Silicon Wafer: The Foundation of Modern Electronics
A silicon wafer is a thin, flat, circular slice of crystalline silicon that serves as the base substrate for manufacturing semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits (ICs), microprocessors, memory chips, sensors, and power devices. Silicon wafers are fundamental to the electronics industry, forming the backbone of modern computing, communication, automotive, and industrial systems.
The production of a silicon wafer begins with high-purity silicon, typically derived from quartz sand. The silicon is purified through chemical processes to achieve extremely high purity levels, often exceeding 99.9999999%. This purified silicon is then melted and grown into a single-crystal ingot using techniques such as the Czochralski (CZ) method or the Float Zone (FZ) method. The crystal ingot is sliced into thin wafers using precision saws.
After slicing, wafers undergo several finishing processes, including lapping, etching, and polishing, to achieve a smooth, defect-free surface with precise thickness and…
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