. The industry’s focus on improving material quality and reducing processing costs ensures that SiC remains a competitive alternative to silicon in high-power applications.

Orbit & Skyline brings 15+ years of expertise, and a global team of 500+ engineers dedicated to advancing semiconductor technologies. As a trusted partner in the industry, we provide innovative solutions for SiC processing, fabrication, and equipment engineering.

Job Hiring: Process Engineer

GoTeam is looking for two (2) process engineers to work with our internal team, clients, and client-facing team members to document existing processes and procedures, then analyze and identify ways to optimize for great output, less time, and more precisions.

If you’re one who enjoys using the principles of technology and engineering to eliminate wasteful and inefficient processes, then look no further!

We have an amazing opportunity for you right here at GoTeam.

Earn up to 40K and work in a hybrid setup (WFH + Office). We are looking for one process engineer in the day shift, and one who will work in the night shift.

Kickstart your application by checking out the full job details and setting up your profile in our application portal.

Day shift: https://go.team/ph/jobs/process-engineer-day-shift/

Urgent Hiring- Process Engineer

Urgent Hiring- Process Engineer – Pune /Baroda Job Type :- Contract 1 year / (Client Payroll ) Experience 6 To 10 Process Engineer Experience in Hydrogen/Methanol experience Experience in Detailed engineering Drawing development Vendor data evaluation Knowledge on Process safety Interested please Share resume on [email protected]

Process engineer is defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) as a person who performs an engineering function in the production, processing, handling, transportation, distribution, and disposal of products. Process engineering is the application and knowledge of the basic laws and principles of nature that enable us to convert raw materials into useful products for society, in an industrial scale. This engineering function involves the designing of processes to optimize the performance of a product.

The role of a process engineer is to develop solutions that will make products more productive and safe to work with. They should be able to design and implement the best possible processes to minimize the risk of product failure and also to improve the overall productivity of the production process. They must also have the knowledge and ability to work with other engineers to ensure that the project runs according to plan. A good process engineer is also a key member of an organization's strategic planning team.

Process engineers can be specialized in one or more different areas of engineering. The most common specialization is in mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineers design systems that make use of mechanical processes, such as those used in the automotive, aerospace, communications, power generation, manufacturing, food processing, and water treatment industries. These engineers are also responsible for the safety of these mechanical processes.

Some people who specialize in a particular area of engineering may perform research in order to find better ways to implement new processes in an efficient manner. They may also create plans to help their clients reduce or eliminate costs in their operations. They may provide consulting services to help clients improve the efficiency of their processes. Other services that a process engineer can provide include:

In order to become an engineer, you must complete a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering. There are a variety of colleges and universities throughout the U.S. that offer engineering programs. You should decide on a college or university that is accredited, as it will provide you with a quality education. The courses required to become an engineer may be on various topics, including mathematics, statistics, computer science, environmental science, and biology. {or chemistry. {depending on your college or university. If you choose to go to an engineering major or vocational school, make sure that they are accredited as well.

There are several schools that offer certification programs in engineering. Some of these schools offer a two-year associate's degree, while others offer a four-year bachelor's degree. The requirements are slightly different.

To become an engineer, you may want to take a course called “An Introduction to Engineering”, which can be completed during your senior year at college or vocational school. In this course, you learn about the basics of engineering. You will learn how to read blueprints and how to apply them to different projects.

You will also learn about different engineering disciplines, such as mathematics, biology, physics, and computer science. You will be required to write a report on a specific problem that interests you, and then present it to your professor. Once you are accepted to a school, you will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Bachelors of Science in Engineering Technology. Most jobs requiring experience will require a two-year degree.

There are many job opportunities for process engineers. A person who is qualified to be a process engineer must be able to communicate effectively with others. This is the most important aspect of being a successful engineer. A process engineer should also have excellent communication skills, because he or she will be involved in a number of different projects, all of which requires good communication.

If you have an interest in engineering, it is possible to enter into the field of mechanical engineering, which has a number of job opportunities available. For example, a technician may be responsible for testing the integrity of machinery, or the production line may need to check for wear and tear. This type of technician is responsible for measuring the durability and reliability of a manufacturing process, as well as inspecting and maintaining machines.

There are also a variety of job opportunities available within the chemical engineering field. If you are interested in chemical engineering, it is possible to work as a chemical engineer, which is a type of engineer who performs experiments in the field of synthesis. {of different organic compounds. This type of job is usually done by working in a laboratory.

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Week 20 May 19th 2017, Yes finally we finalize this work week, another week one sentence ? Still feel that i can’t. why?This is too difficult, I can’t show my self in very short…