Semiconductor Substrates

Silicon, or Si, is the long-term, trusty, backbone of early semiconductor devices, generations of transistors, and advanced integrated circuits.  With its balance between cost and material performance, Silicon is one of many choices for MEMs, power electronics, and biosensors, each with their own industry needs. Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning has recently re-engineered the standard Silicon polishing process to help our partners with capacity, evolving surface needs, and cost.

Monocrystalline Silicon Carbide, or SiC, is an evolving and growing substrate material that can take semiconductor chips to higher power at higher temperatures with higher efficiency.  The complexity and hardness of Silicon Carbide has enabled our development of new nano-abrasives and unique chemistries and formulations to cut, cool, and clean.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning now offers a full suite of products from cut to finish for Silicon Carbide substrates.

Sapphire, or Al₂O₃ is the silicon of LEDs – high volume and low cost but materially capable of producing complex electronics. Sapphire’s surface enables high brightness LEDs and microelectronics with lower power consumption and resistance to radiation.  In addition, sapphire’s high mechanical strength and scratch resistance make it a top choice for optics, aerospace or defense windows, and other precision glass-like applications.  Saint-Gobain FinAl alumina enables higher speed polishing, epi-ready surfaces.
 

Gallium Nitride, or GaN, can be used as a substrate in applications that need a wide band gap and need to operate at both high frequency and high voltage.  For these reasons, Gallium Nitride is chosen for high brilliance LEDs, high output laser diodes and power electronics.

Gallium Oxide has been reviewed as a next generation substrate material for use in detectors, and possibly other power electronic devices. Once commercialized at scale, Ga₂O₃ could present a new range of conductive and insulating properties for transparent substrates.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning is prepared to collaborate with key users of Gallium Oxide to define its finishing needs and capabilities.

LiNbO₃ & LiTAO₃ are piezoelectric and ferroelectric crystals that will be used as substrates for a wide range of acoustic and photonic applications because of their broad transmission range (visible to IR).  Devices using LiNbO₃ & LiTAO₃  can enable the 10X data rates required for the transition from 4G to 5G technology in wireless and broadband telecommunication.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning welcomes the opportunity to discuss surface finishing technologies for these materials with you.

Single crystal Quartz, SiO₂, has been historically used as a substrate for signal processing due to its high optical transmittance and low dielectric loss. As telecommunication moves towards 5G, quartz’s uses may shift.  Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning will be happy to discuss your evolving surface finishing needs for Quartz and Glass.

Glass substrates are widely use as a carrier substrate in the packaging process of semiconductor. They are also used in used in a wide range of MEMS applications