Silicon carbide
30 years of SiC crystal growth in Sweden – available for India
Sweden has a long history in the silicon carbide crystal growth and equipment development. The activities were initiated in the early 1990s at Swedish universities and involved industries such as ABB. Both bulk growth and epitaxy were explored. This has established an ecosystem that has a wide range of experiences in SiC that can match the silicon carbide manufacturing interests in India where there is strong focus by Make in India and India Semiconductor Mission. This creates a perfect opportunity to establish new manufacturing in India using Swedish knowledge and tools.
Silicon carbide manufacturing
Central in silicon carbide manufacturing is the hot-zone (container in which the silicon carbide is produced). The IPR is mainly in hot-zone design and this is why hot zone geometries are not openly available. Industries develop their own hot-zone and that together with process are industry knowhow. That requires manufacturing team with competence. It is well known in SiC that the window parameter might shift slightly due to various reasons. That lowers the wafer yield. It is critical to have crystal growth knowledge with team to adapt to any shift in crystal growth. The team is also the one which develops the hot-zone further to have own IPR. To attract skilled professionals to the manufacturing, it is necessary to have training already from basic level to educate the next generation and address the competence need. This is where the crystal growth technology together with training and skill development is a strong combination for the future competitiveness in SiC manufacturing.
Partnerships and Transfer of Knowledge
– PVT reactor and 6 inch manufacturing process including hot-zone and process.
– Training: basic for non-experts
– Training: advanced for academic (student and PhD) with EDU-PVT reactor
– Training: manufacturing (industrial) with commercial PVT reactor
– Development in 8-inch wafer, increase wafer yield, etc (innovation pipeline)
– Industrial production PVT reactors (6 inch and 8 inch)
– Pilot line: from raw materials for source to epiready wafer