Introduction

• Silicon is the most commonly used semiconductor material

• Silicon can be oxidized to form an oxide layer of SiO2 that is a glassy insulating material that is the basis for the fabrication of many semiconductor devices

• Silicon does have limitations

• Alternative semiconductors

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version

Silicon is the the most commonly used semiconductor material. An important reason for the dominance of Si in electronics is the quality of its native oxide SiO2. Heating the Si substrate material to high temperature while exposing it to an oxidizing agent forms a thermal oxide layer on the surface. The oxide layer is a glassy insulating material that is the basis for the fabrication of many semiconductor devices.

Although sufficient for most applications silicon devices fail under high temperature and high power conditions.

Of the alternative semiconductor materials that will tolerate these hostile conditions silicon carbide offers the greatest promise.