What is silicon carbide?
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a new type of semiconductor material with high thermal conductivity, high breakdown electric field strength, high electron mobility and good radiation resistance. It is composed of two elements, silicon and carbon, and its crystal structure is similar to that of graphite, but it is harder than graphite and can reach the level of gemstones. It also has high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. Due to these properties, SiC has become an important material in power electronics, automotive electronics, aerospace and other fields.
How is silicon carbide produced?
Figure 1: Pyrolysis reaction preparation
Silicon carbide can be produced in a number of ways, the most common being produced by pyrolysis (Figure 1). Specifically, silicon and graphite are mixed evenly, and then heated to a high temperature (usually above 2000°C) to react. At high temperatures, silicon and graphite react to form silicon carbide crystals.
Another commonly used method is chemical vapor deposition (referred to as CVD). This method can generate high-quality SiC crystals at relatively low temperatures. Specifically, SiC thin films or crystals are formed by heating silicon source and carbon source gases to high temperatures, allowing them to mix and deposit on a substrate in a reaction chamber.
In addition, there are other methods to prepare SiC, such as high temperature solution method, single crystal growth method, melting method, etc. These methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the selection of a suitable preparation method needs to be determined according to the specific application requirements.
Silicon carbide application field
Functional materials: Silicon carbide has excellent high temperature stability and corrosion resistance, and still has high mechanical strength and chemical stability in harsh environments such as high temperature, high pressure, strong acid and alkali. Therefore, silicon carbide can be used to manufacture high-temperature components, corrosion-resistant materials, electronic devices, etc.
Power electronics: Silicon carbide has excellent electrical conductivity, can withstand high voltage and high temperature, and can be used to manufacture high-voltage, high-efficiency power electronic devices, such as power converters, power modules, rectifiers, etc. Compared with traditional silicon devices, silicon carbide devices have higher switching speeds and lower losses, which can greatly improve the efficiency of power electronic devices.
Optoelectronic devices: Silicon carbide has high optical transparency and low optical loss, and can be used to manufacture optoelectronic devices, such as LEDs, laser diodes, etc.
Automobile industry: Silicon carbide has high hardness, high strength and high wear resistance, so it can be used to manufacture auto parts, such as brake systems, clutches, tires, etc. At the same time, silicon carbide can also be used to manufacture automotive electronic devices and power electronic devices to improve vehicle performance and efficiency.
Advantages of silicon carbide
High temperature stability:Silicon carbide has excellent high temperature stability and can maintain high mechanical strength and chemical stability in high temperature environments.
High hardness: the hardness of silicon carbide is higher than that of ordinary metals and silicon, it can withstand greater force and pressure, and is less susceptible to wear.
Good conductivity: Silicon carbide has excellent conductivity, can withstand high voltage and high temperature, and can be used to manufacture high-voltage, high-efficiency power electronic devices.
Good optical transparency: Silicon carbide has high optical transparency and low optical loss, and can be used to manufacture optoelectronic devices.
Disadvantages of silicon carbide
Expensive: Compared with other traditional materials, such as silicon, aluminum, etc., the manufacturing cost of silicon carbide is relatively high, so the price of the product is relatively high.
Brittleness: Silicon carbide is brittle and prone to cracks or cracks, which may cause component failure or shorten service life.
Difficulty in handling: Due to the hardness and brittleness of silicon carbide, it is more difficult to cut and process than other materials, requiring the use of special tools and techniques.
Raw material limitations: The raw materials required to manufacture SiC are limited, which may cause supply shortages or price increases.
Changes in electrical properties: The electrical properties of silicon carbide vary greatly with temperature, which may affect the performance and reliability of components.
Development History of Silicon Carbide
Silicon carbide (SiC), as a semiconductor material, has attracted much attention in recent years and has broad application prospects. So what is the development history of silicon carbide? let's see.
Silicon carbide was first discovered in 1891 by American chemist Edward Goodrich Acheson in experiments carried out in a graphite furnace. He discovered that by heating brass, coke, and silicate in a graphite furnace, a new compound, silicon carbide, could be formed. This was the first time silicon carbide was discovered, but its electrical properties were not studied until the mid-20th century.
In the early 1960s, researchers in the United States began to study the semiconductor properties of silicon carbide. With the development of technology, the preparation process of silicon carbide has gradually improved, and some important progress has also been made. For example, in 1969, A. Katz of France prepared p-type silicon carbide single crystal for the first time, so that the electrical properties of silicon carbide were studied in depth.
In the 1980s and 1990s, with the further improvement of the preparation process and equipment, silicon carbide began to be used in the fields of power electronics and radio frequency electronics. Around 2000, with the development of mass production technology and the increase of market demand, silicon carbide was used more widely, such as in electric vehicle chargers, solar power generation systems and industrial equipment.
At present, silicon carbide has become one of the important materials in the semiconductor field, and is widely used in high-voltage power electronic devices, high-frequency radio frequency devices, optoelectronic devices and other fields. With the continuous development of technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, the market prospect of silicon carbide is very broad.
Silicon Carbide VS Silicon
Silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) are two common semiconductor materials. Although they are both semiconductors, they are quite different in some respects.
First, silicon carbide has a larger band gap than silicon, so it can withstand higher operating temperatures. In addition, silicon carbide has a higher thermal conductivity than silicon, which makes it more stable and reliable in high-temperature environments. These properties make silicon carbide useful in high-temperature and high-power applications, such as power electronics, automotive electronics, and aerospace.
In addition, silicon carbide has a higher breakdown electric field strength than silicon, which means it can withstand higher voltages. This makes SiC devices more energy efficient because they can operate at higher voltages.
However, silicon carbide is more expensive to manufacture compared to silicon, mainly due to the complexity of the production technology and high material costs. In addition, because silicon carbide has a more complex crystal structure than silicon, its manufacturing process is more difficult.
In general, although silicon carbide has more advantages than silicon, it still has some limitations in some application areas. With the continuous advancement of technology, these limitations are expected to be gradually overcome, so that silicon carbide can be used in a wider range of fields.
Related articles
We are a professional distributor of electronic components, providing a wide range of electronic products, saving you a lot of time, effort and cost through our meticulous order preparation and fast delivery service.
Share this post
