semiconductor

Introduction to Semiconductors

  • Overview of the semiconductor industry

    • Monopolized field

    • Indicator of a nation's electronic manufacturing progress

    • Distinguishes between producers and consumers of technology

Understanding Semiconductor Production

  • Calculating the cost of electronic chips

    • Importance of understanding the lifecycle from raw silicon to processors

Raw Materials for Electronic Chips

  • Source of electronic chips

    • Originates from silica sand (SiO2)

    • Characteristics of silica sand:

      • Lower impurity levels

      • Silicon dioxide content of 95% or more

Silica to Silica Transformation

  • Energy-intensive process to melt silica sand

    • Electric arc furnace usage

    • Energy consumption: 12 megawatts/hour per ton of silicon

    • Melting temperature: 2000°C

    • Transformation into metallurgical-grade silica

Metallurgical-Grade Silica

  • Overview of metallurgical-grade silica

    • Lowest quality with a value of around $2/kg

    • Purity increase from 95% to 98%, still insufficient for electronics

    • Need for further purification to achieve high-grade silicon

Transformation Process into Polycrystalline Silicon

  • Transition from metallurgical-grade to polycrystalline silicon

    • Increased purity

    • Value rises to $80/kg

    • Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) techniques used

    • Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) reactor

Czochralski Process for Monocrystalline Silicon

  • The Czochralski method details

    • Melting polysilicon at 1500°C

    • Addition of phosphorus or germanium

    • Slow pulling upward to form a large ingot of monocrystalline silicon

    • Duration of the process: two days

    • Price after this process: $400/kg

Wafer Production from Silicon Ingot

  • Cutting process of silicon ingots

    • Transformation into small wafers containing electronic chips

    • Importance of shape and quality in cutting process

    • Polishing for desired form

    • Final price of the wafer: $1,300/kg

Global Semiconductor Industry Players

  • Overview of electronic chip producers

    • Only five major companies in the world:

      • Taiwanese: F.K.S.

      • American: MEMC

      • Japanese: S.E.H.

      • German: Siltronic

      • Japanese: SUMCO

Current Industry Challenges

  • Global semiconductor supply shortage announcement