Semiconductor research and development
Innovation starts with research and development. Learn more about solutions to help you understand innovative structures and materials at the atomic level.
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Power semiconductor devices overview
Energy efficiency, mobility, and green technologies are driving continuous innovation in power device development. A broad range of “green” applications are pushing switching power amplifiers towards more extreme operating conditions, impacting everything from simple diodes to lateral and vertical MOSFETs, silicon and silicon carbide IGBTs, and gallium nitride JFETs. Higher voltages, frequencies, and temperatures require increased product quality and reliability. Yields are challenged by increasingly complex processes, novel materials and substrates, and application specific packaging designed to dissipate heat more efficiently.
As performance demands increase and power technologies advance, power device manufacturers and their customers need tools that quickly pinpoint fault locations at operating conditions. Subsequent characterization of materials, interfaces, and device structures require precise, high-throughput analysis.
Fault localization in power semiconductor devices
Detecting and localizing a leakage path before it becomes a dead short is critical to meeting reliability standards and preventing liability issues. Early detection might point to a crystal defect in the substrate or epilayers, a metal bridge or a particle, or even a weak spot in the gate oxide. Localizing a small leakage current under a micron-thick sheet of metallization is not a trivial challenge. Accurately localizing the defect to ensure its successful physical characterization is even more challenging. Methods and techniques that work for logic and memory devices won’t necessarily work for power devices.
Example power device analysis workflow
Thermo Fisher Scientific offers multiple failure analysis workflows optimized for the unique challenges of power devices. Follow the links below for more information on characterizing current-voltage behavior, detecting leakage currents, and analyzing materials and processes in modern power devices.
Semiconductor research and development
Semiconductor metrology
Manufacturing today’s complex semiconductors requires exact process controls. Learn more about advanced metrology and analysis solutions to accelerate yield learnings.
Semiconductor Failure Analysis
Complex semiconductor device structures result in more places for defects to hide. Learn more about failure analysis solutions to isolate, analyze, and repair defects.
Semiconductor materials characterization
Many factors impact yield, performance, and reliability. Learn more about solutions to characterize physical, structural, and chemical properties.
ESD Semiconductor Qualification
Every electrostatic discharge (ESD) control plan is required to identify devices that are sensitive to ESD. We offer a complete suite of test systems to help with your device qualification requirements.
Thermal Fault Isolation
Uneven distribution of local power dissipation can cause large, localized increases in temperature, leading to device failure. We offer unique solutions for thermal fault isolation with high-sensitivity lock-in infrared thermography (LIT).
Optical Fault Isolation
Increasingly complex designs complicate fault and defect isolation in semiconductor manufacturing. Optical fault isolation techniques allow you to analyze the performance of electrically active devices to locate critical defects that cause device failure.
Semiconductor Analysis and Imaging
Thermo Fisher Scientific offers scanning electron microscopes for every function of a semiconductor lab, from general imaging tasks to advanced failure analysis techniques requiring precise voltage-contrast measurements.
Sample Preparation of Semiconductor Devices
Thermo Scientific DualBeam systems provide accurate TEM sample preparation for atomic-scale analysis of semiconductor devices. Automation and advanced machine learning technologies produce high-quality samples, at the correct location, and a low cost per sample.
Semiconductor TEM Imaging and Analysis
Thermo Scientific transmission electron microscopes offer high-resolution imaging and analysis of semiconductor devices, enabling manufacturers to calibrate toolsets, diagnose failure mechanisms, and optimize overall process yields.
Device Delayering
Shrinking feature size, along with advanced design and architecture, results in increasingly challenging failure analysis for semiconductors. Damage-free delayering of devices is a critical technique for the detection of buried electrical faults and failures.
Nanoprobing
As device complexity increases, so does the number of places defects have to hide. Nanoprobing provides the precise localization of electrical faults, which is critical for an effective transmission electron microscopy failure analysis workflow.
