Get The Right Wafer Material!

Kensington Laboratories
3 min readNov 15, 2022

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wafer processing robot

The 21st century runs on semiconductors, which have grown more specialized over time. Fortunately, various materials can be employed to create semiconductors since many materials have semiconductive characteristics. There are multiple ways to power devices, from double-side polish wafers and microelectronic semiconductors to rare vacuum tubes. Today, we will examine some of the most common wafer materials and discuss choosing the one that best meets your requirements. Kensington Laboratories offer a wafer processing robot that helps you optimize the performance of your product line. For detailed information about the robot, you can contact us and let us know your specific requirement.

Reasons Why Companies Choose Silicon Over Other Materials

For several reasons, silicon is a favored wafer material. The fact that it is the second-most frequent element on Earth and the seventh-most prevalent element in the universe is one of the most significant.

It is, therefore, simple to obtain than many other semiconductor components. The techniques for producing silicon semiconductors are also very sophisticated because they are used frequently to manufacture semiconductors.

It can function in various circumstances, although it isn’t necessarily the best material. Although it is less expensive and more durable than certain other materials, it sometimes performs less effectively. Compared to other materials, it might also be more wasteful and fragile. In the semiconductor industry, the Kensington robot is one of the most popular other in the industry.

Other Famous Wafer Materials

Germanium

Compared to silicon, germanium contains more electrons and more mobile electrons. This indicates that it can move current more quickly and efficiently. Contrary to popular belief, silicon has now vastly surpassed it in terms of application for semiconductors. Due to its characteristics, it is still the top option for gamma-ray spectroscopy and thermal imaging systems.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that germanium wafers cannot resist temperatures as high as silicon can if you decide to purchase them. Germanium performs less effectively once the temperature exceeds 70° C, but silicon can resist temperatures up to 180° C. Some applications for germanium may not even occur to you. For instance, it is employed in both chemotherapy and metallurgy.

Sapphire

Sapphire is an incredibly resilient substance that can survive all types of harm. Particularly resistant to temperature changes and scratches. It is frequently utilized in challenging situations that would be problematic for other materials because of these factors. Naturally, sapphire is also very costly. This is because sapphire’s insulating qualities complement silicon’s conducting qualities and are frequently used in conjunction with silicon.

Still Unsure About Semiconductor Material?

Given the long lead times and high prices involved in semiconductor manufacturing, it is crucial to feel confident in your choice of semiconductor material. Finding out what materials other semiconductor makers in related industries use can be helpful if you’re worried.

Sapphire semiconductors, for instance, are well-known for their photovoltaic properties. This means that if you’re making semiconductors for solar panels rather than desktop computers, you’re more likely to use them.

Additionally, it is usually beneficial to speak with a reliable wafer source. The more years of experience they have, the more confident you may be in their capacity to comprehend any option on the market. If you are looking for the best wafer robots, Kensington’s SCARA wafer robot is one of the most popular wafer robots in the market.

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Kensington Laboratories
Kensington Laboratories

Written by Kensington Laboratories

Kensington Laboratories is a leading supplier of wafer handling robots, precision motion control, integrated stages, linear stages and rotary stages since 1976.

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