July 25, 2023 ~ This article was originally featured in Silicon Semiconductor, Issue 3, 2023 Semiconductor chip features continue to shrink at a rapid pace. Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) manufacturers are now manufacturing 16GB chips in the 12nm range with an aspect ratio of 60:1 in the capacitor. NAND structures are reaching 232 layers with an even larger […] Read More
Blogs and Articles
March 23, 2023 ~ What Is Electroplating or ECP? Electroplating, also known as electrochemical deposition or electrodeposition, is a process for producing a metal coating on a solid substrate through the reduction of cations of that metal using a direct electric current. The part to be coated acts as the cathode (negative electrode) of an electrolytic cell; the electrolyte […] Read More
March 9, 2023 ~ Traditional megasonic cleaning combines high-frequency sound waves, typically in the range of 360 kHz to 2,000 kHz, with a liquid flow process to remove submicron particles from wafer surfaces. The fluid motion created by the high-frequency megasonics is intended to result in low substrate damage. However, conventional megasonic cleaning applications have reached practical limits because […] Read More
November 2, 2022 ~ Throughout this blog series, we’re examining vital wafer cleaning processes and how we are addressing them through our solutions. In this post, we’ll look at bevel etch: what it is, associated challenges, and how our approach offers notable advantages for tackling those challenges compared to traditional dry bevel etch. The bevel etch process is used […] Read More
August 31, 2022 ~ Our last blog post addressed in-depth the rise of silicon carbide (SiC)-based chips and how we address the cleaning challenges surrounding them. With their innate thinness, brittleness, and tendency toward surface inconsistencies, SiC wafers require particular care with respect to their processing and handling, and we have a broad portfolio of tools that make sure […] Read More
May 27, 2022 ~ Silicon carbide (SiC) substrate-based chips are on the (very) fast track due to SiC challenges. The automotive industry wants SiC chips so it can increase electric vehicle (EV) range and decrease charging time. The telecom industry wants them for 6G. And the renewable energy folks want them for more efficient power generation and storage. The […] Read More
June 29, 2021 ~ By Sally-Ann Henry and Jim Straus, ACM Research Let’s face it: When it comes to choosing a substrate material for building power semiconductors, silicon (Si) is no match for up-and-coming compound semiconductors like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). Because of their fundamental material properties, these compound semiconductors can do things that simply aren’t […] Read More
May 12, 2021 ~ By Sally-Ann Henry and Jim Straus, ACM Research While it might not sound as sexy as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, wet wafer cleaning technology might be even more crucial than EUV for ensuring successful leading-edge node, advanced semiconductor device manufacturing. This is because both device reliability and final product yields are directly linked to […] Read More
April 19, 2021 ~ In early 2020, the semiconductor supply chain was gearing up for a growth year after pushing through 2019’s 12% year-over-year decline in chip sales. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, this was due to global trade unrest and cyclical pricing.1 Then COVID-19 hit, forcing temporary shutdowns while we figured out the safest next move. The […] Read More
April 5, 2021 ~ One of the hottest trends in semiconductor manufacturing today is wafer-level packaging (WLP). According to Allied Market Research, the global WLP market size is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2022, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5% from 2016 to 2022. Broadly defined, WLP encompasses different integration approaches such as fan-in and […] Read More