Semiconductor Laser Ablation
Laser ablation provides high-throughput milling of semiconductor devices for imaging and analysis with electron microscopy, while still preserving sample integrity. Access large-volume 3D data and optimize milling conditions to best suit your sample type.
ESD Compliance Testing
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage small features and structures in semiconductors and integrated circuits. We offer a comprehensive suite of test equipment which verifies that your devices meet targeted ESD compliance standards.
Circuit Edit
Advanced, dedicated circuit edit and nanoprototyping solutions, which combine novel gas-delivery systems with a broad portfolio of chemistries and focused ion beam technology, offer unparalleled control and precision for semiconductor device development.
SEM Metrology
Scanning electron microscopy provides accurate and reliable metrology data at nanometer scales. Automated ultra-high-resolution SEM metrology enables faster time-to-yield and time-to-market for memory, logic, and data storage applications.
APT Sample Preparation
Atom probe tomography (APT) provides atomic-resolution 3D compositional analysis of materials. Focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy is an essential technique for high-quality, orientation, and site-specific sample preparation for APT characterization.
Thermal Fault Isolation
Uneven distribution of local power dissipation can cause large, localized increases in temperature, leading to device failure. We offer unique solutions for thermal fault isolation with high-sensitivity lock-in infrared thermography (LIT).
Optical Fault Isolation
Increasingly complex designs complicate fault and defect isolation in semiconductor manufacturing. Optical fault isolation techniques allow you to analyze the performance of electrically active devices to locate critical defects that cause device failure.
Semiconductor Analysis and Imaging
Thermo Fisher Scientific offers scanning electron microscopes for every function of a semiconductor lab, from general imaging tasks to advanced failure analysis techniques requiring precise voltage-contrast measurements.
Sample Preparation of Semiconductor Devices
Thermo Scientific DualBeam systems provide accurate TEM sample preparation for atomic-scale analysis of semiconductor devices. Automation and advanced machine learning technologies produce high-quality samples, at the correct location, and a low cost per sample.
Semiconductor TEM Imaging and Analysis
Thermo Scientific transmission electron microscopes offer high-resolution imaging and analysis of semiconductor devices, enabling manufacturers to calibrate toolsets, diagnose failure mechanisms, and optimize overall process yields.
Device Delayering
Shrinking feature size, along with advanced design and architecture, results in increasingly challenging failure analysis for semiconductors. Damage-free delayering of devices is a critical technique for the detection of buried electrical faults and failures.
Nanoprobing
As device complexity increases, so does the number of places defects have to hide. Nanoprobing provides the precise localization of electrical faults, which is critical for an effective transmission electron microscopy failure analysis workflow.
Semiconductor Laser Ablation
Laser ablation provides high-throughput milling of semiconductor devices for imaging and analysis with electron microscopy, while still preserving sample integrity. Access large-volume 3D data and optimize milling conditions to best suit your sample type.
ESD Compliance Testing
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage small features and structures in semiconductors and integrated circuits. We offer a comprehensive suite of test equipment which verifies that your devices meet targeted ESD compliance standards.
Circuit Edit
Advanced, dedicated circuit edit and nanoprototyping solutions, which combine novel gas-delivery systems with a broad portfolio of chemistries and focused ion beam technology, offer unparalleled control and precision for semiconductor device development.
SEM Metrology
Scanning electron microscopy provides accurate and reliable metrology data at nanometer scales. Automated ultra-high-resolution SEM metrology enables faster time-to-yield and time-to-market for memory, logic, and data storage applications.
APT Sample Preparation
Atom probe tomography (APT) provides atomic-resolution 3D compositional analysis of materials. Focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy is an essential technique for high-quality, orientation, and site-specific sample preparation for APT characterization.
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Electron microscopy services for
semiconductors
To ensure optimal system performance, we provide you access to a world-class network of field service experts, technical support, and certified spare parts.
